Technology News Articles on Fox News

How AI could transform cancer treatment and medicine

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 14:30:10 -0400

Researchers are now using artificial intelligence to help tailor cancer treatments and uncover overlooked uses for existing medicines. Other systems can search microscopic images or identify subtle biological signals that people could easily miss.

Some of these technologies have already helped patients. Others remain in clinical trials or research labs, so we need to be careful about separating promising science from treatments you can actually receive today.

Still, what researchers are accomplishing would have been difficult to imagine a few years ago. Here's where AI is already changing medicine and what you should know before trusting it with your health.

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CANCER VACCINE PREVENTS DEADLY MELANOMA FROM RETURNING OR SPREADING IN LANDMARK TRIAL

One of the biggest recent developments comes from Moderna and Merck. On Aug. 19, the companies announced positive topline results from a Phase 3 melanoma trial. The study tested intismeran autogene, also known as V940 or mRNA-4157, alongside Keytruda. The trial enrolled 1,137 people with high-risk melanoma that surgeons had completely removed. The combination met its primary endpoint for recurrence-free survival. It also met a key secondary endpoint measuring distant metastasis-free survival.

Merck and Moderna said this was the first positive Phase 3 readout for an individualized neoantigen therapy. It was also the first positive Phase 3 result for an mRNA-based cancer therapy. That sounds complicated, but the basic idea is fascinating. Researchers start with a sample of a patient's tumor. They analyze its unique mutations and use an algorithm to select targets that may help the immune system recognize the cancer. The resulting individualized therapy can encode up to 34 neoantigens. Moderna has also said the V940 program uses integrated AI algorithms during the development process.

The company then creates an mRNA treatment based on the selected targets. You may have seen this approach called a personalized cancer vaccine. Moderna and Merck currently describe intismeran as an individualized neoantigen therapy. The goal is to train the immune system to recognize characteristics unique to that patient's cancer.

There is plenty of reason for excitement, but there is also an important limitation. Merck and Moderna have announced only topline results from the Phase 3 trial so far. The companies plan to present the full findings at an international medical meeting and share them with regulators. The study also continues to track overall survival.

Earlier results offer additional context. In a smaller Phase 2b study with longer follow-up, intismeran plus Keytruda reduced the risk of recurrence or death by 49% compared with Keytruda alone. It also reduced the risk of distant metastasis or death by 59%. Those earlier results came from a much smaller patient group. That makes the larger Phase 3 trial an important step forward. Still, intismeran remains investigational. The FDA has not approved intismeran as a melanoma treatment.

Developing a new medicine can take years. Another group of researchers is asking a different question: What if a useful treatment already exists? Dr. David Fajgenbaum co-founded the nonprofit Every Cure to pursue that possibility. According to Every Cure's 2025 annual report, about 18,000 recognized diseases exist worldwide. The organization says roughly 4,000 have FDA-approved medications. That leaves an enormous number of diseases with limited treatment options.

Every Cure uses AI to scan biomedical knowledge and look for connections between existing medicines and other diseases they might potentially treat. The organization says its system can generate tens of millions of predictions in less than a day. Researchers then examine the most promising possibilities.

The federal Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, or ARPA-H, is backing this approach through a project called MATRIX. MATRIX uses machine learning and artificial intelligence to predict which FDA-approved drugs could potentially treat other diseases. Researchers then validate promising candidates through laboratory or clinical work. AI does not prove that a drug will work for another illness. Instead, it can help researchers decide where to look next. That could dramatically narrow an otherwise enormous search.

Fajgenbaum has seen firsthand what finding a new use for an existing drug can mean. Kaila Mabus developed multicentric Castleman disease at 13 and became severely ill despite chemotherapy. In 2020, her doctors tried ruxolitinib, a drug already used for certain blood disorders but not FDA-approved for Castleman disease. She began improving within months and was declared in remission in January 2021. AI did not identify her treatment, but her case shows why Every Cure wants to use AI to uncover promising drug-disease connections much faster and on a far larger scale.

At Columbia University Fertility Center, artificial intelligence has taken on a very different challenge. Researchers developed the Sperm Tracking and Recovery system, known as STAR. It combines high-speed imaging with an AI detection model and microfluidics.

STAR was designed for patients with azoospermia or cryptozoospermia, conditions where sperm may appear absent or exist in extremely small numbers. The system examines a semen sample far more thoroughly than a person could reasonably do by hand. STAR can capture and process about 1.1 million images every hour. Its AI model examines frames for possible sperm cells.

When the system confirms one, a microfluidic mechanism isolates the cell. Doctors may then use the recovered sperm for fertility treatment or freeze it for later use. In one validation sample, embryologists searched for two days without finding sperm. STAR found 44 sperm in about an hour. That is exactly the type of repetitive search where AI can shine. A human eye can get tired. A computer can keep examining frame after frame.

NEW BLOOD TEST DETECTS 90% OF AGGRESSIVE PROSTATE CANCER CASES, BEATING CURRENT SCREENINGS

This technology has moved beyond a research demonstration. Columbia says STAR achieved its first reported pregnancy in March 2025. The couple involved had spent nearly two decades trying to conceive. STAR found and recovered sperm that conventional examination of the same sample had missed. The pregnancy later resulted in a healthy delivery.

That does not mean STAR will work for everyone. Columbia currently reports that sperm are found in about 28% of patients who previously received an azoospermia diagnosis. The center says about 20% of mature eggs fertilize with STAR-recovered sperm. Around 18% of those fertilized eggs develop into good-quality embryos for transfer or freezing.

Those rates are lower than typical IVF or ICSI. The patients using STAR often face especially difficult fertility problems, which helps explain the difference. Even so, the technology shows how finding one tiny biological clue can completely change the options available to a patient.

Researchers at the University of Hong Kong are exploring another possibility. Their AI-based tool, called CardiOmicScore, analyzes molecular information found in blood. The researchers used large-scale data from the UK Biobank. Their system examined 2,920 circulating proteins and 168 metabolites. It also incorporated genomic information.

CardiOmicScore uses deep learning to estimate the future risk of six cardiovascular diseases. Those include coronary artery disease, stroke and heart failure. The system also evaluates atrial fibrillation, peripheral artery disease and venous thromboembolism. Researchers found that the approach improved risk prediction when combined with standard clinical information. In some cases, CardiOmicScore could flag elevated risk as much as 15 years before symptoms appeared.

Think about what that could eventually mean. Instead of discovering cardiovascular disease after symptoms develop, doctors might get a warning while there is still more time to intervene. However, CardiOmicScore remains a research development. You cannot walk into your doctor's office today and request it as a routine screening test.

At UCLA, scientists are taking another approach to personalized cancer treatment. They create tiny laboratory-grown replicas of patient tumors called organoids. Researchers can expose those organoids to different drugs and monitor what happens. Their platform combines 3D bioprinting with advanced imaging and artificial intelligence. AI helps researchers process the large amount of imaging data generated as the organoids respond to treatment. The system can track thousands of individual organoids.

That allows researchers to examine how different parts of a tumor respond to various drugs. This could be valuable because cancer can behave differently from one patient to another. Even cells within the same person's tumor can respond differently to treatment. Eventually, researchers hope this type of technology could help identify therapies that better fit an individual patient's cancer. For now, UCLA continues to develop and validate the platform.

The possibilities for AI in medicine extend beyond blood samples and microscopes. Researchers are also studying what computers can learn from the way we speak. A Perspective published Sept. 4 in npj Digital Medicine examined voice biomarkers for ALS and Parkinson's disease.

Neurodegenerative diseases can cause measurable changes in speech. Researchers believe AI could potentially analyze those changes and help monitor disease progression. For ALS, the authors see particular potential in tracking changes that affect speech and swallowing. However, this field remains early.

