alerts Archives

Massive data leak impacts 1 in 3 Americans

Data broker MC2 Data left more than 100 million records of Americans exposed online for anyone to copy, grab, forward, sell on the Dark Web — you name it. This comes only a month after the National Public Data breach of 2.9 billion records. I’m getting so tired of these data broker companies and people-search sites screwing up, and it’s you and me who have to pay for their mistakes.

What’s the government doing about these leaks?

Not much, sorry to say. You’d think we’d have a system in place to at least fine the companies. Nope. Sure, there’ll be class-action lawsuits we can be a part of. They usually pop up within 48 hours of a data leak. But you know the drill for those: The lawyers make the money, while those of us affected get only a few bucks.

I saw that firsthand when my dad took an over-the-counter antihistamine that put him into heart arrhythmia, causing him to pass away. They yanked the med from store shelves, my mom filled out reams of paperwork as part of a class-action lawsuit, and she got a check for about $300. Disgraceful.

Thanks to these companies’ shoddy cybersecurity practices, your personal info is floating around for anyone who wants it. Let me help you lock things down. Incogni is the company I used to remove my info online about a year ago. I’m so glad I did. More on them later.

How the heck did that happen?

We can’t blame hackers for this leak. It was an inexcusable lack of security dubbed “human error.” MC2 Data owns several background check sites, including PrivateRecords, PrivateReports, PeopleSearcher, ThePeopleSearchers and PeopleSearchUSA.

They left a whopping 2.2 terabytes of private information exposed — no password required to see it. The info included everything from names and contact info to criminal records, employment histories and family data.

So far, MC2 Data hasn’t released a formal response to the breach. The story is still developing, but I wanted to make sure you knew about it.

Your action plan for security and privacy

Since this breach essentially impacts one out of every three Americans, it’s time to take action. Use these tips to keep your information and identity safe:

Be wary of urgent requests. Many scam emails look like they’re from a legitimate bank or company. Always expand the email address to verify it’s official company correspondence, not some random Gmail account. When in doubt, go to the bank or company’s official website and contact customer service.
Freeze your credit. This will keep scammers from opening a credit card or loan in your name. Like setting up a fraud alert, you’ll need to contact each of the three credit bureaus. (Watch out for bogus emails from the credit bureaus, too.)
Be skeptical of unsolicited calls or emails referencing hacked info. For example, if your credit union was impacted by a breach, be extra careful with emails or calls claiming there’s an issue with your account.
Take proactive steps. Start with your financial life. Update your bank PIN and login credentials. Do the same with your credit cards. Set up banking alerts on your phone to stay on top of fraudulent activity.

Continue reading →

Scam watch: 3 scams spreading like fire across the U.S.

Scammers are clever, but they’re not very creative. Most of their tricks are recycled versions of tricks that worked in the past. There are a few I’ve seen cropping up again because criminals know they work every time.

Continue reading →

Every home needs one

There’s an emergency and your phone is out of commission. Don’t panic — grab an emergency radio. It can be the difference between staying safe and being trapped with no communication. My husband, Barry, owns several!

The Midland ER310 ($69.66) recharges by hand crank, solar power or battery. It’s got a built-in SOS beacon, weather alerts and an ultrasonic dog whistle so rescue teams can find you more easily.
The Midland ER210 model ($49.99) is a more affordable option with the same features, but it’s smaller and has a shorter battery life.
Want a reliable budget option? Here’s one for around $35 with all the essential features you’d need.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Get sound alerts from your phone: Your phone can alert you to noisy things like barking dogs, crying kids or broken glass. Don’t rely on it to tell you if the baby is crying or to keep your dog safe, but it’s a nice fallback.

On iPhone: Go to Settings > Accessibility > toggle on Sound Recognition. Tap Sounds to customize.
On Android: Go to Settings > Accessibility > Sound Notifications. Turn it on, then tap the cog icon to customize.

Help from afar: Samsung’s new Family Care service helps caregivers keep tabs on loved ones remotely. Set reminders, manage appointments, and get alerts when they arrive or leave a location. Plus, it lets you control smart devices like the stove or check the fridge for groceries. Fine print: Galaxy phones only. Yep, it’s free. Find it in the Life tab on the SmartThings app.

