August 26, 2025

New scam trick: Fake sites that look too good

Here’s the newest con in town: Scammers are using AI to clone legit websites, and they’re scary good at it. I’m talking about perfect logos, identical layouts, right down to the fonts and buttons.  The crazy part is that they spin these sites up in minutes. Then, they shove them to the top of Google, […]

August 25, 2025

They buried your opt-out button

This is insane. Like almost cartoon-villain-level shady. Say you’re trying to delete your personal information from some shady data broker’s website that’s selling your data to advertisers, marketing companies, stalkers, coworkers or anyone else with the money.  But when you search for their opt-out page on Google? Nothing pops up on the results page. Did […]

August 20, 2025

Schools spy on kids even at home

School is back in session, but here’s something no one told you at orientation: Your kids may have more eyes on them than just their teachers’. Even if you don’t have kids in school, you really need to know about this. A new study from UC San Diego uncovered what’s really going on with those […]

August 17, 2025

AI meets true crime

In late November 1987, Nashville police got a call about a revolting stench on Charlotte Avenue. What they found under a dirt-floor crawl space shocked even the most hardened crime scene veterans: two decomposing bodies, buried and forgotten beneath a broken-down home. The address traced back to James Shaffer, a convicted rapist already serving time […]

August 16, 2025

The new scams that know you by name

Ever get a text that feels … a little too real? You know the ones: “Your account has been locked. Click here to verify.” Most of us roll our eyes and delete them.  But the new generation of scams? They’re scarier and a whole lot smarter. 📱 Smishing goes high-tech In the past month, investigators […]

August 12, 2025

The sound police are coming for ya

Look at that picture. What we’ve got here is not just another traffic camera, but a fully deputized decibel detective. Meet the sound police. These new noise cameras are the cousins of speed and red-light cameras, but instead of catching you with a heavy foot, they’re busting you for a heavy exhaust.  No radar guns […]

August 11, 2025

🎥 She rang his doorbell. Smiled. Took his bank card. Then drained his bank account.

Scott Merovitch did everything right, or so he thought. A longtime Wells Fargo customer, he got a call that seemed totally legit. The person on the line knew his recent transactions. They said his debit card had been compromised and the bank needed to send someone to his house to collect it.  A woman actually […]

August 10, 2025

Old-school static wins the spy wars

This is one of the coolest things I’ve learned recently: Foreign intelligence agencies still use good ol’ radio to share top secrets. Even with all the powerful tech at their fingertips, radio use in espionage has actually gone up in popularity since the 2010s. Pretty wild. Russia in particular loves this technique. Why? Intelligence agencies […]

August 7, 2025

Privacy report card: Which AI flunked

AI bots are our digital sidekicks. They’ve helped me write emails faster, plan my vacations, you name it. But the more we share, the more these bots learn about us. That can come back to bite you. Let’s lock down your data before your secrets become someone else’s payday. 🤖 Hall of shame Not all […]

🚨 You must read this before your next Uber ride

⚠️ Warning: This story contains details about sexual assault that may be disturbing. I know two women who were raped by an Uber driver. That’s not hearsay or a story I read online. They trusted the ride, believed the app was safe and paid the price in the most horrific way possible. Now, The New […]

August 6, 2025

Your EV battery knows where you’ve been even if GPS is off

You already know your smartphone tracks your every move like a jealous ex. And your car? Duh, it’s been watching you since Bluetooth became a thing.  Here’s the shocker: Researchers at MIT just revealed that your EV battery alone can quietly map your life without GPS, Wi-Fi or cell signals.  Before you even think, “Kim, […]

July 29, 2025

Get 100% free tech support 24/7

Today is National System Administrator Appreciation Day, but this special day will soon be off the calendars. Thank you to all the unsung heroes updating, plugging and unplugging things and reminding us, “No, you can’t use 123456 again.” When you have a problem with your tech, you can now stop begging your spouse, your kids […]

July 28, 2025

F​​our payments and a data leak

Buy now, pay later (BNPL) apps are everywhere. See something shiny? Tap tap, and BAM, you own it in four “easy” payments. Zero interest, no credit card shame spiral. What a dream, right? But here’s what they’re not telling you: While you’re breaking up your payments, they’re also breaking up your data and sharing it […]

July 26, 2025

Hackers love your zombie accounts

How many online accounts have you made over the years? 50? 100? More? That’s enough to fill a digital graveyard. A new study shows that 25% of all online accounts are never used again, but they don’t just disappear. They sit there, wide open, with your email address and password attached. These forgotten logins are […]

July 18, 2025

Millennials are the newest scam target

(First, a weird image for this story, I know. I was playing around with Meta AI. Why? Coming on Monday, tips, tricks and don’ts of using AI to create art, logos and more. You don’t want to miss that newsletter!) If you’re a millennial, or you love one from a safe financial distance, brace yourself: […]

July 16, 2025

Even Queen Bey ain’t safe

You’d think Beyoncé’s secret files crew would be protected by a force field of security, privacy settings and Sasha Fierce energy. But nope, real-world crime doesn’t care how many Grammys you have. Right before her recent Atlanta show, thieves smashed the glass of a rental Jeep used by her crew and made off with two […]

July 9, 2025

Credit card? Try regret card

Look at the image. That’s not the real Omaha Steaks. It’s from a fake site designed to steal your money. It’s happening all over the internet right now. You see a great deal on name-brand stuff, a new smartwatch, fancy cookware, maybe some designer jeans, and you click.  Everything looks real. The logos, the layout, […]

July 2, 2025

When your stock is actually a scam

I don’t mean to be a downer, but I need to warn you that tens of thousands of Americans, folks just like you, are getting duped into buying worthless Chinese stocks.  The Wall Street Journal (paywall link) found even seasoned investors are falling for this scam, losing big bucks in the blink of an eye.  […]

July 1, 2025

Stop using 2FA text codes already

Today’s a short but super important security tip. If you’re still getting login codes via text on your phone, stop. That’s so 2010 and one of the biggest mistakes people make when it comes to online security. Sure, it’s convenient. You type in your password, get a six-digit code via SMS, enter it, and you’re […]

June 29, 2025

How I stopped scammers cold

“Kim, Lifelock has gotten so expensive. Do I even need it?” — Matt in Texas I’ve been hearing this a lot, Matt. I agree, LifeLock is pricey. My bill was $239.88 a year. Now, I’m paying $62.64 a year, that’s a 74% savings! More about that later. Yes, you really need a service to protect […]