Got a ‘ShinyHunters’ Sextortion Email? It’s a Bluff. Here’s Proof. | Tech Journal
Quick Answer A sextortion email claiming to be from ShinyHunters, demanding $2,000 in Bitcoin, is a bluff. Scammers took your email address from a past data breach and are using the group’s name to sound credible. There is no video, no malware, and no access to your device. Do not pay, do not reply,…
https://techjournal.org/shinyhunters-sextortion-email-scam
Quick Answer A sextortion email claiming to be from ShinyHunters, demanding $2,000 in Bitcoin, is a bluff. Scammers took your email address from a past data breach and are using the group’s name to sound credible. There is no video, no malware, and no access to your device. Do not pay, do not reply,…
https://techjournal.org/shinyhunters-sextortion-email-scam
Your ‘Shared’ AI Chats Can Show Up in Google. How to Check. | Tech Journal
Quick Answer Shared AI chat links are public web pages, and some have been found in Google search results. Over the weekend of July 26, 2026, users discovered shared Claude conversations and Artifacts through a Google search, the latest in a pattern that has also affected ChatGPT and Grok. If you have ever shared…
https://techjournal.org/claude-shared-chats-google-search
Quick Answer Shared AI chat links are public web pages, and some have been found in Google search results. Over the weekend of July 26, 2026, users discovered shared Claude conversations and Artifacts through a Google search, the latest in a pattern that has also affected ChatGPT and Grok. If you have ever shared…
https://techjournal.org/claude-shared-chats-google-search
Windows 11 Can Now Pause Updates Forever. Should You? | Tech Journal
Quick Answer Windows 11’s July 2026 update replaces the old pause dropdown with a calendar picker in Settings, then Windows Update. You can pause updates for any date up to 35 days out, and extend it repeatedly, which effectively pauses updates indefinitely. It works, but leaving security updates off long-term exposes your PC, so…
https://techjournal.org/pause-windows-11-updates-indefinitely
Quick Answer Windows 11’s July 2026 update replaces the old pause dropdown with a calendar picker in Settings, then Windows Update. You can pause updates for any date up to 35 days out, and extend it repeatedly, which effectively pauses updates indefinitely. It works, but leaving security updates off long-term exposes your PC, so…
https://techjournal.org/pause-windows-11-updates-indefinitely
Is It Safe to Connect Your Medical Records to ChatGPT Health? | Tech Journal
Quick Answer ChatGPT Health is reasonably safe for general use, but connecting real medical records carries one tradeoff most coverage skips: once your records leave your provider, they lose HIPAA protection and are governed by OpenAI’s terms instead. OpenAI says it will not use the data to train models or target ads. Decide with…
https://techjournal.org/is-chatgpt-health-safe
Quick Answer ChatGPT Health is reasonably safe for general use, but connecting real medical records carries one tradeoff most coverage skips: once your records leave your provider, they lose HIPAA protection and are governed by OpenAI’s terms instead. OpenAI says it will not use the data to train models or target ads. Decide with…
https://techjournal.org/is-chatgpt-health-safe
Nvidia’s New AI Security Alliance Left Out the Three Biggest Labs | Tech Journal
Quick Answer Nvidia launched the Open Secure AI Alliance on July 27, 2026, with more than 30 companies, including Microsoft, IBM, SpaceX, and Hugging Face, to build open-source AI security tools. The three largest closed-model labs, OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic, are absent. The split largely tracks a business-model divide over open versus closed AI.…
https://techjournal.org/open-secure-ai-alliance
Quick Answer Nvidia launched the Open Secure AI Alliance on July 27, 2026, with more than 30 companies, including Microsoft, IBM, SpaceX, and Hugging Face, to build open-source AI security tools. The three largest closed-model labs, OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic, are absent. The split largely tracks a business-model divide over open versus closed AI.…
https://techjournal.org/open-secure-ai-alliance
‘Hey ChatGPT’ on Android Is Coming to Europe. Will the US Get It? | Tech Journal
