Voice-cloning scams are terrifying - Know what to look for
Not long ago, a woman named Robin was sleeping beside her husband, Steve. They live in Brooklyn with their two young kids. No, this isn’t the setup for a joke. It’s the setup for a nightmare scam that’s happening everywhere right now.
🚫 TikTok banned: Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a bill to ban TikTok from operating in the U.S. under its current Chinese owners. For the 170 million Americans who have TikTok installed, widescale internet blocking is the only way to stop them from using it. That’s something we don’t do here in the U.S. — at least, not yet.
An “aficionado” is an enthusiast — like you and I are tech aficionados! But originally, the word referred to an enthusiast of a particular type of entertainment. Was it … A.) Opera, B.) Bullfighting, C.) Puppet shows or D.) Wrestling?
Karma is real: After Sydney Sweeney’s spicy appearance on SNL, hopeful pervs ran to X looking for “leaked” pics. Surprise, surprise — their creeping led them straight to pop-up adware that takes browsers hostage. Sure, X could moderate this stuff better, but can’t say I feel sorry for them.
Tesla drowning: Billionaire Angela Chao met a tragic end when her Tesla dove into a pond on her Texas ranch. The Tesla Model X’s reinforced glass, meant to keep her safe, ended up blocking rescuers. The chilling twist? The sheriff’s department is calling it an accident, but there are whispers about a possible hack.
Calling all biz owners: Meta’s new AI-powered ad tools let you create tailored ads and spotlight products based on user activity. Reminder ads got better, too, with clickable links to the latest deals and AI that slaps promo codes right on the ad. Now, that’s what I call a shop lift.
End of an era? More and more 20-somethings are ditching TikTok to improve their sleep, work and social life. They’re hunting for real-life experiences over algorithms. Let’s just hope they don’t find those “experiences” in the metaverse.
Amazon’s box bot: It’s testing six-foot-tall, bug-like robots for warehouse grunt work. These bots can navigate any terrain, haul up to 35 pounds and tackle boring tasks like carting around empty bins. Amazon says they’re here to help avoid hernias, not steal jobs.
Founder hounders: Hackers are using calendar links to scam aspiring entrepreneurs who use Macs. They pose as eager investors on apps like Telegram, then bait you with a “meeting” link via Calendly. Hitting “join” launches a script that silently installs malware on your macOS system. Word to the wise: Verify new contacts and double-check those links.