At the time of publication, no speech or voice-derived endpoint for ALS or Parkinson's disease had received qualification from the FDA or European Medicines Agency. One ALS speech analytics platform has received FDA Breakthrough Device designation. That status can help speed regulatory review, but it does not amount to FDA marketing authorization. Researchers see real potential here. The clinical proof still has more catching up to do.

PATIENTS REMAIN CANCER-FREE NEARLY 3 YEARS AFTER RECEIVING EXPERIMENTAL IMMUNOTHERAPY

You may encounter AI in your healthcare without ever opening an AI chatbot.

A laboratory could use it while analyzing a tumor. A fertility clinic might use it to search for something the human eye missed. Researchers can also use AI behind the scenes to find treatments worth investigating. The key question for you is how much evidence supports the specific technology being used.

A university research project sits at a very different stage from a medical device that has gone through clinical testing and regulatory review. You should also understand how much human oversight remains involved. AI can help doctors process information and identify patterns.

Your healthcare decisions still deserve qualified medical judgment based on your individual circumstances.

That is why asking a few questions can help when AI becomes part of your care.

Medical AI can be useful. You still deserve to know how it affects you.

Find out what role the technology plays in your care. Does it analyze information for a doctor? Does it flag something for additional review? The phrase "AI-powered" can cover a wide range of technology, so ask for a simple explanation.

Ask whether a doctor, specialist or laboratory professional checks the AI's findings before anyone makes a decision. Human review becomes especially important when a result could affect treatment or diagnosis.

Ask whether the FDA has cleared or approved the technology when regulatory authorization applies. Also find out what type of research supports it. Early research can show promise while still leaving important questions unanswered.

Medical AI may rely on sensitive health information. Ask how your provider stores that data and who can access it. You can also ask whether your information may be used to improve or train an AI system. For more on transparency around artificial intelligence in healthcare, see our CyberGuy guide on what patients should know about AI disclosure. This article provides general information and does not replace advice from your healthcare professional.

What I find so interesting here is how AI can help doctors and researchers see things that would be incredibly difficult to find on their own. A system can search more than a million microscope images in an hour looking for a single sperm cell. Another can sift through huge amounts of medical research to find a possible new use for an existing drug. Researchers are even developing cancer treatments around the unique mutations inside one patient's tumor. That is pretty remarkable. But I also think we have to be careful not to let the excitement around AI move faster than the science. The melanoma Phase 3 results are encouraging, but we still need to see the complete data. Several of the other technologies in this article remain experimental or available only in limited settings. For me, that is where this gets really interesting. AI may help doctors find answers faster and uncover possibilities they might otherwise miss. What I want to see next is how often those discoveries translate into treatments that actually make people healthier and improve their lives.

If AI uncovered a treatment your doctor had never considered, how much evidence would you need before you felt comfortable trying it? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

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Scammers know the best time to text you

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 09:52:39 -0400

If your phone seems to light up with suspicious texts right when your day gets busy, you may not be imagining it. New research from cybersecurity company Malwarebytes suggests scammers have gotten much more strategic about when they contact you and where they do it.

The company analyzed global threat data collected between April 15 and July 14, 2026. Researchers tracked more than 20 scam categories. They found that criminals often choose the platform that gives a particular scam the best chance of working.

Then there is the timing. For Americans, scam text volume peaked around 12 p.m. ET. That was about 874% higher than at 1 a.m. ET, the quietest hour Malwarebytes observed. Scam text volume also climbed as the week went on. It reached its highest point on Friday, when people received roughly 50% more fraudulent texts than at the beginning of the week.

That tells me scammers are paying attention to more than what they send you. They are also watching when you may be most likely to see it. And the timing is only part of the strategy, because the type of scam often determines exactly where they try to reach you.

THE SCAM TEXT TEST: SPOT DANGER BEFORE YOU TAP

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Different scams tend to favor different platforms. Malwarebytes found that job scams commonly arrive through email. Romance scams favor social media, where conversations with new people feel more natural. Meanwhile, tech support scams frequently start with a phone call. That makes sense when you think about how each scam works.

A fake recruiter can blend into a busy inbox. Someone starting a conversation on social media may seem harmless. A caller claiming your computer has a serious problem can immediately put you under pressure.

The channel becomes part of the trick. We've seen that with changing tech support scams. They can now begin with fake invoices, bogus security alerts or convincing support pages.

You hear plenty about scam texts and suspicious DMs. However, the web remains the leading way scams reach people in Malwarebytes' data. Email came next, followed by SMS.

Malwarebytes says it blocks around 500,000 phishing websites every day. That number gives you an idea of how many fake pages criminals keep pushing online.

Some copy banks or popular retailers. Others imitate technology companies or government services. A link in a text can take you straight to one of these pages. The fake site may look polished enough to fool you at first glance.

So, when a message says something has gone wrong with an account, resist the urge to use the link it provides. Open the company's app yourself or type the website address directly into your browser.

Here's the part that really caught my attention. Malwarebytes found that scam texts targeting Americans reached their highest volume around 12 p.m. ET. At noon, volume was about 874% higher than at 1 a.m. ET. Think about what your phone habits look like around lunchtime.

You could be leaving a meeting, grabbing something to eat or checking messages between errands. Your attention may already be split. Then a text arrives saying your package cannot be delivered. Another claims you owe a toll. Maybe a message warns that somebody accessed your account. That timing can work in a scammer's favor because you may react before giving the message a closer look.

Of course, a text arriving at noon does not automatically mean somebody is trying to scam you. The data shows when Malwarebytes observed the highest volume. Still, the pattern gives us another look at how organized scam campaigns have become.

IS THAT TRAFFIC TICKET TEXT A SCAM OR REAL?

The day of the week also appears to play a role. Malwarebytes saw its lowest scam text volume on Sunday. Activity then increased as the week went on. By Friday, people were receiving roughly 50% more fraudulent texts than at the beginning of the week.

The researchers cannot say exactly why Friday produced the highest volume. However, the pattern suggests scammers may be deliberately timing campaigns instead of sending messages at random.

Maybe you're finishing work and thinking about the weekend. You could also be juggling deliveries, travel plans or bills. Whatever the reason, criminals want you moving quickly.

That's something we've seen repeatedly with fake government messages. A DMV scam text can threaten fines or license problems while pushing you toward a payment page. The threat gets your attention. The deadline tries to stop you from thinking.

Timing gets the message in front of you. Familiarity can make you trust it. Malwarebytes found that Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast, was the most impersonated person in its data. His likeness appeared in about 30% of impersonation scams observed by the company.

Elon Musk and Donald Trump followed him in the data. These scams can involve fake cryptocurrency giveaways or schemes that demand a fee before you supposedly receive money. The real person has nothing to do with the offer.

Scammers borrow a face you recognize because familiarity can lower your guard. That tactic has become even more troubling as AI-generated video and cloned voices improve. A face on your screen no longer proves the person actually made the video.

Scammers use the same strategy with companies you recognize. According to reports from Malwarebytes users, the five most impersonated brands were: Google, Microsoft, Apple, Roblox and Amazon.

Google's name appeared at least twice as often as Amazon's. That familiarity gives criminals a huge advantage. If you use Google every day, a fake security warning may look routine. An Apple customer may react quickly to a message about an account problem.

Amazon scams can land at exactly the right moment because so many of us regularly have packages on the way. So, treat the logo as decoration until you verify the message yourself.

Gaming communities are also attracting scammers. Malwarebytes found Roblox, Steam, Discord and Minecraft among the most impersonated gaming platforms.

Roblox scam activity increased 15% between mid-June and mid-July. Steam saw a 19% increase during the same period. The potential losses can also get serious.

Malwarebytes says about half of the gaming scams it analyzed could lead to losses of $1,000 or more. That is particularly concerning when younger gamers may encounter fake offers through communities they already trust.

A message promising free in-game items or access to something exclusive can quickly lead to a fake login page. Once the victim enters a password, the scammer may take over the account.

