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Stalkerware: What to do if you're the target

Stalkerware: What to do if you're the target

This article discusses domestic violence. CNET would like to remind readers that browsing histories, including this story, can be monitored and are impossible to completely clear. If you need help, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.

Things got weird at the end of Allie's relationship with her boyfriend. One night, he seemed to know where she'd been when she was out without him, and another night he started talking about something she'd recently read on her personal computer at home, where she lived alone. 

At the beginning of their relationship, he said he had cyberstalked a past girlfriend, but he assured her that those days were behind him. Now Allie, who asked to use a pseudonym out of concern for her safety, wondered if her soon-to-be-ex boyfriend was spying on her.

"I thought I was going nuts because I was pretty sure I hadn't shared that information," said Allie, who ditched her laptop and phone rather than find out what software her ex might have installed on them. "In hindsight, it was subtle intimidation."

The paranoia that Allie felt is becoming a sadly common experience. It's jaw-droppingly easy for someone to buy and install intrusive apps, known as stalkerware, on someone else's device. The apps are plentiful, according to antivirus software firms that track their prevalence. A recent Harris poll conducted with antivirus firm NortonLifeLock found that one in 10 people admit to using stalkerware to track a partner or ex-partner. The apps are so simple that some people on TikTok have posted 60-second tutorials on how to use them.

The software works on computers but has become especially powerful to use on phones, turning the gadgets into all-seeing surveillance devices that reveal location data as well as emails, web browsing histories and more. Stalkerware on smartphones can lead domestic abusers to partners who may be in hiding. The apps give heightened control to abusers whose partners haven't left, making escape harder to manage. Stalkerware apps have been tied to horrible acts of violence.

There can be legitimate reasons to use tracking apps, such as monitoring children's phones, or monitoring employees (with their consent). However, the distinction between these apps and what's often called stalkerware is blurry. Many apps bill themselves as legitimate monitoring apps but can offer staggering amounts of information from targets' phones and can operate completely undetected. The reality is that these apps get abused by people who spy on adults without their consent, according to law enforcement officials and to domestic-violence and legal experts. 

You might at some point worry you have stalkerware on your phone or laptop. It isn't easy to decide what to do about it, domestic-violence experts say, because your partner or ex might become more dangerous if you delete the software on your device. But there are steps you can take to learn more about the software and whether it's on your device.

What is stalkerware?

Stalkerware refers to a broad group of apps that someone else can install on your device to intercept texts and phone calls, access your location, log your web browsing activity and turn on your camera or microphone. The information gathered by such an app typically gets sent to a portal or companion app accessed by the person who installed the stalkerware. 

The apps can be installed on all kinds of phones, though it's a bit more complex to get stalkerware working on iPhones. The person installing stalkerware typically has to get physical access to the user's phone to install an app. A big exception to this is if the person installing stalkerware has the target's iCloud credentials, allowing them to access backups of the other person's phone.

Is stalkerware illegal?

Surreptitious spying on your devices without your consent is illegal. So is stalking. Additionally, the apps usually violate the policies for apps sold on stores run by Google and Apple, and they're frequently taken down from those stores.

People still install them on other people's phones, though, finding the apps for sale on the app makers' websites instead of an app store, and at times undermining the foundational security of a target's phone by jailbreaking it. The apps are often sold as child or employee monitoring services, but they're ripe for abuse because they can run undetected on a device, say law enforcement officials and domestic-violence experts.

There have been prosecutions of people who used stalkerware, but they're uncommon. 

How do I know if my phone has stalkerware?

That can be hard. The software often disguises itself, either by displaying an innocuous icon (like a battery monitor), or by not displaying an icon at all, says Kevin Roundy, technical director at the NortonLifeLock research group.

While researching stalkerware apps, Roundy identified other categories of apps that often work in concert with the intrusive software. One of these is an app-hiding app, which can remove the icon of a stalkerware app from your screen.

Even if an app's icon is hidden on your phone, it should show up in your settings as an item in the list of applications running on your device. The app still probably won't have a label that immediately identifies it as stalkerware, Roundy says, so look for any app you don't recognize. You can look up any unusual looking apps online on another device to see if you can find more information about them.

An additional step is using antivirus software on your phone, if you use an Android device. (There isn't any antivirus software available for iPhones.) Antivirus software from Kaspersky, Malwarebytes and NortonLifeLock all scan for the software and warn users if they find known stalkerware apps.

You can also take your device to a local police department. Resources and training vary from place to place, so it's not guaranteed that someone will be able to help you. Still, some departments have officers who specialize in domestic violence and have training in scanning devices for software, and they may be able to assist.

Should I delete stalkerware?

Deleting the app is an option to consider, but you should make the decision carefully. Deleting stalkerware apps might put you in even more danger if it prompts your partner or ex to engage in even scarier behavior.

Erica Olsen, who directs the safety net project at the National Network to End Domestic Violence, says deleting the app sends a message to the person who installed it: I know you did this, and now you don't have control over my device anymore. The loss of control, and the fear that they might be held accountable for installing stalkerware, can lead some people to "escalate the violence, or change stealth stalking to an assault," Olsen said.

These concerns are why multiple antivirus companies don't automatically delete stalkerware from their users' phones. 

"The decision has to be theirs," Tara Hairston, Kaspersky's head of government relations for North America, said of targets of stalkerware, "because there is unfortunately that risk."

How to delete, destroy or replace

You may decide any risk is worth deleting the app. In that case, there are a few routes you can take.

First, you can cut off the app's access to things like your camera and microphone, and then delete it from your phone. This process can vary, and guides for deleting specific apps exist online, sometimes even on the app-makers' websites. Deletion is the least disruptive route you can take, but it can leave you with lingering questions of whether there's anything left on your phone that can spy on you.

If you still aren't comfortable that your device is secure, you can do a factory reset. This restores your phone to the state you'd find it when it was fresh out of the box. You'll be signed out of all your accounts, and all the extra apps installed on your phone after purchase will be gone. Before you do a factory reset, it's important to back up any photos or files that you don't already have saved somewhere else.

Lastly, you can get a new device. This is a tough piece of advice for anyone to hear, especially if your finances are tight or your partner controls your spending. Still, that's what Allie says she decided to do. 

She didn't know if she'd be able to get rid of whatever software might be on her phone or computer, and she didn't think she'd be able to learn more than her former partner knew about hacking. She stopped using her devices and got new ones.

