Privacy &amp; Security News

https://www.privacyguides.org/news/2026/03/23/grapheneos-wont-implement-age-verification/

· 6mo ago

GrapheneOS Won’t Implement Age Verification

GrapheneOS Won’t Implement Age Verification

The security and privacy-focused GrapheneOS stated in an X post that they will “remain usable by anyone around the world without requiring personal information, identification or an account.”

· 5mo ago

Boosted by @z_everson@journa.host

Apple Releases Patch for the Signal Notification Issue That Allowed Recovery of Deleted Messages https://www.privacyguides.org/news/2026/04/23/apple-releases-patch-for-the-signal-notification-issue-that-allowed-recovery-of-deleted-messages/ #Privacy #News #PrivacyGuides

Apple Releases Patch for the Signal Notification Issue That Allowed Recovery of Deleted Messages

Apple has released iOS 26.4.2, which fixes the notification bug that allowed the FBI to extract Signal messages from a defendant’s iPhone.

· 2mo ago

CISA Releases Guidance Urging Water Treatment Facilities to Disconnect Equipment From the Internet https://www.privacyguides.org/news/2026/07/31/cisa-releases-guidance-urging-water-treatment-facilities-to-disconnect-equipment-from-the-internet/ #Privacy #News #PrivacyGuides

CISA Releases Guidance Urging Water Treatment Facilities to Disconnect Equipment From the Internet

CISA released an urgent message warning water utilities to disconnect their logic controllers from the internet in the face of rising cyberattacks.

https://www.privacyguides.org/press-releases/2026/03/03/privacy-guides-launches-a-new-activism-section/

· 7mo ago

Press Release: Privacy Guides launches a new Activism section (March 3, 2026)

#PrivacyGuides #Activism #Privacy #DigitalRights

Privacy Guides launches a new Activism section

Privacy Guides launched a new Activism section on Tuesday, March 3, to support the digital rights community in its privacy advocacy and activism effort, both for individuals and organizations.

https://www.privacyguides.org/news/2026/04/15/mastodon-to-get-e2ee-for-private-messages-thanks-to-sovereign-tech-fund/

· 6mo ago

Mastodon to Get E2EE for Private Messages Thanks to Sovereign Tech Fund

Mastodon to Get E2EE for Private Messages Thanks to Sovereign Tech Fund

Mastodon announced they were awarded a €614k service agreement by the Sovereign Tech Fund to fund the development of new features and improvements, including end-to-end encrypted private messages.

https://www.privacyguides.org/news/2026/04/01/grandma-wrongly-arrested-due-to-facial-recognition-software-finally-released-after-months-in-jail/

· 6mo ago

Grandma Wrongly Arrested Due to Facial Recognition Software Finally Released After Months in Jail

Grandma Wrongly Arrested Due to Facial Recognition Software Finally Released After Months in Jail

Angela Lipps, an innocent, 50-year-old grandma who was arrested after wrongfully being identified by facial recognition software, has finally been released.

https://www.privacyguides.org/news/2026/03/24/french-aircraft-carrier-located-in-real-time-via-fitness-app/

· 6mo ago

French Aircraft Carrier Located in Real Time Via Fitness App

French Aircraft Carrier Located in Real Time Via Fitness App

French newspaper Le Monde was able to locate a French aircraft carrier in real time using publicly available profile information of a French Navy officer on the fitness app Strava.

https://www.privacyguides.org/news/2026/03/30/systemd-offers-optional-age-verification/

· 6mo ago

Systemd Offers Optional Age Verification

Systemd Offers Optional Age Verification

Many in the privacy and FOSS communities see the move as capitulation to draconian and invasive laws, despite developer assurances.

https://www.privacyguides.org/news/2026/04/22/madison-square-garden-facial-recognition-surveillance-used-to-ban-and-track-people-around/

· 5mo ago

Madison Square Garden Facial Recognition Surveillance Used to Ban and Track People Around

Madison Square Garden Facial Recognition Surveillance Used to Ban and Track People Around

According to WIRED, Madison Square Garden’s incredibly invasive facial recognition system has been used to ban critics of the stadium and even track a trans woman around who did nothing wrong.