AMAZON JOB SCAM TEXTS ARE SPREADING AGAIN WITH A NEW TWIST

Scammers can improve their timing, but you can make yourself a much harder target. The best defense starts with slowing down and verifying what you see.

Avoid links and phone numbers inside unsolicited emails, texts or social media messages. A link can take you to a copied website designed to steal your login or payment information. Likewise, the phone number in a fake security alert can connect you directly to the scammer. Instead, leave the message and contact the company another way.

Go directly to the company's official website or open its app. If the message claims you owe money, check your real account before paying anything. You can also contact the organization using a phone number you already trust. This breaks the scammer's control over the conversation.

Searching for a company's website can help, but pay close attention to what you click. Scammers can use sponsored search ads that lead to fake support pages or convincing copies of legitimate websites. Check the web address before entering sensitive information. When possible, use a saved bookmark or the company's official app.

Never give someone your password because they called or messaged you unexpectedly. The same goes for PINs, account recovery codes and one-time verification codes. A scammer may claim they need a code to verify your identity. In reality, that code may give them access to your account. If a caller asks for sensitive information, hang up and contact the organization yourself.

Be suspicious when an unexpected caller or message demands immediate payment. Before paying, confirm the charge through your actual account or by contacting the organization independently. Watch closely for payment requests involving gift cards, cryptocurrency or transfers that may be difficult to reverse. Urgency should make you more cautious, not less.

Strong antivirus software can help block known phishing sites and other malicious pages. Browser protection can also warn you before you enter information on a dangerous website. Keep your browser updated as well. Security updates help close weaknesses that criminals may try to exploit. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at CyberGuy.com.

Your phone may already include tools that identify suspicious calls or messages. Turn on spam filtering when your device and messaging app support it. Mobile security software can provide another layer of protection by identifying scam texts and dangerous links. No filter catches everything, so continue checking unexpected messages yourself.

If something feels wrong, look into it before you reply. Search for the company's official contact information. Check your account directly. You can also use a reputable scam-checking service to examine a suspicious phone number, message or link. The goal is simple. Verify the claim somewhere outside the conversation the scammer started.

Once you know a message is fraudulent, block the sender and report it as spam. Most phones and email services include built-in reporting options. Reporting scams can also help providers identify campaigns and block similar messages for other users. Then delete the message so you do not accidentally interact with it later.

If you entered a password on a suspicious site, change it immediately using the real website or app.

Change that password anywhere else you reused it. Better yet, use a password manager to create and store strong, unique passwords for each account so one stolen password cannot unlock several accounts.

If you gave away payment information, contact your bank or card issuer right away.

You should also review your accounts for unfamiliar activity.

If a scammer gained access to your device, disconnect it from the internet and run a trusted security scan.

What grabs me about this research is how deliberate scam campaigns are becoming. Scammers are paying attention to where you spend your time. Now, the timing data suggests they may also be watching when you're more likely to respond. That changes how I think about those random-looking texts that pop up during a busy day. The message may feel like one more thing that needs your attention. That's exactly when you need to slow down. You cannot control when a scammer contacts you. You can control whether that person gets to set the pace. When something unexpected asks for money or account information, get out of the message. Find the real company on your own and check the claim there. That small pause can ruin a scammer's entire plan.

Have you noticed more scam texts arriving around lunchtime or toward the end of the week, and what kind of message almost fooled you into responding? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

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Thousands of hacked sites trick you into installing malware

Sun, 13 Sep 2026 14:30:18 -0400

You land on the real website of a local business and a CAPTCHA appears. It looks routine until the page tells you to open Windows Run and paste a command. That should stop you cold.

Security researchers say thousands of legitimate small-business websites have been compromised to spread this malware trap. Here's what to know before a familiar website catches you off guard.

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FAKE PATIENT PORTAL SCAM CAN STEAL YOUR LOGIN AND INFECT YOUR PC

This campaign is much bigger than a handful of infected pages. Netskope Threat Labs says it identified more than 5,400 compromised websites across more than 2,200 organizations worldwide over the past few months.

The sites have little in common beyond many belonging to small businesses. Researchers found clinics, plumbing companies, online stores and other businesses among the victims.

Where Netskope examined individual sites, they most often ran WordPress and sometimes PrestaShop. Researchers still do not know how attackers initially compromised them.

That is important because you could visit the legitimate website of a business you recognize and still encounter a malicious prompt.

Netskope says several hundred compromised sites can be active on a given day. It has recently seen more than 300 sites contacting the malicious infrastructure each weekday.

The attack starts with malicious code hidden inside a compromised website. When you visit the site, that code can load another script. Then the page may blur and show what looks like an ordinary CAPTCHA.

Instead of simply asking you to prove you are human, the page tells you to open the Windows Run dialog and paste a command. That command can download and launch the attacker's malware.

Here is the warning sign I want you to remember: A legitimate CAPTCHA should never tell you to open Windows Run or paste a command into your computer.

We have seen fake CAPTCHA scams use this same trick before. The page looks familiar, so you may assume the instructions are part of a normal security check. They are not. The criminal is trying to get you to launch the attack yourself.

CLICKLOCK MAC MALWARE LOCKS APPS UNTIL YOU GIVE IN

This technique is known as ClickFix. The clever part has less to do with some exotic computer hack and more to do with psychology.

You are already used to CAPTCHAs. Websites ask you to click a box or prove you are human all the time. So, when a convincing verification screen appears on a legitimate website, your guard may be down. Then the instructions make the dangerous action look like one more step in the verification process.

Cybercriminals have used similar ClickFix tricks with fake Windows update screens. The appearance changes, but the warning remains the same. A webpage should not be telling you to run computer commands.

This is where the campaign gets more unusual. The attackers are using the BNB Smart Chain test network to store instructions used by the compromised websites.

You do not need to understand cryptocurrency to understand why criminals like this setup. Normally, attackers might keep malicious code on a regular web server. Once investigators find that server, a hosting provider may be able to shut it down.

A blockchain works differently. In this campaign, the attackers store code inside something called a smart contract. Think of it as a place where the hacked websites can check for their next set of instructions.

Netskope says the attackers are using the test version of BNB Smart Chain. Developers normally use this network to experiment without spending real cryptocurrency.

That gives the criminals inexpensive infrastructure that can also be harder to take down through traditional methods. There is another advantage.

The attacker can change what the smart contract delivers. The compromised websites can then pick up those new instructions without criminals having to modify every hacked site individually. That helps explain why this infrastructure is so useful to them.

Netskope also found a newer version of the attack that skips the fake CAPTCHA. This version uses technology called WebRTC. Your browser normally uses WebRTC for things such as video calls and real-time communications. The attackers found another use for it.

Their code can create an encrypted data connection with the attacker and receive additional malicious code through the browser. Netskope says the code can then run without first being saved as a traditional file on the computer.

For you, the technical details are less important than the larger point. The criminals can change how the attack works while continuing to use the same network of compromised websites.

A few simple habits can help you avoid handing control of your computer to an attacker.

If a website tells you to open Windows Run, PowerShell or Command Prompt, stop. Do not paste anything it gives you. Close the page instead.

A normal CAPTCHA may ask you to click a checkbox or identify pictures. It should not require you to change settings or run commands on your PC. If the instructions suddenly leave the browser, close the page.

Strong antivirus protection can help detect malicious scripts and malware if something slips past you. Keep it updated and enable real-time protection. If you accidentally follow suspicious instructions, run a full system scan. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com

Install security updates when they become available. However, update Windows through Windows Update. Update your browser through its built-in settings or official source. Do not trust an unexpected webpage that says you must download an update.

If you followed the instructions from a suspicious CAPTCHA, disconnect the computer from the internet. Run a full antivirus scan. Then use another trusted device to change passwords for sensitive accounts you accessed on that computer. Start with your main email account. Also review active login sessions and enable multifactor authentication wherever you can.

