The Compass Blog | Digital Identity and People Search | Spokeo

5 Simple Ways to Find Someone’s Current Address

2026-02-24T19:14:39Z

Are you looking to find someone’s current address but simply don’t know where to start your search? Maybe it’s a long-lost friend you wish to reconnect with. Perhaps it’s a family member you want to send a surprise holiday gift to, but aren’t sure of their present residence. Or maybe you’re carrying out a research task that requires compiling people’s current addresses.

Whatever the reason, the good news is that there are various tools and avenues to help you find what you’re looking for. Here’s an easy, practical guide for finding someone’s current address.

How To Find Someone’s Address Using Their Name: Getting Started

When looking to find someone’s address by their name, the first place to start is with a basic search on a search engine tool — Google will typically be the best option.

Start by entering the person’s full name on Google inside quote marks (e.g., “John Doe”), so it gives results for that exact name. If you don’t get results, try variants of the name or nicknames. You could also include additional details like the city they live in or the name of their spouse to make the search more efficient and focused if you’re searching for the address of someone with a common name.

Note that Google keeps a tight leash on pulling personal information into search results, even when it’s public, so you may not come up with a one-to-one name and address match if you go this route. But, even if it doesn’t lead you directly to an address, Google can provide other crucial pieces of information about a person that might be helpful in your search.

How To Use a People Search Tool To Find Someone’s Address

While Google can be a useful starting point, as mentioned earlier, it’s a general-purpose search engine, and it’s therefore not designed to find the specific records you might need to find someone’s current address. This is where specialized people-search tools come in. These tools aggregate data from various public records, making it easier to locate the individual and their current address or contact information.

Among the many options available, Spokeo stands out for its ease of use, speed, and extensive database. Spokeo lawfully compiles data from public records spread across hundreds of sources, including white page listings, criminal records, and even profiles from 100+ social networks.

This broad range of sources enhances the probability of not just finding an individual but also accessing the most up-to-date and comprehensive information about them.

The search process on Spokeo works very simply.

Access Spokeo: Start by navigating to the Spokeo website at www.spokeo.com.
Conducting the search: Enter what you know about the person whose address you are looking for into the search bar — this can be a name, an email address, or a phone number.
Review the results: After you enter your search query, Spokeo will display a list of potential matches. Browse through these results carefully and select the one most likely to be the person you’re looking for. If it isn’t the right person, click through additional search results until you find the individual.
Adjusting your query: If you don’t get a valid result from your first search, try variations and alternate spellings of their name. For example, put in Damien instead of Damian, Jordyn instead of Jordan, Hailee instead of Hailey, and so on. Try a different name spelling, even if you’re sure of the correct one — names get misspelled in public records quite frequently.
Narrowing down the results: If your initial search yields too many results, you can narrow them down by using any additional information you might have, like the person of interest’s age, middle name, or a relative’s name. (This is where that initial Googling you did can come in handy!)
Accessing the address: After identifying the right person, click on their profile to access the profile, which may include, among others, their current as well as past addresses. Note that you might need to pay for a subscription to unlock the entirety of the profile, but it’s very affordable.

How To Find Someone’s Address With Their Phone Number

If you have someone’s phone number, you can use what is called a reverse phone lookup to find other details about them, such as their current address. To do that, simply go to a website that offers reverse phone lookup services like Spokeo and enter the person’s phone number in the site’s search bar, following the instructions we outlined in the section above. The tool will return information associated with the number, including the person’s name and address ( if that info is publicly available).

How To Find Someone’s Address With Public Record Search

Public records — including property records, voter registration records, court records, and even marriage or business licenses — can also help you find someone’s address. Many jurisdictions, including states and counties, usually offer online access to such public records. Use tools like websites like SearchSystems.net to find out what public record databases are available in your jurisdiction (but keep in mind that access and availability can vary by location).

If online public records resources are limited, you can also visit local government offices such as the county clerk, registrar, or public records office. Staff there can guide you on how to access the records you need.

Remember also that instead of visiting individual databases, you also use online people search tools like Spokeo, which aggregate public records from various sources, as mentioned. They provide a quick way to search multiple records at once.

How To Find Someone’s Address on Social Media

Social media platforms are not only for staying connected with friends and family. They can also be a useful tool for finding someone’s address.

Here’s how to use social media for this purpose.

Search by name: Visit popular platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram, and enter the person’s name in the search bar. Browse through the profiles that come up until you find the correct individual.
Examine their profile. Some users might include their location in their profile. Check their bio or about section to see whether they’ve provided any address information. This might not always be an exact address, but it can provide a city or region to start with.
Analyze posts and check-ins: Look at the person’s recent posts, especially any check-ins or location tags. This can give you clues about their current or frequent locations.
Look at geotagged photos: A lot of people on social media also geotag their photos with the location where they were taken. Browse through the person’s photo galleries for any geotagged images that might indicate their current area of residence or address.
Explore their connections. Sometimes, the information you’re after might not be directly on the person’s profile but within their network. Check posts from the individual’s friend to see whether there’s any mention of their address. For example, a friend might have recently visited the person of interest’s workplace or home and posted about it.
Check at groups or events: Look at the groups the person belongs to or the events they are interested in. Some might be location-specific and can provide an idea of where the person is located.
Connect and communicate: If appropriate, you can try reaching out to the individual in question directly via private message. Be respectful, and make sure to reveal your intentions upfront.

