<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" standalone="yes"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"><channel><title>crackthe.net</title><link>https://crackthe.net/en/</link><description>crackthe.net explains in plain language how to protect your accounts, money and devices online – without jargon or scare tactics.</description><language>en-US</language><copyright>© 2026 crackthe.net</copyright><lastBuildDate>Sun, 05 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://crackthe.net/en/index.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title>Password strength check</title><link>https://crackthe.net/en/security/passwords/password-check/</link><pubDate>Thu, 12 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://crackthe.net/en/security/passwords/password-check/</guid><description>Free password strength check: measured against NIST SP 800-63B – 100% in your browser, nothing stored, nothing transmitted.</description></item><item><title>Safer online in 15 minutes: the checklist</title><link>https://crackthe.net/en/security/15-minute-security-check/</link><pubDate>Thu, 08 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://crackthe.net/en/security/15-minute-security-check/</guid><description>A free 15-minute security checklist: ten concrete steps from password manager to two-factor authentication – to tick off and save as a PDF.</description></item><item><title>Security test: can you spot the danger?</title><link>https://crackthe.net/en/security/security-test/</link><pubDate>Tue, 17 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://crackthe.net/en/security/security-test/</guid><description>A free 10-question security test on phishing, scams and online safety. Instant scoring, with an explanation for every answer.</description></item><item><title>Terms quiz: the 10 security words that matter most</title><link>https://crackthe.net/en/security/security-terms-quiz/</link><pubDate>Thu, 06 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://crackthe.net/en/security/security-terms-quiz/</guid><description>A quiz on the 10 most important online security terms: phishing, 2FA, passkeys, ransomware, data breaches, VPNs and more – with an explanation for each.</description></item><item><title>Who owns which VPN service?</title><link>https://crackthe.net/en/security/privacy/vpn-providers/who-owns-which-vpn/</link><pubDate>Fri, 31 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://crackthe.net/en/security/privacy/vpn-providers/who-owns-which-vpn/</guid><description>VPN ownership at a glance: which holding company owns which brand, where the provider is based, and when it was last audited independently.</description></item><item><title>The "hi mom, new number" scam and how to shut it down</title><link>https://crackthe.net/en/security/scams/family-new-number-scam/</link><pubDate>Wed, 26 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://crackthe.net/en/security/scams/family-new-number-scam/</guid><description>The "hi mom, new number" scam on WhatsApp: how the trick works, the warning signs, and what to do if you already sent money.</description></item><item><title>Investment scams: how to protect your money</title><link>https://crackthe.net/en/security/online-banking/investment-scams/</link><pubDate>Wed, 27 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://crackthe.net/en/security/online-banking/investment-scams/</guid><description>Spot investment scams: group chats, fake account managers, romance-to-crypto schemes and blocked withdrawals – and what to do if money already moved.</description></item><item><title>Spotting fake brokers: checking a platform before you deposit</title><link>https://crackthe.net/en/security/online-banking/fake-brokers/</link><pubDate>Wed, 26 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://crackthe.net/en/security/online-banking/fake-brokers/</guid><description>Spot fake brokers: verify registration, company details, domain and app, recognize the warning signs of a fraudulent trading platform and react correctly.</description></item><item><title>Got an extortion email? Stay calm – do this</title><link>https://crackthe.net/en/security/emergency/extortion-email/</link><pubDate>Mon, 13 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://crackthe.net/en/security/emergency/extortion-email/</guid><description>Extortion email (sextortion): why it is almost always a bluff, why you should not pay, and the steps to take now.</description></item><item><title>Selling a phone or computer: erasing your data properly</title><link>https://crackthe.net/en/security/devices/wipe-a-device-before-selling/</link><pubDate>Wed, 27 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://crackthe.net/en/security/devices/wipe-a-device-before-selling/</guid><description>Selling a phone or computer safely: back up, sign out of your accounts, encrypt and factory reset – explained for iPhone, Android, Windows and Mac.</description></item><item><title>Ransomware: your PC is encrypted – what to do now</title><link>https://crackthe.net/en/security/emergency/ransomware-pc-encrypted/</link><pubDate>Mon, 15 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://crackthe.net/en/security/emergency/ransomware-pc-encrypted/</guid><description>Ransomware: PC encrypted, ransom demanded. Disconnect immediately, do not pay, preserve evidence, report it and restore your data.</description></item><item><title>Check active sessions: who is logged into your accounts?</title><link>https://crackthe.net/en/security/checks/active-sessions/</link><pubDate>Tue, 04 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://crackthe.net/en/security/checks/active-sessions/</guid><description>Check active sessions and connected apps on Google, Apple, Microsoft and Meta accounts: spot unknown devices, revoke access and close the gaps attackers rely on.</description></item><item><title>Deepfake calls: when the voice is not who it sounds like</title><link>https://crackthe.net/en/security/scams/deepfake-call-scams/</link><pubDate>Tue, 28 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://crackthe.net/en/security/scams/deepfake-call-scams/</guid><description>Spot deepfake and emergency calls: how AI voice cloning works, what gives the scam away, and how a family code word protects you.</description></item><item><title>Sent money to a scammer? What to do right now</title><link>https://crackthe.net/en/security/emergency/money-sent-to-scammers/</link><pubDate>Mon, 15 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://crackthe.net/en/security/emergency/money-sent-to-scammers/</guid><description>Sent money to a scammer: call the bank immediately, request a recall, report the fraud and secure your account – including instant payments.