Website owners should take this campaign seriously too. Netskope recommends checking the integrity of your content management system files. Researchers found malicious code added to legitimate JavaScript files or hidden inside fake plugin directories. Keep WordPress, PrestaShop and any plugins you use updated. Remove plugins you no longer need. Keep in mind that Netskope has not identified how attackers initially broke into the websites in this campaign. Those steps are good security practices, but researchers have not tied a specific WordPress or PrestaShop vulnerability to these compromises.

What gets me about this attack is how ordinary everything can look at first. You could be visiting the real website of a neighborhood business you have used before. Then a familiar CAPTCHA appears. That sense of trust is exactly what can make the next instruction dangerous. The blockchain technology behind the campaign makes life harder for security teams trying to shut it down. For the rest of us, though, the best defense is refreshingly simple. A website should never need you to open Windows Run or paste a command to prove you are human. If you see that request, close the page. That one warning sign could save you from installing malware yourself.

Would you recognize a fake CAPTCHA if it appeared on the website of a business you already trusted, or would the familiar site make you more likely to follow the instructions? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

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AI robot for seniors can alert family after a call for help

Sun, 13 Sep 2026 07:27:48 -0400

If you have a parent or grandparent who wants to stay in their own home, you probably know the question that can sit quietly in the back of your mind: What happens if they fall and nobody realizes they need help? Tuya Smart thinks its small artificial intelligence robot could become part of the answer.

The company unveiled Doova at IFA 2026 in Berlin. This wheeled AI home companion is designed for seniors who live independently. It can move through the home, respond when someone calls for help and connect family members through live video when an emergency appears to be unfolding.

That gets my attention because Doova goes beyond sitting on a table waiting for someone to press a button or call out from across the room. It can actually come to you. And that raises a bigger question: How much could a robot like this really help someone live safely and independently at home?

THE BEST TIME TO TALK TO YOUR PARENTS ABOUT SENIOR CARE — BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE

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Doova uses LDS LiDAR to navigate around the home. A four-microphone system helps it figure out where a voice is coming from. Meanwhile, AI vision analyzes a person's skeletal posture.

If someone falls or needs assistance, that person can say, "Hey Tuya, help." Doova then locates the person and rolls over to assess what is happening. Tuya says that if the user does not respond within 60 seconds, Doova starts an emergency response workflow. Family members receive an alert with a two-way live video call so they can see what is happening and arrange assistance.

For now, Tuya has not said that Doova automatically detects falls without the user first calling for help or that it directly contacts 911 or a professional monitoring service. So, I would treat it as an added layer of support rather than a replacement for a dedicated medical alert system.

Emergency help is only part of what Tuya has built into Doova. The robot uses a multimodal large language model so people can talk with it in a more natural way instead of memorizing rigid voice commands.

For someone spending long stretches at home alone, Doova can carry on a conversation or play entertainment. It can also help make sense of a confusing bill or letter. Another feature caught my eye. Tuya says Doova can identify potential scam risks.

YOUR SENIOR PARENTS ARE EASIER TO IMPERSONATE THAN YOU ARE

That could be useful for older adults who receive a suspicious message and want a second opinion before responding. However, I would never want someone relying solely on an AI robot to decide whether a bill, email or financial request is legitimate.

AI can make mistakes. If Doova flags something suspicious, the safest next move would still be to verify it independently or share it with someone you trust. We've seen how much personal information scammers can gather about older adults, particularly after major life changes such as moving into a retirement community.

A WHEELED ROBOT MAY BEAT HUMANOIDS INTO YOUR HOME

Doova can remind you to take medication, keep track of your schedule and give you weather updates. Tuya says it can also learn your preferences over time, which could make its suggestions feel more useful day to day.

The company plans to add a feature that helps find misplaced items around the house. If that works well, I can see the appeal. Plenty of us have spent far too long looking for glasses, keys or a remote that was nearby the whole time.

WOULD YOU PAY $8,000 FOR A ROBOT TO FOLD LAUNDRY?

Doova also doubles as a mobile home-monitoring device. Rather than continuously hugging the walls as some patrol robots do, Tuya says Doova travels to selected locations near the center of rooms. From there, it can perform a 360-degree scan.

The robot then creates a safety report that can be sent to the user's phone. When the battery runs low, Doova can return to its charging dock on its own.

AI CHATBOT PRIVACY: WHAT YOUR AI MAY KNOW ABOUT YOU

That gives the robot another possible use when someone travels or spends part of the day away from home. However, this capability also leads straight into the biggest question I have about Doova.

Doova has microphones, AI vision and live video inside the home. It can also learn a user's preferences over time. That can make the robot more helpful, but it also means giving it access to a lot of personal information.

We raised similar questions when we looked at another AI home robot that can recognize family members and build personalized memories. With Doova, I would want to know where video and audio are processed, what gets stored, who can see it and whether users can permanently delete what the robot has learned.

Tuya's launch announcement does not spell out those Doova-specific privacy controls. Until it does, that is something I would look closely at before bringing a camera-equipped AI robot into a loved one's home. You can also review our guide to limiting the information popular AI services collect about you.

Tuya also designed Doova to work as a central smart home controller. A senior could use voice commands to adjust connected lights or curtains. Doova can also interact with compatible kitchen and bathroom devices.

I like the thinking here. Smart homes can become complicated very quickly, especially when every device has its own app. If Doova can put those controls into a simple conversation, that could make smart home technology far easier to use.

The robot has a 10.1-inch HD display with animated facial expressions. Its rounded design also looks more like a friendly household companion than an industrial machine.

There are still some important blanks to fill in. Tuya has not announced a retail price or when consumers will actually be able to buy Doova. I also want to see how it handles a real home. Rugs, cords and tight spaces can trip up mobile robots. Stairs are another obvious challenge for something that moves around on wheels.

The bigger question is how dependable Doova would be during an actual emergency. Someone may be frightened, speaking softly or lying somewhere the robot cannot easily reach. That is where real world testing will tell us much more than a demonstration on the show floor.

We reached out to Tuya Smart with questions about Doova's emergency response, privacy protections, connectivity and availability but did not hear back before our deadline.

If you are helping a parent or loved one age in place, Doova gives us a pretty good look at where home technology is heading. Instead of relying only on stationary smart speakers or cameras, future AI assistants may move around the house and respond to what is happening nearby.

That could give families another way to stay connected while allowing older adults to maintain more independence. However, I would look closely at the emergency process before relying on any product like this. Find out who gets contacted and what happens when the internet fails. You should also understand exactly what the cameras and microphones collect.

Finally, think about the person who will actually use it. The best technology in the world offers little value if someone finds it confusing, intrusive or uncomfortable.

What interests me most about Doova is the move from passive smart devices toward AI that can physically come to you. For an older adult who wants to remain independent, having a robot respond to a call for help and bring family into the situation quickly could offer real peace of mind.

Still, I would want much more information before trusting Doova with someone I love. Safety technology has to prove itself outside the controlled environment of a trade show. I want to know how reliably it reaches someone during an emergency and how much personal information it collects along the way.

The privacy side deserves just as much attention. A moving camera and microphone that learns your routines can become incredibly helpful. It can also become one of the most intimate connected devices in your home. Doova has an interesting idea at its core. Now Tuya needs to show the technology can earn the level of trust its role requires.

Would you put an AI robot with cameras and microphones in an aging parent's home if it could help family respond faster during an emergency, or would that feel like too much surveillance? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

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Man films himself taking down Flock cameras, gets arrested

Sat, 12 Sep 2026 15:19:14 -0400

You might expect someone taking down surveillance cameras to avoid being filmed. Jevon Martinez did the opposite.

The 44-year-old Rio Rancho, New Mexico, man recorded himself removing Flock Safety camera equipment around Bernalillo County on Sept. 2. He loaded the equipment into his pickup truck while explaining his reasoning to people watching online. The timing gave Martinez his opening.

