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Online Safety Stories - Page 9

Kiwi Stories

Online Safety stories

Meta pushes parental control over NZ teen social media bans
Data Protection

Meta pushes parental control over NZ teen social media bans

Meta promotes parental controls over teen social media bans at NZ Instagram safety camp as debate grows on under-16s' online access.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Wed, 4th Feb 2026

Global Stories

Online Safety stories

Many doubt under-16 social media bans cut online harm
Social Media

Many doubt under-16 social media bans cut online harm

New research finds most people doubt under-16 social media bans will curb online harm, expecting teens to bypass rules and limits.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 3 min read • Thu, 5th Feb 2026
Avast launches Deepfake Guard & expands Scam Guardian
Malware

Avast launches Deepfake Guard & expands Scam Guardian

Avast rolls out Deepfake Guard for Windows and takes Scam Guardian global on mobile in a push to combat rising video-led fraud.

By Melania Watson • 4 min read • Thu, 5th Feb 2026
Global router hijack uses rogue DNS to monetise web
Firewalls

Global router hijack uses rogue DNS to monetise web

Hackers are hijacking ageing home routers worldwide, covertly rewiring DNS to quietly cash in on everyday web browsing traffic.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Wed, 4th Feb 2026
Umanitek launches Guardian Agent to combat AI deepfakes
Software-as-a-Service

Umanitek launches Guardian Agent to combat AI deepfakes

Swiss startup Umanitek has unveiled Guardian Agent, a subscription tool to spot deepfakes, fake profiles and AI-driven impersonation online.

By Mark Tarre • 5 min read • Wed, 4th Feb 2026
OpenAI rolls out age checks ahead of ChatGPT adult mode
Data Protection

OpenAI rolls out age checks ahead of ChatGPT adult mode

OpenAI deploys behavioural age prediction for ChatGPT as it prepares a 2026 adult mode, raising fresh privacy and child-safety concerns.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 5 min read • Tue, 3rd Feb 2026
Sumsub unveils AI tool tying agents to human users
Digital Transformation

Sumsub unveils AI tool tying agents to human users

Sumsub launches AI Agent Verification to link automated activity to verified humans, tackling rising AI-driven fraud without blocking bots.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Fri, 30th Jan 2026
Incode joins OpenAge drive for interoperable age checks
Data Protection

Incode joins OpenAge drive for interoperable age checks

Incode has joined the OpenAge Initiative, bolstering a push for interoperable, privacy-preserving age checks across online services.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Thu, 29th Jan 2026
McAfee adds QR scans & smarter tools to fight scams
Phishing

McAfee adds QR scans & smarter tools to fight scams

McAfee boosts its Scam Detector with instant QR checks and smarter message scanning to counter a surge in personal, AI-powered frauds.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Thu, 29th Jan 2026
WhatsApp unveils lockdown mode for high-risk users
Data Protection

WhatsApp unveils lockdown mode for high-risk users

WhatsApp launches Strict Account Settings, a lockdown mode offering tighter privacy and security for journalists and other high‑risk users.

By Mark Tarre • 3 min read • Wed, 28th Jan 2026
Snapchat expands Family Centre with new teen controls
Data Privacy

Snapchat expands Family Centre with new teen controls

Snapchat adds detailed screen-time and friend context tools to Family Centre, giving parents new teen safety insights without reading chats.

By Mark Tarre • 3 min read • Wed, 28th Jan 2026

Stories from Other Regions

Online Safety stories

AI voice cloning scams cost Australians AUD $25.8m
Phishing

AI voice cloning scams cost Australians AUD $25.8m

AI voice cloning scams have already cost Australians AUD $25.8m in 2025, as experts warn lifelike fake calls are outpacing public awareness.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Wed, 4th Feb 2026
Google launches age checks for young users in Singapore
Data Protection

Google launches age checks for young users in Singapore

Google has begun using AI-powered age checks in Singapore, tightening default safety settings for under-18s on Search, Play, Maps and YouTube.

By Mark Tarre • 5 min read • Tue, 3rd Feb 2026
Snap locks 415,000 teen accounts, urges app store age checks
Surveillance

Snap locks 415,000 teen accounts, urges app store age checks

Snap locks 415,000 suspected under-16 Snapchat accounts in Australia and renews calls for stricter app store-level age checks.

By Melania Watson • 4 min read • Mon, 2nd Feb 2026
UK daters embrace AI romance as scams & loneliness rise
Mobile Device Management

UK daters embrace AI romance as scams & loneliness rise

Lonely UK daters increasingly turn to AI companions even as romance scams surge, with rising losses and growing trust in chatbots over humans.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • Sat, 31st Jan 2026
Hugging Face used to spread Android trojan TrustBastion
Firewalls

Hugging Face used to spread Android trojan TrustBastion

Cybercriminals abused Hugging Face to host rapidly mutating TrustBastion Android malware stealing credentials across Asia-Pacific.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Fri, 30th Jan 2026
EE opens Lakeside store with AI safety appointments
Gaming

EE opens Lakeside store with AI safety appointments

EE has opened a new Lakeside Experience store, piloting 'Stay Safe with AI' sessions amid a GBP £3 million UK retail investment plan.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • Thu, 29th Jan 2026