National Public Data breach: How to protect yourself and your SSN

National Public Data, a company that collects information from nonpublic sources without consent, according to a class-action lawsuit (paywall link), has been hit by a massive data breach. The company makes money by selling personal data to employers, private investigators and anyone conducting background checks.

Continue reading →

✈️ PSA for if your holiday flight is canceled: You’re entitled to a full refund or compensation for any controllable cancellation caused by the airline, like a maintenance or crew issue. The weather, though, is a wholly different beast. Be sure to download your airline’s official app for alerts and notifications about flights and gate changes.

Money move: Sign up for text and email alerts from your bank. Yes, it’s a bit annoying to approve purchases, but this has notified me a few times someone got their hands on my card. In your banking app, go into Settings and look for Alerts or Notifications. Smart move, for sure.

Turning off alerts from your video doorbell is a mistake: Instead, set up custom motion zones. On a Ring doorbell, open the Ring app and select your device. Go to Motion Settings > Edit Motion Settings. To go into full don’t-bug-me mode, choose People Only.

Deal or no deal? CamelCamelCamel is an awesome tool if you shop on Amazon. It tracks prices, shows you a product’s price history and lets you set price-drop alerts for something you have your eye on.

Coming soon to your Android: Automatic earthquake warnings. Your phone’s accelerometers can sense vibrations. When enough phones in an area detect shaking, the Android Earthquake Alerts System kicks in. If an earthquake of magnitude 4.5 or greater is detected, you’ll get a “Be Aware” alert (weak or light shaking) or “Take Action” if the shaking is moderate to extreme.

Alerts that matter: You don‘t want Gmail informing you of every single email — only the ones you care about. Set it up that way. Open the Gmail app, tap Menu > Settings, and select your account. Tap Email notifications > High priority only. To set an email (and sender) as high priority, star a message or hit Mark as important.

🚨 Fake news: TikTok is sending phony alerts that pop up on-screen. Classics include one about Taylor Swift canceling her Florida tour (she hasn’t) and a “BREAKING” tsunami warning in Japan after an earthquake struck. It’s all AI-generated junk based on what users post. Think before you share or react.

Amazon product safety check: Go to your Amazon account and look under Account & Lists > Account for Recalls and Product Safety Alerts. Click the link, and you’ll see details about recalls for any products you’ve purchased and how to get a refund or return the items.

Check your car: Get the free NHTSA SaferCar app. Put in your car’s VIN and receive automatic alerts about any recalls. There have been a ton lately. They don’t make ‘em like they used to.

Hello, officer: One of Waze’s best features is coming to Google Maps. Update the app now to get alerts when there’s a police officer on your route. I got pulled over twice in the last 30 days. We’re becoming fast friends.

Is your car bricked? Since AT&T killed off 3G over two years ago, owners of 2014 to 2019 Volkswagens with VW Car-Net services have been in analog, so to speak. Without wireless connectivity, they no longer have features like remote start, emergency assistance or antitheft alerts. Volkswagen still doesn’t have a fix, and some 3G-reliant Hyundai and Nissan models are screwed, too. Cars with 4G should have until at least 2035. PSA: Check the connectivity specs before you buy, folks.

🏠 Real estate therapy: Browsing Zillow is the new way to manage stress (paywall link). Some folks look at homes within their budget, imagining what could be. Others browse properties worse than their current digs to feel grateful. I have my old homes and rentals saved so I get alerts when they change hands. It’s fun to track!

🏦 They’ve hacked Fort Knox: Ransomware group LockBit says they have 33TB of U.S. Federal Reserve data, claiming it holds “Americans’ banking secrets.” There’s no proof yet, but they’re threatening to spill it. Get proactive: Set up banking alerts, use two-factor authentication on your bank login and watch your accounts.

🔥 Must-have free app: Watch Duty on iOS and Android is tops for wildfire alerts. Volunteers deliver push notifications about nearby fires, air quality alerts, active fire boundaries, evacuation orders and shelter details. If you live in a fire-prone area, def put this on your phone.