# Netflix Data Collection Lawsuit
Texas's top lawyer is suing Netflix because the company allegedly gathers information about what people watch and do on the platform without properly asking permission first—and the complaint especially highlights concerns about children's accounts. For anyone with grandchildren who use Netflix or a family account, this raises important questions about what personal information streaming services collect and whether families are truly in control of their children's privacy. Worth knowing: check your Netflix privacy settings and be aware that streaming services may track viewing habits; if you share an account with younger family members, that data collection might extend to them too.
# iOS End-to-End Encrypted RCS Messaging
Apple is starting to roll out a new security feature for iPhone users that scrambles their text messages so only the person they're messaging can read them—similar to what Android users have had for a while. This means your private conversations stay private, even from Apple itself or hackers trying to intercept them. You can watch for a small lock icon appearing next to your messages, which signals that your chat is protected.
Google's security team discovered that someone used artificial intelligence to create a sneaky computer attack that had never been seen before—and they caught it before it could cause widespread harm. This matters because it shows AI is being used to find new ways to break into computers, which means the safety of your devices and personal information could face cleverer threats going forward. Worth knowing: keep your Google account password strong, enable two-factor authentication if you haven't already, and stay alert to any unusual account activity.
TikTok is now offering a paid subscription in the UK for £3.99 a month that removes all the advertisements you'd normally see while scrolling. If you don't pay, you can still use TikTok free of charge, but you'll see personalised ads based on your viewing habits instead.
TikTok has introduced a paid subscription option in the UK where you can watch videos without any advertisements appearing on your screen. Worth knowing: this also means your personal information won't be collected and sold to advertisers, which gives you more privacy while you're scrolling through the app.
A hacking group has broken into Canvas, the software that many schools and universities use to teach classes online and share assignments with students. If your grandchild attends one of these institutions, their school may have temporarily shut down access to their courses while they fix the security problem and change passwords.
A tech expert named Guy Kawasaki has written a free guidebook that explains how to use Signal, a messaging app that keeps your private conversations genuinely private—and it's now available in both English and Spanish. Learning to use Signal matters because it protects your personal messages, photos, and information from being read by hackers, companies, or others who shouldn't see them. You can download the free guide right now from the EFF website, or check out their shorter "how-to" guides if you prefer something quicker to get started.
# Summary
False claims about treating hantavirus with ivermectin (a horse dewormer that gained notoriety during Covid) started spreading online within hours of news about a real outbreak on a cruise ship. People who spent years pushing unproven treatments during the pandemic are now recycling the same misleading tactics with a new disease, which can delay people from seeking actual medical help.
**Worth knowing:** When you see health claims about a new outbreak on social media, especially from accounts that were active during Covid misinformation, it's worth checking trusted sources like the CDC website before sharing or believing them.
Instagram has decided to stop using a privacy feature that scrambles your direct messages so only you and the person you're messaging can read them—a surprising reversal of plans Meta announced just months ago. This means your private messages will become readable by Instagram's systems again, which could matter if you value keeping your conversations truly private, especially from data collection or if you're discussing sensitive matters.
Worth knowing: Check your DM settings in the coming weeks to see what privacy options Instagram offers going forward, and consider whether you'd prefer to use other messaging apps for particularly private conversations.
Google has given Android phone users a new choice: you can now let websites know your general area instead of your exact location, giving you more privacy when you browse. This matters because websites often ask for your location to show you local results, but now you can decide whether to share your precise street address or just your city or neighborhood. Worth knowing: when a website asks for your location, look for the option to share approximate location instead of precise—it's a simple toggle that protects your privacy while still letting helpful services work.
# Chrome's Surprise AI Download
Google Chrome has been quietly downloading a large AI file (about 4GB) to your computer without asking first, according to a researcher's discovery. The good news is you can easily turn this feature off through Chrome's settings if you don't want it taking up space on your device.
Criminals are using artificial intelligence to create fake videos of real doctors—complete with their faces and voices—to trick people into buying fake medicines or useless health products online. This matters because these convincing fakes can damage people's trust in actual doctors, put patients at risk by promoting bogus treatments, and even lead to lawsuits against the real physicians whose images were stolen. Worth knowing: if you see a doctor endorsing an unfamiliar health product on social media, it's worth checking the doctor's official website or calling their office directly to confirm they actually made that recommendation.
