YouTuber Kevin Ray records airplanes takeoff from the Los Angeles International Airport. And he’s a huge hit. Thousands watch hours of his airline vids.
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.
Yesterday’s cyberattack on one of the largest health systems in the U.S., Ascension, was bad — really bad. Before you say, “Another data breach? So what, Kim?” know that having your records sold on the dark web is the least of your worries.
Code red
The hack on Ascension sent its 140 hospitals and 40 senior facilities into full-blown chaos. It took down patient record systems and medication prescribing systems, forcing doctors and nurses to rely on paper charts and handwritten records to keep things running.
One patient, Zackery Lopez, checked himself in at an Ascension-run hospital in Southfield, Michigan. He was suffering from internal bleeding and thinking his cancer had returned. Zackery waited a grueling seven hours before a nurse could help him. As he waited, he saw patients checking themselves out.
Keep your health records safe
When hospital systems get hacked, it’s a matter of life and death. And it’s happening more and more often. Keeping physical records sounds old-school, but if digital systems go down, it could save your life.
- Start with a list. Make a list of all your meds, including dosages and names, and keep both digital and physical copies. Store a physical copy in your purse or wallet if you’re currently in treatment or in case of emergency.
I also recommend compiling your full medical records and having a printed copy on hand. If you have an iPhone, you can sync them to your Health app:
Add your health records
- Open the Health app on your iPhone or iPad.
- If you’re on your iPhone, tap the Summary tab, then your profile picture in the upper-right corner. On iPad, tap Profile in the upper-left corner.
- Scroll down to Features > Health Records > Get Started.
- Search for your hospital or network, then tap it. FYI: It’ll ask you to add location services to find hospitals and health networks near you, but you don’t have to enable it to search.
- Under Available to Connect, choose Connect Account. Sign in to your health care provider’s website or app.
- Wait for your records to update. It might take a minute for your information to appear.
- Repeat these steps for each supported provider. Start by going to Features, then tap Add Account.
View your health records
Organize all your health records with this built-in smartphone feature
Health apps track your steps, heart rate, sleep patterns and more. But they’re capable of so much more. You can add your health information to certain apps to keep all your records in one place and share them with your doctors. You can even track your medication.
My picks to bring your records into the digital age
Got vinyl? You need a USB-based turntable that connects to your PC or Mac’s USB port. Just hit “record” and bring those records into 2024, ready for your phone, smart speaker and more!
- Low: This retro-looking beauty has built-in stereo speakers, RCA outputs for connecting additional speakers, a Bluetooth input to turn it into a Bluetooth speaker, and USB outputs so you can record your LPs as MP3s. Best of all, it’s 39% off (only $42.99!).
- Mid: This one has a slightly more modern look — white marble! — and the sound quality on the built-in speakers is a step up from the bargain pick. It also has Bluetooth input so you can play music on it from your phone, along with USB input and output options. It’s $129.98 (don’t forget to click the 15% coupon!).
- High: Audio-Technica is one of the biggest names in sound, which means a big price point but also big sound quality. This player ($279) doesn’t have a built-in speaker (audiophiles would never do a two-in-one!), but it does have RCA and Bluetooth outputs for connecting it to your own speakers or sound system and a USB output for ripping your LPs.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Turn your vinyl into digital: It’s a nice way to preserve your vintage music collection. You’ll need a USB turntable. It’s not super cheap, but neither were all those records … For the record, a person born in ‘33 was 45 in ‘78.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Has your SSN been leaked? Here's how to check
Hackers leaked 2.9 billion records, with personal details like Social Security numbers, addresses, and more. Find out if you’ve been impacted.
40 million records sold of Fleetwood Mac’s “Rumours.”
First released in 1977, it’s the bestselling record of all time — at least, until Taylor Swift’s records get a little longer to cook. How long do we think they’ve got?
A beer-powered motorcycle
Ky Michaelson from Minnesota has invented countless machines, holds a ton of patents and has set dozens of speed records. His latest creation: A beer-powered motorcycle that runs on a 14-gallon keg. You have to see this thing.
Lock your credit files immediately
Another huge data breach — 2.9 billion records exposed, including Social Security numbers. Here are the quick steps you need to take right now to protect yourself.
Every American's Social Security number could be up for grabs
Hackers leaked 2.7 billion records from National Public Data, including SSNs. What does this mean for you? Plus, dynamic pricing at grocery stores, Google’s new game-changing updates, and Ford’s latest ‘do not drive’ alert.
Protect yourself: Medical identity theft victims often don’t realize something is wrong until it’s too late. I recommend you store hard copies of medical records and documents with personal identification information in a safe or lockbox.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
🖼️ Hackers are branching out: The same hackers who infiltrated half of all Americans’ records in the recent Change Healthcare breach are at it again. They’re planning to leak names, ID numbers and birthdates from 500,000 wealthy clients at Christie’s auction house unless Christie’s pays up.
How to find lost military records and medals
Military awards are more than symbols; they carry the weight of history and personal sacrifice. But over time, they can get lost, stolen, or wear out. Here’s how to get replacements.
Get your loved one’s military honors: My dad served during the Korean War. I requested copies of his medals and service records, and I’m so glad I did. The National Archives website lets you easily request a family member’s service records and medals. Here’s how.
Get copies of all your medical records
A major cyber attack on a top U.S. hospital chain wasn’t just another hack — it was a wake-up call. Apple has just unveiled its latest line of iPads, packed with new features that are sure to impress. Plus, OpenAI’s new model and the best alternative to going to see a movie.
Sorry I missed your call: Hackers can use your “voice fingerprint” to access voice-protected financial records or rip off your relatives. Pro tip: Delete your outgoing voicemail message if it uses your voice, and replace it with a generic robot-voiced default.
Protect your docs: Medical identity theft is scary, and victims often don’t realize something is wrong until it’s too late. Store hard copies of medical records and documents with personal identification information in a safe or lockbox.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
300M Spotify streams of Taylor Swift’s new album
“The Tortured Poets Department” set a new record high on its release day, along with these Spotify records: Most streams of a single artist in one day, most streams of a song in one day (“Fortnight”) and most gossip in one day. I made that one up, but I bet it’s true.
Bonus episode: The Kim Komando Show, April 13
A new tech ban is coming, this time it targets Russia. Trade your data for money? I tell you the real cost of cash-incentive offers (it’s not pretty). True crime lovers — here’s a side hustle you won’t want to miss. Plus, a gal wonders if her Roomba records her. Creepy!