Tech/Gear

You might think the biggest danger online is downloading a virus or giving away your password. But a new phishing trick shows how attackers can take control of your computer without either of those things happening. Security researchers recently uncovered a fake Google Meet update page that looks convincing enough to fool many people. All it takes is one click on a button that says "Update now."  Instead of installing an […]

Money can start to feel tight faster than you expect. It is not always one big expense. More often, it is a series of small charges that quietly add up over time.When that happens, it is easy to think you need a major reset. You don't. In many cases, the fastest way to create breathing room is to stop paying for things that are not adding real value to your […]

If you are building a home, renovating a property or applying for a zoning permit, there is a new scam you need to watch for. The Federal Bureau of Investigation says criminals are impersonating city and county planning officials in a phishing campaign designed to trick victims into paying fake permit fees.The messages often look very convincing. A typical fake scam email might look like the one below. In many […]

If you've ever gotten a suspicious text, a fake delivery alert or a message that felt just a little too convincing, you've already seen how fast scams are evolving. Now, some of the biggest names in tech and retail are scrambling to catch up.Eleven major companies across those industries, including Google, Amazon, OpenAI, Adobe, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Match Group, Meta, Microsoft, Target and Levi Strauss & Co., have signed a new […]

Here's the uncomfortable truth. If someone can break into the personal email of the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, your inbox is not off limits.Malicious actors targeted the personal email account of FBI Director Kash Patel, according to the FBI, and a group known as the Handala Hack Team in Iran has claimed responsibility for posting photos and documents online.No classified systems were breached. But that is not […]

Walk into a McDonald's, and you expect a familiar routine. You order, wait and grab your food. At one location in Shanghai, that routine briefly looked very different.McDonald's deployed robots from Chinese robotics firm Keenon Robotics in one of its fast-food restaurants as part of a short-term test tied to a store opening. The robots greeted customers, added a bit of entertainment and helped with simple service tasks. Sign up for […]

For generations, baseball has followed a simple rule. The umpire calls balls and strikes, and that call stands. That changes now. This season, Major League Baseball is introducing something that once felt unthinkable. Players can challenge an umpire's call and let technology decide the outcome.It is called the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System, or ABS. Most fans already know it by another name. The robot ump. And whether you love it […]

A $4 charge is easy to ignore. It might appear as a parking fee, a small purchase or a vague merchant name that doesn't raise any red flags. Consumer protection groups and law enforcement say scammers are counting on that.Recent warnings describe a pattern sometimes called "ghost tapping," where small, unfamiliar charges show up on contactless payment cards without a clear point of purchase. The amounts are easy to miss, […]

You already know about speed cameras. Red light cameras. Toll cameras that photograph your plate and bill you later.Now meet their cousin. Noise cameras are the newest automated enforcement technology spreading through American cities. A pole-mounted device contains sensitive microphones paired with a license plate camera.IF SOMEONE GETS INTO YOUR EMAIL, THEY OWN EVERY ACCOUNT YOU HAVE. THESE 3 MOVES LOCK THEM OUT FOR GOODYour car drives past. If your […]