Arkansas just added digital IDs to Apple Wallet. Other states are right behind them. Improperly implemented, digital ID could put you at serious risk of breaches and tracking. Push for state laws that protect your identity online, not ones that put it in jeopardy.

California just handed a leading automaker a record $12.75 million settlement for allegedly selling drivers' location and behavior data to data brokers. The penalty falls short when you realize that same automaker made roughly $20 million from that data, but it's a step in the right direction.

Meta's Muse Image uses your Instagram account to make AI-content. Opt out: Settings > Sharing and reuse > turn off "Allow people to create with and reuse your content on Instagram and with AI features on Meta" AND "Allow people to create with and reuse your original audio on #meta AI" #MuseImages

This is probably no surprise to anyone who has used a chatbot, but ChatGPT's recommendations aren't always trustworthy. Sometimes, it recommends scam products and websites. Read about how to recognize and avoid these threats: https://joindeleteme.com/blog/threat-alert-chatgpt-shopping-scams/

One text. Two confirmed facts. Zero phone calls answered. On this What the Hack clip, Nicholas O describes how he pulled a number from a data broker, posed as a fake producer, and texted Ethan Merritt's sister. She wrote back. Hear what happened next: https://bit.ly/4wySiQc

When your personal information is exposed on people-search sites like FastBackgroundCheck, that increases your risk for scams, identity theft, and stalking. Check out our comprehensive, updated guide to opt out from FastBackgroundCheck and reclaim your privacy: https://bit.ly/4dZqgH7

All four flags: captured on the latest What the Hack episode. The toughest discovery wasn't about Ethan. It was realizing how exposed his sister was, thanks to relatives' jobs and posts. You protect yourself online when you protect your loved ones. Hear more: https://bit.ly/4wySiQc

We're going to keep saying it. Your data should belong to you, not to companies that will sell it to anyone who pays. Take back control and remove your personal information: joindeleteme.com

Ethan Merritt is a What the Hack alum. This time he's the target: find 4 flags using only public data. In this clip, Nicholas O explains why a last name is a skeleton key for hackers. Ethan's left him exposed. Hear how it played out: https://bit.ly/4wySiQc

Employment scams doubled in 2025, says the BBB. Scammers flood text messages, social media DMs, and email inboxes with fake job offers. They often impersonate well-known companies to gain your trust. Remove your data to make yourself less of a target and research before you click.

Happy 4th of July from the DeleteMe team! 🎆 Today, we're celebrating the policymakers and public officials who continue to advocate for the individual right to data privacy. Exercise that right starting here: joindeleteme.com

New privacy laws in many states require data brokers to let you opt out. Unfortunately, they still find ways to make it difficult. We make it easier, no broken windows or skyscrapers involved: joindeleteme.com

Most states have laws regulating deepfakes or outlawing nonconsensual deepfake pornography. Three states lag behind: Alaska, Missouri, and Ohio. If you live in one of these states, advocate for yourself. Call lawmakers and support organizations that fight for AI regulation.

As the 4th of July approaches, scammers are ready to exploit your holiday spirit. Watch out for big discounts on social media or random texts. These links often lead to lookalike websites designed solely to harvest your information. Stick to trusted retailers and verify charities before donating.

Surveillance pricing already lets online retailers adjust prices in real time based on your personal data. Now, physical stores want to do the same based on facial recognition and purchase history. Fortunately, some states are fighting back. More: https://joindeleteme.com/blog/surveillance-pricing/

You may think it's harmless to ask ChatGPT for help with a menial task, but if you're putting company information into a tool your team hasn't licensed and approved, you might be putting your whole organization at risk. The solution? Stop. Hear more from What the Hack: https://bit.ly/44DCVKc

Maryland passed the first state law banning surveillance pricing this year. That means retailers can’t raise prices based on your personal data. Now other states have a model to follow. Start calling policymakers and advocating for fair pricing.

How long do you think it would take for bad actors to hack a system with the help of AI? This week on What the Hack, host Beau Friedlander and fighter pilot cadet turned hacker turned cybersecurity pro Tal Kollender answer that question and much more: https://bit.ly/44DCVKc

The Iowa Consumer Data Protection Act provides Iowans with the right to opt out of the sale of their personal data on broker sites. That’s good news for residents who want to be harder to find online. Check your exposure: joindeleteme.com/scan

The Delaware Personal Data Privacy Act requires businesses to recognize universal opt-out mechanisms as of January 1, 2026. Delaware residents also have unique protections for sensitive data. Exercise your rights and opt out wherever you can: joindeleteme.com

The data broker business has always relied on the consumer not taking action. Consumers are fighting back, and we're right there with them. Read more: https://joindeleteme.com/blog/data-brokers-are-working-on-borrowed-time/

Rhode Island’s Data Transparency and Privacy Protection Act is now live as of January 1, 2026. Unlike many other states, Rhode Island’s law does not include a "right to cure" period, meaning the state can go after businesses immediately for violations.

The Oregon Consumer Privacy Act introduced a major change on January 1, 2026: businesses must now honor universal opt-out signals from your browser. Oregonians can also request a specific list of third parties that have received their personal data.

Indiana’s Consumer Data Protection Act is in effect as of January 1, 2026. It grants residents the right to access, correct, and delete their data. That means if you live in Indiana, data brokers must comply with opt-out requests. Start by checking your exposure: joindeleteme.com/scan

Do you know your rights? The Right to Correct allows you to demand that a company fix inaccurate or outdated personal information they hold about you. This helps you make sure that data companies use for background checks or credit decisions is actually correct.

