Sections

Emma McGowan

Emma McGowan is a privacy and security advocate and managing editor at Gen who tackles online security and privacy from a lifestyle perspective. Previous to joining Avast, she was a freelance writer for a decade, focusing on women’s health, sexuality education, and startups. Her work has appeared in Buzzfeed, Mashable, Startups.com, The Daily Dot, Mic, Bustle, Broadly, and Bedsider, among others. When she’s not writing, Emma can be found reading trashy novels, sewing and embroidering, and playing with her tabby cat, Dwight.

Articles by author

Why one in 20 people fall for dating scams - and how to not be one of them

Avast researchers have detected a sharp uptick in romance scams--and they're not always happening where you'd expect them to.

22 Feb 2024 min read

Here are all the red flags Charlotte Cowles missed in that viral NY Mag article

What happened with a fake call purporting to be from Amazon tricked a financial advice columnist into handing over $50,000 to a stranger.

20 Feb 2024 min read

Unveiling the truth behind AI relationship chatbots

A recent report from Mozilla found that the recent explosion of romantic AI chatbots is creating a whole new world of privacy concerns.

14 Feb 2024 min read

Show your digital devices some love this Valentine’s Day

Your device will always give you signs that it needs some TLC. Uncover how you can show your electronics some love.

13 Feb 2024 min read

A Valentine’s warning about heartbreak hackers

Dive into the world of romance scams, where emotions are exploited, money is the ultimate prize, and scammers lurk behind the mask of love.

12 Feb 2024 min read

Malicious PDFs, deepfakes, and romance scams were just some of the 10 billion cyber attacks we saw last year

Uncover the startling surge in cyber threats from our Avast Q4/2023 Threat Report. Over 10 billion attacks last year reveal the critical need to pay attention.

7 Feb 2024 min read

How to spot the bad actors this awards season

From overacting to poorly crafted characters, it’s crucial to recognize red flags in cyber-scripts, weak dialogue, and fake chemistry in online interactions.

5 Feb 2024 min read

The Taylor Swift deepfake porn is nothing new – but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be concerned

After AI-generated pornographic images of Taylor Swift went viral on X, we're left asking: What does this mean for the future of AI?

30 Jan 2024 min read

Uncovering the hidden superpowers of your smartphone

Did you know you're carrying a secret superhero around in your pocket? Introducing: Your smartphone.

23 Jan 2024 min read

Safeguard your heart and personal info this cuffing season

While you have your heart set on finding a partner, you should also keep your eyes peeled for the dangers that come with dating in the digital realm.

12 Jan 2024 min read

Can hackers steal information from an ID badge?

ID badges are a two-edged sword, providing security and convenience on one hand, but risking exposure of sensitive data on the other.

3 Jan 2024 min read

This year’s resolution: remove nosey apps from your device

Some apps are plain greedy—like a stranger you invite for a meal who insists on ordering everything on the menu. Except instead of the burger, fries, and ice-cream sundae, it’s your data they’re hoovering up. Here’s what you can do to set some boundaries.

22 Dec 2023 min read

The Avast Phishing Awards: Trickiest email headlines of 2023

Welcome to the most prestigious event in the world of cyber trickery: the first annual Avast Phishing Awards! Join us as we unveil the most noteworthy, side-eye-inducing, and downright dubious email headlines that made this such a year to remember.

20 Dec 2023 min read