Like with using Google, you likely will not find the person’s exact address on their social media profiles (most people are internet savvy enough to know that having this information publicly available is a risky move). That said, taking a look at their social profiles can help you verify some of the information found using people search tools like Spokeo or pulled from a public records search. Worst case, you may be able to discover where they work — and because most businesses do make their address publicly available, you’ll be able to use that information to reach them.

How to Find Someone’s Address Through Their Network

Another way to find someone’s address is by leveraging their personal and professional network. This involves reaching out to the person’s mutual acquaintances, colleagues, or friends who might have up-to-date information on the person, including their address.

If you are starting from scratch, i.e., if you don’t know anyone within the individual’s network, social media can again be useful. LinkedIn, for example, can show you an individual’s professional connections, while Facebook can reveal the people in their personal network, specifically friends and family members. Once you’ve identified a potential contact, you can reach out, for example, through a respectful message or phone call. Explain why you are looking for the person’s address and assure them it’s for a legitimate and ethical reason.

Final Thoughts

Finding someone’s address in the current age is now easier than ever, thanks to people’s search engines like Spokeo, social media, and public records databases. These tools have transformed what used to be a daunting, time-intensive task into a few simple clicks.

Just remember that the ability to easily locate someone’s current address also comes with the responsibility to act ethically and within legal boundaries. Make sure your search is for a legitimate purpose, and be prepared to step back if it encroaches on someone’s privacy and comfort. Additionally, any information you obtain should be used with discernment and for purposes that don’t harm or inconvenience the individuals involved.

Sean LaPointe is an expert freelance writer with experience in finance and tech. He has written for several well-known brands and publications, including The Motley Fool, Angi/HomeAdvisor, and CapLinked.

Can an RFID Blocking Wallet Keep Your Cards Safe? Facts vs. Hype

2026-02-09T19:06:23Z

Most of us like to grumble at least occasionally about how complicated life has gotten. And it certainly has, in a lot of ways, but in others it’s gotten a lot more convenient. Just a few decades ago, for example, buying things meant going to the bank — your own physical branch, mind you, during the brief hours it was open — to take out cash. If you didn’t have time for that, or ran out of money, you’d write a check and hope the merchant accepted it. The merchant, meanwhile, hoped your check was good. Now, paying is as simple as a quick tap with your phone or a card, and the transaction takes place instantly. It almost seems too easy. The NFC circuit in your phone, or the RFID chip on your card, gives the terminal your payment information, and boom, you’re done! But can you trust that only the terminal can read that information? Or should you invest in an RFID blocking wallet (or something similar) for added protection? Let’s dig into the technology and see if it’s worth doing.

How Does RFID Work?

There are several different kinds of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chips, but they all work on the same basic principle. There’s a small chip with a bit of code on it that contains information. In commercial settings like a factory or an Amazon warehouse, that chip might identify a part or a specific package. On credit or debit cards, it holds your payment information. There’s also an antenna attached to the chip.

When a chip reader comes close to the RFID tag, the reader’s radio waves act as a power source for the chip and antenna, and it responds by transmitting the information it contains (radio waves are a power source in themselves, remember; it’s how your microwave cooks things). Industrial RFID tags can be read from several feet away, but the kind on your cards need to be very close to the reader.

The Near Field Communications (NFC) chips in your phone are essentially a souped-up form of RFID, which can transmit and receive (so it’s both a tag and a tag reader). Like your cards, this only works in very close proximity to the payment terminal.

Can RFID Really be Hacked?

That leads to a couple of big questions: a) whether RFID cards can be hacked; and b) whether they’re a safe way to pay.

The first question was answered long ago with a definitive yes. All the way back in 2006, security researchers were demonstrating “proof of concept” attacks harvesting the information from RFID cards. But the second question is tougher, because most of these hacks targeted other RFID devices rather than debit and credit cards. The whole point of chip-enabled cards, after all, was to make them more secure compared to the old-school magnetic stripe. The stripe was easily read by credit-card “skimmers” — an illicit reader installed over the top of a legitimate one — which allowed criminals to make a duplicate of your card, and max out your credit in a hurry.

Chip cards are a tougher nut to crack, partly because key data on the chip is encrypted and partly because they use an algorithm that creates a unique code (an “Authentication Data Element,” or ADe) for each purchase. Scammers using an improved version of a skimmer, called a “shimmer,” can actually read some data from the chip, but it’s not as bad as it sounds at first.

