All tech. No filler.
Join 900,000+ people who stay ahead of the tech curve with The Current, delivered daily. No fluff, no BS.
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
Vroom vroom
🚗 That’s the sound of your next trip starting strong.
- Let your phone and small stuff ride shotgun with a bike bag (8% off).
- Flat tires? A portable inflator (24% off) lets you skip the gas station stop.
- Grab a two-pack of floor mat cleaners (5% off) to scrub away all that dirt.
- Forget melting ice, a car fridge (15% off) keeps your drinks cool for longer.
- This key organizer (15% off) holds up to eight of your keys and a car fob.
- Feel safer while you’re parked with a steering wheel lock (28% off).
🇺🇸 Memorial Day savings: Here’s that special link to save big on the best gadgets for your ride.
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.
Worried about hackers? Head to myaccount.google.com/security to check your Google account’s security. Review logins, set up 2FA and lock things down in seconds. This link alone is worth the price of this newsletter.
🚨 Deliverability: Noun. The likelihood that an email will successfully land in your inbox instead of being exiled to the deadly spam folder. I switched ESPs (email service providers), and I need your help. Reply, forward or rate the newsletter at the end, so Big Tech and your email provider know you want my free newsletter. This way, I’ll stick around like guac on a chip.
Don’t fall for Facebook or Instagram scams
See a great deal on your feed? Here’s why it could be a slick scam that takes your money fast.
46%
The increased risk of hemorrhoids if you scroll on your phone while on the toilet. A new survey found that prolonged scrolling sessions on the porcelain throne might be more dangerous than you think. Maybe it’s time to swap the TikTok binge for, I don’t know, getting off the toilet. What’s it called when you get a hemorrhoid in space? An assteroid. (That was a good one!)
🌎 Speaking my language: Reading a website in another language? Chrome can auto-translate as you browse. Open the Chrome menu (three dots) > Settings > Languages > toggle on Use Google Translate. Next time you land on a foreign site, a pop-up will offer to switch it to English. Voilà!
Never tell the truth on security questions
If a hacker can find your mom’s maiden name or your first pet on social media, your accounts are easy targets.
YouTube ads are getting tricky: They’re testing an AI tool called Peak Points that finds the precise moments when viewers are most engaged in a video. Then it drops ads right after. The goal? Help advertisers catch you when you’re paying attention and more likely to click. Kill it with fire.
Gourmet gear
👩🍳 Cooking is way more fun with the right stuff.
- These stretchy food huggers ($18) keep your fruits and veggies fresh.
- Grab a four-pack of ice cube trays (10% off) to pop ’em without twisting.
- Messy microwave? This splatter cover (5% off) means less cleanup later.
- Shave your cheese and more with a handheld rotary grater (20% off).
- Meat lovers, BBQ like a pro using a set of shredder claws (41% off).
🦖 Jurassic breakfast: This mini-waffle maker (30% off) turns batter into dinosaur-shaped treats in minutes.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
23andMe data sold for $256M
Your DNA is now in the hands of biotech giant Regeneron. They say they’ll protect it. Plus, Owen Wilson deepfake scams, Meta lets fraud off the hook, and phone-free vacations. Got T-Mobile? Here’s how to claim your part of the $350M data breach settlement.
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.
⚡ Dodge ditches the Charger Daytona: The EV base model flopped so hard they sold less than 2,000 of ’em in the first few months of the year. But don’t worry, you can still pick up the Scat Pack version if you’ve got $73,985 lying around. Gas-powered Chargers are coming soon.
Split screen on iPad: Want two apps open at once? Turn your iPad sideways and open the first app. Tap the three-dot menu at the top and select Split View. The app will move to one side. Swipe up to open the Dock and drag the second app over. Now use the divider to adjust space between them.
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.
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.
💸 Subscriptions sneak up fast: One buck here, five there, and suddenly your bank account’s losing money fast. I use Rocket Money to track every subscription I have. Don’t want a service anymore? They’ll cancel it for you.
T-Mobile payout: Remember the 2021 data breach that exposed info from 76 million people? A class action lawsuit followed, and T-Mobile agreed to a $350 million settlement. Good news: Checks are going out this month. If you were part of the lawsuit, you could get back your losses or a flat payment of $25. Nothing says I’m sorry like a Chipotle bowl and a bottle of CVS wine.