Want to get yourself verified on Bluesky? The company just made a verification form available to the public, and you can use it to submit a request to get yourself a shiny blue check mark. This comes about a month after Bluesky first launched its verification program, which focused primarily on verification from third-parties and Bluesky itself. This latest change, however, allows you to apply for verification directly with Bluesky.

The different types of Bluesky verification

Unlike X and Instagram, Bluesky doesn’t charge you for verification. However, there are three different kinds of verification on the service and it can get a bit confusing. The first and easiest type of verification is self-verification on Bluesky. This is open to anyone who owns a domain name. You can easily link your Bluesky account to the domain, which changes your handle to the domain name. Self-verification doesn’t come with a blue check, however.

There are two types of blue checks: a scalloped blue check and a simple circular one. The scalloped blue check is for organizations designated as trusted verifiers. These include Bluesky itself, and a select few third-party organizations. When these trusted verifiers assign blue checks to an account, that account gets a circular blue check. Bluesky says it reviews all accounts verified by third-party organizations.

Who can get verified on Bluesky

According to a post by the Bluesky Safety account, you need to have an account that’s “active and secure, authentic, and notable,” if you want to get verified. The company defines these things quite clearly in the verification form. You need to have a complete bio, show regular activity on the platform, and have a profile photo. Bluesky recommends enabling two-factor authentication as well.

To meet the “authentic” criterion for verification you need to be a “real person, registered business, organization, or legitimate entity.” Your handle and display name should align with who you really are (or your business), as your account “must be the unique presence of the person or business it represents.” You also want to add a link to your Bluesky account on your official website, since this is also checked for verification.

Finally, to qualify as a “notable” account, your account should be important in your field or geographic region, the company says. To determine notability, Bluesky says it looks at things like “professional recognition, media coverage in established publications, presence on credible reference platforms, or other evidence of public interest.”

How to get verified on Bluesky

If you haven’t been verified yet on Bluesky, then you can go right ahead and fill out this form to request it. Once you do that, sit tight until you hear from Bluesky. If you receive no response at all, it probably means that your request wasn’t approved. You’ll hear back from the company if your account is selected for verification, and Bluesky may request an ID to verify your identity. Once you get your account verified, the blue check may be revoked if you violate community guidelines. 

You can also hide your verification badge by going to Bluesky Settings > Moderation > Verification Settings > Hide verification badges.

In recent years, TikTok has become a prime target for scammers and cyber attackers spreading various forms of malware, and the latest shady campaign promotes instructional videos that trick users into downloading infostealers to their devices via ClickFix attacks.

The scheme, identified by Trend Micro and reported by Bleeping Computer, instructs users to execute commands to activate Windows and Microsoft Office or premium features in CapCut and Spotify. One video is captioned “Boost Your Spotify Experience Instantly — Here’s How!” and has nearly half a million views.

These videos seem to be AI generated and, while the software they discuss is legitimate, the activation steps they outline are not, and will ultimately lead users to infect their devices with Vidar and StealC malware.

TikTok’s engagement algorithm makes it easy for such malicious videos to spread. In the past, cybercriminals have used TikTok’s trending “Invisible Challenge” to spread WASP Stealer malware, which can steal Discord accounts, passwords, credit cards, and crypto wallets. Fake cryptocurrency giveaways posted on TikTok used deepfakes of Elon Musk (and themes around SpaceX and Tesla) to scam users into paying “activation” deposits using Bitcoin.

How TikTok ClickFix attacks work

ClickFix is a social engineering tactic that uses fake error messages or CAPTCHA prompts to trick users into executing a command with malicious code. Users will see a pop-up notification about a technical problem with instructions to copy and run a command (commonly a PowerShell script) to “fix” the issue. The attack most often targets Windows users, but it has been employed on macOS and Linux too.

In the current TikTok campaign, the instructional videos prompt users to run a PowerShell command that installs Vidar or StealC information-stealing malware. The former can take desktop screenshots and harvest data ranging from login credentials and cookies to credit cards and crypto wallets. The latter targets web browsers and crypto wallets. Once run, the script will download a second PowerShell script allowing it to launch automatically upon device startup. It also saves in a hidden directory and deletes temporary folders so it can evade detection.

How to spot malicious TikTok videos

Be wary of following instructional videos you’re served on TikTok (as well as unsolicited technical content in general). Check the source, and only engage with those that are legitimate, like from the developer itself. You should also look for signs of AI-generated content, which may be used to spread malware widely and rapidly. There’s no malicious code actually embedded in or delivered by these instructional videos—the scheme is dependent on social engineering via verbal directions—making the threat technically harder to detect.

Ever since Apple made it easy to change certain default apps on your iPhone, it’s become quite convenient to switch away from the company’s apps whenever there’s a third-party option you prefer. With iOS 18.4, Apple made it possible to change your default translation app as well. First spotted by MacRumors, you can officially set Google Translate as the default app for translation, in case you prefer it over Apple Translate.

Make Google Translate the default translation app on your iPhone

There are a couple of ways to go about this, but I recommend the easiest method. If you never use it, just delete Apple’s Translate app from your iPhone, and the device will automatically select Google Translate as the default translation app—assuming you’re running the latest version of Google’s app. This isn’t ideal for people who occasionally rely on Apple Translate, but if you know you don’t need it, you might as well save the time and storage space.

You can also do make the switch without deleting any apps. On your iPhone, go to Settings > Apps > Default Apps > Translation and select Google Translate from the list. If you use any other translation apps that support Apple’s default apps feature, they should also show up on this page, and you can use your preferred app as the default option.

You can use this feature in any iPhone app that lets you select text. Tap the Translate button in the popover menu above selected text, and you’ll see Google Translate’s translation in the lower half of your iPhone’s screen. It does a good job at detecting the language of selected text and offering a translation in your preferred language (which is picked up from your iPhone’s language settings), but there’s an option to change languages easily, without leaving whichever app you’re using. 

Until this feature showed up, you could still use Google Translate on your iPhone, but it required a few extra taps. This is a small but helpful way to streamline the process.

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As the weather warms up, it’s a great time to get out for a run or a bike ride—but if you need some music to keep you motivated, it’s crucial to have headphones that won’t entirely shut out the outside world. A good bop is a wonderful thing; not being able to hear traffic and nearby cyclists is not.

Earphones like the Anker Soundcore C40i, on sale for $89.99 (originally $119.99), are a good option because they clip onto the ear and don’t entirely fill the ear canal.

Unlike higher-priced models with touch controls, these earbuds feature only button controls. This is ideal for individuals who prefer a more tactile and precise approach and want to avoid the accidental inputs that touch controls can cause. Additionally, the Soundcore app allows users to personalize button functions and EQ settings, although going ad-free is only available with a paid subscription.

Despite these features, battery life and sound quality receive mixed reviews on Amazon. One reviewer describes the sound output as “tinny” and notes the lack of rich, bass-driven sound. While you won’t get the same quality as Bose headphones, if you’re in the market for budget-friendly wireless earbuds with an open style that cost less than $100, the Anker Soundcore C40i open earbuds might be a good option.