Terrorism vs. your privacy — June 14th, Hour 4

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Terrorism threats are the highest since 9/11. The government’s response? Lots of surveillance. Then I talk to caller Demetra from Kentucky. She says her doctor daughter gets hundreds of mean reviews online. Is there anything she can do? Plus: Your driving app might be spying and how to find your phone on silent.

👁️ Laser eyes, activated: Chinese scientists made a laser that reads text ⅛ of an inch from 0.85 miles away. Originally for studying stars, it now works on your grocery list from the next neighborhood over. Add shape-recognition AI, and yes, it’s totally spying tech. Meanwhile, you’re looking for your glasses when they’re on your head.

Over 300 days

The amount of time Chinese hackers spent inside a small Massachusetts power utility, spying on energy grid data. They were only caught after the FBI tipped off the general manager. Frightening.

🔎 Check for snoops: Think someone is spying on your chats? Open WhatsApp and go to Settings > Linked Devices to see where your account is logged in. If you spot something you don’t recognize, log out of all devices and change your password ASAP.

Signs you have spyware or a keylogger

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Is your phone suddenly running hot? That might not just be a glitch. It could be some creep spying in on your phone.

Is your Roomba spying on you? – March 29th, Hour 4

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Nancy from Santa Rosa, California, wants to know: Is her robot vacuum recording her? Plus, how to make money with Google Opinion Rewards, why Amazon doesn’t want to be responsible for third-party sellers, and a quiet breakthrough in laptop tech.

Creepy or cool? 3 human-like robots you have to see

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Wouldn’t it be great to have your own robot butler? That future is closer than you think. Some of these robots are almost too real! Plus, your boss might be spying on you, and TikTokers are smashing their own feet for views.

🎈 American tech spying on Americans: It turns out the 200-foot-tall Chinese spy balloon shot down two years ago was packed with U.S. tech from at least five American companies, including Iridium Communications, Texas Instruments, Omega Engineering, Amphenol All Sensors and Onsemi. China claims it was a weather research airship that accidentally strayed into U.S. territory. Yeah, right.

Security cams are spying on you

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Home security cameras offer protection, but they also gather your data. Here’s how to stay secure without oversharing.

Every move you make, every breath you take, I’ll be watching you: The next Walmart greeter you see may be wearing a body cam. The retail giant’s new program will stop thieves and keep workers safe when things get tense. TJX Companies, which owns TJ Maxx and Marshalls, already uses them, but some worry the cams are really spying on employees. Probably all of the above.

Is your fitness tracker spying on you?

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Is your fitness tracker turning into a tattletale? Find out how to shut it up and protect your data before it’s too late.

1-minute test to check if your phone is spying

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Ever get an ad that feels too perfect? I’ll show you a quick, fun way to see if your phone’s mic is snooping in. 

Cheap air fryers spying for China

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Everyone loves a crispy treat, but is it worth giving up your private data? I tell you about kitchen gadgets playing fast and loose with your info. 

Congress bans new DJI drones

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Concerns over privacy and foreign spying have fueled a growing debate about the safety of these popular drones already buzzing around our neighborhoods.

Is your car spying for the government?

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A new Ford patent could turn your car into a police informant, automatically reporting speeders to the authorities. Here’s how that could change the way we drive, in this short podcast.

August 24th, 2024

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Locked out of Facebook? Getting back in is tough, and that’s on purpose. Plus, missing persons scams on social media, your router spying on you, astronauts trapped on the ISS, and a guy making $14,200/month answering questions online!

Is your Wi-Fi router spying for China?

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Federal officials are raising red flags over TP-Link, warning their products might be linked to Chinese espionage. Plus, Redbox files for bankruptcy, Taylor Swift drops cassettes, and Apple’s next iPhone features AI.

Why you might want to skip Airbnb

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What happens when hosts are caught spying on guests? Here’s how Airbnb usually responds. 

FedEx is spying on you

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Wait, what? That truck out front isn’t just delivering a package to you or your neighbor.

Clues your spouse is spying on your phone

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More than half of Americans confess they’ve snooped on their partner’s phone, checking texts and location history. Is your significant other one of them?