We've had great feedback from people who have gotten Pwned. Loads of people had told us how much they've enjoyed it and would like to get their friends Pwned too. Personally, I think everyone should get Pwned! Which is why we're making it possible for 30% less 😊
Ok, being more serious for a moment, I'm talking about Pwned the book which we launched a couple of months ago and it's chock full of over 800 pages worth of epic blog posts and more importantly, the stories behind them. Because it's a holiday on the other side of the world right now (still true as I write this as an Aussie about to jump on a plane to Norway), we've smashed 30% off the price over at book.troyhunt.com
So, go get Pwned, you'll love it!
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The first time I ever wrote publicly about a company's security vulnerabilities, my boss came to have a word with me after seeing my name in the news headlines.
One of the worst days I've ever had was right in the middle of the Have I Been Pwned sale process, and it left me an absolute emotional wreck.
When I wrote about how I deal with online abuse, it was off the back of some pretty nasty stuff... which I've now included in this book 😊
These are the stories behind the stories and finally, the book about it all is here:
I announced the book back in April last year after Rob, Charlotte and I had already invested a heap of effort before releasing a preview in October. I'd hoped to have it out by Christmas... but it wasn't perfect. Ok, so it'll never be perfect without faults of any kind, but it had to meet an extremely high bar for me to be happy with an end result we could charge people money for. I completely rewrote the intro, changed a bunch of the posts we decided to include, reordered them all and edited a heap of the personal stuff. Rob wrote an amazing intro (I genuinely felt emotional reading it, given the time of both our lives he refers to), and both Charlotte and I wrote pieces at the end of it all. That bit in particular is very personal, and it's what was the most natural to us at the time. With our wedding being only next week, it just felt... right. That's why we're publishing today; to get this story about the earlier phases of my life out before the next phase begins. There are things we both wanted to say, and I hope you enjoying reading them 😊
We actually pushed the book out to a preview audience a couple of weeks ago and requested feedback to make it even better before releasing to the masses. We got two kinds of feedback: typos, which we've now fixed and testimonials, which have been awesome:
Great read! Troy has the technical know-how, and is able to effectively communicate complex topics so that anyone understands them. The personal stories kept me hooked!
- Mikko Hyppönnen
I haven't been able to put the book down. The added intros and epilogue on each post in particular and the retrospectives from today's perspective are particularly interesting... Captivating stuff, apart from infosec, you really feel as though you’ve been taken on a journey with Troy through the years of living in paradise a.k.a. Gold Coast, craft beer, good coffee’s, travel and jet skis. Top of my list for resources I point anyone new to the space to. Simply Outstanding read - 10/10.
- Henk Brink
Love, love, LOVE the intros - i'm only familiar with Lars in terms of his online identity and videos, but the "commendations" from Richard Campbell, and in particular Rob Conery are fantastic and really anchor an emotional aspect to the book, that i was not expecting. Great to see a book deliver this authenticity - we're all only human after all!. I "cheated" and also skipped to read Charlotte's epilogue and again was blown away by the depth and genuine nature of the emotion on display. I honestly was not expecting there to be so much heart on display, but am very glad there is.
- C. Morgan
A famous American newsman used to call this "The rest of the story." This is the kind of insight that only comes with time, as the author can reflect and pick out important details that didn't get the coverage they deserved and these then find a life of their own. This book provides "the rest of the story" behind other stories which broke months or years ago. It gives these stories new life, and new significance.
- Pat Phelan
PWNED! Troy Hunt takes us on his life journey, ups and downs, explaining how haveIbeenpwned came to be, raising awareness of the world’s poor password and online security habits... This book has it all. Plenty of tech, data breaches, career hacks, IoT, Cloud, password management, application security, and more, delivered in a fun way. This info is gold, and has improved and complemented my career in IT, and also my digital life at home too. I highly recommend this book as it explains cyber security so well, and hope you have your eureka moment and improve your cyber hygiene too.
