Ask Kim: 'Is my new online friend tricking me?'
I got a call from Jim in Sacramento about a new friend he met on Facebook. She messaged him out of the blue and they hit it off (just friends, he’s married). Now, she’s introduced him to her aunt, who happens to be great with crypto.
Newest scam making the rounds: If you have automatic deposits enabled with your banking or financial institutions, cybercriminals can put money into your account. Why is that bad, you ask? They’ll immediately follow up with a sob story email asking you to send it back via a phishing link, effectively stealing your login info in the process. Don’t click any random links, and turn on 2FA for your banking logins.
How does your smartphone’s computing power compare to the guidance computer aboard the 1969 Apollo 11 lunar module? Is a smartphone … A.) About as powerful, B.) 120 times more powerful, C) 12,000 times more powerful or D.) 120,000 times more powerful?
Libraries make “shhh” happen: You know those little libraries where neighbors give a book or borrow a book? “Free Blockbuster” neighborhood boxes work the same way, except you can give or borrow VHS tapes and DVDs for free, no strings attached. With over 200 locations, I love this idea!
When smart turns dumb: After 16 years, Ecobee is phasing out its oldest thermostat models, the EB-STAT-02 and EB-EMS-02. After July 31, 2024, they’ll still work as basic thermostats but will lose all server-linked features. Have one? Check the support page to see if you’re eligible for 30% off a newer model.
TY-3R is a Chinese drone that turns into a lifebuoy to rescue drowning swimmers. It spots trouble with a 720p camera, lands on water, transforms into a flotation device and then signals rescuers. It’s also pretty strong — it can take off in heavy winds and support up to two adults at once.
A grainy and corny story: Two brothers used their YouTube earnings from playing Farming Simulator to buy land in Barnes City, Iowa. Turns out, real farming is tougher than the game. But hey, good neighbors came to the rescue to teach them everything about soil, seeds and sowing.
Stranger danger: Thousands of new moms in Facebook support groups got duped by “Cathy Marie Chan,” a so-called lactation consultant. They sent her nude breastfeeding photos and videos for “assessments,” and then “Chan” deleted her accounts and disappeared. Those pics and vids are probably for sale online somewhere.
Roughly 20% of people reuse passwords across multiple sites, and many don’t know the difference between a good password and bad password. You’re smarter than that — you read this newsletter! Remember, using three random words in a password is more secure than selecting random letters and numbers.
☝️ What the frunk? A YouTuber tested the safety sensor on the Cybertruck’s front trunk (aka “frunk”) by closing it on his finger. Surprise: It “frunk”-ed up his hand. Apparently, when you try to close the frunk multiple times, it thinks you’re trying to shut it and slams even harder. Don’t rely on this “safety” feature, folks.