Chirp off the old block

Chirp off the old block: Chirp Systems’ app controls smart locks in tons of rental homes. The app’s “hardcoded credentials” could let anyone remotely lock or unlock your door. Chirp says a fix is on the way. Swap out Chirp smart locks with this one from Amazon.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Tags: Amazon, apps, Credentials, fix, Smart, smart locks


Bursting into flames: Protect yourself from lithium-ion battery hazards

Powering my cellphone? A lithium-ion battery. E-bike? Lithium-ion. Same goes for my iPad, MacBook, electric toothbrush, portable battery pack. I could go on.

The same goes for your tech. As it starts to warm up, we need to talk about safety. Fires from our little gadgets can get out of control quickly. 

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Facebook, feed me: Prioritize who you see first in your news feed. It’s easiest on your computer. Start by clicking your profile picture in the top right. Select Settings & privacy > Feed. Next, tap Favorites to select people and pages you want to prioritize.

Trivia

What do you say when you answer the phone? “Hello,” of course—and that’s thanks to Thomas Edison. His rival, Alexander Graham Bell, thought phones should be answered with something different. Was it A.) “Ahoy,” B.) “All right,” C.) “Howdy” or D.) “Salutations?”

Find the answer here

93.7-foot wave surfed in Nazaré, Portugal

The feat breaks German surfer Sebastian Steudtner’s previous record from 2020 — an 86-foot wave in the same spot. His goal? 100 feet. A classic “good for him, not for me” if there ever was one.

6-day workweek for Samsung executives after a bad earnings report

The rule is meant to “impose a sense of crisis” after their net profits dropped 72%. Not good. FYI, Samsung still made $11.24 billion in 2023. Excuse me while I play a sad song on the world’s smallest violin.

4 hours of free Wi-Fi is the new trend in coffee shops

Some shops enforce the limit using GoGoGuest. You have to make a purchase in order to get a free Wi-Fi code. No more freeloaders!

300M Spotify streams of Taylor Swift’s new album

“The Tortured Poets Department” set a new record high on its release day, along with these Spotify records: Most streams of a single artist in one day, most streams of a song in one day (“Fortnight”) and most gossip in one day. I made that one up, but I bet it’s true.

9.3M new subscribers for Netflix

In the first quarter of 2024, bringing the platform’s global total to 270 million. Netflix execs are stopping sharing subscriber numbers. My guess: They’re reaching saturation, and soon, there’ll be nowhere for these numbers to go but down.

49.6% of internet traffic is generated by bots

That’s up 2% from last year. The result? Billions in losses to fight fake traffic and bot attacks. That’s one thing I love about writing this newsletter — I’m writing for real people!

Trivia

Lots of us spend a ton of money on streaming (but not everyone). What percentage of American TV viewers watch ad-supported streaming TV every week? Is it … A.) 10%, B.) 25%, C.) 50% or D.) 75%?

Find the answer here