- George Ousak
I never imagined turning blog posts into a book, but here we are, and it's come out awesome 😎 This book is a labour of love the three of us have poured ourselves into over the last couple of years. It's a personal story I'm publishing at a very personal time and it's now live at book.troyhunt.com
In this digital age, communicating online and through our devices has become the norm. From sharing highlights of last night’s game to sending cute animal videos back and forth, so much of our connectedness happens virtually. It’s become so easy to chat with friends and loved ones through social media that we don’t even have to think about it. We know who’s on the other end of the screen, so why would we worry? We know our friends would never send us a malicious link that would steal our information, so why be cautious? Right?
Not necessarily. Though a message or link may seem like it’s coming from a friend, it’s also possible that it was sent without their knowledge. There are many ways for hackers to scam people very believably. The latest Facebook Messenger hack is just one of many examples.
According to PIXM, Facebook users have been conned for several months by a phishing scam that tricks them into handing over their account credentials. Users are shown a fake login page that copies Facebook’s user interface, giving it the illusion of being real. When someone enters their credentials, their password and login combo is sent to the hacker who then sends out the same link and fake login to the user’s friends through Facebook Messenger. Any user who clicks the link is asked to fill out their credentials, and the cycle repeats. PIXM estimates that over 10 million Facebook users have been duped by this scam since 2021.
This hacker was able to utilize a technique to evade Facebook’s security checks. When a user clicks on the link in the Messenger app, the browser redirects to a legitimate app deployment service, then redirects again to the actual phishing pages with advertisements and surveys that accrue revenue for the hacker. Using this legitimate service link prevents Facebook from blocking it without blocking other legitimate apps and links as well. Researchers say that even if Facebook managed to block one of these links, several others are created with new unique IDs every day to replace it.
Phishing scams like these are harder to detect due to the realistic-looking interface on the login pages and that these malicious links are seemingly coming from friends and family. However, there are always key things to look out for when faced with phishing scams.
Scams don’t always come from overtly sketchy emails or text messages from strangers. Sometimes they can (unintentionally) come from people we know personally. This isn’t to say that your friends online can’t be trusted! However, it’s important to always be cautious and keep an eye out for any odd behavior to stay on the safe side. Here are some key things to look out for when faced with potential malicious phishing scams:
When in doubt, just ask! If you’ve received a message and a link from a friend online, simply ask if they meant to send it to you. If they didn’t send it themselves, not only did you dodge a bullet, but your friend is also now aware that they’ve been hacked and can take the necessary precautions to ensure their information is protected. And if they did mean to send it to you, then you can click the link knowing that it’s safe to do so. It’s always best to err on the side of caution when it comes to your online security.
The post Over 10 Million Facebook Users Hacked in Ongoing Phishing Scam appeared first on McAfee Blog.
Some of more tech-savvy Democrats in the U.S. Senate are asking the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate identity-proofing company ID.me for “deceptive statements” the company and its founder allegedly made over how they handle facial recognition data collected on behalf of the Internal Revenue Service, which until recently required anyone seeking a new IRS account online to provide a live video selfie to ID.me.
In a letter to FTC Chair Lina Khan, the Senators charge that ID.me’s CEO Blake Hall has offered conflicting statements about how his company uses the facial scan data it collects on behalf of the federal government and many states that use the ID proofing technology to screen applicants for unemployment insurance.
The lawmakers say that in public statements and blog posts, ID.me has frequently emphasized the difference between two types of facial recognition: One-to-one, and one-to-many. In the one-to-one approach, a live video selfie is compared to the image on a driver’s license, for example. One-to-many facial recognition involves comparing a face against a database of other faces to find any potential matches.
Americans have particular reason to be concerned about the difference between these two types of facial recognition, says the letter to the FTC, signed by Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.):
“While one-to-one recognition involves a one-time comparison of two images in order to confirm an applicant’s identity, the use of one-to-many recognition means that millions of innocent people will have their photographs endlessly queried as part of a digital ‘line up.’ Not only does this violate individuals’ privacy, but the inevitable false matches associated with one-to-many recognition can result in applicants being wrongly denied desperately-needed services for weeks or even months as they try to get their case reviewed.”
