Plus, how many hours does Elon Musk work a week? Spoiler – it’s a lot. Allie’s got a trick to stop doom scrolling. And a shocking grandparent scam spreading. Plus, stick around for a moon TikTok trend and a heartwarming listener story about an Emu named Onion, written by ChatGPT.
5 silly mistakes putting your online privacy and security at huge risk
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There are so many online scams and tricks out there I can’t cover them all on my website and national radio show. I make it my duty to inform you of the tactics bad actors use to fool you.
A great podcast was the episode when I dove into the mind of a hacker. Tap or click to listen to an episode of my podcast, Kim Komando Today, with an IBM social engineer. She spills the secrets hackers use to scare and confuse people.
I know you have seen a common trick: fake calls and emails pretending to come from government agencies. No one wants to deal with the IRS or a problem with Social Security. Tap or click for a new government scam making the rounds.
Here are five more ways you’re at risk — with easy solutions to be a little safer online. This tip is brought to you by our sponsor, TotalAV, Kim’s pick for protecting all your devices from malware, dangerous sites and other threats.
1. You post for the whole world to see
I read a study from Pew Research that blew me away. Of those polled, 53% of Twitter users said that their profiles were set to public. Pew examined the profiles of everyone who submitted their account handle, and a whopping 89% were public.
Yikes. It looks like we could all use a reminder to check if our profiles are private.
An easy way to check what others see is to open up a new browser window in private or incognito mode. Navigate to your profile, such as https://twitter.com/kimkomando. If your tweets are visible, your profile is public.
To lock down your Twitter account from a computer:
- Log in. On the left-hand side, click More > Settings and privacy > Privacy and safety
- Go to Audience and tagging > Check the box next to Protect your Tweets
Now only those who follow you can see your posts. It’s your job to clean up that list and block anyone you don’t want following you.
What about on Facebook? Tap or click for an easy way to keep out creeps and snoops.
Looking for a remote job? Use these tips to find a high-quality gig
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Remote jobs are a tantalizing prospect: You can work from the comfort of your own home, cutting out traffic, chatter from coworkers and other office distractions. Changing from a traditional job to a remote position can be challenging, especially if you’ve never worked from home. Finding legitimate work-from-home jobs can also be challenging since there are so many fake job scams.
Steve Jobs resurrected with AI, shocking scam uses Uber drivers & urgent iCloud warning
Plus, Allie has a dire warning for Samsung and Pixel owners, Matt tells us how to remote help for free, make money writing wedding vows and speeches, and a hilarious joke to end it all!
Crypto tip: Simple mistake costs man $120K – Don't let it happen to you
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You’ve probably heard of cryptocurrency, the digital medium of exchange that has become a darling of social media influencers. You don’t need to be a crypto investor to know that there’s no such thing as easy money and that crypto, in particular, is an especially risky investment.
7 new scams to watch out for
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Every day, it seems like there’s a new scam you need to watch out for. Sometimes it can be overwhelming, which is why some folks go on digital detoxes. In other words, they stop using tech devices like smartphones, computers and TVs for a little while.
Getting back at scam callers
Even with new laws and helpful apps, scam calls are still a problem — especially when it comes to older adults. Scammers often will stop at nothing to con someone out of their life savings. That’s why one man decided to get back at scammers through a call center in India, and it’s truly amazing.
Watch for this TSA scam
Heading to the airport soon? Be on the lookout for computer thieves. In one minute, here’s how this scam works — and what you can do.
Instagram new scam spreading
Do you use Instagram a lot? Listen to this one-minute podcast to spot a dangerous new scam coming for you.
Alert! New online payment scam is spreading
Do you use Zelle to send and receive payments? Listen to this one-minute podcast to avoid a new scam that targets your account.
New scam: Person asks for your phone and steals your money
Would you lend your phone to someone in need? Listen to this one-minute podcast to find out how scammers try to turn your goodwill into a paycheck.
Free check to see if your router has been hacked by criminals
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The internet is a crazy place. Not only do marketers and advertisers follow your every move, but there are also hackers and scammers lurking in the dark corners, ready to pounce on your personal information.
At least marketers and advertisers want to make money off of you. The hackers and scammers we’re talking about want to flat-out steal your money by hijacking your personal information.
Watch out for this fake QR code scam
Did you know hackers are turning QR codes into weapons? Listen now to learn a few signs the QR code you’re about to scan is a trap.
Number one online holiday scam
Ever heard of reshipping? Listen now to find out how this scary holiday scam can steal $500 from you.
Most dangerous thing you can do if you're new to crypto
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Investing in crypto can be exhilarating and scary at the same time. Massive fluctuations in the price of Bitcoin have had many glued to the trading boards. If you invested just $10 in Bitcoin in 2010, that would be worth approximately $10.3 million today.
5 clever scams making the rounds you need to know about
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Another day, another scam. Or should we say scams? There seems to be no end to discovering crooked schemes that use every means imaginable to trick people out of their information, data and finances.
Everyone’s received text messages from unknown numbers. Sometimes it’s a service or business you use that isn’t in your contacts. It could be your food delivery app letting you know that your grub is on the way. It could also be the first step in a scam. Tap or click here to learn how the scheme works and how to keep from falling victim to it.
Scammers are now asking for your phone number
Do you use Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist or Offerup? Listen now to spot a specific sales scam.
Scam texts going up, Amazon's new guarantee, the first MP3
Scam calls are on their way down, while scammy texts are increasing. Here’s what to do about it. Plus, Amazon is finally taking responsibility for lousy third-party products, and Kim, Ben and Allie reminisce about the first MP3, Napster and even tapes.
This scam turns you into a porn star
Did someone on social media ask you for a video call? Listen now to find out how picking up the phone puts your face in a porn video.
A new scam targeting Gmail and Outlook users
Did you just get a scary email from Amazon or PayPal? Listen now to tell if it’s real or a scam.