https://www.privacyguides.org/news/2026/03/19/intels-fully-homomorphic-encryption-chip-could-revolutionize-privacy/

· 6mo ago

Intel’s Fully Homomorphic Encryption Chip Could Revolutionize Privacy

Intel’s Fully Homomorphic Encryption Chip Could Revolutionize Privacy

Intel’s hardware-accelerated Fully-Homomorphic Encryption chip, Heracles, could bring fully E2EE server-side processing into viability.

https://www.privacyguides.org/news/2026/03/26/android-17-is-getting-a-post-quantum-cryptography-upgrade/

· 6mo ago

Android 17 is Getting a Post Quantum Cryptography Upgrade

Android 17 is Getting a Post Quantum Cryptography Upgrade

Following their shortening of the deadline to implement post-quantum encryption to 2029, Google today announced the “first phase” of its post-quantum transition.

https://www.privacyguides.org/news/2026/03/31/ios-26-5-beta-supports-rcs-end-to-end-encryption/

· 6mo ago

iOS 26.5 Beta Supports RCS End-to-End Encryption

iOS 26.5 Beta Supports RCS End-to-End Encryption

Cross-platform end-to-end encryption in RCS may finally be coming to iOS, as the new iOS 26.5 beta released by Apple has end-to-end encryption support.

https://www.privacyguides.org/news/2026/03/30/walmart-promises-digital-price-labels-in-every-store-by-end-of-year/

· 6mo ago

Walmart Promises Digital Price Labels In Every Store By End Of Year

Walmart Promises Digital Price Labels In Every Store By End Of Year

While convenient and efficient, the move raises concerns about a potential "slippery slope" of data abuses.

https://www.privacyguides.org/news/2026/02/27/notepad-s-new-update-system-is-robust-and-effectively-unexploitable/

· 7mo ago

Notepad++’s New Update System is “Robust and Effectively Unexploitable”

#Privacy #News #PrivacyGuides #SecurityVulnerability

Notepad++’s New Update System is “Robust and Effectively Unexploitable”

Notepad++ has released a blog post describing the security enhancements they’ve made since the state-sponsored hack earlier this month, highlighting their new “double lock” update mechanism.

https://www.privacyguides.org/news/2026/03/22/severe-meta-cybersecurity-incident-caused-by-ai-agent/

· 6mo ago

Severe Meta Cybersecurity Incident Caused by AI Agent

Severe Meta Cybersecurity Incident Caused by AI Agent

The Information reports that a cybersecurity incident classified as the second-highest severity level Sev 1 occurred due to an AI agent similar to OpenClaw.

https://www.privacyguides.org/news/2026/03/20/pokemon-go-players-data-used-to-train-visual-positioning-ai/

· 6mo ago

Pokémon Go Players’ Data Used to Train “Visual Positioning” AI

Pokémon Go Players’ Data Used to Train “Visual Positioning” AI

Niantic spinoff, Niantic Spatial, used over 30 billion images taken by users of Pokemon Go to train its “visual positioning” system to help robots navigate the world.

https://www.privacyguides.org/news/2026/04/05/okcupid-settles-after-selling-3-million-photos-to-a-facial-recognition-company/

· 6mo ago

OkCupid Settles After Selling 3 Million Photos to a Facial Recognition Company

OkCupid Settles After Selling 3 Million Photos to a Facial Recognition Company

The FTC has determined that OkCupid and their owner Match Group don’t have to pay a fine after settling a case in which they shared 3 million user photos and location information to a facial recognition firm.

https://www.privacyguides.org/news/2026/03/03/meta-smart-glasses-sending-sensitive-recordings-to-workers-to-annotate/

· 7mo ago

Meta Smart Glasses Sending Sensitive Recordings to Workers to Annotate

#Privacy #News #PrivacyGuides #Meta

Meta Smart Glasses Sending Sensitive Recordings to Workers to Annotate

According to a report by SVD, Meta’s Ray-Ban AI Smart Glasses have been sending sensitive recordings of people, including “bank details, sex and naked people,” to outsourced companies to review and annotate.