Criminals still can’t clone the chip card, but they’ll get the iCVV code — the digital equivalent of those three digits on the back of your card — which means they can make a better clone of your stipe card. Some card issuers have dropped the stripe entirely, using either tap-and-sign or tap-and-PIN instead, to close this vulnerability.

How Does RFID Blocking Work?

A lot of companies (a lot of companies), seeing the coverage of RFID hacks and vulnerabilities over the years, have begun marketing protective devices to help keep your information secure. Essentially, they create what’s called a “Faraday cage” around your card. A Faraday cage (named for a brilliant 19th-century pioneer in electrical research) is just an enclosure made of conductive material, like aluminum or copper. They’re routinely used in scientific and industrial settings, where sensitive equipment needs to be protected from interference, and even in consumer electronics, where outside signals might mess with your data or your music.

Interestingly, a Faraday cage doesn’t have to be a solid enclosure, because a conductive mesh works just as well. If you cut open a TV cable, you’ll see a regular wire in the middle and a copper braid around the outside; the braid acts as a Faraday cage to shield the wire in the middle (which carries your TV signal) from interference.

That’s important for consumers wanting a wallet that can protect their cards from a potential hacker with an RFID reader. A solid Faraday cage wouldn’t make a very practical wallet, but mesh can be incorporated into even a slender, flexible wallet without much difficulty. That’s how RFID blocking wallets work.

Do I Need an RFID Blocking Wallet?

Here’s the thing about RFID hacking: despite all the potential vulnerabilities that have been demonstrated over the years, it just hasn’t been a “thing” in the real world. There are a couple of reasons for that. One is that relatively few cards are “contactless,” meaning you could theoretically read them from a few inches away (subway, coffee shop, elevator) with an RFID reader. Most need to be inserted into the terminal, or make physical contact with the “Tap” reader.

A more important point is that, on the whole, it’s just not worth criminals’ time. Like any other business, they’re concerned with efficiency and return on investment. For pennies, they can send out a mass phishing email and potentially steal credit card data from thousands. Hackers can steal millions of card users’ data in a single breach, and — more importantly — sell them on to other criminals for as little as $10 to $15 each. A look at the FTC’s credit card fraud data for 2022 shows over 400,000 incidents involving new accounts (i.e., identity theft), compared to under 40,000 involving existing accounts (credit card hacks, skimming, shoulder surfing, and everything else combined).

In other words, criminals have collectively decided that “the juice isn’t worth the squeeze.” That’s not to say a hack is impossible, especially if you’re a public figure or in some other way a high-value target. It also doesn’t mean things will necessarily stay this way (there’s a lot of money and talent on the criminals’ side, after all).

So, do you need an RFID blocking wallet or sleeves for your cards? No, probably not. But if you’d sleep better for having one, by all means go ahead and buy it.

There are Some Special Cases

That’s not to say there aren’t a few scenarios where RFID is a legitimate threat; they’re just not usually something a private citizen needs to be concerned about. Those passes you swipe to get into secured areas at work? Those are RFID tags, and they’re much easier to duplicate than a credit or debit card. So are the card-shaped hotel room keys.

While attacks like those are seldom targeted at an individual, as opposed to the organization, it’s possible that someone with an RFID reader — like the Flipper Zero, marketed to hobbyists as a “Swiss Army Knife for hacking,” at well under $200 — could manage to copy the RFID for your specific room, and steal your personal belongings. It’s a stretch, but it could happen. There’s certainly no harm in using a sleeve or RFID blocking wallet to eliminate that minimal risk.

More often, this kind of thing is a headache for the companies involved, and the suppliers of the actual RFID cards and their readers (whose customers, of course, use them for security reasons and expect them to be, well… secure). If your workplace suddenly decrees that you need to keep your access card in an RFID-blocking sleeve or wallet when it’s not in use, this is why.

Don’t Worry, Be Happy

So what’s the bottom line?

If you’ve been eyeing advertisements for RFID blocking wallets or contemplating a half-dozen sleeves to protect your cards individually, you can relax. There’s little realistic likelihood that anybody’s going to hack your cards that way. On the other hand, if the price fits your budget and it will make you feel better, there’s no compelling reason not to.

On the whole, though, you’ll do more for your own security if you keep up to speed on the latest scams and threats through blogs like this one, and keep a close eye on your accounts for any unexpected or illicit activity.

Better yet, sign up for Spokeo Protect (our identity protection service) and let us do all the monitoring for you. That will address a whole lot of threats that are more immediate and dangerous than RFID hacking, and should do a lot more for your peace of mind than any wallet, however high-tech.

States where people tip the most (and least)

2026-02-19T17:49:02Z

Tipping in America historically has been more about gratitude for good service than giving a set amount. Nowadays, with more tipping options popping up everywhere from coffee shops to self-checkout kiosks, the pressure to give has become a reflection of local economics, labor laws, and cultural norms. Americans across the country are beginning to rethink how much, when, and whether to tip at all.

