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.
Why your VPN isn’t enough
ChatGPT
“Hi, Kim, I’ve heard you talk about VPNs. Will using one make me anonymous online?” — Dennis in Texas
Great question, Dennis, and one a lot of people ask. A VPN (virtual private network) is one of the best tools for privacy, but it’s not a magic invisibility cloak. There’s a lot of hype out there, so let’s set the record straight.
🚫 Myth #1: ‘I’m anonymous.’
Nope. A VPN hides your IP address and encrypts your internet traffic, but websites still recognize you through cookies, browser fingerprinting and account logins.
A VPN hides where you are, not who you are. Combine it with private browsers, tracker blockers and good password habits.
⚠️ Myth #2: ‘I’m virus free.’
A VPN secures your connection, especially on public Wi‑Fi, but it won’t save you from clicking a bad link or downloading malware. Think of it as a safe passage for your data, not a shield against every threat.
You still need to keep your antivirus running and your skepticism dialed up.
💸 Myth #3: ‘Free VPNs are just as good.’
If you’re not paying, you’re the product. Free VPNs often log and sell your data, inject ads or use weak encryption. Plus, many are from China where they grab a copy of everything on your device.
A legit VPN provider earns its keep through subscriptions, not by harvesting your info.
🎯 What a VPN actually does
Your password is too short. Let’s fix that
ChatGPT
I hate passwords. They are a total pain in the butt. Now don’t kill the messenger…
Hackers have amped up their game and are using powerful AI software that can rip through millions of password combinations in seconds. Brace yourself, your password really needs to be at least 20 characters, and there should be a completely different one for each account.
💳 You didn’t pay twice: Ever checked out of a hotel, then realized your card got hit again? That’s the new “I Paid Twice” scam. Hackers email fake “bank verification” links to hotels, drop PureRAT malware and snag booking credentials to bill guests twice. Always recheck links before you click. PureRAT sounds like an energy drink for hackers.
New malware changes everything
ChatGPT
Remember when viruses came from clicking on sketchy email attachments like “hotpics[.]exe”? Good times. Today’s malware doesn’t even need a file. It slips into your system’s memory like a digital ninja, using tools already on your computer like PowerShell, WMI or macros to do its dirty work.
Don’t click that pic: Heads up! There’s a new WhatsApp scam where random numbers send you a photo with “Is this you?” Spoiler alert: It’s not you. Don’t open it. That image is loaded with hidden malware. One tap, and hackers can break into your phone, grab your data, even blackmail you. Turn off auto-downloads now, and don’t trust random “friends.”
🤖 AI joins the dark side: Add this to your “uh-oh” tech list. Google found the first real case of hackers using AI-powered malware. Two strains, PromptFlux and PromptSteal, can rewrite their own code mid-attack, hide from detection and even chat with hackers through prompts. One’s already been linked to the Russian military. It’s early tech, but a big reminder the bad guys have AI, too.
⚠️ Copy. Paste. Regret: I read about ClickFix again, this malware that uses fake videos to detect your OS, copy malicious commands to your clipboard, then pressure you with a countdown to paste them. If a site tells you to paste something into a command prompt, close your browser.
🔄 The hacker becomes the hackee: If you’ve ever thought, “I’ll just grab the cracked version” of a software or video game, surprise, you’re the product. Check Point found thousands of YouTube “free software” videos that sneak malware into your PC. Some hit hundreds of thousands of views. That’s crazy. Turns out that you can actually fool all the people all the time. Remember, if it’s free and asks you to disable antivirus, it’s a setup.
💄 Swipe left on spies: In the most James Bond news today, U.S. counterintelligence says foreign agents, mostly from China and Russia, are cozying up to Silicon Valley execs through dating apps, LinkedIn and startup circles. Some even marry their marks. Forget malware, this is man-ware. Roses are red, violets are blue, your crypto’s gone, and she works for Xi, too.
Your email’s probably in there: Uh-oh. News of 183 million new stolen logins has hit the digital grapevine, making it a total 15.3 billion accounts. The leaks came from “infostealer” malware, which is fancy talk for hackers rifling through your digital junk drawer. Plug your email into this site. You might not like the results, but at least you’ll know. If it does show up: Change the password everywhere, enable multifactor authentication, use a password manager and go on high-alert for phishing emails. If your info’s floating around after a breach, Incogni can help you get it removed, and you can grab 60% off right now.
🚨 Webcam’s worst nightmare: Remember those scam emails claiming someone caught you on camera during some “private” browsing? Stealerium makes that threat real. This dangerous malware spies on your screen and webcam while you browse, especially on adult sites, capturing what you’re watching and your reactions, then packages it all for blackmail. It’s spreading through fake “Payment Due” or “Court Summons” emails and can also steal passwords, cookies and browser history. Rule of thumb: Use a webcam cover, keep your software updated, and never click attachments or links unless you’re absolutely sure they’re legit.
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⚠️ Pop goes the malware: You’re scrolling the web when, bam, a pop-up says you need to “verify your identity.” Nope. That’s not security, that’s a scam called ClickFix. The NSA says these fake pop-ups now target iPhones and Androids, tricking you into clicking, copying or pasting your way into malware. If you see one, just close everything. Save yourself the clicks and tears.
☎️ Don’t touch the button: Listen, if a YouTube video tells you hackers are about to raid your Apple Pay unless you “Protect Now,” don’t fall for it by clicking. That just dumps you into some scammy “cleaner” app you’ll never need. And those pop-ups screaming, “Congrats, you won a Mac”? Yeah, no, you just won malware. Save your clicks, save your bank account.
🦠 Fake downloads scam: Hackers rigged Google and Bing with fake GitHub pages for Mac apps like LastPass, Robinhood, 1Password, Audacity and Davinci Resolve. Instead of software, users got “Atomic” malware stealing passwords and crypto. The pages redirected to macprograms-pro[.]com before being pulled, but one still lingers. Pro tip: Only download apps from official sites or the App Store.
💻 Microsoft doomsday alert: Mark your calendars, November 2025 is when Windows 11 23H2 (Home & Pro) officially stops getting updates. Translation: Your laptop becomes an all-you-can-eat buffet for malware. Enterprise folks get an extra year, but for everyone else, upgrade to 24H2 or roll the dice. Some PCs can’t upgrade because of … audio drivers and wallpaper software. Yes, wallpapers. Unbelievable.
Calendar con job: Here’s a fun new nightmare. Hackers are sliding scams straight into Apple Calendar invites. They toss fake “big purchases” into event notes, slap on a shady customer service number and wait for you to panic-call. Do that, and congrats, you’ve just invited malware into your phone. Even your 8 a.m. dentist reminder isn’t safe anymore. Be scam aware.
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⚡ Crypto malware scare: In the biggest supply chain hack in history, hackers hijacked 18 huge npm packages (chalk, debug and others), slipping in code that swapped crypto wallet addresses mid-transaction. Those poisoned packages? Downloaded over a billion times. Developers yanked the infected versions and purged caches in record time. Mischief managed, but it shows how fragile the web’s plumbing really is.
Bluetooth is spying on you right now
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.