“This risk is especially acute for people of color: NIST’s Facial Recognition Vendor Test found that many facial recognition algorithms have rates of false matches that are as much as 100 times higher for individuals from countries in West Africa, East Africa and East Asia than for individuals from Eastern European countries. This means Black and Asian Americans could be disproportionately likely to be denied benefits due to a false match in a one-to-many facial recognition system.”
The lawmakers say that throughout the latter half of 2021, ID.me published statements and blog posts stating it did not use one-to-many facial recognition and that the approach was “problematic” and “tied to surveillance operations.” But several days after a Jan. 16, 2022 post here about the IRS’s new facial ID requirement went viral and prompted a public backlash, Hall acknowledged in a LinkedIn posting that ID.me does use one-to-many facial recognition.
“Within days, the company edited the numerous blog posts and white papers on its website that previously stated the company did not use one-to-many to reflect the truth,” the letter alleges. “According to media reports, the company’s decision to correct its prior misleading statements came after mounting internal pressure from its employees.”
Cyberscoop’s Tonya Riley published excerpts from internal ID.me employee Slack messages wherein some expressed dread and unease with the company’s equivocation on its use of one-to-many facial recognition.
In February, the IRS announced it would no longer require facial scans or other biometric data from taxpayers seeking to create an account at the agency’s website. The agency also pledged that any biometric data shared with ID.me would be permanently deleted.
But the IRS still requires new account applicants to sign up with either ID.me or Login.gov, a single sign-on solution already used to access 200 websites run by 28 federal agencies. It also still offers the option of providing a live selfie for verification purposes, although the IRS says this data will be deleted automatically.
Asked to respond to concerns raised in the letter from Senate lawmakers, ID.me instead touted its successes in stopping fraud.
“Five state workforce agencies have publicly credited ID.me with helping to prevent $238 billion dollars in fraud,” the statement reads. “Conditions were so bad during the pandemic that the deputy assistant director of the FBI called the fraud ‘an economic attack on the United States.’ ID.me played a critical role in stopping that attack in more than 20 states where the service was rapidly adopted for its equally important ability to increase equity and verify individuals left behind by traditional options. We look forward to cooperating with all relevant government bodies to clear up any misunderstandings.”
As Cyberscoop reported on Apr. 14, the House Oversight and Reform Committee last month began an investigation into ID.me’s practices, with committee chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) saying the committee’s questions to the company would help shape policy on how the government wields facial recognition technology.
A copy of the letter the senators sent to the FTC is here (PDF).
If you pick up your teen’s phone on any given day, chances are the next stop you make will be Google. That’s because, if you’re like most parents, you’re beyond baffled by texting language kids use.
It’s okay, you are not alone if you feel out of the loop. As parents, we’re not invited to the party—and that’s okay. Slag belongs to the generation that coined it. And few of us are aching to use words like “sus” and “simp,” right? The goal of these updates isn’t to decode or invade. It’s digital parenting 101. The more we know about what’s going on in our child’s world, the better we can parent. It’s our job to know.
So once a year we do our best to decipher some of the more common terms you may hear or see your kids use. Keep in mind: Slang isn’t universal. It changes from city to city and culture to culture. Terms and meanings may vary. Many of the words are fun and harmless, while others are specifically meant to mask risky behavior. Remember, McAfee frees you to live your connected life safe from threats like viruses, malware, phishing, and more. Download award-winning antivirus that protects your data and devices today.
A real one. A person who is being authentic, genuine, trusted.
And I oop. A phrase used after a funny mistake or accident.
Awks. Short for awkward.
Baddie. Name for an independent female who is tough and beautiful.
Bands. Refers to bands around cash or a wealthy person. No doubt, the dude’s got bands.
Bet. A willingness to do something; means “yes” or “okay.”
Big yikes. When you see something, that is a huge embarrassment.