Quick Answer The EU ordered Google on July 16, 2026 to give rival AI assistants like ChatGPT and Claude the same deep Android access it reserves for Gemini, with changes due by mid-2027. This is EU-only, so US Android phones are not affected yet. Whether the US follows depends on separate American antitrust cases,…
https://techjournal.org/eu-google-android-rival-ai-assistants
Quick Answer The EU ordered Google on July 16, 2026 to give rival AI assistants like ChatGPT and Claude the same deep Android access it reserves for Gemini, with changes due by mid-2027. This is EU-only, so US Android phones are not affected yet. Whether the US follows depends on separate American antitrust cases,…
https://techjournal.org/eu-google-android-rival-ai-assistants
‘Hey ChatGPT’ on Android Is Coming to Europe. Will the US Get It? | Tech Journal
Quick Answer The EU ordered Google on July 16, 2026 to give rival AI assistants like ChatGPT and Claude the same deep Android access it reserves for Gemini, with changes due by mid-2027. This is EU-only, so US Android phones are not affected yet. Whether the US follows depends on separate American antitrust cases,…
https://techjournal.org/eu-google-android-rival-ai-assistants-2
Quick Answer The EU ordered Google on July 16, 2026 to give rival AI assistants like ChatGPT and Claude the same deep Android access it reserves for Gemini, with changes due by mid-2027. This is EU-only, so US Android phones are not affected yet. Whether the US follows depends on separate American antitrust cases,…
https://techjournal.org/eu-google-android-rival-ai-assistants-2
Malware Is Scanning Your Phone Photos for Crypto Seed Phrases | Tech Journal
Quick Answer SparkKitty is malware that scans the photos on iPhone and Android devices for cryptocurrency seed phrases, using text recognition to read them straight from screenshots. It spreads through infected apps, some of which reached official app stores. The core lesson is simple: a screenshot of your recovery phrase is the vulnerability, so…
https://techjournal.org/sparkkitty-crypto-seed-phrase-photo-malware
Quick Answer SparkKitty is malware that scans the photos on iPhone and Android devices for cryptocurrency seed phrases, using text recognition to read them straight from screenshots. It spreads through infected apps, some of which reached official app stores. The core lesson is simple: a screenshot of your recovery phrase is the vulnerability, so…
https://techjournal.org/sparkkitty-crypto-seed-phrase-photo-malware
Samsung’s New AI Health Assistant: Useful, or Just Confident? | Tech Journal
Quick Answer Samsung Health Assistant is a new AI chatbot, in beta for eligible US users, that reads your Galaxy wearable data and answers questions about your sleep, activity, and vitals. It is useful for making sense of scattered numbers, but it inherits the accuracy limits of the underlying wearables, so treat its confident…
https://techjournal.org/samsung-health-assistant-ai-safe
Quick Answer Samsung Health Assistant is a new AI chatbot, in beta for eligible US users, that reads your Galaxy wearable data and answers questions about your sleep, activity, and vitals. It is useful for making sense of scattered numbers, but it inherits the accuracy limits of the underlying wearables, so treat its confident…
https://techjournal.org/samsung-health-assistant-ai-safe
Your Windows 11 PC May Stop Getting Security Updates on October 13 | Tech Journal
Quick Answer Windows 11 version 24H2 Home and Pro editions stop receiving security updates on October 13, 2026. To stay protected, upgrade to version 25H2, which is free, runs on the same codebase, and installs like a quick switch rather than a full reinstall. Check your version under Settings, then System, then About, and…
https://techjournal.org/windows-11-24h2-end-of-support
Quick Answer Windows 11 version 24H2 Home and Pro editions stop receiving security updates on October 13, 2026. To stay protected, upgrade to version 25H2, which is free, runs on the same codebase, and installs like a quick switch rather than a full reinstall. Check your version under Settings, then System, then About, and…
https://techjournal.org/windows-11-24h2-end-of-support
ChatGPT Custom Instructions Just Tripled. Here’s How to Use Them. | Tech Journal