"I just wanted this guy out of my life," she said.

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What to know about HP's newest, lightest Aero laptop

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What to know about HP's newest, lightest Aero laptop

Back in the 2010s, we saw computer manufacturers clambering to flatten their laptops and clinch the superlative of "thinnest and lightest." (See: CNET's YouTube compilation of "Every time Apple says 'This is the thinnest and lightest MacBook ever'" spanning the past 15 years.) But as laptops have bottomed out at under half an inch, it looks like the race to "the thinnest" has run its course: A computer can't get much skinnier without being, well, a sheet of paper. So, companies have pivoted the focus of their hot pursuit -- and now they're just vying to produce a laptop they can call "the lightest."

HP doesn't say its upcoming 13.3-inch Pavilion Aero 13, announced Tuesday, is the lightest laptop on the market. Instead the claim is that this is the lightest consumer laptop HP has ever produced, weighing less than 1 kilogram, or about 2 pounds. That's about 1 pound lighter than the 13-inch MacBook Pro. Starting at $749 on HP.com, the Pavilion Aero 13 will likely make its US debut in July. (HP predicts availability in the UK and Australia in August, starting at £750 and AU$1,599, respectively.) HP says it's expected to be compatible with Windows 11, which could roll out as early as October.

In a press briefing, HP touted how this lightweight laptop caters specifically to the post-pandemic mobility needs of younger people, who shuttle their computers between school, work, coffee shops and home. The Pavilion Aero 13 should last 10.5 hours on a full charge, and its display is visible even in outdoor sunlight. It comes in trendy color options like pale rose gold and ceramic white.

For a featherweight device, this laptop seems to pack a punch: The AMD Ryzen 5000 processors provide speed, the 2.5K resolution enables crisp visuals and a unique 16:10 aspect ratio offers 10% more size than 16:9 competitors. Plus, HP says the design prioritizes sustainability, incorporating materials you can recycle and plastics that would have otherwise hit the oceans.

The HP Pavilion Aero 13 is reasonably priced, and it seems as if it should suit those who need a smooth-running laptop that they can plunk into a backpack and carry from place to place. Once we grab one to review, we'll see if it's stricken with the same plasticky feel as the similar-weight Lenovo LaVie Z, or if it successfully balances portability with durability.

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Think You Might Have Monkeypox? Here's What to Do

Think You Might Have Monkeypox? Here's What to Do

What's happening

The monkeypox outbreak in the US is spreading, but there are vaccines and other treatments available.

Why it matters

Because the outbreak is ongoing, more people will be diagnosed with or exposed to monkeypox in the coming weeks.

What it means for you

Most people with monkeypox don't require medical treatment outside the home. If you get monkeypox or think you were exposed, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of giving it someone else.

Do you think you could have monkeypox or might've been recently exposed? Take a deep breath: It's normal to feel uneasy or uncertain, especially if your symptoms are causing you pain. But unlike the early days of COVID-19, there are already tried-and-true treatments and guidance for monkeypox because diseases like it aren't totally new to us. Monkeypox is related to smallpox and is endemic in certain countries in Africa.

Monkeypox  isn't a new disease, but the fact that it's spreading in countries where it isn't normally found is new. What's more, symptoms of monkeypox in this outbreak appear to be presenting a little differently. People today are getting rashes anywhere on their body, as opposed to the more "classic" rash in previous cases that started on the face and spread from there. 

Here's what the guidance says on what to do if you're sick with or have been exposed to monkeypox.

You should avoid shaving near your rash while you're recovering from monkeypox so you don't spread the virus to new parts of your body.

Luana Ciavattella/Getty Images

What to do if you were exposed to monkeypox 

Anyone with exposure to a person (or, while this is less likely in the current outbreak, an animal) should monitor themselves for symptoms for 21 days, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. You don't need to isolate (stay away from others) unless you develop symptoms. 

Having an exposure most likely means you had direct, skin-to-skin contact with someone who has monkeypox, since that's primarily the way it's been spreading. However, you can also get monkeypox by touching clothes or other things that person's rash may have been in contact with, or through respiratory secretions. Some scenarios where monkeypox may be transmitted include sex, kissing, coming into contact with someone's rash or sores through a hug, or sharing a towel, bed or clothes. Monkeypox may also spread through prolonged face-to-face contact; researchers are studying whether it spreads in body fluids like semen and vaginal fluid.

Get a vaccine, if you can

If you were exposed to monkeypox within the last two weeks and don't have any symptoms, you should reach out to your local health department to see if you're able to get a Jynneos vaccine. The vaccine is most effective if given within four days of exposure, but may still be effective at reducing the severity of symptoms if given between four days and two weeks after initial exposure.

While criteria for who can get one varies city to city based on how much spread there is in a certain area, chances are if you were exposed you live in an area that is offering the vaccine. Also, in areas like New York City, San Francisco, Denver and other big cities, gay and bisexual men who've had multiple or anonymous sexual partners within the last two weeks are eligible for the vaccine, regardless of whether they've been officially exposed.

Unfortunately, need for the vaccine has been high and supply has been relatively low.

If you're at higher risk of severe disease for monkeypox (you have an immunocompromising condition, for example), reach out to your doctor to see if there are additional treatments available to you, or if there's another step you should take post-exposure. 

People waiting in line for a monkeypox vaccine at a pop-up clinic in Brooklyn, New York. The government is releasing doses of Jynneos as states request it, but supply has been limited.

Kena Betancur/Getty Images

Monitor for symptoms 

Right now the CDC says you can continue your daily activities if you were exposed to monkeypox but don't have any symptoms, while continuing to monitor and watch for them. The monitoring period is 21 days or three weeks. You don't have to isolate, because you're not contagious until symptoms begin (if they do). Common symptoms of monkeypox include fever, swollen lymph nodes or a new rash. You may also have pain in your anus or mouth if that's where the rash is spreading. 

The CDC also recommends taking your temperature twice a day to monitor for any fever that pops up.

But if you develop symptoms, what to do next will depend on what kind of symptoms. 

If you're monitoring for symptoms and start to feel sick (but don't have a rash or new skin lesion): Let's say you develop a fever, swollen lymph nodes or another symptom but don't have a rash. You should isolate (stay home and try to avoid other people) for five days, according to the CDC, even if this puts you past the 21-day monitoring mark. If after five days you haven't developed any other symptoms or rash, you can end the isolation, per the CDC.