Booed up. To be in a romantic relationship.
Bop. A really good song. That song is such a bop!
Bread or Cheddar. Terms that refer to money.
Breadcrumbing. Sending flirtatious text messages to another person to get their attention but remain non-committal.
Bussin. Something is awesome. Her new hair color is bussin’.
Cake. When someone’s body looks good. The girl in my science class has cake.
Cancel. Reject or stop supporting a group or idea.
Cap. A term that means “lie” or “false.” He said we were a couple. Cap!
No cap. A phrase that means “no lie” or “for real” emphasizes telling the truth. I just saw him eat a bug. No cap!
CEO. A term used to describe something that you’re very good at, making you the CEO of it. I’m the CEO of being late to class.
Cheug. This term describes a person, idea, or situation that is outdated or inauthentic.
Clout. A term that relates to a person’s follower count, fame, or influencer status. Sometimes an expression for an extravagant way of living.
Chasing Clout. A term that describes a person who does and says things for the sole purpose of becoming more popular.
Curve. To reject someone romantically.
Cuffing. Wanting to date or cuff yourself to someone temporarily—at least until summer break.
Do it for the gram. A phrase that describes someone doing something for the sole purpose of posting online.
Drip. A term that describes someone’s style as sexy or cool. Zayne has some serious drip.
Facts. When you agree with someone.
Finsta. A second Instagram account used for sharing with a smaller circle of friends and followers.
Fish. Fishing for compliments.
Fit. Short for outfit.
Flex. To show off or show something off.
Get after it. Start with something with intensity.
Ghost. Suddenly stop all contact with someone online and in person.
Hundo P. Being 100% certain.
Hypebeast. A term that describes someone who cares too much about popular things rather than being self-aware and genuine.
I’m dead. Describes how you feel when something is hilarious.
I’m weak. Like, dead, describes how you feel when something is hilarious.
I can’t even. An expression used when you’ve had enough of someone or a situation.
Keep it 100. Stay true to yourself and stick to your values.
Lewk. Look.
Left on read. When someone does not respond to your text. He left me on read!
Lit. Cool or awesome.
Mood. A term used to express a relatable feeling or experience. Seeing that kid by himself kicking a can is such a mood.
Mutuals. People who follow and support one another on social media.
Oof. An expression used when something bad happens, and you don’t know how to respond.
Periodt. A term used to emphasize what you just said.
Purr. Expressing approval. I’ve got nothing but purr for my friends.
Receipts. Evidence to prove someone is either lying. Often in the form of screenshots, videos, or images.
Savage. A cool person or someone overly direct or candid.
Sketch. A sketchy or ominous situation, place, or person.
Skrrt. To leave quickly or get away from someone (the sound a car makes).
Ship. Short for relationship.
Simp. Used to describe a guy who is seen as being too attentive and submissive to a girl.
Sheesh. A term used to compliment someone when they look good or do something good.
Suh. A combination of “sup” and “huh” used as a greeting.
Sus. Short for suspect describing a situation, a person, or a claim. That guy is sus. Let’s get out of here.
Shawty. An attractive female. Sometimes a short, attractive female.
Sheee. An expression of disappointment, annoyance, or surprise.
Slaps. A term used when something is awesome. The DJ slaps.
Snatched. Describing a person or a thing that looks great. I’m jealous her makeup is so snatched.
Stan. A combination of “stalker” and “fan” refers to an overly obsessed fan of a celebrity.
Straight Fire or Fire. Describes something amazing. His new truck is straight fire.
Thumpin’. Word to describe someone going very. I didn’t even see him leave. He was thumpin’.
Vaguebooking. The act of posting vague Facebook or other social status updates for attention or as a cry for help. Wondering what the point of it all is anyway.
Whip. A word that means car. Have you seen his new whip?
Wig. When something has you so excited, your wig might come off; mind-blowing. The new Adele song!! WIIIIGGG!
Yeet. Throwing something out of rage. Also used as an exclamation for being excited.
