The government has spent $42 billion to connect rural homes to broadband and not a single one is online. Meanwhile, Starlink is already delivering internet nationwide without taxpayer money.
⚡ Secret SIM bust: The Secret Service just shut down a rogue telecom network in NYC. Think abandoned apartments stuffed with 300 SIM servers, 100,000 SIM cards, illegal guns, and to top it all off, 80 grams of coke. Investigators say the system could’ve spammed 30 million texts a minute, crippled 911 and blacked out cell towers near the U.N. Assembly.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: If an app, service or your internet seems down, check Downdetector. Search the name to see current outages along with problems reported in the past few hours. And if there are none, reboot your device.
Watch your wallet. Big wireless promises “free phones,” but it comes with an overpriced monthly plan. I chose Consumer Cellular instead and get two lines for $60/month, reliable coverage and top-rated U.S. service. Use code KIM25 at ConsumerCellular.com/KIM for $25 in savings.
Am I crazy or has my phone been hacked?
Lilly from Indianapolis thinks her phone has been hacked. Can she prove it? Also, the Secret Service crushes a nightmare cyber plot. Plus, the dark side of Amazon Prime, AI celebrity boyfriends, and digital shoplifting. Don’t miss this!
The enemy is already here
A nationwide SMS flood almost struck New York. While the Secret Service shut down a massive SIM server ring that could have sent 30 million texts per minute and knocked out 911, the threat shows how vulnerable our networks remain. Here is what happened and how to stay prepared.
Your phone will wait on hold for you
Tired of wasting hours on hold? Google Pixel and iPhone can now do the waiting for you. Hold for Me and Hold Assist let your phone handle customer service calls so you never miss a beat. Here’s how to set it up and reclaim your time.
Star Trek tech is finally here
Tired of wasting hours on hold? Google Pixel and iPhone can now do the waiting for you. Hold for Me and Hold Assist let your phone handle customer service calls so you never miss a beat. Here’s how to set it up and reclaim your time.
🖨️ Stop Android from searching printers: That drains the battery. Go to Settings > Connections > More connection settings > Printing > Default print service and toggle it Off.
3I/ATLAS: Are aliens in our backyard?
It’s just the third interstellar object ever spotted. Most say it’s a comet but Harvard’s Dr. Avi Loeb thinks it might be alien tech. Also: MrBeast’s phone service, golf influencers cashing in on YouTube, and an AI musician landing a record deal.
📱 Talk to the dead: By 2030, visiting graves will be outdated. A Cambridge researcher predicts AI avatars of dead loved ones will be in our phones, ready for conversation 24/7. From Replika chatbots to funeral apps that let you “attend” your own service, the “digital afterlife industry” is creeping in. Btw, I’m going to share a story about this with you here on Sunday and ask for your advice.
Denial as a service: Medicare’s new WISeR program will pay AI firms a share of money saved by denying “wasteful” care. That’s right, AI companies are turning into health care mercenaries. Just 12 procedures targeted at first, but it’s a slippery slope. Six states (NJ, OH, OK, TX, AZ, WA) start the experiment in January.
Write an FAQ page with AI: Got an online biz? Let ChatGPT draft your FAQs. Prompt it with: “You’re an e-commerce expert. Write a list of FAQs with simple answers for my [insert product/service] using [insert details]. Cover use, shipping, returns and common concerns.” Now do a quick edit and add anything the bot left out.
📞 Press 1 to cry: A Denver dad lost $17K after calling United Airlines’ actual customer service number and somehow getting transferred to a scammer mid-call. You heard that right. The scammer intercepted the call like a midair hijack. United has no idea how it happened. I suspect a tech loophole let the fraudster “spoof” the handoff or silently insert themselves into the call queue. No answers yet. Just one stunned family, a lot less money and probably a free drink voucher from United, if they’re lucky.
🤖 Messiah-as-a-service: I guess I shouldn’t be shocked. A wave of for-profit developers are cranking out AI Jesus chatbots, complete with data tracking and pop-up ads, claiming to be the literal voice of Christ. These AI blasphemy bots with no ties to actual churches are running on algorithms tuned for engagement and profit, not scripture. It’s gone from “Give us this day our daily bread” to “Give us this day our daily banner ad.” Don’t fall for it.
Are you on carrier cruise control? I use Consumer Cellular, which offers the same reliable coverage as the big guys but for much less. Two lines for just $60 with unlimited talk, text and data. No hidden fees, just great coverage and U.S.-based customer service. AARP discounts available, too. Save $25 with the code KIM25.
Use AI to write tricky messages: Think about the main points you need to get across, whether it’s to a neighbor, your kid’s teacher or customer service. Prompt: “Write a short, polite message that clearly says this.” No more overthinking or rewriting 20 times.
🛰️ Scammers in low orbit: Facebook is crawling with phony ads offering “lifetime Starlink service” for as low as $127. Now real Starlink service starts at $120 per month, with no such thing as a lifetime package. These ads link to fake websites that mimic Starlink’s branding but have sketchy URLs, typos and unsecure payment pages. The only thing connecting here is your credit card to a scammer. Don’t fall for it.
Texts from the sky: T-Mobile just launched T-Satellite, a Starlink-powered service that lets you text (and alert 911) when you’re somewhere too remote for regular bars. It costs $10/month, works with over 60 phones and covers most of the U.S. You’ll need clear skies and an eSIM-enabled device. It’s not fast, but neither are rescue helicopters.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: When your cell service is acting up, switch on Airplane mode, wait a few seconds and turn it off. Your phone will reconnect to the nearest tower. Nice.