Quick Answer ChatGPT raised its custom instructions limit to 5,000 characters, up from 1,500, for Plus, Pro, Enterprise, Business, and Education users. Custom instructions are a standing brief that shapes every answer, so the extra room lets you specify your role, preferences, and output format once instead of repeating them. Set them under Settings,…
https://techjournal.org/chatgpt-custom-instructions-guide
Quick Answer ChatGPT raised its custom instructions limit to 5,000 characters, up from 1,500, for Plus, Pro, Enterprise, Business, and Education users. Custom instructions are a standing brief that shapes every answer, so the extra room lets you specify your role, preferences, and output format once instead of repeating them. Set them under Settings,…
https://techjournal.org/chatgpt-custom-instructions-guide
Apple Upgrade Lets You Lease an iPhone. Is It Worth It? | Tech Journal
Quick Answer Apple Upgrade is a new US leasing program, run through Klarna, that lets you pay monthly for an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch and swap or return it at the end. It suits people who always want the newest device, but you do not own the hardware while leasing, so it…
https://techjournal.org/is-apple-upgrade-worth-it
Quick Answer Apple Upgrade is a new US leasing program, run through Klarna, that lets you pay monthly for an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch and swap or return it at the end. It suits people who always want the newest device, but you do not own the hardware while leasing, so it…
https://techjournal.org/is-apple-upgrade-worth-it
Apple Upgrade Lets You Lease an iPhone. Is It Worth It? | Tech Journal
Quick Answer Apple Upgrade is a new US leasing program, run through Klarna, that lets you pay monthly for an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch and swap or return it at the end. It suits people who always want the newest device, but you do not own the hardware while leasing, so it…
https://techjournal.org/is-apple-upgrade-worth-it-2
Quick Answer Apple Upgrade is a new US leasing program, run through Klarna, that lets you pay monthly for an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch and swap or return it at the end. It suits people who always want the newest device, but you do not own the hardware while leasing, so it…
https://techjournal.org/is-apple-upgrade-worth-it-2
Getting an Ad After Every Phone Call? Here’s What’s Happening | Tech Journal
Quick Answer Ads that appear right after you end a call come from a hidden app abusing Android’s “display over other apps” permission. Researchers named the pattern AfterCall. The app disguises itself as an alarm clock, calendar, or cleaner, watches for your call to end, then shows a full-screen ad. Fixing it means finding…
https://techjournal.org/aftercall-ads-android
Quick Answer Ads that appear right after you end a call come from a hidden app abusing Android’s “display over other apps” permission. Researchers named the pattern AfterCall. The app disguises itself as an alarm clock, calendar, or cleaner, watches for your call to end, then shows a full-screen ad. Fixing it means finding…
https://techjournal.org/aftercall-ads-android
‘FTC Agents’ Are Texting About Your Refund. It’s a Scam. | Tech Journal
Quick Answer A text or message from an “FTC agent” offering to recover money you lost is a scam, because the FTC has no agents and never contacts people this way. Scammers send fake photo IDs and badge numbers to seem real, then ask for money or personal details. The safe move is simple:…
https://techjournal.org/fake-ftc-agents-scam
Quick Answer A text or message from an “FTC agent” offering to recover money you lost is a scam, because the FTC has no agents and never contacts people this way. Scammers send fake photo IDs and badge numbers to seem real, then ask for money or personal details. The safe move is simple:…
https://techjournal.org/fake-ftc-agents-scam
WhatsApp Usernames Are Here: Reserve Yours and Hide Your Number | Tech Journal
Quick Answer WhatsApp usernames let you chat with new people without sharing your phone number. You can reserve a username now, before the full feature launches later in 2026, under Settings, then Account, then Username. Your number still exists but stays hidden from people who only have your username, which is a real privacy…
https://techjournal.org/whatsapp-username-reserve
