15 Oct Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2026: Stay Safe Online When Using AI Tools
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This week in cybersecurity from the editors at Cybercrime Magazine
Sausalito, Calif. – Oct. 15, 2026
– Listen to the Podcast Episode
It’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month (CAM) and Alissa (Dr Jay) Abdullah, PhD, SVP and Deputy Chief Security Officer at Mastercard, has a cautionary message for all of us in this episode of “Mastering Cyber” on the Cybercrime Magazine Podcast.
Using AI tools has become part of everyday life. You’re drafting emails, summarizing notes, and maybe even pasting in content to get help faster. It can all feel natural just to drop information in and see what comes back.
But here’s what’s easy to forget. These tools don’t always treat your data the way a private document or internal system would. Depending on the platform, what you share can be stored, reviewed, or even used to improve the system behind the scenes. There’s nothing in the moment that reminds you of that. No warning that says where that information may end up. And that’s where people tend to over share without realizing it.
So when you’re using AI tools a few quick checks can make a difference. Look for settings that control whether your conversations are used to improve the app. Use temporary or private chat modes for anything you don’t want saved. Take a second to see what other apps or accounts the tool is connected to.
With AI it’s not just about what you share, it’s what is saved and connected and used over time. If you stay intentional about that, then you’ll be one step closer to mastering cyber.
Listen to the Podcast Episode
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