If you're monitoring for symptoms and develop a rash: Avoid close contact with people, isolate at home if you can and follow the guidance in the following section.

What to do if you have monkeypox 

If you've been to the doctor and a test confirmed you have monkeypox, or you were directly exposed and have all the symptoms of monkeypox, you should isolate from other people and stay home (if you can) until your symptoms resolve, according to the CDC. That includes avoiding public transportation where you may be in close contact with other people's bodies. 

But monkeypox can be a long illness (roughly two to four weeks) and if you're unable to be completely isolated for that long, the most important things you should do include keeping your rash or lesions fully covered with bandages and clothes, wearing a well-fitted mask if you need to be around other people, avoiding close contact with others, avoiding crowded areas, washing your hands often and remaining isolated while you have other symptoms, like fever or respiratory symptoms, according to the CDC.

You're considered infectious until your sores or rash scab over and a new layer of skin forms. You should also call your health care provider immediately to figure out next steps, including whether you need to come in for additional treatment.

How do I know I have monkeypox? 

Symptoms normally appear within three weeks of close contact with a person who has monkeypox. Common symptoms of monkeypox include: 

• A rash or blemishes anywhere on the body, including the genital area, anus, hands, face, chest, or mouth. For some people, the sores can be very painful. 
• Fever. 
• Swollen lymph nodes. 
• Chills. 
• Exhaustion. 
• Muscle aches. 
• Respiratory symptoms like a cough or nasal congestion.

You may experience all or only a few of these symptoms. For people who experience flulike symptoms, a rash normally forms one to four days after they start feeling sick. 

The only way to confirm a monkeypox case is to take a test at a health care provider, which involves swabbing the lesions. Testing capacity is improving in the US, but it still may take a while for your results to come back. While you wait, you should continue to isolate while you have symptoms, according to the CDC. 

A few examples of monkeypox lesions. 

NHS England High Consequence Infectious Diseases Network

Isolate at home 

The CDC's home isolation guidance for people with monkeypox includes avoiding close contact and intimacy with people (hugging, kissing, sex, etc.). The agency also says you should avoid sharing linens and towels. (Like the bathroom towel you dry your hands with.)

If you live with other people and are around them at home, you should wear a mask for extra protection. (This contains your respiratory droplets.) 

If going outside is unavoidable or you live with other people, make sure to cover your rash or sores with well-fitted clothing like pants or long shirts, and gloves if the rash has spread to the hands. 

If possible, you should also use a different bathroom than the other people in your household, and avoid sharing food, dishes or used utensils. 

If using the same bathroom is the only option, the person with monkeypox should sanitize the shared areas (toilet seat, shower, bathroom counter, etc.) with disinfectant after use and wear gloves if needed, the CDC says.

Personal care tips 

If you wear contacts, you shouldn't wear them while sick, to avoid accidentally infecting your eyes with monkeypox, according to the CDC. If you shave, for the time being you should stop shaving any part of your body that's covered in a rash.

Poxviruses like monkeypox can survive on clothing and surfaces, according to the CDC, which is why it's important to disinfect things you've touched while you're contagious. While how much of a risk there is in spreading it in public places isn't entirely clear, there are precautions you should take if you do your laundry in a public laundromat. New York City has its own guidance for doing your own laundry with monkeypox, and the CDC recommends checking in with your local health department to find the best "laundering option."

Avoid contact with animals

Unfortunately, monkeypox is a zoonotic disease, which means it's transmitted from animals to humans. That means there's a chance you can infect your dog, cat or other pet that's a mammal, like a rat. (Nonmammal animals like reptiles, birds and fish probably can't get monkeypox, per the CDC.) 

If possible, the CDC recommends, someone else should care for your pet while you're sick or recovering from monkeypox. If that isn't possible, keep pets away from your bandages, bed, towels or other materials that may be contaminated.

If you notice your pet acting differently or think it may be sick after an exposure to someone with monkeypox, contact your personal veterinarian or a state animal health official. 

If possible, you should have another person watch your pet while you're recovering from monkeypox, according to the CDC. If that isn't possible, you should try to avoid touching your pet, keep your rash covered and your mask on while also keeping your pet away from clothes or linens that may've touched your rash.

Katerina Sergeevna/Getty Images

Do I need treatment for monkeypox? 

Most people who have monkeypox do not need additional treatment, and the guidance will be to stay home and manage symptoms. However, some people have lesions that are quite painful, in which case you should call your doctor for help with pain management. Dr. Bernard Camins, the medical director for infection prevention at the Mount Sinai Health System, told The New York Times that a doctor may recommend sitz baths or stool softeners when appropriate. 

No monkeypox deaths have been reported in the US out of more than 7,500 cases. However, some people are more at risk of severe disease or may require additional treatment, including immunocompromised people, children younger than 8 years old, pregnant or breastfeeding people and those with skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis, according to the CDC. 

There are a few medications or antivirals that the CDC lists as possible treatments for monkeypox in some patients. Tecovirimat (TPOXX) and Brincidofovir, for example, have both been approved to treat smallpox and are also thought to work against monkeypox. 

If you think you may be at higher risk of severe disease and haven't already been offered treatment options by your doctor, ask about what might be available to you. 

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

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Test Positive for COVID at Home? Here's What to Do

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Test Positive for COVID at Home? Here's What to Do

For the most up-to-date news and information about the coronavirus pandemic, visit the

WHO

and

CDC

websites.

A large number of people testing positive for COVID-19 at home is one reason experts think the current case numbers may be big underestimations. This year, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention changed the way it monitors COVID-19 risk in the US to include measures like hospitalization numbers, health care capacity and the level of virus in our wastewater. But knowing the case count in your community can still be an important tool when deciding whether it's safe to go to a movie theater or dine indoors.

"These at-home rapid tests result in us underestimating the number of people who truly have COVID," said Keri Althoff, an epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. "And therefore also underestimate the number of what we know as our COVID transmission rates per 100,000 population." 

Even though it may not make it into the US COVID-19 case counts, the CDC encourages people who test positive to report that result to their health care provider (or public health department, if they don't have a primary care doctor), if only to gauge their individual risk of COVID-19 and see which treatments are available.

Here's what to do if you test positive for COVID-19 at home, and a brush-up on isolation and quarantine guidance.

