The teen was only 14 when the executive paid $1000. Read...

It comes as shipping containers near an Auckland business park that caught fire late on Monday night were ablaze again overnight. Read...

30-year-old local man to appear in Pukekohe District Court on Wednesday. Read...

Shipping containers at an Auckland business park that were set alight late on Monday night were ablaze again overnight. Read...

Emergency services were called to a business park in Waiuku early on Wednesday. Read...

I don’t like the fact that Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 as much as anyone else, but it’s definitely a sign that you need to upgrade to a more modern software. I know the price is something that’s keeping most of us from getting new Windows 11 licenses, so I’m always digging for discounts—especially this time of the year. Fortunately, Black Friday deals have hit the PCWorld Software Store, which means you can get a lifetime Windows 11 Pro license for 65% off, bringing the price down to $70 (was $200). View this deal Whether you’re getting a new mini PC, laptop, or desktop this Black Friday season, or whether you simply have to get a fresh copy of Windows 11 Pro for your device, this Black Friday deal at the PCWorld Software Store is one you don’t want to pass up. The price includes a license for a single PC, so if you have multiple devices, you’ll need to buy multiple licenses. The good thing is that this license won’t need renewing and you’ll be able to use it forever… well, at least until Microsoft cuts support for Windows 11 one day. Windows 11 Pro comes with all the cool features we love in Windows 11 Home, plus a ton of business functionality for advanced data encryption, sandboxing for extra security, remote desktop control, and virtual machines. If you want it for cheap, now’s your chance: get Windows 11 Pro for just $70 before this deal expires! Save 65% on Windows 11 Pro with this Black Friday discountBuy via PCWorld Software Store Read...

If a mail account is compromised, hackers can not only read messages, but also reset passwords and take over other accounts. This makes it all the more important to take an immediate and structured approach in an emergency. Below we show you what immediate measures you should take and what help pages and support channels the major providers have available for affected users. General measures in the event of a hacked email account Case 1: You can still log in If you can still access your mailbox, you have the best chance of securing your account immediately. It’s important that you close all possible backdoors step by step: Change your password: Log in directly via your provider’s official login page. Avoid links from emails, as these can lead to phishing sites. Choose a new, strong password that you only use for this account and that consists of upper and lower case letters, numbers and special characters. Log out all devices and sessions: Many providers offer an overview of the devices and sessions currently logged in in the security settings. End all active sessions or use the “Log off all devices” function. In this way, attackers who still have access will immediately lose their connection to the account. Check recovery options: Check which phone numbers and alternative email addresses are stored for account recovery. Attackers often enter their own data here in order to take over the account permanently. Remove unknown entries immediately and only enter your own current data. Delete filters and redirects: Take a look at the mailbox rules in the settings. Attackers often set up automatic forwarding or filters so that emails are forwarded to a different address or certain messages are made invisible. Delete all rules that you have not created yourself. Activate two-factor authentication: If your provider supports it, be sure to activate two-factor authentication. When logging in, you must enter a second factor in addition to your password, for example a code via text message or confirmation in an authenticator app. Even if your password falls into the wrong hands again, you are better protected this way. Case 2: You can no longer log in If you are locked out, everything runs via the support of the respective provider. In this case, use the respective recovery form or the account wizard, which will guide you through the recovery process. Microsoft Outlook / Hotmail Microsoft provides a recovery wizard for hacked accounts. After entering your e-mail address and—if stored—your telephone number, the system checks whether any suspicious logins have occurred. It then guides you through the process step by step: from resetting your password and confirming security information to checking for suspicious activity. If you can still log in, you should immediately change the password in your account and check all stored security data (alternative e-mail, telephone number). If access is already blocked, use the account recovery form. Microsoft offers toll-free numbers in the U.S.: 1-855 270 0615 (or 1-800 865 9408 or 1-800 642 7676). However, Microsoft usually refers hacked or blocked accounts to the recovery wizard and the online support forms, as the identity check is structured there. However, the hotline can support you if you get stuck with the online forms or have any queries. Google / Gmail With Gmail, it’s particularly important to call up the device and security overview. There you can see which devices have recently accessed your account. Unknown entries can be cancelled with just a few clicks. You can find clear instructions in our guide article “Is a hacker logged into your Google account? Here’s how to find out“. Google also provides a detailed guide for a complete recovery: Secure a hacked or compromised Google Account. There you will learn step by step how to reset your password, check recovery options and stop suspicious activity. If you can no longer log in at all, go to the account recovery page linked in the above site and follow the steps provided there. Google does not provide a hotline for free Gmail accounts. The entire process runs via the online help pages and the recovery form. Only paying Google Workspace or Business customers are entitled to telephone support. Read...

AI tools can be of great help, but they can also pose unique privacy risks, such as the potential for data misuse. Being informed about these risks can help you make better decisions about which AI tools to use and how to interact with them. Here we give you tips to better protect your privacy before you go ahead and use them. 1. Check the company’s privacy policy The companies that run AI tools have privacy policies that govern the information that they store. It’s best to read these policies before you use the AI, so that you know what the data harvesting practices are. For example, Open AI’s privacy policy for ChatGPT says it collects data on your location from your device’s GPS. You need to be sure you are comfortable with the data you’re sharing and what the company will collect. You should also be aware of the data residency, or where the company stores its data, because different locations are governed by different privacy laws (like the GDPR or CCPA). 2. Avoid sharing sensitive information Wherever possible, when you use AI you should avoid sharing any compromising or sensitive information. That includes details like your full name, address, your date of birth, and your financial information. It may be necessary to share information about yourself at times but be mindful that your chat history could be being saved. One way to avoid giving out sensitive information is to anonymize it with place-holder text. For example, if you’re feeding the AI information about your company, rather than using its real name you could refer to it as Company X. Likewise, you may refer to “a friend” to describe a friend or “project alpha” to refer to a business project you’re working on. 3. Adjust the settings for privacy Many AI companies offer privacy settings that allow you to limit the data that’s stored and/or used to train AI models. Some give you more control than others. For example, in ChatGPT you can toggle off data sharing by accessing the settings and adjusting the data controls. Gemini limits what you can control but it does give you the option to save certain information about yourself such as your dietary preferences and what language you want it to use. Similarly other AI tools may have options to limit data collection or anonymize your interactions, so you should always check the settings to see that you’re not sharing more information than you need or want to. You should also review any permissions the AI app or tool requests on your device and limit them to only what’s necessary for the tool to function. Pexels Hatice Baran 4. Be cautious about third-party AI tools When using third-party AI tools, be aware that they may have different data collection practices. If an AI tool is hosted by a third-party, it’s likely collecting data. Use these tools with caution and prefer ones that prioritize user privacy. 5. Secure your account The normal steps you might take to secure an account should also be carried out with your AI account. That means using a strong password for the AI service as well as two-factor authentication (2FA) if available to prevent unauthorized access. If you’re really concerned about anonymity, consider using a non-identifiable email address for registration. That way the tool will only know you by your anonymous address. Related content Never say these things to ChatGPT. It could come back to bite you Your IP address reveals more than you think. VPNs are the answer Running AI locally on your laptop: What you need to know Read...

Hyland enhances its cloud content suite with AI-driven upgrades and new integrations for Salesforce, SAP, Workday, and Guidewire to boost business workflows. Read...

NZSale closed for business on Sunday and GrabOne went into liquidation last month, citing financial constraints. Read...