This phenomenon is not occurring evenly across the country. Spokeo put together data from leading sources, including LendingTree, OysterLink, Toast, and more, to demonstrate the wide variation in tipping behavior across states. Much like a people search can reveal how location shapes someone’s background, this data shows how geography influences generosity. From minimum wage laws to tourism economies, learn what’s driving the trends behind where Americans tip the most and the least on average.

The national picture and the top and bottom states

On a national level, tipping remains deeply ingrained in American culture, especially in everyday settings like restaurants and bars. In data gathered from Toast’s Restaurant Trends report, from the first quarter of 2025, it’s clear to see a trend:

States with the lowest tipping averages still hover around 17%, showing how tipping culture clearly has not gone away. That said, the heat map shows just how widely tipping varies across the country. According to data from restaurant and hospitality job platform OysterLink, the following five states have the highest average tip rates, all above 20%:

Delaware — 21.5%
West Virginia — 20.5%
New Hampshire — 20.4%
Indiana — 20.4%
Kentucky — 20.3%

One of the main characteristics of all these states is a large service-sector workforce. Conversely, the five worst tipping states are:

California — 17.3%
Washington — 17.8%
Nevada — 18.1%
Florida — 18.2%
Texas — 18.7%

Lower wages compared to the cost of living, tighter household budgets, and different expectations all play a role in keeping tipping averages below the national norm in these states.

Why states differ: 3 key drivers

While a 4.2% differential between the highest-tipping state and the lowest-tipping state on an average basis may not seem like a lot, it amounts to $17.30 versus $21.50 on a $100 tab. This can easily add up over time for those who rely on tips to supplement their income. There are three primary factors at play.

Minimum wage laws and tip credits

One of the strongest predictors of tipping behavior is how states regulate wages for tipped workers. In much of the country, employers can pay tipped employees a subminimum wage, sometimes as low as $2.13 per hour, assuming tips will make up the difference. This system, known as a tip credit, creates a strong social expectation that customers tip generously because it increases the worker’s primary income.

Based on Economic Policy Institute data on minimum wages across the country and minimum tipped credit wages, all five of the highest-tipping states have a tip credit structure in place, reducing the minimum wage to $2.13 to $3.36, depending on the state. Conversely, Texas is the only one of the five lowest-tipping states to have this structure, while the lowest-tipped wage for the remaining four is $10.98 in Florida.

Economic conditions and cost of living

Household economics also inevitably play a role in shaping tipping habits. In higher-cost states, diners are accustomed to higher prices overall. This naturally increases tip amounts even when percentages stay constant. One study of the effect of minimum wage on tipping by Cornell social psychologist Michael Lynn found that tipping behavior correlates with income levels, urban density, and discretionary spending. This can affect tipping in the fringe states that don’t make the top or bottom five.

Regional culture and tourist populations

Finally, culture matters too. Tipping norms in the Northeast and West Coast tend to be more rigid, while in parts of the South and Midwest, tipping is more discretionary. Given that it can feel like an obligation in some regions, the tip amount may naturally be lower as the consumer anticipates needing to tip again soon.

Tourism also plays a major role. States like Nevada and Florida often benefit from visitor-driven tipping norms where tourists, often international, tend to tip on the higher end or follow posted suggestions as they aren’t accustomed to the area. The OysterLink data also shows that hospitality-heavy regions routinely outperform national averages.

Consumer sentiment: The tipping fatigue factor

In recent years, a new force has entered the equation: tipping fatigue. Data from the Pew Research Center, based on a survey of nearly 12,000 U.S. adults, found that 7 in 10 adults felt that more places now request tips than five years ago. This trend has even been dubbed “tipflation.” In total, 40% of those polled further noted they opposed businesses’ suggested tip amounts, whereas only 23% were in favor of them.

Similarly, in a survey of around 1,000 U.S. adults, Yahoo Finance reported that roughly 77% of respondents felt overwhelmed and believed tipping had become ridiculous in the country. Full-service restaurants still seemingly command relatively strong gratuities, but data is beginning to show that people are tipping less or becoming increasingly confused about what the proper tip amount is based on the situation or location.

What this means for workers

For service workers, state-level differences in average tip amounts can mean thousands of dollars in annual income variation. In states with lower tipping averages and lower tipped minimum wages, workers are more vulnerable to income instability. Complementary data to the Economic Policy Institute’s minimum wage data outlined how a reliance on tips disproportionately affects women and workers of color while also contributing to higher poverty rates in tipped occupations. Until structural changes become widespread via political policy, it’s likely that where you work will often matter as much as how well you serve.

Tipping culture in America

Tipping in America isn’t going away, but it is certainly evolving. State-by-state differences reveal how labor laws, cost of living, tourism, and consumer sentiment are all colliding at the table, bar, and checkout screen. For diners, understanding regional norms can help inform awkward tip prompts. For workers and policymakers, the data underscores how deeply tipping behavior is tied to economic policy. As tipping fatigue grows and wage debates continue, one thing remains clear: where you choose to live will play a major role in how generosity appears on a receipt.

