# CyberSandberg

> CyberSandberg: Practical education in cybersecurity, personal finance, and artificial intelligence for everyday life. Written by Scott Sandberg: former software engineer and information technology professional turned educator, with nearly 30 years of experience spanning technology, education, and leadership, and a national Project Lead The Way Master Teacher. Education only, not financial advice; not a registered investment adviser.

## Pages
- [Home](https://cybersandberg.com/): three hubs (Cyber, Finance, AI), plus the signature topic where cyber and finance meet
- [Cybersecurity hub](https://cybersandberg.com/cyber/): personal cybersecurity for everyday people (alerts, account protection scores, passkeys and 2FA, SIM-swap protection, identity theft basics)
- [Finance hub](https://cybersandberg.com/finance/): personal finance education in seven topics (Your paycheck and your budget; Emergency fund and insurance; Getting out of debt; Building wealth; Your home: renting, buying, paying it off; Paying for college and scholarships; Giving); education only, not personalized advice
- [AI hub](https://cybersandberg.com/ai/): how AI shows up in scams, in your money and in everyday tools, in five topics (Using AI well; AI scams and deepfakes; AI and your privacy; AI and money; AI at school and with kids)
- [Alerts](https://cybersandberg.com/alerts/): sourced breach and scam alerts affecting money and accounts
- [Alert: FTC: callers posing as the FTC threaten to "deactivate" your phone number, then ask for a "security deposit"](https://cybersandberg.com/alerts/ftc-phone-deactivation-impersonators/): Scam callers posing as the FTC say your number is tied to scams abroad, threaten to deactivate it and demand a "security deposit." What the FTC never does. (Cyber)
- [Alert: Citizens Bank: customer data accessed by an unauthorized third party](https://cybersandberg.com/alerts/citizens-bank-data-breach/): Citizens Bank says an unauthorized third party accessed some data, including names, Social Security numbers and birth dates. What to do if you got a letter. (Cyber and Finance)
- [Alert: MLD Mortgage Inc. (The Money Store): mortgage loan files taken through a service provider's remote-management tool](https://cybersandberg.com/alerts/mld-mortgage-money-store-data-breach/): MLD Mortgage (The Money Store) says an unauthorized third party took data from loan files through a service provider's tool. What to do if you got a letter. (Cyber and Finance)
- [Alert: FBI warns scammers could exploit the 2026 midterm election, including with AI-generated impersonations](https://cybersandberg.com/alerts/fbi-midterm-election-scams/): The FBI warns scammers could exploit the 2026 midterms with fake donation asks, PAC scams, merchandise that never ships and AI-made impersonations. What to do. (Cyber and AI)
- [Alert: FBI: scammers posing as police and government officials demand money, mostly by phone; some use AI to appear on video calls](https://cybersandberg.com/alerts/fbi-police-government-impersonators/): Scammers posing as police and government officials demand money, mostly by phone, and some use AI on video calls. What the FBI says real authorities never do. (Cyber and AI)
- [How we score](https://cybersandberg.com/methodology/): how account protections (transfer locks, passkeys, phone PINs, alerts) are recorded and sourced, with four statuses: Offered, Not offered, Not documented, Conflicting sources
- [Teach it this week](https://cybersandberg.com/teach-it-this-week/): 10-minute mini-lessons tagged cyber, finance, AI, or a mix, each with a classroom version and a Kitchen Table Talk
- [Lesson: a one-month budget plus bank alerts](https://cybersandberg.com/teach-it-this-week/budget-plan-and-account-alerts/): first Teach it this week lesson (Finance)
- [Topic: Your paycheck and your budget](https://cybersandberg.com/finance/topics/paycheck-and-budget/): Understand your paycheck, make a monthly plan for your money, and set aside cash for costs you know are coming. (Finance)