Quick Answer WhatsApp usernames let you chat with new people without sharing your phone number. You can reserve a username now, before the full feature launches later in 2026, under Settings, then Account, then Username. Your number still exists but stays hidden from people who only have your username, which is a real privacy…
https://techjournal.org/whatsapp-username-reserve
Pixel Stuck in a Boot Loop? Google’s July Update Finally Fixes It | Tech Journal
Quick Answer Google’s July 2026 Pixel update, build CP2A.260705.006, fixes the Android 17 boot loop that left some Pixel 6 through Pixel 10 phones stuck on the Google logo. Install it under Settings, then System, then Software updates. If your phone is already stuck and cannot update normally, the Pixel Repair Tool can rescue…
https://techjournal.org/pixel-boot-loop-fix
Quick Answer Google’s July 2026 Pixel update, build CP2A.260705.006, fixes the Android 17 boot loop that left some Pixel 6 through Pixel 10 phones stuck on the Google logo. Install it under Settings, then System, then Software updates. If your phone is already stuck and cannot update normally, the Pixel Repair Tool can rescue…
https://techjournal.org/pixel-boot-loop-fix
Getting a Text About Your Amazon Prime Refund? Read This First | Tech Journal
Quick Answer The Amazon Prime settlement refund is real, but any text, call, or email asking you to pay a fee or share bank details to get it is a scam. Real payments come automatically or through claims already filed. Neither Amazon nor the FTC will ever ask you to pay or verify card…
https://techjournal.org/amazon-prime-refund-scam
Quick Answer The Amazon Prime settlement refund is real, but any text, call, or email asking you to pay a fee or share bank details to get it is a scam. Real payments come automatically or through claims already filed. Neither Amazon nor the FTC will ever ask you to pay or verify card…
https://techjournal.org/amazon-prime-refund-scam
Update Your iPhone Now: iOS 26.6 Fixes a Risky Image Flaw | Tech Journal
Quick Answer Apple released iOS 26.6 on July 27, 2026, fixing more than 75 security flaws, including an ImageIO bug where opening a malicious image could run code on your iPhone. Apple says none were exploited in the wild, but you should still update promptly. Install it under Settings, then General, then Software Update.…
https://techjournal.org/ios-26-6-security-update
Quick Answer Apple released iOS 26.6 on July 27, 2026, fixing more than 75 security flaws, including an ImageIO bug where opening a malicious image could run code on your iPhone. Apple says none were exploited in the wild, but you should still update promptly. Install it under Settings, then General, then Software Update.…
https://techjournal.org/ios-26-6-security-update
Google’s New Age Check for Apps: How It Works and What It Shares | Tech Journal
Quick Answer Google’s Play Age Signals API lets apps learn a user’s age range, such as 13 to 15, without collecting a birthdate, ID, or selfie. Parents set the range once in Family Link, and it applies across participating apps. It is opt-in, revocable, and expanding to the US and other markets by the…
https://techjournal.org/google-play-age-signals-api
Quick Answer Google’s Play Age Signals API lets apps learn a user’s age range, such as 13 to 15, without collecting a birthdate, ID, or selfie. Parents set the range once in Family Link, and it applies across participating apps. It is opt-in, revocable, and expanding to the US and other markets by the…
https://techjournal.org/google-play-age-signals-api
The ‘AI Worm’ in Microsoft Word: What It Is and How to Stay Safe | Tech Journal
Quick Answer A security researcher showed that hidden text in a Word document can make Microsoft Copilot secretly change your file and copy the hidden instructions into new documents you create. It spreads only when someone uses an infected file with Copilot, so it is not automatic. Treat shared or downloaded documents as untrusted…
https://techjournal.org/microsoft-copilot-word-ai-worm
Quick Answer A security researcher showed that hidden text in a Word document can make Microsoft Copilot secretly change your file and copy the hidden instructions into new documents you create. It spreads only when someone uses an infected file with Copilot, so it is not automatic. Treat shared or downloaded documents as untrusted…
https://techjournal.org/microsoft-copilot-word-ai-worm