The Feds are coming

March 26, 2024

The Feds are coming: If you watched any drone and augmented reality YouTube tutorials between Jan. 1, 2023, and Jan. 8, 2023, congrats — you might be on a watchlist! Investigators linked a money-laundering suspect dubbed “elonmuskwhm” to these videos and got Google to divulge a list of everyone who watched them. The Feds say it was crucial for the investigation, but I think this sets a dangerous precedent.

Tags: Google, tutorials

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3 LinkedIn security features to stay protected

Your parents or grandparents may have told stories about looking for work and how they knocked on doors until they were hired. Well, it hasn’t worked that way in quite a while. You’ll be stopped by security in most office building lobbies before you can get anywhere.

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Double-check those “urgent” emails — they could be a scam

Imagine doing your morning Wordle (yes, I still do) when you get an urgent email from Netflix. Subject: Your subscription just expired.

After a little digging, you realize that your account never lapsed. Now, you’re stuck with a fake charge and a crook running around with your personal info.

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How does in-flight Wi-Fi work?

I wondered and thought you might be curious, too. It’s changed a lot since you could first connect on a plane — and yet I’m still surprised at how often in-flight internet stinks.

2.16 miles through DFW

That’s the longest walk to the gate at any U.S. airport. Dulles International has the second-longest trek at 1.62 miles, with Houston’s IAH coming in third at 1.52 miles. That’s one way to stress-test your roller bags.

Watch out for these 6 scammy email subject lines

Last week, my calendar went crazy with event invites. These weren’t real meetings or even something fun like brunch plans — they were sketchy “appointments” from strangers. It’s just one common phishing technique you need to look out for.

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4,000 celebrity victims of deepfake pornography

That’s just so far — and it’s only according to one investigation. The real number is much higher, I’m sure.

78% of voters worry AI disinformation will influence the election

A good start: 49% question the authenticity of political videos, ads and interviews they encounter online. Less promising: Two-thirds couldn’t identify AI-generated images, and 60% couldn’t identify an AI-generated voice. Oof.

$33,000/night to stay on a private island off Tanzania

Thanda Island has been named the “World’s Leading Exclusive Private Island” for the last eight years. At least the rate includes Wi-Fi.

20 hours/week scrolling on social media

That’s how much time teen girls spend on their phones. Can’t imagine what that does to your brain. No joke for this one — it’s just scary.

14.5M listeners follow Joe Rogan’s podcast on Spotify

It’s the most popular podcast on the platform. When I was in Japan last month, a tour guide told me he listened to Joe Rogan every day. He then asked, “Is it true people in America don’t know if they are a boy or girl?” I did my best to explain.