- [Topic: Emergency fund and insurance](https://cybersandberg.com/finance/topics/emergency-fund-and-insurance/): A cash cushion for surprises, plus the insurance that covers what a cushion cannot. (Finance)
- [Topic: Getting out of debt](https://cybersandberg.com/finance/topics/getting-out-of-debt/): Treat debt as a math problem: list what you owe, pick a payoff order and keep going. (Finance)
- [Topic: Building wealth](https://cybersandberg.com/finance/topics/building-wealth/): Learn how saving and investing differ, how retirement accounts work, and which pitches to walk away from. (Finance)
- [Topic: Your home: renting, buying, paying it off](https://cybersandberg.com/finance/topics/your-home/): Renting, buying or paying off a home, with the honest trade-offs of each. (Finance)
- [Topic: Paying for college and scholarships](https://cybersandberg.com/finance/topics/paying-for-college/): Free money you don't pay back, saving ahead, and borrowing wisely, with honest trade-offs for each. (Finance)
- [Topic: Giving](https://cybersandberg.com/finance/topics/giving/): Make giving part of your plan, and check a charity before you donate. (Finance)
- [Topic: Using AI well](https://cybersandberg.com/ai/topics/using-ai-well/): AI tools can save real time on everyday jobs like planning, writing and figuring things out. The trick is asking clearly and checking what comes back. (AI)
- [Topic: AI scams and deepfakes](https://cybersandberg.com/ai/topics/scams-and-deepfakes/): Scammers use AI to write better messages, fake voices and faces, and dress up old tricks in new language. (AI)
- [Topic: AI and your privacy](https://cybersandberg.com/ai/topics/privacy/): Anything you type into a chatbot or hand to an AI helper may be stored, reviewed or used in ways you did not expect. (AI)
- [Topic: AI and money](https://cybersandberg.com/ai/topics/money/): AI is showing up in budgeting apps, bank chat windows and investment pitches. It can help you plan, but it cannot promise returns or replace checking the facts. (AI)
- [Topic: AI at school and with kids](https://cybersandberg.com/ai/topics/school-and-kids/): Kids and teens are already using AI for homework, chat and company. Parents and teachers do not need to be experts to guide them well. (AI)
- [Article: A budget is a plan you make before the month starts](https://cybersandberg.com/finance/budgeting-why-it-matters/): What a budget is, why it matters, how to plan your first month in five parts and what to do when the month doesn't match the plan, plus a Kitchen Table Talk. (Finance)
- [Article: Four signs it's a scam, and what to do next](https://cybersandberg.com/finance/four-signs-its-a-scam/): The four signs of a money scam, from FTC guidance: an imposter, a problem or prize, pressure to act now and an odd way to pay, plus what to do about it. (Cyber and Finance)
- [Reference: Free scholarships, sorted by when they are due](https://cybersandberg.com/finance/scholarships-by-deadline/): Free national scholarships listed by deadline month, each checked on the sponsor's own page, plus how to spot scholarship scams before you share money or data. (Finance)
- [Lesson: Guaranteed returns are a warning label](https://cybersandberg.com/teach-it-this-week/guaranteed-returns-warning-label/): Risk-free and guaranteed returns are red flags. Spot fake trading platforms and risky payment requests, and check a person or firm before you invest. (Cyber and Finance)
- [Lesson: How do you ask AI a good question?](https://cybersandberg.com/teach-it-this-week/ask-ai-a-good-question/): A free 10-minute lesson plus a Kitchen Table Talk: turn a vague question into a clear one, ask for sources, then check the answer. (AI)
- [Lesson: Would you tell a stranger? Deciding what's safe to type into a chatbot](https://cybersandberg.com/teach-it-this-week/would-you-tell-a-stranger/): A free 10-minute lesson plus a Kitchen Table Talk: sort what's safe to type into a chatbot, use the postcard rule and find the privacy settings. (Cyber and AI)
- [Article: What to tell a chatbot, and what to keep to yourself](https://cybersandberg.com/ai/what-to-tell-a-chatbot/): What happens to your chats, what never belongs in a chat box, and the settings to check tonight. (Cyber and AI)
- [Article: Confident isn't correct: how to check an AI answer](https://cybersandberg.com/ai/check-an-ai-answer/): Chatbots can be wrong and sound sure, so use a simple three-step check before you act on an answer. (Finance and AI)
- [Article: How to ask AI a good question, and get an answer that actually helps](https://cybersandberg.com/ai/ask-ai-a-good-question/): Give context, ask for options and ask for sources to get answers that actually help. (AI)
- [Article: a family code word against deepfake voice scams](https://cybersandberg.com/cyber/deepfake-code-word/): how AI voice cloning powers family-emergency and executive scams, a family code word, call-backs, and reporting; includes a Teach it this week lesson (Cyber, Finance and AI)
- [Article: the family safe signal](https://cybersandberg.com/cyber/safe-signal/): a secret phrase to ask for a ride home without saying why, how to respond, location sharing, and when to call 911; includes a Teach it this week lesson (Cyber)
- [About](https://cybersandberg.com/about/): why Scott Sandberg, the founder, built CyberSandberg, plus editorial promises
- [Fidelity account security](https://cybersandberg.com/cyber/firms/fidelity/): Does Fidelity offer passkeys, security keys, a money transfer lock and a fraud guarantee? Eight account protections, each with a source and checked date.
- [Schwab account security](https://cybersandberg.com/cyber/firms/schwab/): Does Schwab offer passkeys, security keys, a transfer lock and a fraud guarantee? Eight account protections, each with a source and a date we checked it.
- [Vanguard account security](https://cybersandberg.com/cyber/firms/vanguard/): Does Vanguard offer passkeys, security keys, a transfer lock and a fraud guarantee? Eight account protections, each with a source and the date we checked.
- [E*TRADE account security](https://cybersandberg.com/cyber/firms/etrade/): Does E*TRADE offer two-factor authentication, security tokens, passkeys, a transfer lock and a fraud guarantee? Eight protections, each sourced and dated.
- [Merrill account security](https://cybersandberg.com/cyber/firms/merrill/): Does Merrill offer two-factor authentication, passkeys, FIDO security keys, a transfer lock and a fraud guarantee? Eight protections, each sourced and dated.
- [Wells Fargo WellsTrade account security](https://cybersandberg.com/cyber/firms/wellsfargo/): Does Wells Fargo WellsTrade offer passkeys, two-step verification, RSA SecurID tokens, a transfer lock and a guarantee? Eight protections, sourced and dated.
- [J.P. Morgan Self-Directed account security](https://cybersandberg.com/cyber/firms/jpmorgan/): Does J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing, through Chase, offer passkeys, two-step verification, a transfer lock and a guarantee? Eight protections, sourced.
- [Robinhood account security](https://cybersandberg.com/cyber/firms/robinhood/): Does Robinhood offer passkeys, two-factor authentication, a transfer lock and a fraud guarantee? Eight account protections, each with a source and checked date.
- [Interactive Brokers account security](https://cybersandberg.com/cyber/firms/ibkr/): Does Interactive Brokers offer passkeys, security keys, security devices, a transfer lock and a guarantee? Eight protections, each sourced and dated.
- [Webull account security](https://cybersandberg.com/cyber/firms/webull/): Does Webull offer two-factor authentication, passkeys, a transfer lock and a fraud guarantee? Eight account protections, each with a source and checked date.
- [Empower account security](https://cybersandberg.com/cyber/firms/empower/): Does Empower's 401(k) site offer passkeys, two-factor authentication, a transfer lock and a fraud guarantee? Eight protections, each sourced and dated.

## Policies
- [Disclaimers](https://cybersandberg.com/disclaimers/)
- [Corrections](https://cybersandberg.com/corrections/)
- [Privacy](https://cybersandberg.com/privacy/)

Contact: hello@cybersandberg.com