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You’ve probably shared photos of your kids on social media. Parents, it’s time to think about safety.
Tags: kids, online, photos, social media
Let me tell you, more and more victims of cyberstalking are reaching out to me for advice using my Ask Kim page. Here’s one note I received recently from P.W. in Oklahoma:
“I’ve been cyberstalked for three years. I recently discovered it was my roommate. I moved out and he launched another attack. He’s on my and my fiance’s phones, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth — everything. He has stolen financial data, pictures, erased accounts, taken over emails and harassed me through VOIP. … He admitted to sitting outside our house all night. I thought he was spying on me. Now I know he was also gaining access to my Wi-Fi. I can’t do this anymore and need expert advice/help terribly.”
Which platform is winning the streaming wars, with the largest share of viewers? Is it … A.) Prime Video, B.) Netflix, C.) Hulu or D.) YouTube?
Let’s hear it for great news: In a world first, a 16-minute gene therapy procedure was performed on 18-month-old Opal Sandy, a British girl who was born deaf. She can now hear without needing an external device. Amazing!
Apple’s iPhone spyware problem is worsening: Attacks mostly against journalists, activists and government representatives have been reported in over 150 countries. Common red flags: Faster-than-usual battery drainage, high data usage and unexpected shutdowns. If you’re a journalist or activist, or if you work for the government, turn on Lockdown mode.
Strikeout: A gullible 70-year-old woman was fooled by an online scammer posing as Phillies shortstop Trea Turner. After weeks of messaging with “Trea,” the scammer got the woman to send him $50,000 under the guise of “marriage problems.” The lesson: Don’t just watch out for phishing emails and DMs; you’re also a target when you comment on social media posts.
Slap on the wrist: Verizon, AT&T and T‑Mobile will pay $10.22 million to a group of states to settle claims of false advertising. Their ads promised unlimited data plans and free phones, but guess what? Restrictions applied, conditions had to be met, and hidden fees lurked in the fine print. Check your bills.
Solar storm tech issues: There weren’t too many disruptions from the recent global light show, but Starlink’s satellites had a few glitches. Interestingly, GPS navigation systems used by John Deere tractors and other brands to create ultra-tight, straight lines for planting were knocked out — and during a peak planting season. I was so bummed I saw nothing in the skies over Phoenix.
“Lovebots” are coming: Dating apps are set for a major overhaul. Instead of swiping left or right, bots will chat with hundreds of other bots in that awkward getting-to-know-you stage. You’ll only be asked to rate people when the bots agree there’s an initial match. This is wrong on so many levels.
Hackers’ new target: They’re tricking retail employees to get into their work accounts. Why? To make gift cards to use in stores and online. Stay safe, employers: Tell your team to avoid clicking random links, and make sure your antivirus software is up to date.
Careful what you post: Criminals are crawling social media accounts for videos of folks talking. Just 10 seconds is enough for AI tools to rip off your voice to scam loved ones and break into voice-authorized accounts. Come up with a safeword with your family to use if they ever get a distressed-sounding call from “you.”
