An Airbnb guest has been living in a posh LA guest house for 540 days — rent free. The owner can’t give her the boot. Plus, Peeping Toms are upping their game with smartphones, Walmart Spark drivers are faking their credentials and Airbnb is using AI to track guests. That and much more, plus all your calls and questions.
Are hidden software programs recording your keystrokes?
Update 7/3/19: A previous version of this story included a website that we don’t recommend because it is not https-secure. This is a revised version of the story. We apologize for any confusion.
Keyloggers are hidden programs that can be installed on computers to record keystrokes. Legitimate uses for keyloggers exist — certain types of businesses might install them on employees’ computers, especially if they deal with highly sensitive information. Parents might also use them on their kids’ computers, but there are better programs to monitor kids’ activities online. Generally, the average person doesn’t need a keylogger.
Who does? Well, some bad people used them to steal personal information.
How to find keyloggers
While keyloggers are difficult to find, they aren’t impossible. We checked with John and Jeremy, WestStar’s IT superheroes, and they told us, “Most anti-virus and endpoint protection programs automatically check for this.” You don’t need a special download to detect a keylogger. They recommend antivirus/malware protection programs from well-known brands such as Malware Bytes, BitDefender, Avast, and Kaspersky. Some of these work cross-platform, meaning they’ve got versions that are available for multiple devices for your home or business.
Related: Best antivirus programs for your Mac computer or laptop
Should you even worry about keyloggers?
Our team says no, as long as you have an updated computer and your operating system is up to date. However, if you suspect someone — a jealous ex, a distrustful employee or a crooked acquaintance — might have installed one on your computer, start by following the advice in the previous section. Update your OS and install antivirus and malware software.
Related: 3 security programs every PC owner should have
Additionally, check your list of installed programs. For Mac, go to your desktop and click Finder in the upper left. Then open a new finder window. Select your Applications folder and review your installed programs. You can group your applications by clicking the View option in the menu and then “Use Groups.” This will help you weed through all of the apps on your computer.
On a PC, go to your Control Panel as if you are going to uninstall a program (don’t worry, we won’t delete anything yet). Select Programs and then “Uninstall a Program.” There you will see a list of all the programs that are installed on your computer.
What are you looking for? Anything unfamiliar or suspicious. If you don’t recognize the name of something, do a Google search. Obviously, anything with the word “keylogger” in the title would be a dead giveaway. Some other known keylogging programs are Refog, Spytech and DanuSoft.
7 clever ways hackers are stealing keyless cars
Wirelessly unlocking your car is convenient, but it comes at a price. The increasing number of keyless cars on the road has led to a new kind of crime — key fob hacks! With the aid of new cheap electronic accessories and techniques, a key fob’s signal is now relatively easy for criminals to intercept or block. Imagine a thief opening your car and driving away with it without setting off any alarms!
An $80,000 paperweight: That’s what one Cybertruck owner thought he had after taking his new toy through a car wash. The truck’s console screen went black as he rolled into the garage. After a hard reset (and five hours!), it powered on again. The damage caused by failing to put the Cybertruck in Car Wash mode voids its warranty. Yikes.
$10,000 per month on AI girlfriends
That’s how much a Miami man is spending to text with bots. According to one tech exec, the first company to be “the AI version of Match Group” (owner of Tinder, Match, OkCupid, Hinge, Plenty of Fish and OurTime) will eventually be worth over $1 billion.
This weekend, the House will vote on a revised bill that could ban Communist China app TikTok. The updated terms give owner ByteDance a year to sell — double the original six months — to sway fence-sitters in the Senate.
🍷 Unplug and uncork: In Verona, Italy, Condominio restaurant is swapping screen time for wine time. Ditch your phone at the door, lock it up and get a free bottle of vino. Owner Angelo Lella calls smartphones a “drug” and 90% of Condominio’s diners agree, opting for wine over Wi-Fi.
New AI warning: If you use AI to produce content or provide legal, medical or other advice, you’re legally responsible (paywall link) for everything AI does for you. That makes you completely exposed and fully liable for whatever it generates — and AI makes a ton of mistakes. This is important for any business owner to know.
Who is really behind ChatGPT and its owner OpenAI?
ChatGPT: You use it, but who’s behind it? Find out in just one minute.
Ford’s self-driving repo man, Bing AI’s new personalities & discover your Facebook friend rejects
Plus, banned from Airbnb? It might not be your fault. If you’re an EV owner, I share the best temp for your car’s battery range. (Hint: it’s warm.) If you print wirelessly, make sure you do a few things first for your security. And before you click “buy” on that Amazon product, here’s the lowdown on whether their warranties are really worth it.
Data privacy bill, Tesla key hand implant, most creative scams
Sick of pressing a button to unlock your car? You could do what one Tesla owner did and implant a chip into your hand. Also, I’ve got great news: A bipartisan data privacy bill could give you more control over your data. Here are all the ways it could change your digital life. Plus, here are the nine most creative scams from my inbox — and how to avoid them.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Instagram is coming for your kids
Facebook, the owner of Instagram, is ready to roll out its new social media website, Instagram Kids. At first glance, it sounds promising. Take a deeper look, though, and you’ll realize this is terrible news for parents.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How to succeed on social media - and the biggest mistakes you're making
Build an audience, get them talking and stand out on a platform packed with people all trying to be heard. Easier said than done, right? If you’re a business owner or entrepreneur looking to make a name for yourself on social media, don’t miss this episode. Kim chats with business thought leader and top technology influencer Evan Kirstel about what it takes to succeed on social media — and the big mistakes you need to avoid if you want to build your brand.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Critical advice every entrepreneur needs to know on being successful
We are all in some way entrepreneurs: You’re the president of your own career, your own life, your own finances, your own health. David Friend, owner of Carbonite, has been a successful entrepreneur for over 25 years. In this podcast, we interview David, talk about his success, his new venture and his advice on becoming a successful entrepreneur. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices