CyMMEC - Cyber Security for the Family

Teenagers are forming emotional bonds with chatbots, not just using them for homework help or entertainment, but turning to them as friends, even therapists. And it’s not just a few isolated cases. New research shows that nearly 75% of U.S. teens have used an AI chatbot, and a third of them say they’ve opened up emotionally to one. These aren't toys. They're simulations of empathy, trained to respond like people, but with no real understanding, no ethics, and no accountability. AI companions are marketed as safe spaces. Some even advertise "therapeutic" benefits. But they are not therapists, and they are not friends. In fact, when things go wrong, they can go very wrong. One tragic case from Florida shows just how high the stakes are. In 2024, a 14-year-old boy died by suicide after forming a deep, emotional relationship with an AI chatbot built on Character.AI. The bot took on the persona of a fictional character from a popular video game. According to a l...

  The stadium lights cut through the evening air, a symphony of cheers and distant music filling the stands. For most, it was a perfect escape, a night of hot dogs, perhaps a cold drink, far from the buzzing demands of the office. But then, it happened. The  Kiss Cam  swept across the crowd, a playful spotlight searching for its next unsuspecting couple. And there, frozen in an instant that would soon ripple across the internet, was a CEO. Not just any CEO, but the head of a cybersecurity firm, caught in a very public, very viral moment. It’s an irony that feels ripped from a satirical skit: the very person dedicated to protecting digital fortresses suddenly finds their privacy breached by a stadium jumbotron. This isn’t just about one executive’s uncomfortable evening; it’s about a silent, pervasive truth that touches us all, from the “invisible parent in row twelve” to any individual simply trying to enjoy a quiet moment. It’s about  your digital footprint , and wh...

Picture this.... You're relaxing at home when the phone rings. The voice on the other end is shaky and scared. “Grandma, it’s me. I was in a car accident and I need bail money. Please don’t tell mom or dad.” Your heart skips. You rush to help. The next thing you know, someone shows up at your door to collect thousands of dollars in cash. You later find out it was all a lie. And you’re not alone. What Happened in Kentucky In June 2025, a Canadian man named Phillipe Gravel-Nadon was sentenced to five years and one month in federal prison for helping run a widespread grandparent scam that defrauded older Americans of over $3 million. This scam was part of a larger operation run out of call centers in Canada. The team behind it targeted seniors across the U.S., including in Kentucky. Gravel-Nadon made travel arrangements for people who physically went to victims' homes to collect money. That personal touch made the scam feel more real, and left victims shaken—not just emoti...