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Driver’s license scans exposed: More than 153 million U.S. and Canadian ID records were reportedly offered on the dark web. Freeze your credit and consider an IRS Identity Protection PIN.
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Make accounts harder to hack: Rich shared three simple ways to better protect your accounts, including unique passwords, two-factor authentication and Chrome Enhanced Protection.
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Translation tools for travel: Timekettle, AirPods and Pixel Buds can translate conversations, but a phone translation app may be easier in important situations.
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Tesla Cybercab goes driverless: David Moss rode Tesla’s steering-wheel-free Cybercab in Austin and discussed how autonomous vehicles could improve mobility for blind, disabled and elderly passengers.
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International calling while traveling: Check your carrier for a roaming pass or use a travel eSIM. Simbye is one option that can include a real phone number.
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Amazon scam checker: Alexa for Shopping can check whether a suspicious Amazon email, text or call is legitimate. You can also forward suspicious emails to verify@amazon.com.
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Daily spelling game: Beeswax gives players five words a day to spell by listening to their pronunciation.
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iPhone blocked-number limits: Apple appears to limit how many numbers can be blocked, and removing thousands of old entries can be tedious.
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DVRs for antenna TV: Tablo and ZapperBox can record free over-the-air TV. Rich found the $15 Philips rabbit ears delivered consistent reception for his main channels.
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Sonos 27 gets smarter: Sonos is adding more natural voice control, AI features, lock-screen controls and easier volume adjustments.
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New Sonos gear: The Beam Ultra soundbar can use portable Sonos speakers as surrounds, while Ace Ultra headphones add improved noise cancellation and 35-hour battery life.
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Setting boundaries for AI: Will Cady says AI should expand human abilities rather than become a crutch that weakens them.
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Charging driverless cars: Autonomous EV fleets still need charging infrastructure, although modern fast charging can dramatically reduce downtime.
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Cleaning up Gmail: Use All Mail for bulk deletion or filter by sender to quickly remove large batches of unwanted messages.
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Free California data removal: California residents can use DROP to request deletion from registered data brokers, while paid services such as Incogni offer broader removal tools.
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Top laptops for 2026: Consumer Reports highlighted models from LG, Asus, Apple and Acer for Windows, travel, creative work, budget buyers and Chromebook users.
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HTC privacy-focused smart glasses: The $500 HTC Vive Eagle combines cameras, audio and AI with local encrypted storage and safeguards against covert recording.
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ChatGPT Finances: ChatGPT Finances can connect financial accounts for questions about balances, transactions and spending. Rich still prefers Monarch Money for a traditional dashboard.
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Mindtrip flight alerts: Mindtrip monitors airfare based on dates, destinations, budget and preferences, then alerts travelers to meaningful price drops.
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Save money on flights: Start tracking early and stay flexible on dates, airports and destinations. The cheapest flight is not always the best overall value.
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Google Guided Vision: Gemini Live can describe what a phone camera sees and guide blind or low-vision users to aim the camera correctly.
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Job scam warning: Fake recruiters impersonate real companies, offer jobs without legitimate interviews and eventually ask victims to buy equipment with fraudulent checks.
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Better antenna reception: Moving an antenna near a window can help, while larger antennas generally perform better when mounted higher and clear of obstructions.
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Internet during outages: A UPS battery backup can keep your modem and router running if your provider’s network still has power.
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Keep fighting fraud disputes: One listener recovered thousands in unauthorized PayPal transactions after repeatedly disputing the charges and securing his accounts.