This story was produced by Spokeo and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

Say what? The most baffling slang terms of each generation.

2026-02-19T17:38:10Z

The words and phrases people use in casual conversation are a dead giveaway for the generation they’re a part of. Whether it’s “gnarly” or “6-7,” the slang that sneaks into your everyday life reveals a little something about your true identity.

Slang is a pillar of every culture, and it can evolve. It has always been a part of the human experience, and it’s present with all generations. It can even be the linguistic glue that holds contemporaries together. However, some slang terms are outright baffling. Spokeo broke down the most interesting slang terms of Gen Alphas, Gen Zers, millennials, Gen Xers, and baby boomers.

Gen Alpha: The brain-rot generation

Nonsensical phrases are the hallmark of Gen Alphas, kids born between 2010 and 2024. Looking closely, however, Gen Alpha slang has just as much context as any other generation.

“6-7”: 6-7 is the most recent slang phrase that has seemed to confuse and upset older generations. But as an NPR “It’s Been a Minute” podcast episode describes, 6-7 doesn’t really mean anything at all. It’s almost an inside joke between kids, a “if you know, you know.” It’s a trend to repeat these numbers and make a comparative gesture with the hands.
“Rizz”: Rizz is a bit more intuitive. It’s a shortened version of “charisma.” If someone has rizz, it means they have romantic appeal or charm, according to Merriam-Webster.
“Ohio”: Forbes reports that using Ohio as a slang term became popular in the summer of 2024, when people started posting video clips of weird things that happened in Ohio. Like “Florida man,” “Ohio” refers to a person or event that’s weird and bizarre.

Gen Z: The social media addicts

Gen Zers, those born between 1997 and 2009, grew up with social media right in their pockets. As a result, much of their cultural slang was developed, popularized, and spread through online content.

“Bet”: Bet has a long origin in Black American English. It likely stemmed from longer phrases like “you bet,” or “you can bet on it,” according to Merriam-Webster. It’s been universally adopted by all Gen Z cultures after gaining prominence on social media in the early 2020s.
“Cringe”: Cringe is used to describe a thing or person that is “cringy.” It denotes awkwardness and describes the physical reaction a person’s face or body might have to witnessing something that is socially uncomfortable.
“NPC”: As Today describes, NPC, or “nonplayable character,” is a video game term Gen Z uses to call people boring or uninteresting. An NPC is an entity in a video game that is not controlled by anyone, a background character who doesn’t add much to the story.

Millennials: The avocado toast generation

Millennials, born between 1981 and 1996, witnessed the widespread adoption of the internet firsthand. As a result, this generation is strongly bound by references and slang terms that have evolved from media and digital trends.

“Salty”: Picture the characteristics of salt. Coarse and maybe even a little bitter. Millennials have adopted the term salty to describe someone who exhibits these characteristics, often after someone gets upset.
“Clap Back”: Merriam-Webster defines clap back clearly: a witty comeback to criticism. This slang became popularized after Ja Rule’s 2003 song “Clap Back.”
“Woke”: Millennials became adults in an age of social justice. Woke originated in Black culture and describes a person who is informed and educated about social equality, according to ABC News. However, it’s also been used pejoratively to describe people seen as overly focused on these social issues.

Gen X: The latchkey kids

Gen X, born between 1965 and 1980, raised themselves independently, often going home from school with their own set of keys, earning the nickname latchkey kids. This independence gave rise to a flurry of unique slang terms that the entire age group came to understand.

“Take a chill pill”: This slang is a reference to anti-anxiety medications that were common during the benzodiazepine era of the 1970s and 1980s. This phrase was used to tell people to calm down.
“Gnarly”: The use of gnarly began with surfers in the 1970s to describe challenging waves. It was later picked up by popular culture in the early 80s and used to describe anything dangerous, disgusting, and exciting, according to Etymonline.
“Yuppie”: A word that’s used to describe the young, urban, professional people of the 1980s who were often seen as affluent and successful. Investopedia mentions that it can be used derogatorily.

Baby boomers: The far-out folks

Boomers, born between 1945 and 1964, were the groovy generation, born during the hippie era. Their slang is often used to redescribe ordinary events with flair. Today, these terms seem like they’re straight out of Hollywood, but for boomers, they’re a part of everyday vernacular.

“Right on”: Right on was used regularly by baby boomers as a way of saying they agreed with something.
“Dig it”: Dig it was used when a baby boomer liked or approved of something. For example, if they thought a song sounded cool, they might say, “I dig that song.”
“Groovy”: Groovy is one of the most iconic slang words of this generation. It’s a direct product of the hippies and the psychedelic music scene at the time. As the Bozeman Daily Chronicle describes, “groovy” was adapted from musicians who used to say “in the groove.” For baby boomers, it means excellent or fine.

