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Have you heard of “ghost jobs”? They’re roles that don’t even exist posted to job sites. Tech expert Kim Komando wrote about it and how to spot them.
I’ll never forget when my son, Ian, asked me where in Los Angeles I lived. I told him I couldn’t remember — it was 30 years ago, and I lived there for maybe six months. A few minutes later, he called and had the address. It was available for free to anyone on the internet […]
Danielle in Austin, Texas, asked me, “I see online banks that offer really high interest rates. Are they safe?”
Breaking news and tips
Selling your car? Do this first
New cars are computers on wheels, tracking just as much about you as your phone does. Before you sell your car or return a lease, you need to take the time to wipe all that data.
Otherwise, you’re handing over a digital diary of your life to anyone who knows where to look. Your car tracks where you’ve been, how fast you got there, your contacts and text messages and what radio stations you listen to most. Don’t let that info go along for the ride!
🚗 It starts when you leave the lot
Almost every new vehicle connects to the internet. Even worse, they’re notoriously bad when it comes to keeping your data safe and private.
Most folks don’t know newer cars have privacy settings. They’re just very well hidden. Privacy points: Don’t bother with your carmaker’s app if it’s not a must.
Check the policies: When you’re buying a car, kick the tires, check the mileage, look for flaws in the paint … but also read through the privacy policy to see what’s at stake. If you can’t be bothered, tools like Privacy Analyzer from security.org can help. Put in a URL and it’ll flag anything especially concerning.
Opt out … and out and out: When setting up your car’s software, you’ll get hit with a bunch of questions. Don’t feel like you have to say yes to everything. If you don’t like or understand something, skip it. Just know that you might lose out on certain features. That’s how they get ya.
Take the third-party route: Using Android Auto or Apple CarPlay from your phone rather than your vehicle’s software can limit the data carmakers get. Google and Apple collect a ton of data, too, but at least it stays with your phone and isn’t too hard to delete.
✌️ When it’s time to say goodbye …
It’s up to you to delete your data. If you’re using your car’s connected app on your phone, that’s a good place to start. In the settings, look for options to wipe your account.
Then do this: Privacy4Cars has a free iOS and Android app. With it, you can wipe out your phone book, call logs, text messages, navigation history, home address, garage door codes, passwords, biometrics and vehicle credentials.
File a privacy request: In some states, car manufacturers are obliged to tell you about the data they have on you and how you can wipe it. The EFF has a good guide with links here. It’s worth a few emails to know that you’re not leaving a trail of data behind.
All charged up
🪫 Never run out of juice again! Here are my picks for you:
- An all-in-one charging dock (39% off) for your phone, watch and headphones? So sweet.
- If your iPhone uses a Lightning cable, this three-pack of braided ones is only $7 right now.
- A slim power bank that’s so. on. sale.
- Or grab this highly rated solar power bank with a flashlight for camping for 35% off.
- If you travel, these little guys pop into the end of your phone, no bulky battery necessary. So easy to throw in your bag. Click the box for 30% off.
📚 Need something to read? Browse bestsellers on Amazon.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Tech-free zones
Tech-free zones: A friend of mine started making “screen-free areas” in their house, like the kitchen and dining table. Genius. The kids get a break from screens, their eyes get a rest, and family time actually feels like family time again.
🐓 Egg prices got you scrambling? Rent a chicken. Seriously. Rent The Chicken lets you “borrow” hens for fresh eggs at home. For about $140 a month, you’ll get two hens, a portable coop, feed and instructions to keep them happy. Expect one to two dozen eggs per week. I had a hen who could count her own eggs. She was a mathemachicken. That was bad. I agree. Watch the video here.
Egg prices got you scrambling?
Rent a chicken. Seriously. Rent The Chicken lets you “borrow” hens for fresh eggs at home. For about $140 a month, you’ll get two hens, a portable coop, feed and instructions to keep them happy. Expect one to two dozen eggs per week.
Is it time to ditch your wallet?
Using your phone instead of a credit card might seem less secure, but it’s actually safer. Here’s why.