https://www.privacyguides.org/news/2026/03/02/spyware-maker-sentenced-to-prison/

· 7mo ago

Spyware Maker Sentenced to Prison

#Privacy #News #PrivacyGuides #Malware

Spyware Maker Sentenced to Prison

The founder, Tal Dilian, and three other executives of Intellexa, a collective of spyware makers responsible for what was dubbed “Greek Watergate” have been sentenced to eight years in prison.

https://www.privacyguides.org/news/2026/02/27/burger-king-is-rolling-out-ai-in-employees-headsets-to-track-their-friendliness/

· 7mo ago

Burger King is Rolling Out AI in Employees’ Headsets to Track Their Friendliness

#Privacy #News #PrivacyGuides #AI

privacyguides.org

https://www.privacyguides.org/news/2026/03/22/big-tech-creates-accord-against-online-scams-fraud/

· 6mo ago

Big Tech Creates “Accord Against Online Scams & Fraud”

Big Tech Creates “Accord Against Online Scams & Fraud”

Eleven companies have signed an accord to address the growing issue of “online scams and fraud,” with the notable exclusion of Apple.

https://www.privacyguides.org/news/2026/03/21/fbi-seeks-info-from-gamers-who-installed-malware-from-steam/

· 6mo ago

FBI Seeks Info from Gamers Who Installed Malware from Steam

FBI Seeks Info from Gamers Who Installed Malware from Steam

Steam was used to spread malware via several games, and the FBI Seattle division has announced that they’re seeking information from those affected.

https://www.privacyguides.org/news/2026/03/20/data-breach-roundup-mar-13-19-2026/

· 6mo ago

Data Breach Roundup (Mar 13-19, 2026)

Data Breach Roundup (Mar 13-19, 2026)

Once more from the "irony" department: an "identity protection" company falling for a phishing attack.

https://www.privacyguides.org/news/2026/03/20/data-breach-roundup-mar-6-mar-12-2026/

· 6mo ago

Data Breach Roundup (Mar 6 - Mar 12, 2026)

Data Breach Roundup (Mar 6 - Mar 12, 2026)

This was a busy week for data breaches featuring Starbucks, Loblaw, DOGE, and many more.

https://www.privacyguides.org/news/2026/03/20/kadnap-botnet-hijacks-asus-routers/

· 6mo ago

KadNap Botnet Hijacks Asus Routers

KadNap Botnet Hijacks Asus Routers

The Black Lotus Team at Lumen has discovered a new malware strain called KadNap that has been creating a botnet of Asus routers since at least August 2025.

https://www.privacyguides.org/news/2026/03/18/instagram-ending-e2ee-support/

· 6mo ago

Instagram Ending E2EE Support

Instagram Ending E2EE Support

Instagram has notified its users that it will no longer support E2EE after May 8, 2026, according to the support page for the feature.

https://www.privacyguides.org/news/2026/03/07/coruna-malware-targeting-ios-spotted-by-google-threat-intelligence/

· 7mo ago

Coruna Malware Targeting iOS Spotted by Google Threat Intelligence

#Privacy #News #PrivacyGuides #Malware #iOS

Coruna Malware Targeting iOS Spotted by Google Threat Intelligence

Google Threat Intelligence Group has identified a “powerful exploit kit” targeting iPhones running iOS 13.0 to 17.2.1 used by a surveillance company and crypto-stealing sites.

https://www.privacyguides.org/news/2026/03/04/tiktok-wont-add-e2ee-for-user-safety/

· 7mo ago

TikTok Won’t Add E2EE for User Safety

TikTok Won’t Add E2EE for User Safety

TikTok told the BBC that it will not be rolling out end-to-end encrypted DMs, citing user safety as a concern.

https://www.privacyguides.org/news/2026/03/02/samsung-forced-to-halt-data-collection-in-tvs-in-texas-without-express-consent/

· 7mo ago

Samsung Forced to Halt Data Collection in TVs in Texas Without “Express Consent”

#Privacy #News #PrivacyGuides #Samsung

Samsung Forced to Halt Data Collection in TVs in Texas Without “Express Consent”

Attorney General of Texas Ken Paxton secured an agreement with Samsung that “will ensure Samsung no longer collects Automated Content Recognition (“ACR”) data without consumers being fully informed and consenting prior to any information being collected.”

https://www.privacyguides.org/news/2026/02/28/android-17-beta-introduces-the-contact-picker-and-the-local-network-permission/