Generations change, but slang is here to stay

Slang words are used by culture to simultaneously bring people together and alienate them. Those who know and use the words are accepted by peers. Those who don’t are left out, forced to mingle amongst their own generation.

Society will continue to birth new generations, but one thing is certain. Slang is going nowhere. Try to keep up.

This story was produced by Spokeo and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

What is iPhone Rapid Security Response? A Look at Apple’s Quick-Fix Updates for Your Devices

2026-02-09T18:32:08Z

Imagine that you’re floating along a quiet lake or stream, in your favorite unicorn- or swan-shaped floatie, with a tall, cold drink in your cupholder and the warm sun shining down on you. It seems pretty idyllic, but in the water beneath you, there’s a desperate life-and-death struggle going on between predator and prey.

Online life is similar, in its way. We visit our handful of favorite sites, laughing at the memes or catching up on the latest stories, while behind the scenes, tech companies are locked in battle with criminal and nation-state hackers bent on stealing money or data. Apple’s recently launched Rapid Security Response updates are its attempt at countering hackers more quickly. So what is Rapid Security Response, and how do you use it?

Vulnerabilities, CVEs, and Updates, Oh My!

The whole online universe we take for granted, from mobile apps to the internet itself, is made up of countless pieces of software. Those include the apps on your devices, their operating systems, and all of the unnoticed bits and pieces that make up a functioning internet. Even the operating systems themselves, from iOS to Linux to Windows, are entire ecosystems of software rather than single programs. While we do encounter occasional hiccups or outages, it’s a minor miracle that the whole system works as well as it does.

Unfortunately, every one of those countless individual pieces of software represents a potential vulnerability that hackers could exploit. Some work for crime rings, some work for nation-states, and some for themselves, but hackers constantly test the software the world runs on in search of those vulnerabilities. Tech companies and private security researchers, for their part, try to detect possible vulnerabilities before the hackers do. Failing that, they’ll try to detect any successful attacks and report them to the companies involved.

Known vulnerabilities are assigned a tracking number through the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) system, administered through the CVE Program, which in turn is sponsored by the US government’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), as well asthe Mitre Corporation (a leading security firm). The companies affected by a given vulnerability then do their best to create updates or patches to fix them.

What is Rapid Security Response on iPhone, iPad, and Mac?

The problem with software updates and patches is that they’re only effective once they’re actually installed (“applied”) to your devices. Rapid Security Response, rolled out in 2023, is an attempt by Apple to shorten the time required to update its users’ devices in response to any newly revealed vulnerabilities.

You may have noticed that the operating systems on your devices all have long numbers describing them. At the time of writing, for example, Apple’s MacOS “Ventura” had reached version 13.6.4. This number isn’t random; there’s an organized structure behind it called “semantic versioning.” In this case, the first number, 13, identifies a major version of the operating system (“Ventura”). The second number, 6, tells you there have been six minor updates that added new features or functionality. The third number, 4, tells you that there have been four minor updates to address bug fixes or security issues. The newer MacOS Sonoma sits at version 14.3, which tells us it hasn’t needed any bug fixes or patches yet.

Rapid Security Responses (RSRs) add a new element to this existing structure. In July of 2023, for example, MacOS Ventura received a Rapid Security Response that took it to 13.4.1 c. The letter is what marks it as a Rapid Security Response, a quick update to fix a specific, immediate problem or vulnerability.

What Does a Rapid Security Response Do?

There’s already a well-proven software update process in place for Apple devices, just as there is for Windows, Android, or any other major piece of software. The problem is that these updates are often time-consuming, so users tend to put off installing them until a more convenient moment. That moment might not come for a while, and in the meantime, it’s entirely possible that a crucial vulnerability might go unpatched.

That’s a serious issue for both individual users and administrators in IT departments. For example, cybersecurity site Dark Reading estimated that 57% of all ransomware attacks in 2022 targeted old vulnerabilities with patches available, in some cases for years. RSR updates are intended to address that very specific need in both the personal and corporate marketplaces.

If enabled by the user or IT administrator, the RSR process gives Apple the ability to automatically push high-priority patches directly to devices, and – this is the important part – to also install them automatically without requiring any intervention from the user. This takes away the element of human procrastination and should make most users of recent-generation Apple devices more secure.

How Rapid Security Response Updates Work

Ordinary upgrades and updates come out on at least a semi-regular schedule, and tend to include a number of new features, bug fixes, and patches all in one download. It’s a good, functional system, but it’s not designed for fast response to quick-breaking threats. If a vulnerability affecting Apple devices is detected “in the wild,” by Apple or third-party researchers, the company can use the RSR system to rush out a fix to affected devices.

RSR updates apply to devices running the most recent versions of iOS, iPadOS, and MacOS, which at the time of launch in 2023 were iOS and iPadOS versions 16.4.1 and MacOS 13.3.1. RSR updates will always be applied to the most recent version of each operating system, so as new versions roll out (usually in the autumn), these new updates will stop rolling out to older versions of the OS and begin to become available (as needed) for those newer versions.

