BreachExpress

Cybersecurity, explained for the rest of us.

Phone screen showing Venmo notification for unexpected payment with message claiming accidental transfer
→ Phishing & Scams

P2P payment scams: when 'sent in error' is a scam

Margot 'Magic' Thorne · 12 min · venmo scams · zelle fraud · payment app security · accidental payment scam · p2p payment fraud · social engineering

Someone sent you money by mistake on Venmo or Zelle. They ask you to send it back. Here's why that innocent request is often a scam and how the mechanism works.

Office desk with laptop showing AI chat interface, redacted documents, and sticky note reading 'Think before you paste'
→ General

AI tools at work: what you should never paste

ChatGPT, Claude, and Copilot handle work data differently than you think. Here's what to protect, what leaks through, and the step-by-step method to use AI safely at work.

11 min · Margot 'Magic' Thorne · Jun 16

Phone screen showing Instagram DM interface with a translucent overlay suggesting visibility beyond the conversation
→ General

Are Instagram DMs Private? The Reality Behind 'Private' Messaging

Instagram DMs aren't as private as the name suggests. Here's what Meta sees, what leaks through, and what you can actually control.

11 min · Margot 'Magic' Thorne · Jun 16

Shared hotel computer terminal with keyboard and monitor in dimly lit business center
→ VPN & Privacy

Hotel Business Center Computers: The Real Risk You're Not Being Told

Hotel business centers offer convenience, but using shared computers abroad creates specific, serious risks. Here's what actually matters and what you can control.

11 min · Margot 'Magic' Thorne · Jun 16

Parent reviewing school documents at a desk with a laptop showing digital records interface
→ Family & Kids Online

FERPA and your child's school records: what parents need to know

FERPA gives parents control over school records, but the law's boundaries and exceptions matter. Here's how the mechanism works and what you can actually control.

11 min · Margot 'Magic' Thorne · Jun 16

Abstract visualization of data points flowing from devices into campaign databases, forming voter profiles
→ VPN & Privacy

How Political Ad Targeting Works: The Surveillance Machine Behind Campaign Ads

Political campaigns track your behavior, build voter profiles, and serve you ads based on data you didn't know you shared. Here's the underlying mechanism.

11 min · Margot 'Magic' Thorne · Jun 15

Laptop screen showing a fake crypto trading platform with fabricated profit charts and deposit buttons, overlaid with warning symbols
→ Phishing & Scams

Crypto investment scams: the modern playbook

Crypto investment scams use fake platforms, celebrity impersonation, and fabricated returns to steal billions. Here's how the fraud works, why it succeeds, and how to recognize it.

11 min · Margot 'Magic' Thorne · Jun 15