4 things you can do to protect yourself from the rising threat of AI

The useful part

For more than 25 years, I've been the "Computer Guy" for friends, family, and colleagues who call when something digital goes sideways. Now, almost every conversation circles back to the same two words: artificial intelligence. It shapes the apps we use, the content we see, and the messages we receive.

How it works

• AI is in our home appliances, work products and even attends our meetings.
• Meanwhile, the traditional cybersecurity risks of stolen passwords, compromised accounts, and phishing emails haven't gone anywhere.
• What frustrates me is that most of the "protection advice" floating around reminds me of Cold War–era guidance telling schoolchildren to hide under their desks during a nuclear attack: well-intentioned, but...
• The good news is you don't need a computer science degree to meaningfully reduce your risk.
• Four simple habits can help you protect your privacy, spot digital deception, and keep your accounts safer in an AI-driven world.

What to take from it

Two ways to limit AI's reach into your world Start by limiting your digital footprint. Every app permission you grant, online quiz you complete, voice command you speak, and prompt yo...

Details worth keeping

The questions used to be about slow computers and forgotten passwords. They've only gotten more sophisticated and harder to spot.