Uncanny valley: Hit play on the 1980s sitcom “A Different World” on Netflix, you’ll notice something is … off. The streamer used AI to make the old footage HD quality. The result is nightmare-inducing. Faces look warped, and words or objects in the background are all pixelated. Check out this video to see for yourself. Dumb.
33 mushers
Are taking on this year’s Iditarod dogsled race in Alaska because the usual route didn’t get enough snow. There are normally 50 to 75 mushers. The new course is farther north and now stretches a record 1,128 miles, forcing racers through endless wilderness and brutal blizzards (paywall link). You know, life is like a dogsled team. If you’re not the lead dog, the view is always the same.
Who are the Costco Guys — and why do they exist?
Andrew and Joey are back with another edition of Smart Dads! Joey breaks down who the Costco Guys are and why they’re famous. Plus, Andrew has a life hack to get around all those annoying concert service fees!
Choose your speed
⏩ Choose your speed: On YouTube and most other video players, press Shift + > to speed things up or Shift + < to slow them down. It usually adjusts in 0.25 increments. Heads up, the audio might get a little funky!
🖥️ New Macs on the block: The new Mac Studios ($1,999) are here. You can choose between the M4 Max or the faster M3 Ultra. The new MacBook Air ($999) starts $100 cheaper than before. It has MagSafe 3 charging, a new webcam that centers you during video calls and fresh colors. Preorders are live and ship on March 12.
Scammers use AI to mimic your boss
A deepfaked call or video could cost the company big. Spot the scam before it’s too late.
Run a business account on Facebook or Instagram? Apply for Meta’s AI for a 24/7 support pilot program. It’s free right now. Customers will be able to chat with your ads or send DMs to get more info. I’m going to try this out myself.
Coming to Google Gemini: Show to tell
Soon, you can open up your phone’s camera with Google Gemini to know what you’re seeing or answer questions in real time. Watch it in action. Now, imagine all the uses from knowing what you’re looking at when traveling to identifying a skin rash that your doctor will say, “You’re a sight for psoriasis.” (I saw you smile!)
Think your browser’s password manager is safe? Think again.
It’s so easy to click and save your passwords right to Chrome, Edge, Safari or any other browser. Have you ever stopped to think about just how bad an idea it is to do this? Anyone with access to your browser can jump right into any one of your accounts. Yup, even your banking and investment accounts are up for grabs.
Beam me up, Kimmie: By the end of this year, Google and HP are set to make video calls freakishly realistic. Their new tech uses AI and multiple cameras to create real-time 3D images, making it look like the other person is right in front of you. Yup, think “Star Trek”! No price yet (paywall link).
Dark Web deep dive: Hitmen, hacking and credit cards
Yesterday I told you all about the Dark Web. Missed it? Part 1 is here. As expected, so many of you asked me, “Why the heck would you even go on the Dark Web?”
No, really! The fine folks at the Daily Mail asked if I’d do a Dark Web deep dive and report back. The reason is probably the same one you had for opening this email: It’s intriguing.
I’ve been doing this long enough that I can bring you all the Dark Web craziness without putting myself at risk. I’m not recommending you go digging around. I’m sharing for the curious among us who know better.
‘Emergency donuts’
Quick reminder: Most old cellphones can still call 911 even without a plan. Federal law requires all cellphones to connect to emergency services, even if they don’t have active service. A 2-year-old in Oklahoma put this to the test by calling for an emergency donut delivery. The dispatcher played along, and the police showed up with Dunkin’ treats.
Over 400,000
Medical records reveal surgeries scheduled on a Friday tend to be riskier than those earlier in the week. Why? If you need to stay over the weekend, there are fewer doctors and nurses on duty. Mondays are good.
🖨️ Oh Brother: The printer manufacturer quietly pushed a firmware update that blocks third-party ink cartridges. It gets worse. They scrubbed older firmware versions from their support site, so there’s no way to roll back. If you haven’t updated, keep your device offline and reject firmware updates.