Read more: Best Home COVID Tests  

Tang Ming Tung/Getty Images

2 things to do if you test positive for COVID-19 at home 

If you take an at-home rapid test and it turns up positive, assume you have COVID-19. While it's true at-home rapid tests are less sensitive than the "gold standard" PCR tests (about 10% to 20% less sensitive, according to Hackensack Meridian Health), and more likely to give you a false negative result, positive results from self-tests are "highly reliable," according to the CDC. 

"If you test negative on an at-home test but think you have COVID-19 because you have symptoms or were exposed, consider testing again 24 to 48 hours later," the CDC said. Then, after a couple of spaced-out negative tests, you'll be able to feel more confident that your negative result is truly negative. Home tests are also good at detecting BA.5 infections. 

There are two important steps to take after a positive home test result.

Follow the CDC guidance on isolation (or be even more cautious) 

Once you test positive, you should follow the CDC's guidance for isolating (staying away from others if you're sick or test positive for COVID-19). A big caveat, though, is that some experts think that the CDC is a little too relaxed in its guidance. Some say people should be advised to take a negative test before leaving isolation -- prior to day 10, for example. The CDC doesn't explicitly say this.

The Washington Post reports that the CDC may even update its guidance, as rapid home tests are now more available than they were when the agency originally wrote its recommendations. New guidance would perhaps even help accommodate the nuanced cases like that of President Joe Biden, who tested negative, then positive again in a rebound case of COVID-19, then tested negative again.

Regardless of your vaccination status, the CDC advises staying home for at least five days, with day zero being the day that you tested positive. You should also isolate from people in your home, or wear a well-fitting mask if you can't avoid others. You can end your isolation after five days, as long as your symptoms are gone or improving and you've been fever-free for at least 24 hours. However, you should still wear a mask and avoid travel for at least 10 days. Also, it's best to avoid contact with people at higher risk of severe COVID-19, like older adults. 

Report to your doctor or health department 

If you test positive with an at-home COVID-19 test, call your primary care doctor, Althoff said. Not only will your doctor be able to direct you to treatments like Paxlovid if you're at high risk for severe COVID-19, but in some cases, your clinician will have a system at their disposal that allows them to funnel a self-reported test result into official COVID-19 counts.

But it's a lot less likely your COVID-19 result will end up in your state's official count than if you were to test positive a second time at the doctor's office, or at a mass testing site or clinic, according to Althoff. 

"Calling your doctor and giving them that information is important for your individual health, but we shouldn't misconstrue that to think that that information is now going into our surveillance systems," she said. 

Many states have mandated the reporting of COVID-19 test results, Althoff said, but those tests are typically done in clinical settings. The information coming from a laboratory that processes a PCR test, for example, then goes straight to the health department; these are "established systems," she says. Even if you report a test from home to your health department, it's often lacking necessary data needed for an official report per the CDC. "The data element itself and the data structure are different," Althoff said.

Still, you should call your health department or doctor to report a positive at-home test result. (Here's a list of health departments in the US.) You can also check in directly with your county or city to see if it has a more direct way to report a test result. Some areas, like Washington state, have direct hotlines for reporting an at-home COVID-19 positive. 

You may also be asked to provide additional information to the health department if you phone or email it in, like your age and vaccination status.

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

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What to Know About Omicron and Its Subvariants (Including BA.5)

What to Know About Omicron and Its Subvariants (Including BA.5)

For the most up-to-date news and information about the coronavirus pandemic, visit the

WHO

and

CDC

websites.

What's happening

The omicron variant of COVID-19 keeps changing, creating newer, more contagious variants. BA.5 seems to be the most contagious version to date and is causing most of the current COVID-19 cases in the US.

Why it matters

BA.5 is causing more reinfection in people who already had COVID-19, including earlier versions of omicron. It's also evading immunity from the vaccines.

What it means for you

The vaccines are still effective at preventing severe disease and death. To stay protected, get the booster shots you're eligible for and wear a mask in public.

COVID-19 cases in the US appear to be on a downward trend, according to a report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the New York Times COVID-19 tracker. But most counties in the US still have a "medium" or "high" level of COVID-19, which continues to guide COVID-19 recommendations after the CDC recently updated its guidance. The updated guidance removes the quarantine recommendation for people who aren't vaccinated and other adjustments as the CDC tries to move the US into a new phase of COVID-19.  

The cause of most COVID-19 infections this summer is BA.5, the newest subvariant of the omicron variant. Scientists believe BA.5 is the most contagious version of COVID-19 thus far, and it's responsible for about 89% of current cases, according to the latest data from the CDC. 

At a White House COVID-19 Response Team briefing July 12, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the president's chief medical adviser, explained how the virus that causes COVID keeps mutating and that the virus has "essentially bumped one variant off the table after the other," which has led to a long parade of increasingly contagious subvariants of omicron. BA.5 is the newest, and a highly problematic, mutation.

Though BA.5 "substantially" evades antibodies from prior infections and vaccines, health officials say being up-to-date with a booster (or two boosters if you're 50 or older) still protects against severe disease and death. Research so far shows that BA.5 doesn't overcome those protections against severe disease, though more research is needed to understand its clinical severity compared with earlier subvariants of omicron.

In an effort to target the most relevant strain of virus causing COVID-19, vaccines based on the BA.5 subvariant (along with BA.4) will be the first choice for COVID-19 booster shots this fall, to be rolled out as early as September. Response Team Coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha encouraged everyone to get a booster if they're eligible and haven't opted for one yet, because it won't affect people's ability to get vaccinated come fall or winter when they become eligible. Second boosters of the existing vaccines will likely only be recommended until then for adults 50 and up and younger adults and teens who are immunocompromised.

COVID-19 treatments, including Paxlovid, are predicted to be effective still, and the US Test to Treat clinics are still up and running to connect people most at risk with prescriptions for treatments if they need them. 

Here's what we know about BA.5. 

Read more: Best COVID Face Masks For Kids  

Do the at-home tests detect BA.5?

Right now there's no reason to suggest that the at-home rapid COVID-19 tests (a few boxes of which are free when you order through the government's website) are less effective in regard to BA.5 compared with earlier versions of omicron. Generally speaking, the FDA says early data suggests the antigen tests detect omicron but may have reduced sensitivity. BA.5 is a version of omicron, and tests are expected to work the same. 

But as of last week, the FDA strengthened its stance on the importance of testing more than once. To be positive you don't have COVID-19, the FDA says you should take a third test if the first two were negative, but you're concerned you were exposed to COVID-19. Taking another home test 48 hours after your second negative test will help catch an infection, as a study found that repeat testing over a longer time frame is more accurate, per the FDA.

