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Breaking news and tips
Scam in the skies
I am hearing more and more reports about a certain travel scam that is not making the tech sites or mainstream news.
A “travel agent” or travel site selling fake plane tickets. You pay real cash for a flight that doesn’t actually exist, like booking a table at a restaurant that burned down in 2006.
Let’s break this down so you don’t accidentally vacation your identity into a black hole.
🚩 Sneaky setup
You search for tickets online or reply to a scam email. Overwhelmed by all the travel sites and apps, you choose what seems like a trustworthy source with awesome prices.
Maybe you end up emailing, chatting or talking to someone who promises they can get you a great rate on a ticket. So you hand over your name, phone number and payment details.
Using your information, they book what you think is a confirmed seat and say you’re good to go. You, the savvy shopper, go to the airline’s website and enter the flight information. Sweet, there’s your seat. You pat yourself on the back for saving money and consider your travel booked.
🥶 Two weeks later…
You try to check in for your flight. Except … you can’t. There’s no ticket. Never was. Turns out these crooks just made a seat reservation — they never paid for an actual ticket.
And now? You’re not going to Cabo. You’re going to Rage Town. Population: You.
Hopefully, you find this out long before you’re standing at an airport customer service counter, suitcase in hand! Either way, you’re out the money and the airline ticket.
😡 Outsmarting human malware
Computer goals
👩💻 “Kim, what are your laptop and desktop recs?” I got you:
- This HP laptop ($350) comes with a lifetime Microsoft Office license.
- I use a Dell Inspiron 3030 ($838) as my workstation in Santa Barbara.
- The battery on the latest 13-inch MacBook Air ($849) lasts 18 hours.
- Snag a Dell XPS 13 ($1,600) that can support two external monitors.
- Gamers, Asus’ ROG Strix G16CH ($1,889) is made with you in mind.
💻 Before you log off: Check out 15 more picks on my new Amazon page to fit your budget and needs.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
This is worse than spam calls
Most people have never heard of companies like Mobilewalla or Gravy Analytics, but they know you.
The FTC just clamped down on these two for secretly vacuuming up people’s real-time location data without consent. Not just estimated neighborhoods or passing GPS flickers.
👂🏼 AirPods aren’t the only option: Check out Raycon. Their Everyday Earbuds sound great, get a ton of battery life and are a fraction of the price. Get 15% off sitewide today with my exclusive deal!
Paying to unplug: What happened to self-control? Folks are dropping thousands to stay at places like Grand Velas Resorts in Mexico for a digital detox. No phones. No TV. Instead? Board games, snorkeling and outdoor activities. Most guests go crazy in the first 24 hours … but adjust by day three.
Gen Z is a national security threat
Sixty percent get their news from TikTok, YouTube and Instagram. Here’s why that has experts alarmed.
$500 million
How much a Bay Area tech trio is willing to spend on a 6% stake in the San Francisco 49ers. Vinod Khosla, Byron Deeter and Will Griffith are dropping half a billion to own a slice of the 49ers, valuing the team at over $8.5 billion. If approved, it’ll be one of the priciest valuations for any sports team on the planet.
🎶 Rockin’ votes: Planning a road trip? YouTube now lets your friends add and vote on songs in shared playlists. Here’s how to create one. Then, click the three-dot menu > Collaborate > toggle on Collaborators can add songs and videos. Hit Share to send the link to your pals. No arguing over who gets to DJ.
Turn an old phone into a free security cam
Time to pull out your old smartphone. Get an extra tool to protect your home with this step-by-step guide.
🛰️ AI eyes everywhere: The Pentagon’s satellite AI (Project Maven) is now advanced enough to spot sketchy activity before anything even happens. Now under the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, it’s detecting anomalies, like unexpected enemy movements or sudden activity spikes at weapons sites. Your garden gnome? Now classified as a hostile object.
What dreams are made of
😴 Tired of being tired? These sleep helpers are your answer.
- Read with a dimmable wall light (8% off) that won’t wake your partner.
- This bedding sheet set (45% off) has deep pockets and feels breezy.
- Use a wedge pillow ($30) to stop things from slipping behind your bed.
- Too hot? Too hard? A cooling mattress topper (21% off) will fix both.
- Inflate this camping pad (15% off) in a minute, using its built-in pump.
🐞 Don’t let the bedbugs bite: Plug in a pack of indoor fly traps (10% off) so that buzzing turns into zzz’s.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Scammer ruins a 45-year marriage
What’s worse than your mom leaving your dad for a guy she met on Instagram? Finding out he’s a romance scammer and she knows — but she’s still in love. That’s what happened to Grant Inman. Now, the My Funeral Home Stories host is trying to help his mom see the truth.You, 21 min
40-foot submarine-hunting drone
The “BlueWhale” uses special sensors to spot underwater and surface threats, and can help clear mines. The cool bit? It’s fully autonomous and runs on batteries for weeks. Basically, a Roomba’s scarier cousin with serious military vibes.
50% off alert: My home security pick, SimpliSafe, is having a massive sale. When you get a professional monitoring plan, you get one month free! You don’t need to live in fear or worry about burglars when you’re not home. Get all the gear to lock down your home for half off.
Set digital boundaries: Create a Samsung account for your child, so you can watch and manage what they see on their phone. Go to Settings > [your name] > Family > Add family member > Create child account and follow the prompts. Once you’re set up, your child will be added to your Family Group.
Deepfake Elon stole millions — May 17th, Hour 1
Want billions like Musk? Don’t fall for this crypto scam. Some people are paying $217K to freeze their bodies. I’ll also share five signs your phone might be tapped. Plus, I talk to Randy from Oregon, who wants to cash in on a viral video.
Dirt stops here
🧽 Cleaning doesn’t have to suck (unless we’re talking about vacuums).
- Tackle tight crevices with a three-pack of cleaning brushes ($5).
- Stainless steel polish (20% off) makes your appliances shine like new.
- Keep your leather from drying out with a handy care kit (31% off).
- This electric air duster (43% off) is like a tiny leaf blower for your tech.
- Suck all that lint from your dryer using a vent cleaner kit (38% off).
👠 Shoe, don’t bother me: Toss these deodorizer bags ($11) in your gym bag or sneakers to soak up any funky smells.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
🐶 Streaming that wags: Want dog or cat videos on a loop? If you have a Roku device (now 28% off), check out their lineup of free channels for pet and animal lovers. Sure, there are ads, but free is still free. Perfect background noise for you or your furry friend.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
📐 Big iPad energy: Apple might drop a nearly 19-inch(!) folding iPad in 2027 or 2028, alongside a folding iPhone. Apple’s largest tablet is about 13 inches. The pricing is under wraps, but some estimate between $2,100 and $2,500. Tagline? Apple’s foldables: finally, tech that collapses under pressure just like you.