Researchers have created a new AI system that uses light instead of traditional computers to identify fake videos, catching them correctly about 98 times out of 100. As deepfakes become more convincing and widespread—especially during elections and in scams targeting older adults—having a reliable way to spot them quickly matters more than ever. You can stay safer by being skeptical of surprising videos you see online, particularly if someone's asking you to send money or take action based on what you've watched.
Meta has created an AI assistant that millions of people are already downloading, which aims to make using the internet easier and more personalized for you. The trade-off is that this assistant needs access to quite a bit of your personal information to work effectively, raising questions about how your data will be used and protected. Worth knowing: before installing any new AI assistant, check what permissions it's asking for and whether you're comfortable sharing that level of detail about your browsing habits and personal life.
# Zimbra Email Security Alert
Hackers have found a serious security weakness in Zimbra, a popular email system used by many organizations, allowing them to steal emails and login information from unprotected servers. If your workplace or organization uses Zimbra, this matters because attackers have already started exploiting this flaw to break in and grab sensitive information. Worth knowing: ask your IT department or email administrator whether your organization uses Zimbra and whether they've applied the security patch that was released in July—if they haven't, it's worth following up soon.
Fewer than one in eight Americans now relies mainly on cash for everyday shopping, down from nearly one in four just a decade ago. This shift matters because it's changing how banks operate, which services they offer, and how quickly society is moving toward digital money—something worth understanding if you manage your finances or worry about access to banking services. Worth knowing: if you still prefer paying with cash, many banks are closing branches and ATMs, so it's worth checking now whether you can easily access cash in your area and considering a backup payment method you're comfortable with.
# Reddit's Old Interface Is Being Phased Out
Reddit is making it harder to use its older, simpler website version by adding restrictions and pushing users toward the newer redesigned site. Many longtime users prefer the old layout because it's cleaner and less cluttered, but Reddit wants everyone on the modern version where they can better control how content is used and prevent unauthorized copying. You can check which version you're currently using by looking at your browser's address bar — if it says "old.reddit.com," that's the version being restricted.
Reddit has decided to shut down RSS feeds—a simple technology that lets you automatically receive updates from websites and forums you follow—because it says AI companies are using them to scrape content without permission. For long-time internet users who've relied on RSS readers to stay organized with news and discussions, this means you'll lose a convenient way to follow your favorite subreddits automatically. Worth knowing: if you currently use an RSS reader for Reddit communities, you should start looking for alternative ways to check those forums, like visiting them directly or setting up email alerts where available.
Apple's new AI features in Siri can now do more things for you, but they handle your personal information in different ways depending on whether they process it on your phone or send it to Apple's servers. When AI features work directly on your phone, your data stays private, but when they're processed elsewhere, your information travels beyond your device, which means more people could potentially see it. Worth knowing: you can go into your iPhone settings and turn off specific Siri features you're uncomfortable with, or check Apple's privacy documentation to understand which features keep your information local versus which ones send data to the company.
Meta is pushing back against claims that its new Muse AI assistant secretly read someone's private messages without permission—the company says the feature only works when you actively turn it on. If true, this matters because many of us worry about what information our devices and apps can access about our personal conversations. Worth knowing: if you use a Mac and ever try Meta's Muse feature, check your settings carefully to make sure you've intentionally enabled any message-reading abilities before using it.
WhatsApp is giving parents new tools to manage what their teenage children see and do on the app, including control over channels, who views their photos and updates, and who can add them to group chats. These features matter because teens spend so much time messaging these days, and parents often worry about unwanted contact or exposure to inappropriate content. You can ask your grandchildren or younger relatives to show you these settings if you're helping supervise their online safety, or download WhatsApp yourself to see how the parental controls actually work.
WhatsApp is giving parents new tools to manage what their teenagers can see and who can contact them on the app, making it easier to set boundaries around privacy and messaging. If you have adult children or grandchildren in their teenage years, this means you can help keep them safer online without needing technical knowledge or complex workarounds. Worth knowing: these controls are optional, so you'll need to actively set them up in WhatsApp's settings if you want to use them—they won't activate automatically.
# Using an Older Router Safely
Router makers eventually stop sending security updates to older models, which means your device becomes more vulnerable to hackers over time. For people managing home networks, an unsupported router is like leaving your front door slightly ajar—it puts all the devices connected to it at risk, from your phone to your smart TV. Worth knowing: you can reduce the danger by changing your Wi-Fi password regularly, disabling remote management features in your router's settings, or simply replacing the device if it's more than five or six years old.
Samsung is rolling out a major update called One UI 9 to its Galaxy phones, and it's worth doing a little prep work beforehand to make sure everything goes smoothly. Getting your phone ready — like freeing up storage space and backing up your photos — takes just a few minutes but can prevent headaches during the update process. Worth knowing: check that your phone is plugged in and connected to WiFi before starting the update, and make sure you have at least a few gigabytes of free storage available.