"Positive results remain highly accurate for these tests, though there still can be false negatives," Shaili Gandhi, vice president of pharmacy at SingleCare, said in an email. This is because it takes a higher amount of virus to test positive on a rapid test than the highly sensitive PCR or lab-based tests. People who are fully vaccinated and boosted, for example, may have a very low viral load (smaller amount of virus) and that may mean they test negative even if they do have COVID-19.

Typically, rapid home tests work by detecting the part of the COVID-19 virus protein that doesn't change much between variants, called the nucleocapsid, Slate reports. "Because of that, the tests are able to detect the different variants," Nate Hafer, an assistant professor of molecular medicine at UMass Chan Medical School, told the publication.

Long story short: take the test.

Read more: New Booster for COVID: Here's the Fall 2022 Vaccine Plan

How severe is BA.5? Do COVID-19 treatments still work? 

BA.5 is a subvariant of omicron, which means it's different from the "original" omicron, but not different enough to constitute its own variant status. (Delta is a different variant from omicron and beta, for example.) BA.5 is understood to be the most contagious version of the virus yet, however, and it's evading immunity. This means more people will get reinfected with COVID-19, which can put them at risk of complications and long COVID symptoms, even if the infection itself was mild. 

Walensky said last week that we don't definitively know yet about the clinical severity of BA.5 compared to earlier subvariants of omicron. As the pandemic drags on and most of the population has some immunity from vaccines and prior infections, it can become harder to compare variant and subvariant severity in the real world. 

In an analysis of a preliminary (not yet peer-reviewed) report from the Kirby Institute in Australia, however, Dr. Eric Topol, a professor of molecular medicine at Scripps Research, wrote that BA.5's ability to infect cells might be more similar to the delta variant than other versions of omicron. He also writes that changes in BA.5 might explain reports of people taking longer to test negative compared to illnesses with earlier omicron subvariants. 

As with other versions of omicron that whittled down our immunity, the vaccines and boosters available are still expected to provide protection against severe disease and death. Boosters -- including a second booster -- have been particularly important for protecting older adults and other people more vulnerable to severe disease in the age of omicron, and have substantially cut the risk of death from COVID-19.

Paxlovid, an effective antiviral medication, is still expected to be effective at treating COVID-19 in people at higher risk of severe disease, Fauci said. The monoclonal antibody therapy available, bebtelovimab from Eli Lilly, is also predicted to be effective against BA.5, as is Evusheld. Evusheld  

If you test positive for COVID-19 and are at higher risk of severe disease (you're an older adult or you have a health condition), reach out to your doctor or find a Test to Treat clinic near you. 

What are the symptoms?

Right now, there aren't any reports that show BA.5 is giving people different symptoms compared to earlier versions of omicron. 

For many people who become sick with COVID-19 these days (particularly those who are fully vaccinated and boosted), symptoms resemble cold symptoms such as sore throat, runny nose and fatigue. Back pain is a peculiar new symptom of COVID-19 that some people with omicron have reported, and the once very common loss of taste or smell appears to be much less common with omicron variants than with older strains.

If you have symptoms and are wondering whether it's COVID-19, taking a test and staying home while you're sick will help protect people more vulnerable to severe COVID-19 disease. 

Read more:  Is It Allergies or COVID? How to Tell the Difference  

Sarah Tew/CNET

Understanding omicron, variants and subvariants 

Variants are made up of multiple lineages and sublineages. Each variant has a "parent" lineage, according to the CDC, followed by other lineages, which you can think of like a family tree. As the virus spreads between people, mutations occur, but not all of them change the characteristics of the virus in meaningful ways. 

The omicron variant and its sublineages made the virus much more contagious and capable of infecting more people, but it's led to less severe disease, on average, than the delta variant. 

One of the most important things we can do to stop the virus from mutating is keeping community levels of COVID-19 low so the virus has less chance to mutate, Fauci said. 

Genomic surveillance can detect variants and sublineages. Scientists in South Africa were able to quickly identify omicron as a new variant because of the way it presents through PCR tests. The original omicron causes a dropped signal or marker on the test that sets it apart from delta, which was the dominant variant prior to omicron. BA.2, however, didn't have the same signal, called an S gene target failure. This made it more "stealthy" and gave it its name. Genomic sequencing will detect all omicron subvariants and coronavirus variants in general.

However, detecting new variants or subvariants may be becoming more difficult as the number of sequences shared across the world have "dropped precipitously," Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, an infectious disease specialist with the World Health Organization, said in June. While the impact was still enormous, having real-world data available quickly after scientists detected omicron was a benefit during the worldwide surge last winter. 

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

---

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What to Know About Omicron and Its Subvariants (Including BA.5)

What to Know About Omicron and Its Subvariants (Including BA.5)

For the most up-to-date news and information about the coronavirus pandemic, visit the

WHO

and

CDC

websites.

What's happening

The omicron variant of COVID-19 keeps changing, creating newer, more contagious variants. BA.5 seems to be the most contagious version to date and is causing most of the current COVID-19 cases in the US.

Why it matters

BA.5 is causing more reinfection in people who already had COVID-19, including earlier versions of omicron. It's also evading immunity from the vaccines.

What it means for you

The vaccines are still effective at preventing severe disease and death. To stay protected, get the booster shots you're eligible for and wear a mask in public.

COVID-19 cases in the US appear to be on a downward trend, according to a report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the New York Times COVID-19 tracker. But most counties in the US still have a "medium" or "high" level of COVID-19, which continues to guide COVID-19 recommendations after the CDC recently updated its guidance. The updated guidance removes the quarantine recommendation for people who aren't vaccinated and other adjustments as the CDC tries to move the US into a new phase of COVID-19.  

The cause of most COVID-19 infections this summer is BA.5, the newest subvariant of the omicron variant. Scientists believe BA.5 is the most contagious version of COVID-19 thus far, and it's responsible for about 89% of current cases, according to the latest data from the CDC. 

At a White House COVID-19 Response Team briefing July 12, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the president's chief medical adviser, explained how the virus that causes COVID keeps mutating and that the virus has "essentially bumped one variant off the table after the other," which has led to a long parade of increasingly contagious subvariants of omicron. BA.5 is the newest, and a highly problematic, mutation.

