Remember where you heard it first. With AI saving a click over to a website, it’s only a matter of time until we say RIP to surfing the web.
Scam emails we got this week – Don’t fall for this junk!
Eight billion. That’s how many spam emails go out in the U.S. every single day. Komando staff (me included!) have received some real winners recently. Here’s a look at actual spam emails circulating right now. I want to keep you safe from junk like this, so read carefully!
Geeking out
Did someone call the Geek Squad? Content Queen Allie didn’t, but she keeps getting email receipts for subscriptions she never signed up for.
🚩 Why? They want your money, honey.
By sending a real-looking (but bogus) invoice, they want you to think you forgot to pay for something. Emails like this usually include a request for your credit card or bank information.
If you don’t fall for that trick, they often include a phone number for you to call to inquire about the invoice. When you call, crooks play customer service, try to make you pay over the phone or scam you some other way.
Dirty money
Remember how I told you sextortion scams are getting kicked up a notch? Well, our IT genius, John, is the latest target. John received a shady email with a PDF attached. It included his full name, work address, phone number and the signature “I ain’t playing games” threat.
Security tip: Next time you stay at a hotel, turn on your VPN
Did you know the average American spends more than 24 hours each week online? That is a considerable chunk of time.
If you’re one of many with multiple devices regularly accessing the internet, you probably know you need a secure connection to protect sensitive data. A virtual private network or VPN is the best way to do this.
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.
Is your phone expired?
No matter how well you treat your smartphone, it won’t last forever. Here’s how to tell when it’s time for an upgrade.
Times are a-changin’: Atomic clocks were the most precise way to measure time for over 70 years, but not anymore. The first nuclear clock prototype is almost ready, and it’s not just more accurate; it could power faster internet, better GPS and even help unlock physics mysteries like detecting dark matter. More details here on how it works.
44 and 60 years old
When our bodies go through dramatic aging. Researchers tracked the molecules and microbes of 108 people over seven years. Most didn’t age gradually but did so in big bursts in their mid-40s and early 60s. Yup, age is an issue of mind over matter; if you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.
How to rock a remote interview: Tips for shining over the phone or on video
Remote interviews are the present and the future. Why? The pandemic forced many companies nationwide to move to a remote system nearly overnight.
Now that we’ve been operating remotely for a while, many employers have seen the positive benefits of having remote employees. Increased productivity is one of them.
Best dashcams for 2024
Fourth of July is right around the corner, and we’re in for record-breaking holiday traffic. Some 71 million people are expected to travel over 50 miles during the week — the most on record.
I don’t mean to be a downer, but record-setting travel also means record-setting accidents, crashes and road rage. And being a defensive driver isn’t the only way to protect yourself on the road.
How to download maps to your phone (Apple and Google Maps)
Long road trips can be stressful if you’re going through places with spotty service. This hack will help you stay on your path no matter how many bars you have.
Length matters: On Facebook, you can go up to 63,000 characters (don’t, though — that’s too long!). Mobile cuts you off at 150. On X, you have up to 280 characters; 70 to 100 tend to perform best. As for Instagram, it’s 2,200 characters max, but only the first 125 are seen. With LinkedIn, go long if you must, but the first 25 words matter most.
🇺🇸 Disinformation spreading on social media after Trump rally assassination attempt: Some posts, including those from elected officials, baselessly claimed President Biden ordered the shooting or the incident was staged. Do your best to avoid sharing unverified information. No matter which side of the political fence you’re on, it was a very sad day for our country. Prayers up for all.
🙏 Talk to your kids, I’m begging you: A 17-year-old boy from Ohio was conned into sending explicit photos to a scammer. Over 19 hours, the boy received more than 200 Instagram messages before he took his own life. Parents, share this story with your kids and tell them if this happens, you’ll help them no matter what, no questions asked.
Big Tech is tracking your emails
I have three different work email addresses — and a Gmail address I set up when it launched in 2004. I could never score the handle again today, but after 20 years, that inbox is a mess.
It’s become my disposable email address for coupon codes, free signups and newsletters — pretty much, the nonessential things in my digital life.
Interview plus-ones? One in four Gen Zers says they’ve brought a parent to their job interview. Another 25% have had their parents submit a job application for them. PSA: If your kid asks you to join their job interview, say no. No matter how badly you want them out of the house, they’ve gotta learn to fly on their own.
5 legit ways to make extra cash on your schedule
If you’re sitting on a pile of cash sipping mai tais in Bora Bora right now, congratulations (and where’s my invite?). For the rest of us, making a little extra money never hurts.
People ask me all the time for an easy way to rake in the dough. Do those exist? Yes and no.
AI update: OpenAI’s ChatGPT-4o, Google Gemini 1.5 Pro and Claude iPhone app
It was a big week in the world of AI. Both Google and OpenAI released major updates. You know I’ve got your back. I cut through their marketing-speak to decipher what these updates actually mean for you and me.
Google’s AI, Gemini 1.5 Pro, will handle tons of data. Need to summarize 1,500 pages of text? No problem. It’s pretty nuts.
A new hospital cyberattack left patients without care – Keep your records safe
Come with me. Imagine you rush to the emergency room, but after five hours, they tell you to find another hospital. Or you check in at your specialist’s office for a chronic condition, only to find they’ve lost your entire medical history. Both of these scenarios just happened.
Get smart(er): Look for the new Matter or Thread standards when you buy smart-home tech. These give you spy-worthy security. Just keep an eye out for one of those words on the box or online product listing.
In northern Virginia (paywall link), internet data and AI centers are using so much electricity old coal plants are being fired back up. Yup, those very same plants we closed because of air pollutants, such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and particulate matter. Cue a $5.2 billion project for new power lines stretching across state lines.