Big online dating mistake: Stop giving away too much info to anyone who sees your profile. Skip the links to your social media profiles, especially. You don’t want a date gone wrong to stalk your pictures after you’ve blocked them.
6 signs your vacation rental is a scam
It’s that time of year when so many of us are planning vacations and booking a rental. Sadly, scammers are very aware of that, and they’re always changing their tricks to fool people out of their money, rentals — or worse.
One of the most prolific thieves scammed people out of $7 million over just two years. He listed 100 properties across the U.S. and accepted 10,000 offers. His bait-and-switch schemes worked … till he got caught.
Being familiar with the red flags can save you from being a victim. And that’s why I’m here today — to give you the know-how.
1. Suspicious photos
Does the picture of that beachfront property look like it’s straight out of a pricey photoshoot? Images that are just a little too polished should raise your eyebrows. Try a reverse image search to see if a pic pops up elsewhere online. How? Open a pic, right-click on it, then choose Search Image or similar in your browser.
2. That doesn’t add up
Some hosts list a property at different price points on multiple platforms. The highest bidder wins, so your stay could get canceled if they find someone who’ll pay more. But wait — it could also be a “phantom rental.” In this scheme, crooks cook up a completely fake listing using a bogus address and photos and run away with your money.
3. Under pressure
When you’re rushed into making a decision, you’re more likely to overlook serious flaws in the listing. A legitimate host won’t rush you into sealing the deal.
4. ‘Can you send me a gift card?’
Always pay through the rental site. Secure payment methods include debit, credit and sometimes a direct bank transfer. Never pay using gift cards, a cash app, crypto or a certified check.
5. Too good to be true
Quick tech cleanup: Do this every 3 months
When was the last time you cleaned up your digital life? It’s not fun, but just a few minutes of physical and digital decluttering can work wonders. It boosts productivity, clears mental clutter and leaves you feeling like you’ve done something great. Ready? Let’s do this!
5 cool ways to use your home network (beyond getting online)
When you connect your gadgets to the same Wi-Fi network, you’re not just getting them online; you’re building a system so they can communicate with each other. You don’t need to be a tech wizard — just follow the steps below:
Wait, are public phone chargers dangerous?
Those charging kiosks in airports, hotels and malls are so tempting when you’re out and about with a dying phone. Their owners promise they’re safe. The government disagrees, and so do I. Groan, I know.
Welcome to the newest phase of juice jacking. The phenomenon has been around for more than 10 years. Hackers use public phone-charging stations to upload malware to your devices. Then, they ransom your device or steal your passwords. Super-duper.
😴 YouSleep: New to the YouTube app is a handy-dandy sleep timer. Tap the cog icon (top right corner) on any video. Press Sleep timer in the dropdown menu. Set it for 10 minutes or End of video. This is perfect for white noise without draining your phone’s battery all night.
❗ Lock down your cybersecurity: I work with brands I trust to keep you secure. Hit this page to see the five must-have tools I recommend.
🔍 Zoomed in? In all kinds of programs, you may have zoomed in by accident and you need to get back to normal. On a Mac, press Cmd + 0 (zero). On a PC, it’s Ctrl + 0. (Bonus: Zoom in and out with Cmd/Ctrl and the plus and minus keys.)
There are two main ways to prompt AI: Mega-prompts are detailed, all-in-one requests that generate a complete response in one go. Chain prompting breaks tasks into smaller steps so you have more control. For example, a mega-prompt asks for a full business plan, while chain prompting starts with an outline, adjusts the scope, refines the plan and ends with action steps. I use chain prompting for bigger projects!
🤝 I want to be your secret helper and mentor: I’ve been around tech forever. My business has thrived for over 20 years without debt or investors. If you have an issue, problem or question about your life or business, I’d love to help you. Ask me here on my site. I read every single note.
Stay a step ahead: I’m surprised how many people don’t know you can preview directions in Google Maps. Open the navigation screen on Android Auto or Apple CarPlay (while you’re parked, please). Swipe left on the direction card in the top right corner. Google Maps skips ahead, turning the card from green to gray, to show you all the twists and turns coming.
Hey, Louis, this is for you: He wrote to ask me for help with a Pixel Watch because there’s no manual online. I found ya the link. If you need it, Samsung Watch manual here and hit this link for Apple Watch.
♻️ Restart your phone: The National Security Agency says you should restart it once a week at the minimum. It sounds like a no-brainer, but it works to combat zero-click exploits where a hacker can get in simply by sending you the right code.
Delete programs you don’t use: On a Windows PC, click the Start menu button and look for the app or program. Press and hold (or right-click) on it and select Uninstall. On a Mac, click the Finder icon in your dock, then Applications. Drag the program you’re done with to the Trash.
New LinkedIn AI: Job hunters will now see whether applying to a position is worth the time. If you’re hiring, LinkedIn acts as your free recruiter to send along candidates who’d rock it at your company. Use my link to post a job for free.
🔬 AI tool to try: Consensus is an AI-powered search engine trained on over 200 million research papers. Want to know more about a study? Search by keywords like “vitamin C and health,” or ask questions like, “How long should I walk every day?” With a free account, you’ll get unlimited searches and 10 AI reports per month. This isn’t an ad; I just think it’s neat!
Carmakers will charge for anything, including your safety
New cars are basically snazzy computers on wheels, packing 1,000 to 3,000 processors. That means we get all kinds of great features, but that’s not all — the more complex our cars get, the more at risk we are. I’m not talking about theft; I mean remote carjacking … or worse.
Strikethrough made simple: Need to cross out something in a Google Doc? On a PC, press Alt + Shift + 5. On a Mac, it’s Cmd + Shift + X. If you don’t like saving time, it’s in the Format menu under Text.
Be the smart one at work: Download NetSuite’s free knowledge e-book, “The CFO’s Guide to AI and Machine Learning.” No matter what you do, you should know more about AI. It’s not going anywhere.