· 7mo ago

Android 17 Beta Introduces the Contact Picker and the Local Network Permission

#Privacy #News #PrivacyGuides #Android

privacyguides.org

https://www.privacyguides.org/news/2026/02/27/samsung-launches-new-privacy-display-to-protect-your-screen/

· 7mo ago

Samsung Launches New “Privacy Display” to Protect Your Screen

#Privacy #News #PrivacyGuides #Android

privacyguides.org

https://www.privacyguides.org/news/2026/04/02/macos-26-4-brings-new-terminal-security-feature-to-stop-malicious-commands/

· 6mo ago

macOS 26.4 Brings New Terminal Security Feature to Stop Malicious Commands

macOS 26.4 Brings New Terminal Security Feature to Stop Malicious Commands

macOS 26.4 is now out, and with it comes a new feature in the Terminal app to help prevent malicious commands pasted into the terminal from running.

https://www.privacyguides.org/news/2026/03/27/vizio-tvs-will-now-require-a-walmart-account/

· 6mo ago

Vizio TVs Will Now Require a Walmart Account

Vizio TVs Will Now Require a Walmart Account

After being bought out by Walmart in 2024, “select new Vizio OS TVs“ will require a Walmart account to function properly, a representative told Ars Technica.

https://www.privacyguides.org/news/2026/03/27/data-breach-roundup-mar-20-26-2026/

· 6mo ago

Data Breach Roundup (Mar 20 - 26, 2026)

Data Breach Roundup (Mar 20 - 26, 2026)

This week saw breaches from anime streaming service Crunchyroll, carmaker Mazda, cybersecurity company HackerOne, and a new hacker group called "Internet Yiff Machine." No, really.

https://www.privacyguides.org/news/2026/03/19/uk-corporate-registry-exposes-personal-information-of-employees/

· 6mo ago

UK Corporate Registry Exposes Personal Information of Employees

UK Corporate Registry Exposes Personal Information of Employees

The UK’s Companies House alerted the public of a security issue that allowed other users to access “dates of birth, residential addresses and company email addresses.”

https://www.privacyguides.org/news/2026/03/09/data-breach-roundup-feb-20-feb-26-2026-2/

· 7mo ago

Data Breach Roundup (Feb 27 – Mar 5, 2026)

Data Breach Roundup (Feb 27 – Mar 5, 2026)

A lighter than normal week, but still we saw LexisNexis, a global paint maker, and more get hit, plus an update to the UH Cancer Center's breach.

https://www.privacyguides.org/news/2026/04/03/data-breach-roundup-mar-27-apr-2-2026/

· 6mo ago

Data Breach Roundup (Mar 27 - Apr 2, 2026)

Data Breach Roundup (Mar 27 - Apr 2, 2026)

FBI Director Kash Patel's emails, heath tech companies, and the European Commission are some of this week's most notable data breaches.

https://www.privacyguides.org/news/2026/03/10/ai-agents-beginning-to-help-attackers-accelerate-stealing-your-data/

· 7mo ago

AI Agents Beginning to Help Attackers Accelerate Stealing Your Data

#Privacy #News #PrivacyGuides #AI

AI Agents Beginning to Help Attackers Accelerate Stealing Your Data

While generation of malicious code, media, and phishing material are already making heavy use of AI, threat actors are “experimenting” with AI agents to automate decision making.

https://www.privacyguides.org/news/2026/03/06/new-jvg-quantum-decryption-algorithm-could-pose-risk-to-classical-encryption/

· 7mo ago

New JVG Quantum Decryption Algorithm Could Pose Risk to Classical Encryption

#Privacy #News #PrivacyGuides #Security

New JVG Quantum Decryption Algorithm Could Pose Risk to Classical Encryption

A new quantum decryption algorithm called JVG could significantly reduce the amount of resources needed to decrypt classical RSA encryption that we’ve been relying on for decades.

https://www.privacyguides.org/news/2026/03/02/clawjacked-vulnerability-allows-malicious-websites-to-take-control-of-openclaw/

· 7mo ago

“ClawJacked” Vulnerability Allows Malicious Websites to Take Control of OpenClaw

#Privacy #News #PrivacyGuides #AI #SecurityVulnerability