Special connoisseur

March 13, 2024

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?

The answer: B.) Bullfighting. “Aficionado” was first used in Spain to describe a person with a passion for bullfighting. Not too many of those around anymore — it’s banned in many countries and some Spanish cities.

Tags: shows, tech

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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.

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3 secret uses for your home security system

You buy a home security system to defend against thieves, but there are more threats than just masked robbers outside your home. Garages, sheds, other outside buildings, and vehicles parked long-term can be just as much of a draw to crooks as your main house. To fully protect your home, you’ll need to know some of the best-hidden home security secrets.

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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.

New chatbot restrictions: Google’s Gemini chatbot is “playing dumb” on election asks. Ask about any election, and you’ll get, “I’m still learning how to answer this question.” Google says it’s on a mission to fight misinformation. ChatGPT? That’s a different story.

Like taking candy from a pre-K student: Schools are low-hanging fruit for hackers thanks to outdated systems and limited cybersecurity experts. Case in point: A million-dollar ransomware demand that impacted 70,000 students in Albuquerque. Work at a school? Be very careful what you click.