The average age of cars in the U.S. is now over twelve and a half years, the oldest ever. I’ll explain why people aren’t buying new ones. Plus, police using AI for surveillance, a warning about AirTag stalking, and how to use your Amazon Echo as an intercom.
How to know if you’re being stalked or are just paranoid
I’ve heard it all on my national radio show. There was the guy totally freaked out because too many strangers in public knew his name for it to be a coincidence. (His name was Buddy.)
There was a woman who swore one of Metallica’s band members hacked her iPhone to stalk her after she rejected him online. And another who bought and sold three cars because she thought they all had hidden trackers.
They all ask the same question: “Is it me or is someone/something tracking everything I do on my device?”
Tracking happens, no doubt, and it’s getting worse, given how easy these tools are for anyone to use. But I also know sometimes, it’s paranoia at work. Before you panic, let’s talk through a few scenarios.
‘I see ads for things I talked about’
I was talking to my husband about taking a hiking trip in Patagonia. I walked upstairs, sat at my laptop, and travel ads for a Patagonian getaway were on my screen. Tech companies insist this is a coincidence.
If you don’t want to believe Big Tech (I don’t blame you), take privacy into your own hands. Skip the smart speaker or turn off its microphone when it’s not in use. On your phone or computer, pop into your settings to turn off your mic for specific apps and sites, or force your device to ask you each time before enabling it.
‘They know where I am’
Dana called my show with a frightening story. Her daughter is a college student who was afraid to leave the house because unknown numbers sent her threatening texts no matter where she went. “They know what time we eat dinner, our workplaces and our schedules,” Dana told me.
This case was true harassment. I called Ricoh Danielson, a friend of the show and digital forensics expert, who helped track down the guy. Turns out, it was someone Dana’s daughter had talked to on a dating app. Here are Danielson’s tips for if something like this happens to your family.
‘Is Google stalking me?’
I once had a caller concerned Google knew his schedule too well. A few weekends in a row, he drove to his son’s house to mow his lawn while his son was out of town. The following Saturday, a pop-up from Google Maps told him how long it’d take to get to his son’s home in current traffic.
A murder suspect says she used an Apple AirTag to track her cheating boyfriend
GPS trackers are great for keeping track of your keys, laptop, remote control, and anything you don’t want to lose.
Trackers can also help you find luggage when you’re traveling. It may be a good idea to throw one in your carry-on. Tap or click here for more smart tech tips that’ll ease your mind when you’re on the go.
How did he think this would work? A woman got a disturbing text after a guy saw her phone number on her luggage tag. “I saw you and thought you were so beautiful, so I had to find a way to talk to you.” Even worse, he might know where she lives since her address was also on the tag. Tip: Use luggage tags with covers.
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Privacy how-to: Secure ways to hide naked photos
When you host a national radio show about all things tech, you hear some pretty wild stories. There was the woman who called me because someone stalking her daughter knew when they were eating dinner — and even posted mom’s phone number on a porn site. Tap or click here to find out how I helped track down a stalker and get him arrested.
Worried about stalkers and thieves using AirTags? Apple is making these changes
GPS trackers are designed to help you find your missing things. They’re great for keeping track of your keys, laptop, purse, luggage, remote control and pretty much anything you can think of.
Unfortunately, these little devices can be used to commit crimes. Crooks are hiding AirTags on cars to track them to the owner’s home and steal the automobile later. Tap or click here for our report and tips on avoiding falling victim to this scheme.
Find an AirTag? Wrap it in aluminum foil
If you find an AirTag or similar tracker stalking you, try this trick. I tell you why in this short podcast.
He chose the psycho path: A 33-year-old Pennsylvania man was busted for burglary and stalking a woman he met online. After she dumped and blocked him, he went full creep, shutting off her power, messing with her internet and slapping a GPS tracker under her car. Cops arrested him, and he’s now being held on a $2 million bail. It’s got to be so scary dating now.
Apple and Google team up to fix their stalking problem
Stalkers are using AirTags and other Bluetooth trackers to follow people. When two major tech rivals work together, you know it’s serious.
AirTag stalking dilemma
Is it the end AirTag stalking? Take a look inside the safety feature that brought Apple and Google together, in 60 seconds.
Stalkers are using AirTags — Here's how to protect yourself
Modern tech gadgets make stalking easier than before — which means you need to be aware of the many ways people can track you. One husband always knew where his wife went, down to her arrival and departure times, although she didn’t tell him the details. When she asked me for help, I told her he was probably tracking her through Google, which keeps a secret map of everywhere you’ve been.
Woman catches boyfriend unfriending men on her Facebook account - Signs you have a snoop
Social media is a wonderful tool to connect with friends and family. Facebook is the most popular, with almost 2 billion users logging in last year.
But for all the good it has done, there have been tons of problems. Like this scam that cost a user $5,000 through a bogus competition.
Security alert: Devices most commonly used to spy on spouses and partners [List]
When securing your tech devices, the big news and advice usually point towards protecting yourself from scammers and hackers. While this is important, threats can also come from somewhere closer to home.
Your phone can be used by strangers as well as people you know to track your movements. One man found a flaw in Google Maps that allowed him to follow his wife’s movements from his phone. Tap or click here for instructions on how to stop others from tracking you through Google Maps.
This app pays people to spy on their neighbors
Ever wish you could be in two places at once? It’s hard enough keeping track of our kids and pets, let alone the wait at the corner store or our favorite restaurants. An extra set of eyes would make it much easier to manage our busy schedules.
Porn site suffers massive data breach - credit cards, social security numbers and worse
No matter where you visit on the web, there’s always potential for danger. Cybercriminals just keep getting better at tricking and attacking users’ privacy, which is why so much of the web requires secure encryption and more to gain access.