Days earlier, Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen had moved to end the department's three contracts with Flock Safety. Allen cited concerns about privacy, data sharing and his confidence in the company. However, he still supports automated license plate reader technology and plans to look at other vendors.

Martinez apparently saw the remaining cameras as unfinished business. What happened next shows how quickly a fight over surveillance can turn into a criminal case once someone starts removing hardware they do not own.

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TEENS ACCUSED OF DESTROYING FLOCK CAMERA UNTIL BATTERY EXPLODED, IGNITING FIRE NEAR HOMES: REPORT

Martinez made his position unusually easy to understand because he documented it himself. In a Sept. 2 social media post, Martinez said BCSO no longer subscribed to Flock. He wrote that he was taking down the equipment so he could return it.

He also insisted that he was neither destroying nor stealing the equipment. Martinez described it as property that had been left unattended.

His videos carried the same message. "Since BCSO is busy, I know BCSO is busy, everyone who works for BCSO, I know you guys are busy, so I went ahead and helped you out," Martinez says while driving his pickup.

The camera then shows what he means by "helped." His truck bed is filling up with Flock equipment.

This also was not Martinez's first encounter with law enforcement over license plate readers. Rio Rancho police had arrested him months earlier in a separate Sandoval County case involving the alleged removal and damage of three license plate reader systems. He faced nine felony charges in that case.

Martinez does not come across in the videos as someone trying to keep a low profile. Quite the opposite. "We got a bunch of these bad boys," he says while showing off the equipment in the back of the truck.

Then comes the line that gives the videos an almost game-like quality. "Let's see how much I can get in one day. That's gonna be the challenge for everyone out there."

At another point, Martinez tells viewers, "Not in my city, not in my state." He also repeatedly calls the Flock cameras "tyranny trees," a nickname that says plenty about how he views automated vehicle surveillance. Reports of his livestream show him dismantling one of the systems while continuing to explain his position. Martinez creates his own record as he goes, with his face, voice and actions captured on camera.

This is where Martinez's social media explanation runs into an important problem. Bernalillo County authorities say he removed 10 Flock camera systems with an estimated combined value of $16,500.

However, only two were associated with BCSO. Authorities say the other eight were managed by neighborhood associations. That changes the picture considerably.

Martinez repeatedly described what he was doing as returning equipment to the sheriff after BCSO ended its relationship with Flock. Yet most of the systems authorities recovered were connected to other organizations.

BCSO also says the equipment remained property that members of the public had no authorization to remove. So while Martinez's videos clearly explain what he believed he was doing, they do not settle the ownership question.

EX-INDIANA DEPUTY CHARGED WITH FELONY FOR ALLEGEDLY USING FLOCK CAMERAS TO STALK GIRLFRIEND

Martinez said throughout his videos that he planned to return the equipment to BCSO. However, investigators give a somewhat different account of how that ended.

According to the criminal complaint, Martinez drove past BCSO headquarters three times while the equipment remained in his truck. Deputies eventually stopped him outside the sheriff's office.

Video of the arrest shows deputies surrounding his pickup with guns drawn before placing him in handcuffs. Martinez was unarmed, and the charges against him stem from the alleged removal of the equipment rather than a violent offense.

Court reporting differs slightly on the precise larceny charge. One account of the criminal complaint describes attempted larceny over $2,500, while BCSO reporting lists larceny over $2,500. He also faces an interference with communications charge.

Martinez appeared virtually in Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court on Sept. 4. Prosecutors did not file a pretrial detention motion, and Judge Claire McDaniel did not order him held in the Bernalillo County case.

That did not mean Martinez walked free. He remained in custody because of the separate Sandoval County case tied to the earlier alleged license plate reader removals. Reports say that Sandoval County held him over a violation of his release conditions and that a grand jury has since indicted him in that case. The cases remain unresolved, and the charges are allegations unless and until proven in court.

There is another wrinkle here that makes this story more interesting. Sheriff Allen had already reached his own breaking point with Flock Safety.

BCSO had three contracts connected to the company. One covered five automatic license plate reader cameras. Another involved 16 speed cameras connected to the Flock network. A third covered gunshot detection technology.

Allen said he had lost confidence in Flock over privacy safeguards and data sharing. He also raised concerns about other law enforcement agencies gaining access to New Mexico plate data.

Still, Allen has defended the underlying technology as a useful law enforcement tool. His disagreement centers on the vendor and the safeguards surrounding the data. That puts BCSO and Martinez in an unusual position. Both expressed serious concerns about Flock. Their ideas about what should happen next could hardly be further apart.

Automatic license plate readers can create a detailed record of where vehicles appear. Flock's LPR systems collect license plate text along with the date, time and camera location. They can also record basic vehicle characteristics such as make, model and color. Flock says the system does not collect the driver's identity through the LPR camera.

Police can use that information to generate leads in investigations. The concern comes from what happens when millions of those observations become searchable.

We saw the risks firsthand in Colorado, where a woman faced a porch theft accusation after Flock cameras linked her truck to the area. Other location data eventually helped her show where she actually was.

Flock cameras have also moved into places you may visit every week. CyberGuy found license plate readers operating at some Home Depot and Lowe's parking lots in Connecticut. That means pulling into a store can create another record tied to your vehicle.

Then there are systems that can combine different types of signals. We recently looked at SignalTrace, technology that can correlate wireless device signals with license plate reader information and travel patterns.

All of this helps explain why a camera on a roadside can trigger such a strong reaction. It does not give someone permission to dismantle one.

You can question automatic license plate readers without ever touching a camera. Start by finding out which company operates the readers in your community and how long your local agency keeps the data.

Then ask who can search the system and how officials audit those searches. Private cameras deserve attention too. A homeowners association, shopping center or business may operate plate readers that connect with law enforcement.

Public records can help you understand how local agencies use the technology. Public meetings also give residents a way to challenge contracts before officials renew them.

If you want cameras removed, push the people who have the legal authority to make that decision. That keeps the debate focused on surveillance policy rather than turning it into a criminal case.

TENNESSEE OFFICIAL SAYS FLOCK CEO SHOULD BE HANGED 'PUBLICLY FOR TREASON’ AS CONTROVERSIAL CAMERAS FACE REVOLT

I understand why these cameras make people uncomfortable. A system that quietly logs where vehicles appear deserves close scrutiny, especially when information can move between agencies. Bernalillo County's own sheriff had enough concerns about Flock to walk away from the company. Martinez clearly shares the privacy concern, but his videos show what can happen when someone decides to take the next step on his own.

The biggest factual problem with his argument is hard to overlook. Authorities say only two of the 10 systems he removed were associated with BCSO. The other eight were managed by neighborhood associations. Then there are the videos themselves. Martinez wanted people to see what he was doing. He explained his reasoning and showed the equipment piling up in his truck. Those posts may help him make a political argument online. They also give investigators a remarkably detailed record of what happened. For me, the useful questions are who gets to collect our movement data and what limits control access to it. Those are fights worth having in public.

If your local sheriff said it no longer trusted a surveillance company, would you want every camera removed immediately or would you accept a replacement system with stronger privacy safeguards? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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153 million driver's license scans may be on the dark web

Sat, 12 Sep 2026 11:14:37 -0400

Think about how often you hand someone your driver's license without giving it much thought. You rent a car, check into a business or go somewhere that needs to verify your age. Someone scans your ID, hands it back and you move on.

A dark web service called Nexus claimed to have collected more than 153 million driver's license records from people in the United States and Canada. It also claimed to have more than 10 million identification cards, over 3 million travel documents or international IDs and at least 579,000 medical cards. That's a staggering amount of identity information.

There is an important caveat, though. The 153 million figure comes from Nexus itself. It has not been confirmed as the number of unique people affected. Some records also contained multiple images of the same license. Still, researchers found enough real driver's licenses in the database to get the FBI's attention.