NGL. Not Gonna Lie.
NMH. Nodding My Head; an expression of agreement.
NSA. No Strings Attached.
HWU. Hey, what’s up?
IYKWIM. If You Know What I Mean.
RLY. Really?
OG.Short for Original Gangster;a compliment for someone who is exceptional or authentic.
ORLY. Oh really?
SMH. Shaking My Head.
TFW. That Feeling When
TT2T. Too Tired to Talk.
L. Short for loose or loss.
V. Short for very.
W. Short for win. Their loss is our w.
WYA. Where are you at?
WYD. What are you doing?
YK. You’re Kidding.
YKTS. You Know the Score.
YKTV. You know the vibe.
Addy/Study Buddy. Terms used in place of the medication Adderal.
Break Green. A term that means to share marijuana with others.
Crashy. Combo of “crazy” and “trashy.”
Daddy. An attractive man, usually older, who conveys a sense of power and dominance.
Faded/Cooked. Terms used to describe being high on drugs.
Lit/Turnt Up. It can mean party or get drunk.
MOS/POS. Mom Over Shoulder; Parent Over Shoulder.
Kush/Flower/Gas. Terms used in place of marijuana.
Smash. To hook up for casual sex. Is he a smash or a pass?
Thirsty. Adjective for a person desperate for attention or sex.
Xan/Xans. Terms short for Xanax, a sedative used to treat anxiety. Also called xanny, beans, bars, and footballs.
ASL. Age/sex/location.
CD9. Can’t talk parents are here.
CU46. See You For Sex.
GALMA. Go Away Leave Me Alone.
GOMB. Get Off My Back.
GSW. Get Some Weed.
LMIRL. Let’s meet in Real Life.
KMS/KYS. Kill myself, Kill Yourself.
ONG. On God; a term that implies a person is serious enough to swear “on god.”
ONS. One Night Stand.
Spice or K2. Code for synthetic marijuana, which can be more harmful than actual cannabis.
URAL. You’re A Loser.
WWTP. Want to Trade Pics?
X or E. Letters that stand for ecstasy, otherwise known as “molly” or MDMA.
Zaddy. A well-dressed, attractive man of any age.
Zerg. A term that originated in the gaming community for gamers using the many against one strategy to win a game. A Zerg is a person who employs the same bullying tactics in real life. Stay away from him. He’s such a Zerg! Or Stay off that site. There’s too much zerging.
Protect your connected life today with McAfee Total Protection
*Content collected from various sources, including NetLingo.com, slangit.com, cyberdefinitions.com, UrbanDictionary.com, webopedia.com, and conversations on TikTok, Reddit, and YouTube.
The post Teen Slang and Texting Acronyms Parents Should Know appeared first on McAfee Blog.
Social media is a great place to connect with friends and family. Unfortunately, it is also a great place for misinformation to run rampant, and it is a virtual treasure chest for cybercriminals to steal personal information. Over 25 million Canadians own a social media account, and more than 80% of the Canadian population is expected to be on social media by 2025.
Check out this roundup of common social media scams so you can network intelligently, spot misinformation, and stop its spread.
The classic saying of “Don’t believe everything you see on TV” applies neatly to “Don’t believe everything you read on social media.” There is a resurgence of false news reports circulating on social media surrounding COVID-19 and the vaccine. For example, 5G aiding the spread of the virus and the preventive properties of garlic are just two of the rumors about COVID-19.
Misinformation leads to chaos and is a major threat to public health. Before you reshare a post or article, it is great to take a few minutes to digest the message, determine if it is true, and ask yourself if friends and family would genuinely benefit if they heard the news it carries.
There are a few tell-tale signs of fake news posts. First, they often try to inspire extreme emotions, such as rage and indignation, to prompt people to share immediately. Next, fake news reports are frequently poorly written and vague about where they received their information. Always try to find the primary source for “facts.” In the case of COVID-19 news, all health tips should be sourced from a licensed medical professional.
