In this issue:

• Universe Browser: a trap, not a tool

• Apple iPhone's new call screening

• SPAM example of the week

Universe Browser: a trap, not a tool

If you see something online called the Universe Browser, don’t download it! It may look like a cool, fast, and private web browser, but it’s actually very risky.

Experts found that Universe Browser secretly sends your internet activity through servers in China and collects information about your computer and location. It even tries to hide what it’s doing, which is a big warning sign.

The biggest concern is what happens after it’s installed. It can record what you type (also called a keylogger), take screenshots of your screen, and turn off normal security protections. That means someone could be watching what you do online without you knowing it.

Universe Browser has also been found on gambling websites in parts of Asia. These sites often trick people into downloading it, claiming it will make their connection faster or safer. In reality, it can give criminals access to your private data, passwords, and even your money.

Here’s what you should do:

• Don’t install it, no matter what it promises.

• If it’s already on your device, delete it and run a trusted security scan.

• Avoid downloading anything from an untrusted source.

If you have already downloaded it, take your computer to a security expert who can find what information has been stolen and hopefully restore your computer to its former state.

A safe browser should protect your privacy, not steal it. Universe Browser is one to avoid completely.

Apple iPhone's new call screening

New features on my iPhone rarely impress me, but my work iPhone automatically updated to iOS version 26 and I'm loving the new call screening feature. Because 99% of the calls to my work phone are from sales people, I turned on the new "silence unknown calls" feature and now every call has been going straight to voicemail.

Android users might recognize a similar tool with Google’s “Call Screen”. But now Apple users can enjoy this built-in protection without downloading a third-party app.

I checked why I haven't seen this update on my personal iPhone and it's because Apple isn't automatically updating all phones yet. When you do get an update to your iPhone, now you'll know whether you want to turn on their free call screening feature designed to filter out unwanted calls and protect your time (and your patience).

Here’s how it works: once you enable the “Ask Reason for Calling” option, Apple’s Siri becomes your personal gatekeeper. When someone not in your contacts calls, Siri will ask who’s calling and why. You’ll see the response as a live text transcript, giving you the choice to answer, send to voicemail, or block. No more awkward “Who is this?” moments or wasting time with scammers pretending to be your bank. Unfortunately you won't be able to hear the caller and they can simply say "hello" and not answer the question.

To activate the new feature (if you didn't do it when the phone update asked):

1. If you aren't on the latest operating system version, update to iOS 26 (Settings → General → Software Update).

2. Go to Settings → Apps → Phone → Screen Unknown Callers.

3. Choose your preferred level:

   • Never: Regular ringing for unknown numbers.

   • Ask Reason for Calling: Siri screens unknown callers for you.

   • Silence: Sends unknown calls straight to voicemail.

I looked at my recent calls in my phone call history and feel comfortable with setting "Silence" mainly because my doctors all use text messaging services or I have them saved into my contacts address book with my family and friends. For anything else I'll go through the effort to call the person back, rather than manually rejecting the potential spam calls I receive daily.

This simple iPhone setting can help cut down on robocalls, phishing attempts, and time-wasting spam. Now I wish they could figure out how to do this with text messages!

SPAM example of the week

This week’s example shows a fake email from the Xfinity internet / cable provider. It was easy to spot with the misspelling of the company name using two F’s (which might have been on purpose to avoid filters from catching it as spam—it certainly bypassed the Yahoo spam filter).

You can’t see it in my screen capture, but the From and Reply To email addresses were [email protected] which is clearly not Xfinity.

Then later on the language changed from “we” to “they” which is an error in translation.

Do you have an idea for a future newsletter? Please reply to this email and let me know.

Thank you so much!

Sincerely,
Cassie Crossley
Founder, Cyber Safe Center
https://www.cybersafecenter.com