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INSURANCE BREACH EXPOSES 7M DRIVER'S LICENSES

KrebsOnSecurity reported that Nexus appeared on the Russian-language cybercrime forum Exploit on Aug. 31. The service advertised access to identity documents covering more than 170 million people in North America. Driver's licenses made up the biggest category.

Nexus claimed more than 153 million driver's license records. It also advertised millions of other identity documents and hundreds of thousands of medical cards. Krebs tested the service by running a blank search. That returned roughly 11.5 million pages of results with about 15 records per page.

That does not prove there were 153 million different people in the database. However, it does support the possibility that the collection was enormous. More concerning, the driver's license total increased by nearly 400,000 records in about 24 hours while Krebs was examining the service.

The people running Nexus claimed they had been continuously taking new data for more than a year. Investigators have not independently verified that claim.

The timestamps attached to some of the images helped researchers begin tracing where the records might have originated. Cybersecurity journalist Brian Krebs discovered his own Virginia driver's license being offered as a free sample by the people promoting Nexus.

His record contained six image files. Those included images of the front and back of his license, along with infrared and ultraviolet versions. Krebs then asked friends and family members for permission to search for their licenses. Nine people whose licenses appeared in Nexus said the timestamps closely matched dates when they had traveled or presented identification. That led investigators away from the idea that airport security alone might explain the records.

For example, Krebs reported that he had used his passport at airport security during one trip. Later that day, he and his mother handed their driver's licenses to a Hertz rental car representative. Their driver's license scans in Nexus carried timestamps only seconds apart.

Security researcher Zach Edwards found his license in Nexus too. His timestamp lined up with a trip to Las Vegas. Edwards said he had presented his license in several places during the trip. However, he specifically remembered having it scanned at Planet 13, a marijuana dispensary.

The Planet 13 connection pointed researchers toward Louisiana-based identity verification company IDScan.net, which announced a partnership with the dispensary in 2022. Its scanners can capture IDs using ultraviolet, infrared and white light, similar to the additional scans found in some Nexus records.

IDScan.net has since acknowledged a security incident. The company says an unauthorized third party may have accessed or copied customer information stored in accounts on its cloud. That information may include full names and driver's license or other government-issued identification numbers.

IDScan.net says it is notifying potentially affected people and offering free credit monitoring. However, the company has not confirmed that the Nexus collection came from its systems or that the 153 million records represent 153 million unique people.

IDENTITY THEFT RARELY ANNOUNCES ITSELF: 6 SIGNS YOU MISSED

The FBI has now confirmed that it is examining what happened. In a statement to Reuters on Sept. 2, the bureau said it was "looking into the incident" but could not provide more information because of the ongoing investigation.

Reuters reported that the breach, if confirmed at the reported scale, could rank among the largest exposures of government-issued identity documents in North America.

Shortly after KrebsOnSecurity published its investigation, the Nexus dark web site disappeared. Its login page was replaced with a message saying the service was no longer available. That does not mean the stolen records disappeared with it. Anyone who purchased or downloaded information before the site vanished could potentially retain copies.

Your driver's license holds information criminals can use to make impersonation attempts much more convincing. Depending on the state, it may include your full name, address, date of birth, license number, photograph and signature.

A high-quality image of the front and back can also give a criminal something physical to present during an identity check. That can become especially concerning when businesses use driver's licenses to verify customers remotely or in person.

A stolen card number can usually be canceled. Your name, photograph and other identity information are much harder to replace.

You cannot pull back a driver's license scan that may already have leaked, but you can make stolen identity information harder to use and watch for warning signs.

A credit freeze can make it much harder for someone to open a new credit account using your identity. The Federal Trade Commission says freezes are free. They also do not affect your credit score and remain in place until you lift them. To fully freeze your credit, contact Equifax, Experian and TransUnion separately .

A freeze primarily protects against new credit accounts. It will not stop someone from misusing an existing bank account or another service that does not check your credit. The FTC recommends credit freezes as one of the strongest protections against new-account identity theft.

Look through your credit reports for accounts, inquiries or personal information you do not recognize. An unfamiliar account can be an early sign that someone is using your identity.

Do not assume one clean check means you're finished. Stolen information can sit unused for months before a criminal tries it. The FTC recommends reviewing your credit reports regularly for accounts you do not recognize.

A credit freeze cannot stop every form of identity fraud. Turn on transaction alerts through your bank and credit card providers. Also watch for password changes, new devices and changes to your contact information. Check your statements instead of relying only on alerts.

Your primary email account can become a gateway to everything else. Use a strong, unique password, store it in a trusted password manager and enable multifactor authentication when available.

Protect your mobile account too. Ask your carrier whether you can add an account PIN or stronger protection against unauthorized number transfers. Also, treat unexpected calls differently when the caller already knows information about you.

Knowing your address or driver's license details does not prove someone is legitimate. That information could have come from stolen records.

Even with good security habits, identity theft can still happen. Your Social Security number, financial information or other personal data may already be exposed without you knowing it. An identity theft protection service can add another layer of monitoring.

Depending on the service and plan, protection may include credit and financial account monitoring, alerts when personal information appears in known breaches or risky online locations and access to specialists who can help with recovery if fraud occurs. Some services also offer reimbursement or coverage for eligible identity theft losses.

Look closely at what each service monitors, how quickly it sends alerts and what recovery help is included.

See my tips and best picks on Best Identity Theft Protection at CyberGuy.com.

If you discover someone using your identity, document what happened and start the recovery process quickly. The FTC recommends reporting identity theft through IdentityTheft.gov. The service creates a recovery plan based on the type of fraud involved.

If someone misuses your driver's license, contact your state motor vehicle agency as well. Procedures for replacing a compromised license or changing a license number vary by state. Keep copies of reports, case numbers and correspondence. You may need them later when disputing fraudulent activity.

STOLEN IDS SOLD FOR ‘HAPPY MEAL’ PRICES FUEL BILLIONS IN US BENEFIT FRAUD

What jumps out at me here goes beyond the massive 153 million figure. We hand over our driver's licenses all the time, often without knowing who keeps the scan or how long they store it. If criminals get a copy, they may have another powerful piece of information to use for identity theft. While investigators work to determine where the Nexus records came from, protect what you can. Consider freezing your credit, keep an eye on your accounts and use identity theft monitoring if you want added protection. And the next time someone scans your license, ask what happens to that image after you leave.

After seeing how driver's license scans can potentially end up in criminal hands, will you think twice before letting a business scan yours? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

Asked Siri to call your bank? A scam could cost thousands

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 16:00:31 -0400

Asking Siri to call your credit card company sounds about as routine as asking for the weather. You say the company name, Siri finds a number and the call begins. For Virginia, an 82-year-old woman from Concord, Massachusetts, that simple request nearly turned into a financial nightmare.

She says she asked Siri to call American Express. Instead, she reached a bogus number. From there, the conversation eventually moved to her Bank of America account and a supposed $1,000 credit that suddenly became $100,000. Virginia caught on before sending the money.

Her story shows how a Siri bank scam can exploit something many of us barely think about: where a phone number came from before we dialed it. The Better Business Bureau has previously warned that fake customer service numbers can surface through voice searches. It has documented cases involving Siri and other voice assistants where people believed they had reached a legitimate company.

Here's how the scam unfolded and what you can do before your next financial call to make sure you're reaching the real company.

FTC REVEALS WHERE SPAM CALLS HIT HARDEST

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Virginia wrote to CyberGuy after the experience because she wanted other people to know how quickly a seemingly safe phone call can go wrong.