</description></item><item><title>Account hacked: the first 30 minutes</title><link>https://crackthe.net/en/security/emergency/account-hacked/</link><pubDate>Tue, 12 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://crackthe.net/en/security/emergency/account-hacked/</guid><description>Account hacked: regain access, end the attacker's sessions, check for hidden mail forwarding and secure everything else that used the same password.</description></item><item><title>WhatsApp or Instagram account hacked? First aid</title><link>https://crackthe.net/en/security/emergency/social-media-account-hacked/</link><pubDate>Tue, 27 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://crackthe.net/en/security/emergency/social-media-account-hacked/</guid><description>Social media account hacked: recover WhatsApp, Instagram or Facebook, warn your contacts, end active sessions and secure the account.</description></item><item><title>How to spot phishing in emails and texts</title><link>https://crackthe.net/en/security/scams/spot-phishing/</link><pubDate>Thu, 18 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://crackthe.net/en/security/scams/spot-phishing/</guid><description>Spot phishing emails and text messages: the warning signs that still work, how to verify safely and what to do if you already clicked or entered data.</description></item><item><title>Editorial standards</title><link>https://crackthe.net/en/editorial-standards/</link><pubDate>Fri, 05 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://crackthe.net/en/editorial-standards/</guid><description>Editorial standards at crackthe.net: independence, sourcing, thematic limits, how we use AI tools, and our correction practice.</description></item><item><title>How we test</title><link>https://crackthe.net/en/how-we-test/</link><pubDate>Fri, 05 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://crackthe.net/en/how-we-test/</guid><description>How crackthe.net tests: rating criteria and weighting, how scores are formed, what we do not measure, exclusion criteria and how often we re-check.</description></item><item><title>Secure your Mac: the macOS settings that matter</title><link>https://crackthe.net/en/security/devices/secure-your-mac/</link><pubDate>Tue, 28 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://crackthe.net/en/security/devices/secure-your-mac/</guid><description>Secure your Mac: FileVault, automatic updates, the firewall, Gatekeeper, a standard user account and Find My, set up properly and explained clearly.</description></item><item><title>Password managers explained</title><link>https://crackthe.net/en/security/passwords/password-manager/</link><pubDate>Thu, 09 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://crackthe.net/en/security/passwords/password-manager/</guid><description>How password managers work, why they beat the browser's built-in store, what happens if you forget the master password and how to get started.</description></item><item><title>Check a link before you click</title><link>https://crackthe.net/en/security/checks/check-a-link/</link><pubDate>Fri, 15 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://crackthe.net/en/security/checks/check-a-link/</guid><description>How to check a link before clicking: read the real domain, reveal the destination without opening it, expand short links and handle QR codes safely.</description></item><item><title>Securing smart home devices: cameras, speakers and the rest</title><link>https://crackthe.net/en/security/devices/smart-home-security/</link><pubDate>Tue, 29 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://crackthe.net/en/security/devices/smart-home-security/</guid><description>Securing smart home and IoT devices: change default passwords, turn on updates, use a guest network, review remote access and switch off what you do not need.</description></item><item><title>Spotting deepfakes: faked videos and images</title><link>https://crackthe.net/en/security/scams/spot-deepfakes/</link><pubDate>Mon, 17 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://crackthe.net/en/security/scams/spot-deepfakes/</guid><description>Spot deepfakes: the typical signs in videos and images, how reliable detection tools really are, and which habits protect you best.</description></item><item><title>Two-factor authentication: which method and where first</title><link>https://crackthe.net/en/security/passwords/two-factor-authentication/</link><pubDate>Wed, 21 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://crackthe.net/en/security/passwords/two-factor-authentication/</guid><description>Two-factor authentication explained: SMS vs authenticator app vs passkeys and security keys, where to enable it first and how to avoid locking yourself out.</description></item><item><title>Using public Wi-Fi safely: how to stay protected</title><link>https://crackthe.net/en/security/devices/public-wifi-safety/</link><pubDate>Mon, 17 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://crackthe.net/en/security/devices/public-wifi-safety/</guid><description>Using public Wi-Fi safely: the real risks of open networks, HTTPS, VPNs, turning off auto-connect, and safer alternatives such as your own hotspot.</description></item><item><title>Job scams: fake offers and task scams</title><link>https://crackthe.net/en/security/scams/job-scams/</link><pubDate>Thu, 16 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://crackthe.net/en/security/scams/job-scams/</guid><description>Spot job scams: task scams, money mule recruitment and fake job offers – including the criminal exposure of moving money through your own account.</description></item><item><title>Passkeys explained: signing in without a password</title><link>https://crackthe.net/en/security/passwords/passkeys/</link><pubDate>Tue, 28 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://crackthe.net/en/security/passwords/passkeys/</guid><description>Passkeys explained in plain language: how passwordless sign-in works, why it beats passwords, and how to set your first one up.</description></item><item><title>Android security settings – step by step</title><link>https://crackthe.net/en/security/devices/android-security-settings/</link><pubDate>Fri, 22 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://crackthe.net/en/security/devices/android-security-settings/</guid><description>Android security settings: screen lock, updates, Play Protect, app permissions and Find My Device, used properly – a clear guide for beginners.</description></item><item><title>QR code scams (quishing) and how to avoid them</title><link>https://crackthe.net/en/security/scams/qr-code-scams/</link><pubDate>Thu, 09 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://crackthe.net/en/security/scams/qr-code-scams/</guid><description>Spot QR code scams (quishing): manipulated codes on meters and in letters, how to read the preview correctly, and how to pay safely.</description></item></channel></rss>