Though BA.5 "substantially" evades antibodies from prior infections and vaccines, health officials say being up-to-date with a booster (or two boosters if you're 50 or older) still protects against severe disease and death. Research so far shows that BA.5 doesn't overcome those protections against severe disease, though more research is needed to understand its clinical severity compared with earlier subvariants of omicron.

In an effort to target the most relevant strain of virus causing COVID-19, vaccines based on the BA.5 subvariant (along with BA.4) will be the first choice for COVID-19 booster shots this fall, to be rolled out as early as September. Response Team Coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha encouraged everyone to get a booster if they're eligible and haven't opted for one yet, because it won't affect people's ability to get vaccinated come fall or winter when they become eligible. Second boosters of the existing vaccines will likely only be recommended until then for adults 50 and up and younger adults and teens who are immunocompromised.

COVID-19 treatments, including Paxlovid, are predicted to be effective still, and the US Test to Treat clinics are still up and running to connect people most at risk with prescriptions for treatments if they need them. 

Here's what we know about BA.5. 

Read more: Best COVID Face Masks For Kids  

Do the at-home tests detect BA.5?

Right now there's no reason to suggest that the at-home rapid COVID-19 tests (a few boxes of which are free when you order through the government's website) are less effective in regard to BA.5 compared with earlier versions of omicron. Generally speaking, the FDA says early data suggests the antigen tests detect omicron but may have reduced sensitivity. BA.5 is a version of omicron, and tests are expected to work the same. 

But as of last week, the FDA strengthened its stance on the importance of testing more than once. To be positive you don't have COVID-19, the FDA says you should take a third test if the first two were negative, but you're concerned you were exposed to COVID-19. Taking another home test 48 hours after your second negative test will help catch an infection, as a study found that repeat testing over a longer time frame is more accurate, per the FDA.

"Positive results remain highly accurate for these tests, though there still can be false negatives," Shaili Gandhi, vice president of pharmacy at SingleCare, said in an email. This is because it takes a higher amount of virus to test positive on a rapid test than the highly sensitive PCR or lab-based tests. People who are fully vaccinated and boosted, for example, may have a very low viral load (smaller amount of virus) and that may mean they test negative even if they do have COVID-19.

Typically, rapid home tests work by detecting the part of the COVID-19 virus protein that doesn't change much between variants, called the nucleocapsid, Slate reports. "Because of that, the tests are able to detect the different variants," Nate Hafer, an assistant professor of molecular medicine at UMass Chan Medical School, told the publication.

Long story short: take the test.

Read more: New Booster for COVID: Here's the Fall 2022 Vaccine Plan

How severe is BA.5? Do COVID-19 treatments still work? 

BA.5 is a subvariant of omicron, which means it's different from the "original" omicron, but not different enough to constitute its own variant status. (Delta is a different variant from omicron and beta, for example.) BA.5 is understood to be the most contagious version of the virus yet, however, and it's evading immunity. This means more people will get reinfected with COVID-19, which can put them at risk of complications and long COVID symptoms, even if the infection itself was mild. 

Walensky said last week that we don't definitively know yet about the clinical severity of BA.5 compared to earlier subvariants of omicron. As the pandemic drags on and most of the population has some immunity from vaccines and prior infections, it can become harder to compare variant and subvariant severity in the real world. 

In an analysis of a preliminary (not yet peer-reviewed) report from the Kirby Institute in Australia, however, Dr. Eric Topol, a professor of molecular medicine at Scripps Research, wrote that BA.5's ability to infect cells might be more similar to the delta variant than other versions of omicron. He also writes that changes in BA.5 might explain reports of people taking longer to test negative compared to illnesses with earlier omicron subvariants. 

As with other versions of omicron that whittled down our immunity, the vaccines and boosters available are still expected to provide protection against severe disease and death. Boosters -- including a second booster -- have been particularly important for protecting older adults and other people more vulnerable to severe disease in the age of omicron, and have substantially cut the risk of death from COVID-19.

Paxlovid, an effective antiviral medication, is still expected to be effective at treating COVID-19 in people at higher risk of severe disease, Fauci said. The monoclonal antibody therapy available, bebtelovimab from Eli Lilly, is also predicted to be effective against BA.5, as is Evusheld. Evusheld  

If you test positive for COVID-19 and are at higher risk of severe disease (you're an older adult or you have a health condition), reach out to your doctor or find a Test to Treat clinic near you. 

What are the symptoms?

Right now, there aren't any reports that show BA.5 is giving people different symptoms compared to earlier versions of omicron. 

For many people who become sick with COVID-19 these days (particularly those who are fully vaccinated and boosted), symptoms resemble cold symptoms such as sore throat, runny nose and fatigue. Back pain is a peculiar new symptom of COVID-19 that some people with omicron have reported, and the once very common loss of taste or smell appears to be much less common with omicron variants than with older strains.

If you have symptoms and are wondering whether it's COVID-19, taking a test and staying home while you're sick will help protect people more vulnerable to severe COVID-19 disease. 

Read more:  Is It Allergies or COVID? How to Tell the Difference  

Sarah Tew/CNET

Understanding omicron, variants and subvariants 

Variants are made up of multiple lineages and sublineages. Each variant has a "parent" lineage, according to the CDC, followed by other lineages, which you can think of like a family tree. As the virus spreads between people, mutations occur, but not all of them change the characteristics of the virus in meaningful ways. 

The omicron variant and its sublineages made the virus much more contagious and capable of infecting more people, but it's led to less severe disease, on average, than the delta variant. 

One of the most important things we can do to stop the virus from mutating is keeping community levels of COVID-19 low so the virus has less chance to mutate, Fauci said. 

Genomic surveillance can detect variants and sublineages. Scientists in South Africa were able to quickly identify omicron as a new variant because of the way it presents through PCR tests. The original omicron causes a dropped signal or marker on the test that sets it apart from delta, which was the dominant variant prior to omicron. BA.2, however, didn't have the same signal, called an S gene target failure. This made it more "stealthy" and gave it its name. Genomic sequencing will detect all omicron subvariants and coronavirus variants in general.

However, detecting new variants or subvariants may be becoming more difficult as the number of sequences shared across the world have "dropped precipitously," Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, an infectious disease specialist with the World Health Organization, said in June. While the impact was still enormous, having real-world data available quickly after scientists detected omicron was a benefit during the worldwide surge last winter. 

