I've been writing and editing stories for almost two decades that help people use technology and productivity techniques to work better, live better, and protect their privacy and personal data. As managing editor of PCMag's security team, it's my responsibility to ensure that our product advice is evidence-based, lab-tested, and serves our readers.
I've been a technology journalist for close to 20 years, and I got my start freelancing here at PCMag before beginning a career that would lead me to become editor-in-chief of Lifehacker, a senior editor at The New York Times, and director of special projects at WIRED. I'm back at PCMag to lead our security team and renew my commitment to service journalism. I'm the author of Seen, Heard, and Paid: The New Work Rules for the Marginalized, a career and productivity book to help people of marginalized groups succeed in the workplace.
I'm writing this on a computer I built myself. It's powered by an Intel Core i7 with 32GB of RAM, 2TB of storage, and a disturbingly anime-themed NVIDIA GeForce 3070 inside (look, it was on sale). It's connected to a beautiful LG 34-inch ultrawide monitor on my left that I use for gaming (and spreadsheets) and an LG 27-inch 4K monitor in portrait mode on my right that I use for browsing, editing, and reading. Connect all of that to a Logitech Streamcam, an Elgato capture card, an Elgato Stream Deck, and an Elgato Wave:3 using the WaveLink software for mixing, and you might have figured out that I'm also a streamer.
When I'm not at my desk, I usually use a Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio, which is a little heavy for my tastes but incredible as a combination of laptop and tablet that I can use to work and game when I'm traveling. My IT-issued Lenovo Thinkpad is lovely and light, but it's on standby should I need it. My current phone is a Pixel 6 Pro.
I used to be more of an Apple person. These days, I have an iPad Air for art and easy reading and an old MacBook Pro that used to be my daily driver before the Surface entered my life.
I use Firefox for browsing, and keep a cadre of privacy tools installed to minimize my data footprint. I use Proton products both for VPN and secure email, and I trust Bitdefender and MalwareBytes to keep my data safe from harm.
A handful of Sonos speakers power the audio around my home when I'm not wearing headphones. Speaking of which, I have a collection of both wired and wireless headphones, but my daily wear is a set of Sennheiser HD6XXs that I adore. On the go, I resort to a pair of Beats Studio Buds for the true wireless experience (with a set of Comply eartips, for comfort).
If you're a gamer, ask me about my relationship with Destiny 2.
From ad-tech surveillance targeting US troops to stolen iPhones and AI-assisted cyberattacks, this week's security news showed how deeply digital tracking now affects everyone.
20 hours, 48 minutesBitwarden is in trouble, ShinyHunters shows no sign of slowing down, and GitHub got hacked (again). It's not all bad news this week, though! I'm here to walk you through it.
1 weekIt's been a rough week on the internet: The fallout from the Canvas breach continues, AI chatbots are handing out people's phone numbers, and Android giveth and taketh away (your security).
2 weeksThis week in cybersecurity news, the internet's three-way problem—password fatigue, unreliable AI tools, and expanding censorship—shows no signs of slowing down.
3 weeksProxies work differently than VPNs—and in some cases, they can route traffic with less overhead for faster browsing and data requests.
3 weeks, 3 daysHackers stole millions of customer records from ADT, scraped user data from Vimeo, and a rogue AI wiped out a company database—and that's just the tip of the infosec iceberg this week.
4 weeksThis week’s security news includes a restricted AI security tool ending up with Discord users and a $5 Bluetooth tracker being used to locate a $500 million frigate, among other incidents.
1 monthFrom stolen booking data to credential-harvesting scams, recent incidents show how quickly attackers are evolving while defenses struggle to keep up.
1 month, 1 weekThe fighting may have paused, but hackers haven't—hitting infrastructure, corporations, and everyday users alike.
1 month, 2 weeksYour iPhone might need an update, that tortoise is just fine, and yes—there might be money with your name on it.
1 month, 3 weeksThis week in cybersecurity by the numbers: Hackers hit a benefits provider, an anime streaming service, and a crime tip platform—exposing millions of sensitive records.
2 monthsFrom mobile exploits to citywide chaos, this week's biggest cybersecurity stories affect everyone—including what you pay for parking.
2 months, 1 weekThis week saw attacks on Claude Code users, LastPass users, Starlink users, and, perhaps worst of all, people who needed an ambulance. Add a dash of AI hacking, and you have another wild week in security.
2 months, 2 weeksThis week in cybersecurity: stolen PlayStation accounts, AI chat transcripts sold by data brokers, tax-season scams, deepfake identity attacks, and a crypto wallet emptied after authorities accidentally exposed its seed phrase.
2 months, 3 weeksA fake site about hot dog-eating capabilities may seem funny, but behind the laughs lies a series of serious cybersecurity failures.
3 monthsPlus, governments around the globe are coming for your privacy, AI malware hits Android, and a luxury hotel scheme that's actually pretty impressive.
3 months, 1 weekHackers, government subpoenas, and scammy texts are all putting your data at risk. I'm here to break down what's happening in cybersecurity right now and how to stay one step ahead.
3 months, 2 weeksIf you have accounts on any of these services, now's a good time to check your security settings. Plus more from a busy week in cybersecurity chaos.
3 months, 3 weeksFrom smooth-talking hackers and millions of stolen passwords to Google’s very expensive “sorry for secretly listening” settlement, security had another extremely normal week.
3 months, 4 weeksYou probably didn't order that pizza with a side of "free data breach," but that's exactly what you're getting in our latest cybersecurity news roundup.
4 months
