Elon’s smiling: The Tesla Cybertruck is now the bestselling electric truck in America, dethroning Ford’s F-150 Lightning. There were 3,907 Cybertrucks registered in May, compared to 2,353 F-150s. Chopping fingers aside, it looks like folks don’t mind paying that $100,000 price tag after all.
AT&T data breach: Who’s at risk and what to do now
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AT&T dropped some big and very bad news this morning: “Nearly all” customers had text and call data leaked in a massive cyberattack. We’re talking 95 million people.
“Kim, really? Another data breach?” I know, but don’t tune this one out. It has scary implications for your privacy.
What happened?
Hackers broke into a third-party cloud platform AT&T used to store customer data. More specifically, the breach included records of phone calls and texts of cellular customers, wireless network customers and landline customers between May 2022 and October 2022 and Jan. 2, 2023.
Some stolen records also include cell site IDs. This is where things get especially scary. Those records can be used to track a phone’s location, intercept or block calls, and create fake cell towers for eavesdropping.
The stolen data doesn’t include the contents of those phone calls and text messages — but I’d argue all that location data might be worse.
Picture it: Someone with enough info to “watch” you leaving your home for work, to run errands, to go to a doctor’s appointment — all just based on tower pings from calls and texts sent along the way.
AT&T says hackers didn’t steal dates of birth and Social Security numbers, and what they did get doesn’t include timestamps. The data will reveal which customers interacted and how often but not exactly when the interactions occurred.
The breached data is publically available … yet. Of course, those responsible could choose to release the data or put it up for sale at any time, which they will do unless AT&T pays them off.
What now?
This is still a developing story, but we do know AT&T has closed off the cyberattack’s access point and is working with law enforcement. This all happened back in April, FYI. So far, at least one person involved has been apprehended.
If your data was included in this latest breach, you’ll hear about it by text or email or get something in the mail. Assume it’s you if you were an AT&T customer between May and October 2022 or on Jan. 2, 2023.
Airbnb won't stop hidden cams
At this point, I don’t even want to risk it. There are just too many scary stories — and I once stayed in a place loaded with cameras! Luckily, I was savvy enough to spot them.
6 minutes
To make a spray-on Olympic sneaker. Running company On makes its Cloudboom Strike LS shoe by spraying rubbery plastic onto a rotating robot foot. Kenyan silver medalist Hellen Obiri plans to race in them for the Paris marathon. Want a pair? You’ll have to wait until November … and pay $330.
🔴 Trump shooter update: The FBI successfully broke into the phone of the man who shot former President Donald Trump just two days after the assassination attempt. No word yet on the findings, but they’re continuing to analyze all his devices. If you have any info on the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, visit tips.fbi.gov or call 1-800-CALL-FBI.
Tesla hit-and-run crash
A Jeep plowed through an intersection in Nevada, hitting a Tesla. The Tesla immediately sped away from the scene. Its driver managed to get the EV under control, but they soon realized the Jeep had driven away, too. No word yet on whether the Tesla’s Autopilot or Full Self-Drive mode was enabled during the crash. Check out the video!
Is using a VPN unethical?
One of my readers was shocked I gave this as an idea to save some money renting a car abroad. What do you think?
Cyberattacks on our water supply
It’s happening more and more. I keep several extra cases of water on hand, just to be safe.
AI Avatars gone wrong
Miracle Grow is NOT a supplement you should be consuming. Please don’t believe everything you see online.
Hidden cameras in your bushes
Criminals want to get to know your schedule … so they know exactly the right time to attack. Beware of camouflaged cameras recording every time you leave the house.
8,815 objects
Shot into space in the past five years. Elon Musk is responsible for about 72% of that. Starlink satellites only have a five-year lifespan. Musk wants to put as many as 42,000 in orbit. Space junk could become a massive problem within our lifetime. At least we’ll have Mars or a new exoplanet. 🙄
New scam: The government won't ask for gold
Share with someone who might be at risk of falling victim to this junk. So sad.
75% drop-off
In Apple Vision Pro purchases by August. Uh-oh. Anyone willing to shell out $3,500 probably already has. Apple’s best hope for a comeback is a cheaper model in 2025. Even at half the original cost, it’ll still be one of the priciest VR headsets out there.
Which ONE state doesn't have a hands-free law?
Watch to the end. I’ll tell ya. Make your guess now!
73 cents for a stamp
Starting next week, following a 5-cent increase. Mailing a postcard in the U.S. will now cost ya 56 cents (a 3-cent increase), and mailing postcards and letters internationally will set you back $1.65, up 10 cents. That’s just not write.
⌚ Cha-ching: Samsung is coming out with its first-ever high-end smartwatch and smart ring with AI features. The Galaxy Watch Ultra is $650, and the Galaxy Ring is $399 — $100 more than the base model of its biggest competitor, the Oura Ring Gen 3.
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Ticket heist: Cybercriminals are selling fake tickets online for the upcoming Paris Olympics. It’s a large-scale effort with over 700 fake domains. Telltale signs? Spelling and grammar mistakes and super inflated prices. Stick to the official sales platform.
300 million subscribers
On YouTube for MrBeast, aka Jimmy Donaldson. “I remember freaking out when I hit 300 subscribers 11 years ago,” he posted on X. Here’s a quick vid where Andrew and I talk about his rise to internet fame.
50 years young
The oldest skateboarder at this year’s Olympics. Father of three Andy Macdonald will compete for Britain alongside his two teenage teammates (paywall link). Both of them are younger than Andy’s oldest kid. And get this: It’s his first Olympics, so he’s def not skate-bored.