Online Privacy and Security

Understanding online privacy, how to protect your devices from hackers and threats, and how to avoid common online scams.

Online Security

Are Public Wi-Fi Networks Safe? What You Need To Know

Here’s what you need to know about your safety when you connect to a public Wi-Fi network.

Creating Strong Passwords and Other Ways To Protect Your Accounts

Here’s how to protect your accounts with strong passwords and other security methods.

How To Protect Your Phone From Hackers

Four steps to protect your phone from hackers.

How To Recognize, Remove, and Avoid Malware

Malware is a big threat you to your devices' security. Here's how to recognize, remove, and avoid malware.

How To Recover Your Hacked Email or Social Media Account

What to do if you think your email or social networking account has been hacked.

How To Remove Your Personal Information Before You Get Rid of Your Computer

How to remove your personal information from your computer so it doesn’t end up in the hands of an identity thief.

How To Remove Your Personal Information Before You Get Rid of Your Phone

Before you trade in, sell, give away, or recycle your phone, remove your personal information.

How To Secure Your Home Security Cameras

There are steps you can take to secure your home security camera. Read on to learn more.

How To Secure Your Home Wi-Fi Network

How to protect your home wireless network.

Mobile Payment Apps: How To Avoid a Scam When You Use One

Learn how mobile payment apps work and how to avoid sending money to a scammer.

Protect Your Personal Information and Data

How to protect your devices, networks, and information from scammers.

Securing Your Internet-Connected Devices at Home

Steps that can help protect your internet-connected devices.

Use Two-factor Authentication to Protect Your Accounts

Use two-factor authentication to protect your accounts from hackers.

Online Privacy

How To Secure Your Voice Assistant and Protect Your Privacy

Here's what you can do to keep your voice assistant and recordings private and secure.

How Websites and Apps Collect and Use Your Information

Learn how and why websites track you — and what to do about it.

Stalkerware: What To Know

Do you think an abusive partner or ex is monitoring you through your phone? They might be using stalkerware to secretly track your device activity. Learn more about stalkerware, how to tell if it’s on your device, and what to do if it is.

What To Do if You’re the Target of Revenge Porn

Did someone share an intimate image of you without your OK? Find out what you can do about it.

What To Know About People Search Sites That Sell Your Information

Learn how people search sites work and how to ask them to stop selling your information.

Online Scams

How to Recognize and Avoid Phishing Scams

Scammers use email or text messages to trick you into giving them your personal and financial information. But there are several ways to protect yourself.

How To Spot, Avoid, and Report Tech Support Scams

Tech support scammers want you to pay them to fix a non-existent computer problem. Learn how to avoid and report tech support scams.

What to Know About Romance Scams

Romance scammers create fake profiles on dating sites and apps or contact you through popular social media sites like Instagram or Facebook. The scammers strike up a relationship with you to build up trust, sometimes talking or chatting several times a day. Then, they make up a story and ask for money. Learn how to avoid romance scams.

Related Scams

From Consumer Alerts

View all Online Privacy and Security alerts

Consumer Alert

Heads up in your language

Jim Kreidler

April 22, 2024

Being online is part of kids’ lives. When they’re online, kids watch and create content, post photos, videos, play games, and share what they’re doing with friends and family. But when they post, play, and connect, they can encounter people and situations that aren’t always what they seem. What can you do to help protect them?

Consumer Alert

When companies share your personal information without your permission

Alvaro Puig

April 15, 2024

Health and wellness websites and apps collect a lot of personal and sensitive health information about their users. And they might make promises about how they’ll use and protect that data. If companies don’t honor those promises, it can lead to a serious breach of trust — and a lawsuit from the Federal Trade Commission.

Consumer Alert

Did someone send you to a Bitcoin ATM? It’s a scam

Jennifer Leach

March 7, 2024

Is there a legit reason for someone to send you to a Bitcoin ATM? The short answer is NO. Will someone from the government send you to a Bitcoin ATM? NEVER. If you’ve followed this Anatomy of a Scam series, you know there’s more to it than that.

Consumer Alert

New tech support scammers want your life savings

Amy Hebert

March 7, 2024

As we continue our deep dive into imposter scams, we’re taking a look at a new twist on tech support scams. Ever deal with a tech support scam? A warning pops up on your computer. It says your computer has a virus and gives you a number to call for help. You often end up paying hundreds of dollars to a scammer who pretends to deal with the fake virus. Now scammers are upping the stakes — instead of hundreds of dollars, people are unknowingly handing over tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars to tech support scammers. Here’s how.