A Universal Opt-Out Mechanism (UOOM) is a technical setting, like Global Privacy Control, that automatically sends an opt-out signal to every website you visit. Several states now require businesses to recognize these signals to make privacy easier for you. Check your browser settings.

One compromised account. Six million travelers exposed. 🚢 Carnival Corporation’s massive data breach shows that your organization's security is still only as strong as its most attackable surface: people. Less exposed personal data = a much smaller attack surface. joindeleteme.com/business

Your digital footprint is a script for AI scammers. Travel plans, school names, and short video clips provide all the "intel" cybercriminals need to impersonate you. Reduce your risk. Delete old social media posts and check your exposure on broker sites: joindeleteme.com/scan

AI-powered "whaling" lets cybercriminals easily analyze and impersonate the C-suite at your company. This makes it almost impossible to tell the difference between a real request and a fake one. Verify all financial moves via a phone call or in-person.

Social media phishing has reached a new level of precision. AI tools analyze your LinkedIn or Facebook data to reference your specific job title and recent posts and gain your trust. Share less. Staying safe starts with being harder to find.

Scammers deploy AI chatbots on fake websites that mimic real customer support. These bots guide you into revealing card details or login info. Always navigate to a company’s official URL directly. Never click a "support" link in an email or text.

Deepfake abuse is a sharp edge of digital violence, and current laws struggle to keep up. Platforms are often slow to remove AI-generated abuse without a court order. The best defense is a proactive one: limit the amount of high-quality photos and videos you share publicly and keep profiles private.

A new cybercrime tactic called "ChatGPhish" turns everyday AI tools into phishing traps. 🎣 Treat AI summaries like potential phishing emails. A single malicious webpage could compromise your data before you even realize what happened.

Data brokers are the "hidden hand" behind AI-powered vishing. They provide the phone numbers and family links scammers need to execute voice cloning and impersonation attacks. Starve the scammers. Remove your contact info from broker databases now.

Default app settings are the biggest privacy-killers. Many use your data to train AI tools by default. Some share your data with advertisers to “personalize” outputs, never mind the way your location data is being mined. Change app settings now.

Travel scams. Social media scams. Romance fraud. If you're findable online, you're a target. Avoid the headache of untangling yourself from a scammer. Lock down your digital footprint and make yourself harder to find and harder to hit. Start at joindeleteme.com

The "World Project" wants you to scan your eye, your ID, or your face to verify you’re not an AI agent so you can access dating and ticket sale apps: A solution brought to you by the folks who caused the problem. Don’t take the bait.

Scammers use AI to spearphish. All they need is your professional data from people search site to personalize emails in any language. Reduce your online data footprint to make yourself a harder target to hit.

#Claude uses your chats to improve its model. If you want to turn off that feature, head to Settings > Privacy and turn off “Help improve Claude.” You can also use the “Incognito Chat” feature, which doesn’t save your conversation or use it for training.

Don’t want #ChatGPT to use your personal conversations for training? Navigate to Settings > Data Controls and turn off “Improve the model for everyone.” For extra privacy, use the "Temporary Chat" feature to ensure your history isn't saved at all.

Congratulatory gifts and deals can be the starting point of a major scam or phishing threat. Remove your info online to make yourself harder to find: joindeleteme.com

As you begin student loan repayment, scammers posing as the Department of Education may offer to help you "jump to the front of the line" for forgiveness—for a fee. Legitimate government agencies and loan servicers will never charge you for help or demand payment via text, gift cards, or crypto.

Connecticut just signed a major data privacy expansion into law. It forces data brokers into an official registry, restricts license plate readers, and bans the sale of consumer geolocation data. Clearly, more states are finally ready to draw a clear line in the sand for consumer autonomy

Verify before you rent. Young adults are three times more likely to lose money to rental scams according to the FTC. Never wire money before an in-person tour. A landlord who claims they are "abroad" and can't show the unit is a major red flag.

2026 job scams aimed at new graduates are increasingly sophisticated. They use AI to create flawless, personalized phishing emails and fake recruiter profiles. Be wary of too-good-to-be-true offers that bypass standard interviews or ask you to pay upfront fees for "office equipment" or training.

Audit your extensions like you audit your apps. On Chrome or Edge, go to the "Extensions" menu and revoke access for any tool that doesn't strictly need to see your web traffic. Use a reputable security tool to scan for hidden spyware. #spyware #onlinesafety

Beware of "hijacked" extensions. A popular tool can fall into the hands of a new owner who pushes an update containing malware or spyware. If a simple extension suddenly requests broad new permissions, uninstall. #OnlineSafety

Browser extensions can improve your web experience, but many request permissions to "read and change all your data on the websites you visit.” This allows them to capture sensitive info. Always audit permissions before install. #Cybersecurity #OnlineSafety

Election cycles present attractive opportunities for cybercriminals. They use voter registration databases and data brokers to target individuals with fake updates and donation requests. Don’t get got. Opt out from people search sites. Start here: joindeleteme.com/

Cyber is the #1 global people risk in 2026, says Marsh's 2026 People Risk Report. Attackers use exposed personal data to bypass security training with hyper-personalized scams. Reduce your company's risk: lock down your employees' digital footprints and personal devices. joindeleteme.com/business