Happy new year, compute carefully

Just some notes to remind you to compute carefully in 2025.

1. In the past I recommended Gmail to people because it does some spam detection, but now Gmail is being exploited to hack people. If you get a (fake) call ostensibly from Google or (fake) notices that your Google account is being attacked, run. Don't click anything. https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2025/01/03/new-gmail-outlook-apple-mail-warning-2025-hacking-nightmare-is-coming-true/?

2. If anybody says "now with AI," run. They are not giving you something wonderful for free.

3. I have stopped using Google Chrome except for testing web page changes. I avoid "Chrome Browser Extensions" because they have been hacked to do bad things.

4. 2.6 million devices have been backdoored with credential stealing malware. Don't be a victim. https://therecord.media/hackers-target-vpn-ai-extensions-google-chrome-malicious-updates

Source: Tom Van Vleck via The Risks Digest