If you are ever in doubt about the facts, especially when they deal with public health, do not share the post. Instead, leave the reporting to trained medical professionals. Consult the World Health Organization and the Public Health Agency of Canada or direct your network to #ScienceUpFirst for the latest and most accurate reports about COVID-19 and the vaccine.
There was a recent data leak at Facebook, and the contents of about half a billion accounts were posted on a hacking website, including 3.49 million Canadian accounts. Hackers can get a lot of mileage out of just one social media profile because it contains all the greatest hits of information needed to verify an identity.
Most profiles list your real full name, birthday, your relationship status, your hometown, and contact information. Also, hackers can skim a user’s posting history to find even more personal details. Many social media users have posted at one time or another a “get to know you” post, where they list many revealing facts. These posts are a pot of gold to cybercriminals. They are basically lists of possible answers to security questions: Where did you go to primary school? What was the model of your first car? What is the name of your favorite stuffed animal?
Another recent trend that can make you vulnerable in case of a data leak is posting COVID-19 vaccine cards. Social media users are excited to share the big milestone of getting their first shot. What they might not realize is that vaccine cards contain vital personal information that could be used by malicious actors. There are alternative ways to share the happy news. Instead, post a picture of the fun bandage the nurse put on your arm or take a selfie outside of the vaccination center.
It is a shame that what you share on social media can be turned against you by cybercriminals, but that does not mean you have to stop sharing details about your life. Instead of posting personal details online that could be used maliciously in the event of a data leak, think about creating an exclusive email newsletter or secure group chat for your closest friends and family.
There is a major thrill when you think you have won something; however, if you receive a notification on social media that you have won a contest, reserve your excitement until you have confirmed its legitimacy. Be especially wary if you do not remember entering a contest.
Contest scams are a type of social engineering tactic used by cybercriminals. Social engineering relies on people’s tendency to trust others. Cybercriminals often capitalize upon extreme emotions, like fear, urgency, and in this case excitement, to trick unsuspecting people into hastily giving up sensitive information.
Phishing is also common in contest scams. Social media users may receive a message that they have won a giveaway and to click on a link to claim their prize. Luckily, easy-to-spot signs of a phishing message include poor grammar, misspellings, and a sense of urgency. Always approach these types of messages with caution. Instead of clicking on any of the links, hover your cursor over them to see where they redirect. If the redirect site URL is suspicious and contains misspellings, steer clear.
If you ever receive a notification on social media that you have won a prize, remain skeptical until you have verified the authenticity. Locate the organization’s official social media page (which you can likely find on their website), and direct message them for more details.
With all of these common scams floating about and waiting to strike, check out these tips to network safely.
The joy of social media is sharing your everyday life with your friends and family. It is fun to have dozens of people wish you a happy birthday on your profile, but consider removing the year of your birthday. Also, consider removing your phone number, home address, and email address from your profile. If a friend or family member wants to get in touch with you, they can personally direct message you. Cybercriminals can take your contact information and full birthday and use it to steal your identity, so it is best not to post it online.
While you may want to share the latest news with your networks, do not share information that you are not sure is true. According to Statistics Canada, only half of Canadians investigated the accuracy of COVID-19 social media posts before they reshared. Do your due diligence and be a part of the solution, not part of the problem.
Even if you are a diligent and intelligent social media user, there is a chance that you could accidentally click on a phishing link. In case this happens, you should have a backup plan to safeguard your devices and your personal information from viruses and malware. Protect your devices with a comprehensive antivirus program, such as McAfee Total Protection. You can rest assured that if you or a member of your family accidentally opens a malicious link, your devices will be safe.
The post Beware of Social Media Scams appeared first on McAfee Blogs.
It’s hard to believe, right, parents? In just a blink or two, you went from being the teenager dropping cool phrases like “rad” and “gnarly” to monitoring a teenager texting words like “lowkey,” “IRL” and “CD9” into her smartphone non-stop.*
For generations, teens have been crafting terms to differentiate themselves from other age groups. The difference today is that smartphone texting has multiplied the scope of that code to include words, emojis, numbers, and hashtags.
