January 8, 2026

📰 The Consumer Cyber Sentinel: Your Digital Defense Report 🛡️

Date: Thursday, January 8, 2026

Good afternoon! As we settle into the second week of the new year, the digital landscape is already quite active. From new privacy rights taking effect to data leaks involving major service providers, here is what you need to know to stay protected today.

🚨Top Cybersecurity News (For Everyone)

Google Chrome vulnerability:  Google has confirmed that a new, high-rated vulnerability could leave your apps exposed to attack. This affects 3 billion Chrome users, who must ensure their browser is updated as soon as possible. Do not wait for the official fix for CVE-2026-0628 to find you; go get it now.  Forbes magazine

New Microsoft Office and HPE OneView bugs have been exploited:  The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) on Wednesday added two security flaws impacting Microsoft Office and Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) OneView to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, citing evidence of active exploitation.  The Hacker News

New Year, New Privacy Rights: If you live in Kentucky, Rhode Island, or Indiana, you gained powerful new legal rights over your personal data on January 1. You can now legally demand that companies show you what data they have on you, fix mistakes, or delete your information entirely.  Eye On Privacy

Medical Records Targeted: Several healthcare providers, including medical portals and specialist practices, have reported breaches this week. One incident in New York exposed the sensitive health and billing information of over 11,000 patients. Health & Human Services

BleepingComputer's predictions for the top threats in 2026, along with actionable recommendations to help strengthen defenses.  Bleeping Computer

WHILL wheelchair hacking:  US cybersecurity agency CISA published a security advisory of a critical vulnerability in high-tech electric wheelchairs.  The vulnerability gives the hacker unauthorized remote control. Security Week.com

WIRED Data Breach:  In December 2.3 million Wired Magazine subscribers informaiton was allegedly stolen.  The breach exposed email addresses and display names, as well as, for a small number of users, their name, phone number, date of birth, gender, and geographic location or full physical address Security Week    haveibeenpwned

🎌 Scams & Threats Now Circulating

Below are active scams being reported in email, text, and social platforms:

1.  “Account Locked” Texts: Claim your bank account is frozen — tap the link to “unlock.” This link leads to fake login pages.

2. Free Gift Card Offers: Messages say you’ve won a gift card from a big brand; you only need to “verify” first — then your information is stolen.

3. Tech Support Pop-Ups: A webpage shows a scary “warning” and asks you to call a number for support. Real companies don’t do this.

Remember: Legitimate banks and tech companies do not send free-standing texts or pop-ups demanding immediate action.

😀 What You Should Do Today

1. Update Your Devices:  Go into your phone and computer settings and install any pending system updates. These often include important security fixes.

2. Be Skeptical of Links:  If you receive an unexpected email or text with a link, do not click it. Instead, go to the official website manually or contact the company directly.

3. Strengthen Your Accounts: Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) on your email, banking, and social media accounts — it adds an extra layer of security.

4. Check Your Credit Statements: Quickly scan your recent bank and card statements for charges you don’t recognize.

5. Use Strong, Unique Passwords:  Avoid reusing the same password across sites. A password manager can help.

6. Verify the ".gov": If you get an email from the Social Security Administration or the IRS, look at the sender's address. If it doesn't end in exactly .gov, it is a scam.

7. Set a Family "Safe Word": To beat AI voice scams, agree on a secret word with your family (like "Pancake" or "Stardust"). If someone calls in a panic, ask for the word. If they can’t give it, hang up.

8. Ignore "Urgent" Ledger Emails: If you are a Ledger user, ignore any email that asks you to click a link to "verify your account" or "update your security." Go directly to the official website by typing the address yourself.

9. If you receive an unexpected email or text with a link, do not click it. Instead, go to the official website manually or contact the company directly.

🧑‍🏫Did You Know

What is Phishing?

Phishing is when scammers send messages designed to look like they come from a trusted source, with the goal of tricking you into giving up personal data such as passwords or credit card numbers.