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
Meet your financial evil twin
A man named William Woods spent years trying to prove he was … himself. Why? Because another man, Matthew David Keirans, stole his Social Security number and birth certificate, built a whole new life with them and lived under Woods’ identity for decades.
The guy really committed to the bit. Keirans got caught only after DNA tests exposed the fraud, and now he’s in prison.
Recently, a woman used my husband’s name and his SSN with her address to get a set of new dentures in Tampa, Florida. Maybe she looks like a guy named Barry?
Law enforcement is also seeing an uptick in kids’ Social Security numbers being used to build fake “Franken-identities.” Why? Children don’t have credit histories yet. By the time families discover it, the synthetic persona has credit cards, loans and debt all tied back to an innocent name.
🔧 Here’s how it works
Criminals stitch together real and fake info, say your SSN with a made-up address, and nurture that “new person” into a believable identity. They start small (a prepaid card or phone plan), then scale up to big loans or credit lines.
When the debt piles up, the synthetic identity vanishes, but creditors chase the real person behind the stolen SSN. Banks call this the fastest-growing type of financial crime.
🚨 Signs of synthetic identity theft
- Strange addresses where you’ve never lived pop up on your credit report.
- New accounts or loans show up in your name, but the contact info (phone, email) isn’t yours.
- Collection calls demand payment for debts you never took out.
- Mismatch alerts from banks say your SSN doesn’t match your name or DOB, even though you typed it correctly.
👉 If any of these hit your radar, it could mean someone’s cooking up a “Franken-identity” with your info.
That’s why I use NordProtect, a sponsor of my radio show. It monitors your most sensitive info like your Social Security number, phone number, email and mailing address, then alerts you the moment something suspicious pops up.
Think: Someone uses your name to try to take out a loan, open a credit card or file for insurance. If it happens, NordProtect doesn’t just notify you, they guide you step-by-step to shut it down fast.
Up your kitchen game for under $50
Proof you don’t need to splurge to snag the right tools.
🔪 Bamboo cutting boards (40% off, three-piece): Built for daily chopping and classy enough to double as party platters.
✂️ Kitchen scissors (23% off): Cut your prep time, literally. Psst … use promo code QMXI6Y6E for an extra 15% off.
🧊 Ice cube tray (38% off): Silicone trays pop cubes out without a fight. Comes with a bin and scoop to keep it all neat.
💦 Under-sink mat (25% off): Leaks happen, but ruined cabinets don’t have to. This grippy liner is your safety net.
✅ Cheat sheet magnet (30% off): Stick it on your fridge and never Google “air fryer time for chicken wings” again.
👩🍳 From messy to master chef: There are more handpicked kitchen gadgets right here.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Meet the scammers driving your neighborhood
Ever get one of those weird texts that says something like, “Your package is waiting” or “Click here to unlock your cash reward”? We all have. Most people figure it’s just a scammy mass text from some sketchy website.
📚 Make Kindle pages cleaner: Ever notice a faint imprint of the last page after you turn? Fix it by forcing a full refresh each time. Go to All Settings > Home and Library > Reading Options > Page Refresh. FYI: It may nibble a bit more battery, but you’ll barely notice.
🚘 Buttons are back, baby: No more tap-tap-tapping. Mercedes is bringing back real buttons and knobs in 2026, saying they’re faster, safer and way less annoying than touch screens. Nothing says “luxury” like not missing your highway exit trying to turn on the AC. Your great-grandpa was right: Knobs are the future.
42 billion and still no service
The government has spent $42 billion to connect rural homes to broadband and not a single one is online. Meanwhile, Starlink is already delivering internet nationwide without taxpayer money.
Am I crazy or has my phone been hacked?
Lilly from Indianapolis thinks her phone has been hacked. Can she prove it? Also, the Secret Service crushes a nightmare cyber plot. Plus, the dark side of Amazon Prime, AI celebrity boyfriends, and digital shoplifting. Don’t miss this!
📱 Pay less for iPhone repairs: Out-of-warranty? Go to support.apple.com/repair and check for independent repair providers near you. They use official Apple parts but charge less than Apple Stores.
Credit bureaus are selling you out
Drowning in junk mail? Credit bureaus sell your info to banks and insurers, fueling all those “pre-approved” offers. Here’s how to stop them for good.
📚 Since phones were banned in schools: Kids are turning Google Docs into live chat rooms. They invite friends as collaborators and chat in real time, sometimes sneakily in white text on white background. It’s note-passing for the 2025 school year. Teachers don’t notice. Parents don’t know. But is it kind of genius? Yeah. You’ve got to respect the hustle.
Unwrap the awesome
These gift ideas will make everyone say, “Where’d you find that?”
🖼️ Digital picture frame (31% off): Send vacation photos from your phone straight to the grandparents’ living room.
Heated throw blanket (20% off): Ten heat settings, machine washable and safely turns off automatically.
😌 Shower steamers (18% off, 15-pack): Drop one in and enjoy up to 20 minutes of fizzling essential oils.
Dog puzzle toy (33% off): Fill it with treats and watch your pup burn energy while brain-training. Works for any size dog.
🪐 Gskyer telescope (40% off): A perfect starter scope. Hook up your phone, snap some stellar pics and flex on Instagram.
📦 Ditch the e-card: When in doubt, an Amazon physical gift card wrapped in a box feels special, not just another email.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Saving passwords in your browser? Stop that.
“Hi, Kim, I save all my passwords in my browser. So why do I need a password manager? Thanks for your newsletter. I can tell it’s a lot of work. The quality every single day is incredible.” — Robby in South Carolina
Redesigned Smart Stack on watchOS 26: Rotate the Digital Crown upward to open your Smart Stack, then scroll and tap Edit to add or remove widgets. The new prediction algorithm shows info you’re most likely to need, e.g., a workout prompt pops us when you get to the gym.
🏈 Tablet wars, football edition: College coaches can finally use tablets on the sidelines, and guess what? Everyone’s picking iPads. The MAC just joined the SEC, ACC and Big Ten in ditching Microsoft for Apple. Why? Real-time replays, quick play tagging and the tablets don’t freeze mid-game. NFL? Still using Surfaces like they lost a bet with Bill Gates.
📶 Share your phone’s internet on Windows: First turn off Wi-Fi on your PC and connect your phone with a USB cable. On iPhone, go to Settings > Cellular > Set Up Personal Hotspot and follow the instructions. On Android (path may vary), go to Settings > Connections > Mobile Hotspot & Tethering > USB tethering.
Will I be able to sing?
Roger Love, vocal coach to Bradley Cooper and other big stars, turns me into a songbird. Yes, I sing in this show. Then, the U.S. leases China’s TikTok algorithm, sketchy routers, and Facebook Dating’s AI wingman. Plus, why some people turn to the wild world of free sperm donors on social media.
Your smart speaker is building a case against you
Alexa might be listening more than you think. George, your AI host, breaks down how much data your smart speaker is really grabbing, plus the Venmo ‘oops’ scam that could cost you big, fragile iPhone 17s, the MGM hacker teen, and device advice you need to hear.
Boost your YouTube channel: If you want the algorithm to help people discover your videos, add channel tags. On desktop, click your profile picture and open YouTube Studio. In the left panel, go to Settings > Channel > Basic info. Under Keywords, fill in things like “lifestyle vlog” or “easy recipes,” and hit Save.
You don’t need to live in fear: Most security systems respond only after a break-in has started, and that’s too late. SimpliSafe is different. It’s proactive, not reactive. Get 50% off your new security system today!