The times have changed, fo’ sho.’
You don’t have to speak your child’s language (please don’t). However, with new terms and risks emerging online each day, it’s a good idea to at least understand what they are saying.
Since kids have been spending more time online due to the pandemic, we thought we might discover a few new and interesting terms. We were right. We found stories of teens referring to the Coronavirus as “Miss Rona” and “Rona,” and abbreviating quarantine to “Quar.” A “Corona Bae” is the person you would only plan to date during a lockdown.
Much of the coded language kids use is meant to be funny, sarcastic, or a quick abbreviation. However, there are times when a text exchange can slip into risky territory. Seemingly harmless, text exchanges can spark consequences such as bullying, sextortion, privacy violations, and emotional or physical harm.
To help kids avoid dangerous digital situations, we recommend three things: 1) Talk early and often with your kids about digital risk and behavior expectations, 2) Explore and use parental monitoring software, and 3) Know your child’s friends and communities online and in real life.
Note: Context is everything. Many of these terms are used in jest or as casual banter. Be sure to understand the context in which a word is used.
Flex. This term means showing off. For example, “Look at her trying to flex with her new car.”
Crashy. Description of a person who is thought to be both crazy and trashy.
Clap back. A comeback filled with attitude.
Cringey. Another word for embarrassing.
Hop off. Mind your own business.
Spill tea or Kiki. Dishing gossip.
Sip tea. Listening to gossip.
Salty. Mad, angry, jealous, bitter, upset, or irritated.
“She gave me a salty look in class.”
Extra. Over the top or unnecessarily dramatic.
Left on read. Not replying to someone’s message.
Ghosting. Ending a friendship or relationship online with no explanation.
Neglext. Abandon someone in the middle of a text conversation.
Ok, Boomer. Dismissing someone who is not up to date enough.
(Throw) shade. Insult or trash talk discreetly.
Receipts. Getting digital proof, usually in the form of screenshots.
THOT. Acronym for That H__ Over There.
Thirsty. A term describing a person as desperate or needy. “Look at her staring at him — she’s so thirsty.”
Thirst trap. A sexy photograph or message posted on social media.
Dis. Short for showing blatant disrespect.
Preeing. A word that describes stalking or being stalked on Facebook.
Basic. Referring to a person as mainstream, nothing special. Usually used in a negative connotation.
Chasing Clout. A negative term describing someone trying too hard to get followers on social media.
9, CD9, or Code9, PAW, POS. Parents are around, over the shoulder.
99. All clear, the parents are gone. Safe to resume texting or planning.
KPC. Keeping parents clueless.
Cheddar, Cheese, or Bread. These are all terms that mean money.
Cap. Means to lie as in “she’s capping.” Sending the baseball cap emoji expresses the same feeling. No capping means “I’m not lying.”
Hundo P. Term that is short for “hundred percent;” absolutely, for sure.
Woke. Aware of and outspoken on current on political and social issues.
And I oop. Lighthearted term to describe a silly mistake.
Big oof. A slightly bigger mistake.
Yeet. An expression of excitement. For example, “He kissed me. Yeeeet!”
Retweet. Instead of saying, “yes, I agree,” you say, “retweet.”
Canceled. Absurd or foolish behavior is “canceled.” For example, “He was too negative on our date, so I canceled him.”
Slap or Snatched. Terms that mean fashionable or on point. For instance, “Those shoes are slap” or “You look snatched.”
And just for fun, here’s a laugh out loud video from comedian Seth Meyer’s on teen Coronavirus slang you’ll enjoy on YouTube.
* lowkey (a feeling you want to keep secret), IRL (In Real Life), CD9 also Code9 (Adult Alert used to hide secretive activity). ** Terms collected from various sources, including NetLingo.com, UrbanDictionary.com, webopedia.com, and from tweets and posts from teens online.
The post Can You Decode Your Teen’s Texting Language? appeared first on McAfee Blogs.