"Hi, I just wanted to pass on this scam. I needed to call American Express. Instead of using the phone number on my credit card, I asked Siri to call American Express instead. It was all downhill from that point on. The telephone number was bogus, and eventually I wound up on my BOA account with a so-called BOA Security Expert. Fortunately, when zeros started being added to the $1000.00 credit I was supposed to get, and the "gentleman" said he couldn't correct it, I needed to go to BOA and return the $100000.00. I realized what was going on and immediately hung up and froze my BOA account. I never expected that a number that Siri provided would lead to trouble. I try to inform people now that calling a number can also put your finances in jeopardy. I am 82 years old and could have lost my entire retirement in one fell swoop. Thank you," Virginia, Concord, Massachusetts.

That last part stopped me. Virginia had no reason to think asking Siri to place a call could potentially put her retirement savings in danger. After all, she initiated the call herself. That gave the person who answered an immediate advantage.

Based on Virginia's account, this looks like two scam techniques chained together. First came the fake customer service number. Then came a refund or overpayment scheme designed to persuade her to send real money back.

Virginia says she asked Siri to call American Express rather than using the phone number printed on her card. Apple says business information can appear across Apple services, including Maps and Siri. Place cards can include phone numbers and other business details.

We reached out to Apple for comment but did not hear back before our deadline. However, Virginia's experience alone cannot tell us how this specific bogus number became associated with her request. We simply do not know how the bad number got there.

This was a powerful setup because Virginia believed she had contacted American Express herself. She had not answered a random phone call. She had asked her iPhone to make the call. That can lower your guard before the person on the other end even says hello.

The Better Business Bureau has warned about this problem. Scammers can promote fake support numbers that make their way into online search results. Voice assistants may then use information pulled from those results or related business listings.

We have seen a similar trap with traditional web searches. In our report, The No. 1 Google search scam everyone falls for, a victim searching for customer support landed on a fake number and eventually lost control of his phone. Voice assistants can add another layer of trust because you may never see the number before the call starts.

According to Virginia, she eventually found herself dealing with someone claiming to be a Bank of America security expert. At that point, the story had shifted from customer service to her bank account. That shift should immediately raise your guard. Bank of America warns about criminals who pose as bank representatives and invent urgent problems involving your account. Scammers may ask for verification codes, remote access or money transfers. Then Virginia encountered the clue that saved her.

Virginia says she expected a $1,000 credit. Then zeros started appearing. Suddenly, she was dealing with $100,000. The supposed bank expert told her the mistake could not be corrected. According to Virginia, she was then told she needed to go to Bank of America and return the excess money. That follows a familiar overpayment or refund scam pattern.

Scammers claim they accidentally sent too much money. Then they pressure you to return the difference before you have time to verify what happened. Fortunately, the sudden jump to $100,000 made Virginia question the entire story. She hung up and froze her Bank of America account.

We cannot determine that from Virginia's description. Scammers sometimes use remote-access software to manipulate what a person sees on a computer. They can also move a victim's own money between accounts, so it appears that a new deposit arrived. Another possibility involves a fake banking page designed to display whatever balance the criminal wants the victim to see.

CyberGuy has covered how fake support representatives use remote access and other tactics to take control of devices. You can see the warning signs in our guide, Protect yourself from tech support scams. Virginia did not provide enough information to identify the exact technique used here.

What we do know is that the criminal wanted her to believe $100,000 had appeared and that she needed to return it. If she had followed those instructions, the money she sent would have been very real.

NEW BANK SCAM LAWS COULD STOP SUSPICIOUS PAYMENTS

A scammer may know your name, your bank or details that make the call sound convincing. These steps can help you stay in control.

For banks and credit card companies, the safest starting point is usually the number printed on the back of your physical card. You can also open the institution's official app and find its contact information there. Avoid relying on a phone number supplied by a search result, sponsored ad or voice assistant when your finances are involved.

A call to your credit card company should not suddenly require you to move money through an unrelated bank account. If the story starts getting complicated, hang up. Then contact the company again using a verified number.

A scammer may claim your money needs to be transferred into another account to keep it safe. Do not do it. Bank of America warns that it will never ask customers to transfer money because fraud was detected on an account. The same caution applies if someone tells you to withdraw cash, buy gift cards or purchase cryptocurrency to resolve a banking problem.

If someone says $1,000 accidentally became $100,000, stop. Do not transfer the supposed difference back. Contact your bank independently and ask it to verify your actual balance and transaction history.

Banks use one-time codes to confirm your identity or approve certain actions. A scammer may ask you to read one aloud while claiming it is needed to cancel fraud. Never give a verification code to someone who called you or someone you reached through an unverified number.

If someone claiming to represent a bank or credit card company tells you to install software that lets them see or control your screen, end the call. Remote-access programs can give criminals enormous control over your computer. They may watch you log into your bank, move money between accounts or manipulate what appears on the screen.

Strong antivirus software can help protect you if a fake support representative sends you to a malicious website or convinces you to download a dangerous file. It can also warn you about phishing pages and other threats designed to steal passwords or financial information. The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at CyberGuy.com.

Set alerts for purchases, withdrawals and transfers so you know quickly when money moves. You should also enable notifications for suspicious logins and changes to your account information when your financial institution offers them. These alerts give you another chance to catch activity you did not authorize.

Your banking password should never be reused on another account. A password manager can create and store strong passwords so you do not have to remember them all. Also enable two-factor authentication whenever your bank supports it. An authenticator app or security key can provide stronger protection when available.

If someone tells you money suddenly appeared in your account, do not rely on what they show you. Close the session. Open your bank's official app yourself or type the bank's website address directly into your browser. Then check your transactions independently.

If Siri or Apple Maps provides incorrect business information, you can report the listing to Apple. On an iPhone, open Maps > tap your picture or initials next to the search field > tap Reports > tap Report a New Issue > choose the appropriate option and follow the on-screen instructions. Fixing a bad listing may help prevent someone else from reaching the same number.

APPLE’S $250M SIRI SETTLEMENT: ARE YOU OWED CASH?

If you think a scammer got access to your financial information, act quickly.

Hang up and stop responding to texts, emails or calls from the person. Do not use a callback number they provided.

Use the number on your card or inside the official app. Tell the fraud department exactly what happened. Ask whether any transfers, new payees or other account changes need to be stopped.

Virginia froze her Bank of America account as soon as she realized something was wrong. Your bank may also allow you to lock a debit or credit card instantly through its app.

If you entered a password while the scammer could see your screen, or you gave one away, change it from a trusted device. Change any other account that used the same or a similar password.

If you installed a remote-control program at the scammer's direction, disconnect that computer from the internet. Remove the software and run a full antivirus scan before signing back into sensitive accounts. If you are unsure whether the device is clean, get help from a trusted computer professional before using it for banking again.

Look for unfamiliar transactions, new payees and changes to your phone number or email address. Also check whether the scammer altered security settings or added a new device to the account.

If the scammer obtained your Social Security number or enough personal information to open accounts in your name, consider freezing your credit with Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. A credit freeze can make it harder for a criminal to open new credit in your name.

Report financial fraud to your bank immediately. You can also file a report with the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If money was transferred, contact the financial institution involved as soon as possible. Some transactions become much harder to recover once they are completed.

Criminals may contact victims again after the first attempt. Sometimes they pretend to be investigators, bank employees or recovery specialists who claim they can get your money back. Treat any unexpected follow-up contact with suspicion.

What sticks with me about Virginia's story is how ordinary the first move felt. She was trying to reach a company she already trusted and used Siri to save herself a little time. That tiny convenience nearly opened the door to a six-figure loss. Virginia also deserves credit for catching the moment when the story stopped making sense. A $1,000 credit becoming $100,000 was enough to make her question the person guiding her.

That instinct protected her retirement. I also would not frame this as an age issue. Criminals succeed because they exploit trust in familiar technology and recognizable financial brands. Anyone can get caught when a call begins through a device they use every day. From now on, I would treat financial phone numbers almost like passwords. Verify them before you use them. The number on your physical card or inside the official banking app gives you a much stronger starting point than a search result or voice request.

