You turn me on

You turn me on: Explicit AI “girlfriend” chatbot ads are all over Facebook, Instagram and Messenger. At least 29,000 (!) are trying to lure you in with generated images and suggestive text. Meta says it’s “reviewing and removing” the ads. I say they need a better way.

Tags: advertisements (ads), AI (artificial intelligence), chatbot, Facebook, generated images, Images, Instagram, Messenger, Meta, text


Using free antivirus? Beware of companies that sell your data or even plant malware

Saving money can be easy. Simple things like eating dinner at home more often than going to your favorite restaurant or skipping that daily $6 latte can really add up. You’ll have your next vacation paid for in no time.

Continue reading

A VPN isn't just for your computer - Here's why you need a VPN on your router, too

If you aren’t protecting your router, you’re exposing a weak spot for cybercriminals to strike. Don’t be like the millions of people using outdated routers or weak default passwords. That’s right: A study from Comparitech found that one in 16 home Wi-Fi routers use their manufacturer’s default admin password.

Continue reading

Months after a report outing Eken video doorbells as hackable, a fix is here. Bad guys can access video doorbells that work with the Aiwit app and take control of the device. And with no encryption, your Wi-Fi and IP address could be exposed. Double-check your Aiwit app to make sure you’re up to date. Go to Devices and tap your doorbell name. Look for a firmware number of 2.4.1 or higher.

$500 in ‘guilt-induced’ tips per year for the average American

Over 30% of folks have been asked to tip for a service they wouldn’t normally consider “tip-worthy” — like when my plumber asked me for a tip, which I’d never heard of in my life.

📺 Smart TVs and your PC: A Montreal woman experienced issues with her Windows PC like vanishing taskbars and unresponsive display settings. The culprit? Her Hisense 50Q8G TV was overloading the “Device Association Framework.” Have the same TV? Take it off your PC’s network. Or get yourself a nice Samsung.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Night vision: Blue light tells your brain to wake up. You can switch your iPhone to warmer red hues for bedtime — and it looks neat, too. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size. Turn on Color Filters, then choose Color Tint, and move Intensity and Hue all the way to the right. 

r/Update: Reddit has been crappy to navigate on mobile for, well, forever. Not anymore. The latest app update makes it easier to get to the comments (what most of us use Reddit for anyway), watch videos and add your two cents. 

🦈 Fin-tastic app: Want to know where the sharks are? Researchers track sharks (not all) in this free app. Or use the map on their site.

Record your Mac screen: Maybe you’re sharing directions or want to show something to a friend. Hit Cmd + Shift + 5. A toolbar will pop up. Here’s a quick look at what each tool does. Pick your fave, hit Record, then press Stop when you’re done.

Hidden Windows features live in the Accessibility menu. We’re talking about the magnifier tool, text size settings, color contrast levels, voice-typing and narration features, caption settings, voice recognition and more. In Windows 10, go to Settings > Ease of Access. In Windows 11, go to Settings > Accessibility. So handy!