RSR updates aren’t only for operating systems. They’ll also be applied as needed to Apple’s Safari browser, as well as the WebKit software that underpins Safari and some other Apple products and services. Hackers love to target browsers because almost everything you do online runs through your browser, so extending RSR updates to the Safari browser and its components makes perfect sense.

Why You Should Be Using Rapid Security Response

Pop quiz: How many uninstalled updates do you currently have across your various devices? If your answer is anything other than “zero,” you should probably enable Rapid Security Response if you haven’t already done so.

Human behavior is the weakness exploited by a high percentage of attacks, and quick-moving security updates won’t stop you from falling for a phishing email or a bogus QR code. Indirectly, though, they can help protect you from the consequences of any momentary lapse. Many of those phishing attacks are designed to exploit a vulnerability in your browser or OS: when you click the link in the email or text (or scan that QR code), it gives criminals the opportunity to install malware or run a script that will give them access to your system.

Enabling quick, automatic updates via RSR means that you’ll always be up to date, with your browser and OS vulnerabilities fully patched and ready to repel these sneaky attacks. It’s a distinct benefit to you, and – because many kinds of malware are self-replicating – keeping your system up to date helps protect everyone else with Apple devices. It’s a win-win.

Enabling Rapid Security Response on Your Devices

If you’re using Apple devices that run the most recent versions of their respective operating systems, you probably have the option of enabling Rapid Security Response. Doing that is pretty straightforward on your devices and requires only a few taps and clicks.

Enabling Rapid Security Response on iPhone or iPad

To enable Rapid Security Response on your iPad or iPhone, take the following steps:

Open your Settings menu.
From there, tap General, then Software, and finally Automatic Updates.
Look for Security Responses & System Files, and turn it on if it isn’t on already.

Enabling Rapid Security Response on Mac

Here’s how to enable Rapid Security Response on your Mac desktop or laptop:

Start by clicking the Apple menu and then Settings.
In the sidebar, click the General heading and then Software Update.
Next to Automatic Updates, you’ll see a small “Show detail” button (a lowercase letter i inside a circle).
Click that, and check if Install Security Responses and system files are enabled. If not, enable it.

After you’ve enabled RSR on your devices, those updates will install automatically whenever they become available from Apple. If you notice that the version number of the OS or browser on one of your devices suddenly has a letter after it, you’ll know that an RSR update has been installed. You can view all updates on the Apple Security Releases page, including regular and RSR updates. If you’re curious to know what was covered in a specific update, you can click on its entry on the Security Releases page and you’ll get a detailed summary like this one for iOS and iPadOS from July 2023.

Are There Any Drawbacks to Rapid Security Response?

If you’ve only recently heard about this program, the first question to flash through your mind was probably something along the lines of “What is Security Response on iPhone, anyway?” Your second question, perhaps, was “Okay, what’s the downside?”

It’s a fair question. While the positives are clear and significant, there are a couple of potential downsides as well. One is the need for restarts: RSR updates to Safari will close the browser, install, and then launch the browser again; while RSR updates to your OS may also require a restart, and – because they’re installed automatically – that could be inconvenient for you when it happens.

Those are minor quibbles. A more substantive objection is “What if an automatic update breaks something, or malfunctions?” That’s not a hypothetical question: many users reported issues with the first RSR update for iOS, back in March 2023, and the July 10 RSR updates for Mac, iOS, and iPadOS were immediately superseded with a new update on July 12th after user complaints. It is possible to roll back an RSR update if you should ever have a similar experience, and Apple has been quick to fix issues with the RSR program so far.

There’s also a remote possibility that hackers could manage to penetrate Apple’s defenses and use the RSR system to auto-install malware on your devices. Apple is admittedly one of the tech world’s toughest targets, but it could happen.

How Might Rapid Security Response Evolve?

Apple has been notoriously secretive over the years, unlike other tech companies, which orchestrate a succession of supposed “leaks” in order to stir up buzz around their products and services. The company has said little publicly about the RSR program beyond simply announcing it and rolling it out, and responding to those user issues with the first couple of RSR updates.

What follows, then, is pure speculation and should be taken with a grain of salt. One possibility is that Apple may begin rolling out RSR patches on a more frequent or consistent basis (given the sheer number of vulnerabilities cropping up daily, that’s not unlikely). Another is that Apple may extend these time-critical security fixes to application software other than Safari. Eligibility for RSR updates would almost certainly be restricted to Apple software, at least initially, but it’s possible that third-party developers and partners within the Apple ecosystem might eventually enjoy the same benefits. It’s an intriguing prospect.

In the meantime, despite its modest handful of potential drawbacks, most Apple users – certainly the ones who don’t want to be their own Information Security team – would probably benefit from enabling Rapid Security Response on their devices. It won’t provide perfect security, but you’ll enjoy better security with RSR than without it, and that’s not a bad thing.

