Imagine your pet goes missing, and hours later you get a photo of them on an operating table with a demand for $2,700 to “save” them. It’s a terrifying new scam that happened to a Florida family. I spoke with them about how they were almost duped.
See those dome cameras at the grocery store? Those aren’t just for shoplifters. Those run AI that tracks every step you take, every pause you make to figure out what you want to buy. Yes, it’s watching you. Plus, who really invented Bitcoin, a loyalty points scam to watch for, and a ChatGPT trick to outsmart your mechanic.
The average person keeps their router for 7 years, but most of the security updates stop after 3 to 5 years. I’ll show you how to check if yours is still protected. Someone is crashing Zoom calls and selling it as a podcast. Plus, title fraud is one of the fastest-growing crimes in America. I’ll have one simple step to keep your home safe. Let’s take a trip down memory lane. Half of all CDs ever made were AOL trial discs. How do I know? I was making $25,000 a month running the computer section, until they asked me to pay them. I said no and made my own radio show. Sometimes saying no is the best move you ever make.
The Google invite you didn’t ask for. It’s skipping your inbox and going straight to your calendar. It just shows up. But here’s the good news. I’ll tell you how to fix it in 30 seconds.From your iPhone to your router, I have a few tips to keep you safe. Plus new research on pancreatic cancer and a landmark case found Meta and YouTube guilty of addicting kids to social media. And the age-old argument: is it Gif or Jif? The man who invented it, Steve Wilhite, weighs in.
Your phone isn’t listening. The truth is scarier. Today’s episode breaks down exactly why all those ads seem magically made for you. Plus: how a hacker used Sony’s own chatbot to steal $20,000 worth of PlayStation games, and why you should avoid ChatGPT for medical emergencies. Phone dying? Here’s a quick iPhone battery check that could save you $700 today.
A Texas company sold a list of 435,000 Alzheimer’s patients to anyone with a credit card. The fine? $45,000. I break down why HIPAA doesn’t protect your family and what you can do right now.Plus, the Windows printer setting that’s been driving you crazy for years and the sneaky calendar scam hiding on your iPhone.
WIRED senior correspondent Andy Greenberg got a late-night email from inside a Southeast Asian compound. The message: “I am a computer engineer being forced to work here. I want to help shut this down.” What happened next will blow your mind. Hear my convo with him.
Ring’s cute big game ad was just a cover. Their new AI ‘Search Party’ feature is officially turning neighborhood cameras into a massive surveillance web linked to law enforcement. I’ll show you the hidden setting to change right now to opt your home out of the network.
Plus:
Meta: Unsealed docs reveal executives were warned of 500k inappropriate messages sent to kids every single day.
J&J: AI-enhanced surgery bot linked to 10 patient injuries and a leaked brain fluid scandal.
Yikes: 1 in 3 Gen Z students admit to scrolling TikTok during sex (and some even answered a call from Mom).
Doctors? Lawyers? Writers? No one’s safe. Here’s which roles Microsoft says have the most crossover with AI and are likely to be taken over. Plus, the staggering number of ads you see every day, ChatGPT slipping in ads, and how your grocery store is spying on you.
The holidays are here. In this episode of The Current, our AI host Mara explains why your Christmas tree tinsel could be slowing down the internet. Also, the one thing you must never do when renting a car this season. And she exposes a scary new scam where hackers use fake police emails to get your data.
It starts with a message from a handsome man in uniform. He’s deployed, lonely and falling in love with you. This man looks identical to U.S. Marine Kagan Dunlap. But Kagan isn’t talking to you. For 10 years, his selfies have been used to steal thousands from lonely women.
Your fave AI-host Mara exposes the hidden price of loyalty programs (hint: it’s your data). Then, how to turn your closet clutter into holiday cash. Plus, a rapid-fire look at the week’s top headlines.
Turn your creativity into cash with AI! Learn how to start your own AI-powered T-shirt side hustle from home, no design skills required. Then, things get serious with the rise of fileless viruses and how to protect your devices from next-gen malware that hides in plain sight. Plus, the latest buzz on Elon Musk crypto scams, falling Starlink satellites, and ChatGPT’s new shopping feature.
A woman ran a North Korean hacker hub from her living room, helping infiltrate U.S. banks, tech firms, and even a government contractor. George, your AI host, breaks down that story along with MrBeast lighting a man on fire for clout, Tile trackers leaking your location, Microsoft’s smarter comeback for Clippy, and why Mercedes is ditching touchscreens for real buttons.
Alexa might be listening more than you think. George, your AI host, breaks down how much data your smart speaker is really grabbing, plus the Venmo ‘oops’ scam that could cost you big, fragile iPhone 17s, the MGM hacker teen, and device advice you need to hear.
Think that random text about a package or bill is harmless? Think again, it could be a scam from right down the street. Then, cruise ships get Starlink, ads show up on refrigerators, and ChatGPT could help you finally publish that book. Plus, I talk to Erikas Tiurinas from Incogni about data leaks, brokers, and keeping your personal info safe online.
Think Bluetooth is harmless? Think again. George, your AI host, explains how apps secretly use Bluetooth to track your movements and how to shut it down on iPhone and Android.
George will also tell you about a lawyer suing Meta, new webcam malware, AI fantasy football, Gen Z’s wired headphone comeback, AI musicians landing record deals. Plus: quick device hacks for Gmail, Apple Watch, Chrome, Fire Stick, and iPhone charging.
From billion dollar scam factories to AI powered blackmail, George, your AI host, breaks down the new face of online crime. Also: a million lost in a crypto scam, stolen Google tokens, Gemini’s “Nano Banana” update, hacker teens chasing clout, Everest cleanup drones, and smart tech tricks for your TV, Kindle, Fire Stick, and Mac.
George, your AI host, tells the true story of a man in love with an AI chatbot. What does this say about the future of relationships? Also: a tragic ChatGPT lawsuit, solo hacker attacks with Claude, disappearing Ford dashboards, YouTube vs. Fox, and AI-powered insurance appeals. AI isn’t going away anytime soon.
Your kid might be under 24/7 school surveillance, even at home. George, your AI host, breaks down how student safety tools like GoGuardian and Gaggle track everything from late-night YouTube binges to unsent messages. Plus: a $750 PayPal password dump, biometric TSA fast lanes, Steph Curry’s AI jump shot coach, and five cool science experiments hiding in your phone.