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

---

Source

What to do after positive at home covid test test positive for covid cdc guidelines test positive for covid cdc guidelines test positive for covid how long isolation test positive for tb test positive for covid singapore test positive after 5 days of isolation test positive for covid 19 now what

Test Positive for COVID at Home? Here's What to Do

Test Positive for COVID at Home? Here's What to Do

For the most up-to-date news and information about the coronavirus pandemic, visit the

WHO

and

CDC

websites.

A large number of people testing positive for COVID-19 at home is one reason experts think the current case numbers may be big underestimations. This year, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention changed the way it monitors COVID-19 risk in the US to include measures like hospitalization numbers, health care capacity and the level of virus in our wastewater. But knowing the case count in your community can still be an important tool when deciding whether it's safe to go to a movie theater or dine indoors.

"These at-home rapid tests result in us underestimating the number of people who truly have COVID," said Keri Althoff, an epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. "And therefore also underestimate the number of what we know as our COVID transmission rates per 100,000 population." 

Even though it may not make it into the US COVID-19 case counts, the CDC encourages people who test positive to report that result to their health care provider (or public health department, if they don't have a primary care doctor), if only to gauge their individual risk of COVID-19 and see which treatments are available.

Here's what to do if you test positive for COVID-19 at home, and a brush-up on isolation and quarantine guidance.

Read more: Best Home COVID Tests  

Tang Ming Tung/Getty Images

2 things to do if you test positive for COVID-19 at home 

If you take an at-home rapid test and it turns up positive, assume you have COVID-19. While it's true at-home rapid tests are less sensitive than the "gold standard" PCR tests (about 10% to 20% less sensitive, according to Hackensack Meridian Health), and more likely to give you a false negative result, positive results from self-tests are "highly reliable," according to the CDC. 

"If you test negative on an at-home test but think you have COVID-19 because you have symptoms or were exposed, consider testing again 24 to 48 hours later," the CDC said. Then, after a couple of spaced-out negative tests, you'll be able to feel more confident that your negative result is truly negative. Home tests are also good at detecting BA.5 infections. 

There are two important steps to take after a positive home test result.

Follow the CDC guidance on isolation (or be even more cautious) 

Once you test positive, you should follow the CDC's guidance for isolating (staying away from others if you're sick or test positive for COVID-19). A big caveat, though, is that some experts think that the CDC is a little too relaxed in its guidance. Some say people should be advised to take a negative test before leaving isolation -- prior to day 10, for example. The CDC doesn't explicitly say this.

The Washington Post reports that the CDC may even update its guidance, as rapid home tests are now more available than they were when the agency originally wrote its recommendations. New guidance would perhaps even help accommodate the nuanced cases like that of President Joe Biden, who tested negative, then positive again in a rebound case of COVID-19, then tested negative again.

Regardless of your vaccination status, the CDC advises staying home for at least five days, with day zero being the day that you tested positive. You should also isolate from people in your home, or wear a well-fitting mask if you can't avoid others. You can end your isolation after five days, as long as your symptoms are gone or improving and you've been fever-free for at least 24 hours. However, you should still wear a mask and avoid travel for at least 10 days. Also, it's best to avoid contact with people at higher risk of severe COVID-19, like older adults. 

Report to your doctor or health department 

If you test positive with an at-home COVID-19 test, call your primary care doctor, Althoff said. Not only will your doctor be able to direct you to treatments like Paxlovid if you're at high risk for severe COVID-19, but in some cases, your clinician will have a system at their disposal that allows them to funnel a self-reported test result into official COVID-19 counts.

But it's a lot less likely your COVID-19 result will end up in your state's official count than if you were to test positive a second time at the doctor's office, or at a mass testing site or clinic, according to Althoff. 

"Calling your doctor and giving them that information is important for your individual health, but we shouldn't misconstrue that to think that that information is now going into our surveillance systems," she said. 

Many states have mandated the reporting of COVID-19 test results, Althoff said, but those tests are typically done in clinical settings. The information coming from a laboratory that processes a PCR test, for example, then goes straight to the health department; these are "established systems," she says. Even if you report a test from home to your health department, it's often lacking necessary data needed for an official report per the CDC. "The data element itself and the data structure are different," Althoff said.

Still, you should call your health department or doctor to report a positive at-home test result. (Here's a list of health departments in the US.) You can also check in directly with your county or city to see if it has a more direct way to report a test result. Some areas, like Washington state, have direct hotlines for reporting an at-home COVID-19 positive. 

You may also be asked to provide additional information to the health department if you phone or email it in, like your age and vaccination status.

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

---

Source

Millions can't pay their car loans. Here's what to do if you're one of them

Millions can't pay their car loans. Here's what to do if you're one of them

If you've skipped a car payment or two recently -- or you worry you might have to miss an upcoming one -- you're not alone. Due to the coronavirus recession and record levels of unemployment, over 7% of all car loans in the US are currently in some sort of deferment program, according to recent data released by credit reporting agency TransUnion.

Typically, missing a car payment can damage your credit score or even lead to the bank repossessing your vehicle. However, in the wake of the recent economic turmoil brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, most lenders have streamlined their financial hardship programs and are willing to be a bit forgiving if you just ask for help.

But just like the help available with rent payments and unemployment benefits, you do have to ask. The worst thing you can do is ignore the problem and assume it'll work itself out on its own. (Scroll to the end for what else you should absolutely not do.)

Here's a look at the most current information and resources we could locate to help you deal with your car payment. We'll continue to update this story as new details emerge.

First, see what assistance your lender has to offer

You'll want to know what kinds of programs your bank, credit union or other auto loan provider may have available to you. Also, if there are any state laws that might offer some protections against repossession, you'll want to find out about those, too. 

Here are the most comprehensive resources we've been able to turn up to help with both. (If you don't see your lender on any of those lists, try contacting the company directly through its website or app.)

As businesses like this soda and candy shop in Asheville, North Carolina, start to reopen, you can bet repossession companies will be back to work, too.

Sarah Tew/CNET

Most repos occur after two or three months of no payments

If you've fallen behind (or you think you're going to fall behind) on your car payment for 90 days or longer, you may very well be at risk of having your car repossessed. Your lender may be more lenient if you've never missed a payment before, but the more often you've been late in the past, the sooner they might attempt repossession. 

One way around this, however, is a deferment or forbearance program.

What are auto loan deferment programs and how do they work?

Under normal circumstances, most lenders will report a late payment to the credit bureaus once it's at least 30 days overdue, and they'll typically come to take your vehicle away after you've missed three or more payments in a row. 

