💸 Bots mark the spot: Starting Nov. 8, X will stop paying accounts for showing ads. Now, you’ll only make money based on how much engagement — replies and retweets — your posts get from Premium (aka paying) subscribers. The bots are going to be busy!
Everything we know about the MoneyGram breach
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Another day, another massive data breach. This time, it’s MoneyGram, a global mega-company that handles money transfers, bill pay and other financial services. They have digital platforms and retail locations, and they even power Walmart’s money-transfer service.
There’s no formal statement yet on exactly how many people were impacted, but we do know MoneyGram has over 150 million customers worldwide.
The whole shebang, exposed
In their official statement, MoneyGram says an unauthorized third party (aka a vendor, hacker or group of hackers) accessed and acquired a ton of personal info between Sept. 20 and Sept. 22. MoneyGram didn’t discover the break-in until about a week later, on Sept. 27.
MoneyGram says the following types of customer data have been compromised:
- Social Security numbers and government ID documents
- Contact information, including email, addresses and phone numbers
- Birthdates
- Bank account numbers
- Utility bills
- MoneyGram Plus Rewards information and transaction information
- Criminal investigation information (like fraud) for “a limited number of consumers”
MoneyGram is working with external cybersecurity experts and law enforcement. It generally takes a few weeks or even months to discover the full extent of breaches like this and all those impacted. In the meantime, they’re providing customers with free identity protection and credit monitoring services for two years.
Whenever a big breach like this happens …
… It’s always a good idea to take a proactive approach with your credit file. If you’ve used MoneyGram before, place a security freeze on your credit report with each of the three major credit reporting agencies. Here’s how:
- Equifax: Visit Equifax.com and follow the steps to freeze online. By phone, call 1‑888‑298‑0045. For snail-mail requests: Print this and mail it to Equifax Information Services LLC, P.O. Box 105788, Atlanta, GA 30348‑5788.
- Experian: To do it online, visit the Experian Freeze Center. By phone, call 1‑888‑EXPERIAN (1‑888‑397‑3742), or submit your request in writing to Experian Security Freeze, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013.
- TransUnion: Add a freeze online on the TransUnion website. Call 1‑888‑916‑8800, or mail TransUnion, P.O. Box 160, Woodlyn, PA 19094.
Once you’ve placed the freeze, you’ll get a personal identification number or password to temporarily lift or remove the freeze. Make sure you keep this info in a safe place.
And there’s a fourth credit reporting agency now
I wasted 36 hours trying to do it myself
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So many of the calls, emails, messages and DMs I get are about privacy and security. I can’t remember the last time I had a full day where no one asked me some version of “How do I get all this info about me off the internet?”
Massive data leak impacts 1 in 3 Americans
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Data broker MC2 Data left more than 100 million records of Americans exposed online for anyone to copy, grab, forward, sell on the Dark Web — you name it. This comes only a month after the National Public Data breach of 2.9 billion records. I’m getting so tired of these data broker companies and people-search sites screwing up, and it’s you and me who have to pay for their mistakes.
So much data left exposed for anyone to see
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Another day, another monumental data breach. Just because they’re getting more common doesn’t mean you can tune it out. In fact, it’s time to get even more serious about your private information and what’s posted online.
Tesla: 'We, Robot' event livestream
I know you’ve seen it all over the news: Elon Musk recently took to the stage at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank to spotlight what he says is the future of transportation — and show off his army of cowboy hat-wearing robots. Will any of this make it to production and into our driveways? Well, we’ll see.
Introducing 'Dookie Demastered'
Green Day is going all out: To celebrate their “Dookie” album’s 30th anniversary, the California punk rock band has released “demastered” versions of their songs played on some hilariously inconvenient formats, including “Pulling Teeth” on a toothbrush, “Chump” on a Teddy Ruxpin and “Welcome to Paradise” on a Game Boy cartridge.
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Don’t buy these Apple products now: I’m expecting to see new models of the MacBook Pro and Mac mini, along with an iMac with the powerful M4 chip, around Oct. 28 or Oct. 29. Plus, rumor has it an iPad mini 7 is on the way with a faster processor and upgraded camera.
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'My heart was gone': Second person to receive a titanium heart shares experience
💖 IRL Tony Stark: A 35-year-old man just became the second person with a titanium heart transplant. With severe heart failure and fluid in his lungs, doctors used a magnet-powered artificial heart as a last resort. The result? Normal circulation, blood flow and blood pressure. The only downside is he says it feels a little “heavier.” This could be the solution to the organ shortage.
💳 PayPal update: Starting Nov. 27, PayPal will share your purchasing data with third-party merchants — think products, preferences, sizes and styles. Yes, you can stop it. In the app, tap your profile photo at the top right, followed by Data and privacy. Under Manage shared info, tap Personalized shopping, and toggle off the switch. On desktop, click the settings gear icon in the top right, then select Data & Privacy > Personalized shopping to toggle off the slider. It never stops …
$10 Amazon gift card
If you donate blood through the American Red Cross. Here’s a link to find a site near you. The giveaway ends Oct. 31, so don’t wait too long.
🥽 So long, farewell: Microsoft is pulling the plug on its HoloLens headsets, once promised to power the future of virtual worlds. Womp, womp. The HoloLens 2 will receive security and software updates until the end of 2027. If you own the original HoloLens, software support ends Dec. 10. Don’t buy one if you see it on sale.
Don’t buy Apple gear right now: Rumor has it their next reveal is Oct. 22, with Macs and iPads on the menu. Expect a Mac mini, MacBook Pro, Mac Studio and Mac Pro with M4, M4 Pro, M4 Max and M4 Ultra chips. Plus, we might see a new iPad and an iPad mini powerful enough for Apple Intelligence.
Ghouls just want to have fun: Ring is giving out $100,000 for camera footage of spooky activity, whether it’s real paranormal stuff like floating orbs or staged shots in costumes. Submit your video by Nov. 1, 2024. Hurry, they’re cutting it off at 5,000 entries.
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Stranger travels 1,500 miles to return lost stuffed animal to 9-year-old
A Texas woman took to Facebook after her 9-year-old left his stuffed gorilla at a California hotel. A stranger saw the post, went an hour out of her way to pick it up, then documented the gorilla’s journey home. Absolutely watch this if you need a smile!
‘It is not real': Title company owner warns of new twist to title fraud
🥽 The “future of human connection”: That’s what Mark Zuckerberg will talk about at the big Meta conference this Wednesday and Thursday. Expect updates for Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, along with some AI goodies, a more affordable Meta Quest headset and maybe augmented-reality glasses. You heard it here first, folks.
32-year-old finds Lego stuck in their nose after 26 years
A guy finally dislodged a little Lego piece he stuck in his nose at age 6. Way back when, he stuck one of the little plastic bricks and a Lego man up his nose. Mom got the Lego man out but didn’t realize the individual brick was still in there. All that time, the 32-year-old dealt with congestion, asthma and sleep apnea. Such a crazy story!