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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.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Traveling? Download Google Maps offline areas to navigate without cell service.
DNA? Do Not Ask: After last year’s data breach leaked info from 7 million customers, 23andMe is bankrupt but still legally obligated to pay out. If you were a customer affected by the breach, you’ve got until July 14 to file a claim. Hope your genetic trauma came with receipts.
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.
💼 Get your résumé noticed: LinkedIn is the best place to show off your skills, connect with people in the same industry and find new job opportunities. Whether you’re job hunting or branding your company, LinkedIn helps you stand out! It’s not just social media, it’s your digital handshake. Click here to post your job for free!
Hidden cam shocker
Some cams are so small they can hide inside smoke detectors, clocks and remotes. Try these pro tips to spot them.
⚠️ Crypto hackers get crafty: A hacker group called FreeDrain has built an entire phishing empire targeting desperate crypto users. They do it by poisoning search results with over 200K malicious links. Victims are lured by fake wallet support pages, asked for their seed phrases and drained faster than a Solana transaction. The heist? Already in the millions.
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.
Safe Wi-Fi anywhere: Public Wi-Fi is public for a reason, anyone can jump on it, and that includes hackers. Doesn’t matter if you’re at a fancy hotel, your favorite local diner or waiting at the gate at the airport. Want to stay safe? Just flip on a VPN. I’ve got a link where you can get four months free.
Reel look: Want to bring movie magic home? Turn on your TV’s Filmmaker Mode to tweak the color, contrast and frame rate to match the director’s vision. You can find it on Hisense, LG, Philips, Samsung and Vizio. Head to your picture settings and select picture mode. Don’t forget the popcorn.
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.
📖 Learn new words on Kindle: Come across a word you don’t know? Long-press it and you’ll get the dictionary definition. Each one you check gets saved to your Vocabulary Builder. To look back, tap the three-dot menu in the top right, select Vocabulary Builder, then Flashcards to run through them. Mark as Mastered when you’re done.
Cavemen love rock music: Have a teen? Know that TikTok viral videos are telling teens to do absolutely nothing to their face. No products, not even water. The idea? Let the skin barrier heal naturally. But dermatologists say it leads to acne, clogged pores and infections. Cavemen also didn’t have mirrors. Just saying. Can a joke about dinosaurs make you laugh? You bet jurassic can.