8 ways people are making friends without using social media in 2026

2026-02-11T16:34:51Z

Social media promised interpersonal connections that were free from the constraints of time and physical distance. Then why are so many people feeling lonely? A 2024 Harvard study found that 21% of Americans live with serious loneliness, and 73% of respondents think technology is one of the reasons.

To fight this, many people are logging off social media and seeking connections in the physical world. Drawing on research and pop culture, Spokeo outlined eight ways Americans are finding friendship away from social media platforms.

1. Running clubs are the new social network

Running clubs are a new, popular way of socializing and meeting like-minded, active people. Over the past five years, Google searches for “run club” have tripled. Strava’s 2024 Year in Sport: Trend Report found that run club membership grew by 59% across the globe.

This increase is largely driven by Gen Zers and millennials, according to a 2024 LADNation survey. They also found that 72% of Gen Zers who attend running clubs do so to meet new people. As Forbes suggests, running clubs create “incidental intimacy” and a sense of community.

2. Friendship apps for quick connection

As TechCrunch describes, the stigma of using apps to meet people is largely gone (Thank you, dating apps). Friendship apps generated $16 million in consumer spending in 2025 and had 4.3 million downloads.

Examples include Bumble BFF and 222. 222 groups people based on personality test results, suggests a local community event where people can gather, and allows people to bring a plus-one to reduce any social awkwardness.

3. Dinner apps are the new go-to

Timeleft is a novel approach to friendship. This app organizes dinner outings for groups of strangers who match based on algorithmic variables like gender, age, and personality test results. It makes a reservation for a Wednesday night, provides an icebreaker, and suggests a post-dinner outing for people who hit it off. One user’s review on Delish said, “It was refreshing to chat with people outside their usual circle.”

4. Phone-free events are sparking conversation

A 2025 study by Researchscape International and LifeStance Health found that most Americans would consider a digital detox. Some are ditching their smartphones entirely. In November 2025, Vox reported on a social club that uses a Washington D.C. bar as a home base for phone-free socializing. Another club, Offline Club, has chapters across Europe where people come together at venues, lock their smartphones in a box, and enjoy the event.

People are embracing phone-free events to live in the moment, engage in conversation, and meet new friends.

5. Connecting over a good book: Reading clubs are booming

Reading might seem like a solitary activity, but many people enjoy reading clubs as a way to meet others who share their love of books. Book club event listings are on the rise, according to CNN, based on 2023Eventbrite data. Those listings saw a 24% year-over-year increase in listings.

Book-themed getaways are also used to connect with current friends. Vrbo’s Unpack 2026 report found that 9 in 10 travelers are seeking vacations focused on “reading, relaxation, and quality time with loved ones.”

6. Local community meetups are becoming common

Meetup groups, such as those on the website Meetup, are used to find friends who share common interests. Its 2023 State of Friendships report found that nearly 3 in 5 members sign up for a single activity interest. It can be difficult for people to find friends with similar niche interests, but apps like this help make it easier.

Additionally, Meetup found that 7 in 10 of its app’s events were conducted in person, suggesting that people prefer to connect in the real world over digital platforms.

As more friendships begin offline — whether at a running club, book group, or local meetup — people are also thinking more intentionally about who they’re meeting. Beyond apps and event listings, tools like a people search can provide additional context about someone’s background, helping individuals feel more informed and confident as they form new in-person connections.

7. Are dating apps dead? Singles look for love IRL

Many people are burned out from constant scrolling on dating apps. The Pew Research Center found in 2023 that people are conflicted over whether dating apps help them find a relationship. About 22% said it made the search for a long-term relationship more difficult.

As a result, they’re pursuing real-life connections. In partnership with YouGov, the Institute for Family Studies reported that people are more likely to be happy with their relationship if they met their partner through in-person activities. Eventbrite’s 2025 Niche to Meet You report saw an increase in singles events on its platform. It also found that nearly 7 in 10 millennials prefer in-person dating.

8. College campuses are embracing phone-free social hours

Across the country, college campuses have embraced the “reconnect movement.” This phenomenon features on-campus events that restrict phone use, encouraging students to connect in person. It promotes conversation and prevents people from resorting to their devices to escape social awkwardness.

The Texas Press Association noticed that people from all walks of life are embracing this change as well. The TPA reported that many friend groups and families have informal pacts to restrict phone use during meals and conversations. “It’s about reclaiming balance,” the TPA said.

In-person connection is the new norm

Making friends has never been easy, but research suggests that people are finding it harder than they used to. As a result, many are ditching social media in an effort to make lasting connections.

From running clubs and friendship apps to phone-free events, people are looking for authentic ways to meet new friends. The surface-level interactions on social media are no longer enough to satisfy the need for connection that so many Americans face.

This story was produced by Spokeo and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.