Cyber news, tools & one smart career path.
5 min read
Quick Reality Check
Chrome’s privacy project is over. Third-party tracking continues.
What happened:
Google just announced that it’s officially phasing out its Privacy Sandbox project, ending plans to reduce online tracking in Chrome. This move means third-party cookies and cross-site tracking will continue the very things the Sandbox was supposed to replace. Apple and Microsoft have already warned users to switch browsers, saying Chrome’s model gives advertisers too much access to browsing habits and personal data.
Why it matters:
Chrome is used by more than half of internet users worldwide, which makes this decision a big deal. The Sandbox was Google’s promise to make ads less invasive without hurting their ad business. Now that it’s gone, websites can still track what you do, what you buy, and where you go online. Every click, search, and video can be tied to your profile and used for targeted advertising.
Read more, here
60-Second Protection Fix
Here is what to do right now to protect yourself:
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Open Chrome → click your profile picture (top right) → Sync is on → Turn off or go to Settings → You and Google → Sync and Google services → Turn off (then disable Sync everything if you only want some items off).
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Clear site data regularly to reduce what advertisers and trackers can store about you, though this will not stop Google’s own data collection
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I recommend switching to a browser with stronger privacy like Brave, Firefox, or DuckDuckGo.
What You Missed This Week
Did the Internet just break?? Nope, but AWS went down and Amazon claims it wasn’t a cyberattack but just something that broke. Here’s what happened. Click on the image or watch here
Check Out Security Operations Center (SOC) (aka “The Guardians of the Network”)
When a major outage hits, SOC analysts are the first to investigate what is happening and determine if it is a cyberattack or a system failure. They monitor alerts, analyze logs, and work with engineering teams to contain incidents and restore normal operations. If you like fast paced problem solving and being the one who spots issues before they spread, this could be your path
Learn more about SOC in my Free Intro Course: Cyber Paths 101
What We're Hearing From You!
"How do you freeze credit?"- @pandj_creations
Great question! Freezing your credit is an essential step to protect yourself from identity theft, and it’s super easy to do! You’ll need to contact all three major credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, individually to request a freeze (see table below). Freezing your credit prevents anyone from creating new accounts in your name, and you can temporarily lift the freeze if you need to apply for credit.
Let’s keep building together!
Stay protected,
Cybersecurity Girl
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