Banks are pushing for voice biometrics as a way to protect your accounts, but there’s a catch.
Free privacy tool: See what your CAR collects about you
A new car has over 1,400 microchips and runs on 100 million lines of code. Because it is connected, it can also collect a lot of data about you.
Your car is like your phone, computer or tablet now — always listening. What is your vehicle collecting? Way more than we’d all like to think.
Your car is so nosey
The Vehicle Privacy Report is put out by a company called Privacy4Cars. They delete synched personal data from used cars before they’re resold — which is how carmakers comply with privacy laws and make money. But they offer tools for consumers, too.
One is a free privacy tool you can use. Your car’s maker might collect:
- Your name, address, email address, driver’s license number and other details.
- Location data that shows where you are and where you went.
- Biometrics collected by your car’s microphone and camera.
- Voice recordings collected by your car’s voice assistant.
- Data synched from your connected devices, like call records, text messages or contacts.
You’ll also see who your information is shared with — think insurance companies, the government and data brokers.
Go here to enter your car’s VIN. Depending on your car’s make and model, it can be pretty shocking.
One of my team members drives a Hyundai
Vehicle Privacy Report returned a rundown of the car. Hyundai collects information to predict your “preferences, characteristics, predispositions, behavior, attitudes, or similar behavioral information.” Uh, OK.
The carmaker shares and sells that info to its parent companies, subsidiaries, sister companies and service providers. That includes analytics partners, advertising agencies and social networks. Sheesh.
Temu class-action lawsuit: Is the cheap shopping app worth downloading? (No!)
I saw this coming. I’ve been warning about the shopping app Temu since April when its sister app, Pinduoduo, was caught planting malware. It was spying on other apps, reading notifications and messages, and even changing settings.
You have to be smarter than this: Over 10% of people still use 1234 as their four-digit PIN. Other most-used options include 1111, 0000, 1212 and 7777. If this is you, time for something more complex — and no, your birth year or address won’t cut it. On iPhone, upgrade to six digits. On Android, stick with your fingerprint if your phone has biometrics.
Goodbye passwords! Google just made a huge security change - Will it stick?
Passwords might be one of the biggest tech frustrations. Make them too hard, and they’re impossible to remember. Too easy, and your accounts are practically wide open.
Maybe you use a password manager or your browser’s built-in option to remember your logins. Here’s how to find saved passwords in your browser.
TikTok is watching its employees with surveillance tools
If you’ve ever thought of building something as big as the Komando Media Empire, you must know that teamwork and collaboration are key. That’s why we’re all three days a week (at least) in the broadcast center. I would never implement what TikTok is doing with RTO (return to office) policies.
Security upgrade: How to set up Google and Apple passkeys
I hate passwords. I know you do, too. Tech companies know we all do — and they’re finally doing something about it. Good timing, given how fast AI can crack passwords now, eh?
Passkeys use your device’s built-in security, like the fingerprint scanner on your phone or facial recognition on your laptop, to make online access tighter than the passwords you struggle to remember.
The low-tech way people are breaking into phones
Picture this: You’re out at a local brewery with pals enjoying a cold pint when a friendly stranger starts making conversation. He seems nice enough and asks about fantasy football. You excitedly pull out your phone and unlock it to show him your draft strategies, and voilà, he sees you enter your PIN.
Is your car tracking you? Here's how to find out and put a stop to it
Whether you drive a classic or a 10-year-old car, safety should still be your chief concern. Here are five ways tech can modernize your old car.
New cars are computers on wheels. Don’t believe me? The average vehicle nowadays has over 1,400 microchips in it. Because your car is connected, it can also collect a lot of data about you. Your car is like your phone, computer or tablet now — always listening.
Enable passkeys for your Google account and say goodbye to passwords
Strong passwords aren’t enough to secure your most sensitive accounts. You want two-factor authentication (2FA), which is becoming standard across many industries and services. Here’s everything you need to know about 2FA.
4 best apps to help you lose weight
Who couldn’t stand to live a little healthier lifestyle? Whether you’re looking to eat better or hit the gym more, you don’t have to go it alone. Try incorporating a fitness app. Tap or click here for important information before buying health supplements or weight loss pills online.
Facebook may owe you money — here's how to claim it
Last year, Facebook settled a $650 million lawsuit with Illinois residents for storing and collecting their biometric data without consent. Here’s how much money people received.
The social media juggernaut just agreed to another settlement. This one’s for $725 million following numerous lawsuits claiming the platform violated users’ privacy. Here’s what you need to know and how to get paid.
Chrome now uses less memory and improves battery life
Chrome 110 was released just last week, adding security upgrades that improve Google Password Manager while adding the ability to use biometrics to confirm your identity for auto-fills. Here’s everything you need to know.
Update Chrome! 3 security upgrades baked into the latest version
It’s estimated that over 2.6 billion people use Google Chrome as their primary browser. This makes it a lucrative target for hackers. Tap or click here for seven quick ways to get more out of Chrome on your Android phone.
Amazon wants you to scan your palm to pay - Would you do it?
Have you set up Apple Pay or Google Pay on your phone? It’s a fast and easy way to make purchases without having to touch a keypad or reach for your wallet. And once you set it up, you can use it online and in your apps. Tap or click here to use your phone to pay for everything.
Free money? Yes please - Class-action lawsuits paying out right now
There are thousands of class-action lawsuits every year. While they don’t amount to much for those affected, you could still walk away with a little payday. Companies rarely notify you that they’re being sued. You have to seek these lawsuits out, and we’re here to tell you how.
Facebook is mailing out $350 settlement checks - Can you expect one?
When a group of people suffers similar physical or financial injuries, and fault can be placed with one company, they can join together to file a claim. The class-action lawsuit may go to trial, but many are settled before it gets to that point. Awards are divided among members of the case.
3 ways to fight SIM-swapping - Follow this cybersecurity checklist to protect yourself
Every cybersecurity threat has the potential to snowball into an avalanche of issues — but some are more dangerous from the jump. Experts say you should watch out for impending cyberattacks, thanks to the Russia-Ukraine war. SIM swapping is an especially dire threat since it takes over your smartphone, rendering it useless.
The IRS has a new plan to verify taxpayers' identities - Here's how
Late last year, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) unveiled a plan to verify the identity of taxpayers through a third-party facial recognition company. As you can imagine, the decision wasn’t met kindly by many as privacy concerns were quickly pointed out.
Is banking on your phone safe? 6 ways to make sure you're not scammed
Banking on your phone opens up a whole new world of convenience — as well as a new world of risks. Nowadays, you don’t have to drive down to your local bank branch to make a deposit. Instead, you can bank from the comfort of your home.