A deferment or forbearance allows you to skip between one and three payments with no late fees or penalties. After the deferment period ends, either your monthly payment will either go up slightly or your loan will be extended by about the same amount of time as the deferment.  

On the downside, interest will continue to accrue during the months you skip your payment, so you'll end up paying more for your vehicle in the long run. But on the plus side, your missed payments will not show up as negative marks on your credit report, so your credit score shouldn't take a hit.

How to talk to your bank about your options 

Most lenders' programs have been streamlined to be pretty simple to apply for. Fill out a form, possibly attach some documentation (termination letter, layoff notice, etc.), send it off to your lender and wait for an approval confirmation. If your bank doesn't have it set up that easy and you have no idea where to begin, the legal services website DoNotPay has a chatbot that can help you draft a letter to your lender.

That said, you can probably handle this on your own. Just be honest and forthcoming about your situation and realistic about how much time you'll need to get back on your feet. Generally speaking, banks would rather work with you and retain you as a customer than leave you stranded without a vehicle.

Ford is currently offering to pay six months' worth of new vehicle payments when you purchase a new car from the company.

Wayne Cunningham/CNET

What normally happens when you miss a car payment?

In most states, a lender, like your bank, can start the repossession process the day after you miss even just one payment, but most companies give their customers a grace period. Often the lender won't even charge a late fee until the payment is at least 10 days late, and most won't report it to the three major credit bureaus until it's over 30 days late. 

If you go past 30 days delinquent -- and especially if you miss the next two payments in your loan cycle as well -- that's where you start treading into repossession, or repo, territory. 

How repossession works 

In most cases, your lender will contract with a third-party agency that specializes in repossessions. That company will use whatever information it can get -- your home and work addresses, for example -- to track down the vehicle and tow it to a secured, usually gated lot. It does not need your car keys to take your car. 

The repo company will then charge your bank for towing the vehicle, as well as a daily storage fee, usually around $25 to $75 per day. Unless you happened to have left your keys in the car, the repo company will also contract a locksmith to make a new set of keys -- then charge your bank for that service, too. When all is said and done, you'll owe anywhere from a few hundred to over a thousand dollars in charges, which you'll still be liable for whether you get your car out of repo or not. 

If you quit paying your car payment, eventually a vehicle recovery service will come tow your car.

Andrew Hoyle/CNET

Are car repossession companies even open right now?

The auto repossession industry never quite figured out whether repo companies, many of which laid off dozens of employees early on in the pandemic, were even allowed to operate in areas under strict shelter-in-place orders. The Association of Credit and Collection Professionals, a lobbying group for debt collectors, has argued that debt collection is an essential service, but lawmakers have yet to chime in.

However, as most US cities are far along in the process of reopening and orders shuttering nonessential businesses have mostly been lifted, you can probably bet that repo companies will be up and running as soon as they can be.

Your rights vs. the bank's rights 

In pretty much every instance your bank does not need a court order to attempt to repossess your car. You can view a list of every state's specific automobile repossession laws here, but generally speaking, your lending institution (or a company it hires) has the right to come onto your property and take the car so long as no one commits a "breach of the peace."

That means its representatives can't break into a locked garage, through a locked gate or otherwise use physical force against you or your property to take possession of your vehicle. They can, however, follow you to work, for example, or the grocery store, and wait until you leave your car unattended. 

How to get your car out of repo -- and what happens if you don't 

What if it's too late and your car has already been repoed? Many states have laws on the books about how long and under what conditions lenders must allow you the opportunity to get your vehicle back, but the terms aren't exactly favorable, especially if you're in the kind of financial situation that led to repo in the first place.

Generally, the law only compels lenders to release your car if you pay off the loan plus any towing and storage charges that have accrued. In practice, however, most lenders are willing to give your car back if you can at least catch up with your late payments (and, of course, even up with the repo company as well). 

One option if you're struggling to pay your car payment is to try and sell your car for cash to pay off the loan, but that won't work if you owe more than the car is worth.

Sarah Tew/CNET

If you leave your vehicle in repo, either because you can't afford to get it out or you just decide it's not worth it, you're still not completely off the hook. The bank will likely auction off your car to the highest bidder, then apply the revenue from that sale to your remaining balance, including repossession charges. If that doesn't cover your entire debt, the bank can come after you for the remainder, including handing your account over to a collection agency and reporting the delinquency to the credit bureaus. 

You have a few wild-card options as well 

If you're at risk of having your car or truck repossessed, there are other options available besides deferment, but none quite as simple or easy. You could do what's called a "voluntary repossession," where you contact your lender and indicate your desire to turn your vehicle over to it. Your credit will take a hit and you'll be liable for any outstanding debt the bank fails to recoup at auction, but the overall impact to both your credit score and pocketbook will be less than if you wait for the bank to forcibly repo your car.

You can refinance your car for a lengthier loan term with a lower monthly payment, but that will only work if you've already paid off a substantial amount of the principal. If you've only had your car loan for a year or two, you might actually still owe more than it's worth. Also, your credit has to be good enough for a bank to underwrite a new loan for you, which may or may not be the case anymore. 

You could also try to sell your car on the open market, or trade it in for something less expensive, but again, with the economy now in a full-blown recession, neither of these options seems very compelling.

What you absolutely should not do 

Whatever you do, don't try to hide your car from your bank or the repo company. For one, you're probably not going to beat them at their own game, and the longer it takes to find it (and the more difficult you make it), the more they're going to charge you for their services in the end. 

Stop! Don't just sit back and wait until the bank repos your car. Be proactive and ask and your lender may be able to help.

Shara Tibken/CNET

And don't just stop paying your loan and hope for the best. Whether or not lawmakers decide the repo industry performs an "essential" function, or if the repo man has to wait for a treatment or vaccine like the rest of us before getting back to work, eventually your delinquency will catch up with you. With banks demonstrating some compassion right now for those who've suffered financial hardship, you might as well take advantage of one of their relief programs while you can. 

Chances are if you're worried about making your car payment, you have other bills keeping you up at night, too. Here's what you need to know about rent relief during the pandemic, as well as what assistance is available if you have a mortgage. For taxes, credit cards and everything else, here's what other financial help is available.

The editorial content on this page is based solely on objective, independent assessments by our writers and is not influenced by advertising or partnerships. It has not been provided or commissioned by any third party. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products or services offered by our partners.

---

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