After hearing what happened to Virginia, would you still let Siri dial your bank without checking the number first? Have you ever reached the wrong company through a voice assistant or online search? Write to us in the comments below and tell us what happened. Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

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Fox News AI Newsletter: Researcher delivers extinction warning

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 13:22:53 -0400

IN TODAY’S NEWSLETTER:

- Researcher who departed AI role over fears of racing into extinction says people are 'begging' for regulation

- 9/11 hero’s legacy lives on 25 years later as son unveils new tech lifeline for those facing grief

- Nobody wants AI-generated sports commentators, but a pro golf tournament is introducing one anyway

'GAMBLE': The Anthropic researcher who is leaving the company over fears the technology is gambling with human life told Fox News there is hope that we can avoid the chance it could destroy humankind within the next decade.

BEYOND THE PAIN: A father's legacy is living on through a new artificial intelligence (AI) tool that helps others navigate grief and trauma — two-and-a-half decades after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

SMART FLEX: Apple on Wednesday unveiled a highly anticipated foldable version of the iPhone along with other consumer tech devices embedded with artificial intelligence in the first major product event under the leadership of new CEO John Ternus.

NEXT-GEN SIDEKICK: Meta on Tuesday rolled out a long-planned personal artificial intelligence agent aimed at helping users complete daily tasks.

THREAT ALERT: Anthropic said Thursday it disrupted several attempts this year by researchers to use its AI models for biological research that could potentially aid the development of biological weapons, prompting the company to ban accounts and strengthen its safeguards.

RACE TO NOWHERE: Golf fans who tune into this week's New Mexico Open broadcast will be introduced to a new commentator by the name of Duff Foreman. He'll join former PGA Tour winner Notah Begay III and well-known broadcaster Ryan Burr on the call, although Foreman won't technically be on site, seeing as how he's not an actual person.

SILICON HANDSHAKE: The federal government under President Donald Trump reached an agreement with OpenAI on a landmark deal to equip government employees with the most cutting-edge artificial intelligence models at a major discount, Fox News Digital has learned.

'SEAT AT THE TABLE': A GOP insider making the conservative case for regulating artificial intelligence development predicts President Donald Trump's full-throated support for data center expansion will soon change after he hears from the American people on the midterm campaign trail.

THE NEW GOLD RUSH: As Americans weigh the costs and benefits of massive data centers emerging in their towns to fuel the artificial intelligence boom, the country's reddest state could be poised to capitalize on billions of dollars in investment that other states are increasingly reluctant to welcome.

CUT OF THE DEAL: As opposition to artificial intelligence data centers spreads across rural America, one group is proposing "data center dividends" to counter the backlash by allowing residents to share directly in the wealth generated by the technology hubs.

BOLD FRONTIER: Nvidia co-founder and CEO Jensen Huang declared that the era of artificial general intelligence (AGI) has arrived after OpenAI released its latest model.

AISLE BE WATCHING: Artificial intelligence is making its way into the grocery aisle, and it could have an unexpected effect on how much you spend. You grab a grocery cart, start working through your list and notice a screen on the handle offering directions, coupons and product suggestions. It can keep a running total and may even let you skip the checkout line. That sounds convenient. It also gives the store a new way to reach you while you are deciding what goes into your cart.

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8 biggest things we learned from Apple's 2026 event

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 10:30:20 -0400

Apple finally did it. After years of watching Samsung, Google and other phone makers experiment with foldables, Apple has entered the race with iPhone Duo, its first foldable iPhone.

It's the announcement everyone is talking about, but it was hardly the only thing that stood out. Apple also showed us an iPhone camera that can help prove a photo is authentic. Siri AI is getting far more personal. Apple Watch will soon be able to summarize conversations you want to remember. Even AirPods are getting smarter at a lower starting price.

Some of these upgrades feel genuinely useful. Others raise questions about privacy, price and how much intelligence we want built into the devices around us. So, after sorting through everything Apple announced, here are the eight biggest things we learned from Apple's 2026 event and what they could mean for you.

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IS APPLE INTELLIGENCE ON YOUR IPHONE REALLY SECURE?

Let's start with the product everyone is talking about. iPhone Duo opens to a 7.6-inch Super Retina XDR display. Apple says that gives you 50% more screen area than iPhone 18 Pro Max. The 5.4-inch outer display offers 90% of the screen area of iPhone 18 Pro.

Apple also tackled one of the biggest complaints about foldables: the crease. The company developed a custom nano-texture finish that reduces glare and reflections. Apple says the finish also minimizes the visibility of the crease while giving the display a matte feel.

There are some other unexpected choices. Instead of Face ID, iPhone Duo uses Touch ID built into the side button. You can enroll multiple fingers, so unlocking works in different positions. Apple Pencil with USB-C support will arrive later this year. The phone uses Grade 5 titanium. Apple also says it carries an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.

The folding design also creates some camera tricks you can't get on a regular iPhone. Dual Capture can show your front and rear camera feeds at the same time during FaceTime, while Duo FaceTime lets someone beside you join the call using the outer display. You can also use that outer screen to frame higher-quality selfies with the rear cameras.

Apple added a few other clever touches. Duo Preview lets the person you're photographing see the shot before you take it, while Kid Cue uses animations to get a child's attention. Smart Take can even watch the scene and automatically snap a photo when everyone is ready. Then comes the part that may give you sticker shock: the price. iPhone Duo starts at $1,999 with 256GB of storage. Apple will offer configurations up to 2TB. Preorders begin Oct. 16, with availability starting Oct. 23.

The hardware grabs your eye, but the software could decide whether Duo succeeds. Apple changed iOS 27 so content moves between the outside and inside displays. Open the phone and apps can expand onto the larger screen.

You can also put two apps side by side. Mail can show your inbox alongside a message. The Home Screen can display two pages at once. The system also responds when you fold or rotate the phone.

That caught my attention because a folding screen needs to earn its extra cost. If I open a phone this large, I want more than a bigger version of the same app. Apple is also giving developers tools to take advantage of the design. During the event, Apple showed Zoom using the expanded screen for video calls and Netflix adapting its experience to the two displays.

The cameras use the second screen too. Duo Preview lets the person you're photographing see themselves on the outer display. Meanwhile, Smart Take can follow a scene and automatically snap the photo when everyone looks ready. Those are the features that could make the folding design useful after the initial wow factor wears off.

If a foldable phone doesn't interest you, Apple gave the regular Pro lineup a substantial camera upgrade. The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max use a 48MP Fusion Main camera with a variable aperture.

The camera can automatically adjust the aperture depending on lighting and depth of field. Apple also gives photographers manual control through four aperture settings: ƒ/1.48, ƒ/1.8, ƒ/2.8 and ƒ/4.0.

In darker environments, opening the aperture lets in more light. A narrower aperture can keep more of a scene in focus. However, another camera feature may prove even more important.

Apple Reference Image securely signs photo data at the pixel level when the picture is captured. Apple says that can help verify exactly what the camera sensor saw. Think about where we're headed with AI-generated images.

Being able to verify that an image began as an actual camera capture could become valuable for journalists, investigators or anyone documenting something important. That feature may get less attention than the new camera hardware. I wouldn't overlook it.

iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199, while iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at $1,299. Preorders begin Sept. 12, with both phones available starting Sept. 18.

APPLE RAISES PRICES AS AI CHIP COSTS SURGE

Apple can show us faster chips every year. Most of us notice battery life much faster. Apple says the iPhone 18 Pro Max can deliver up to 45 hours of video playback, the longest battery life the company has offered in an iPhone. It also rates the Pro Max for up to 30 hours of general use per charge.

Charging gets faster too. Apple says iPhone 18 Pro can reach 50% charge in around 15 minutes with a compatible adapter. Underneath it all sits the A20 Pro chip.

Apple built A20 Pro using 2-nanometer technology. The chip includes a second Neural Engine, bringing the total to 32 Neural Engine cores. Apple says that doubles compute power for advanced on-device models. The new Pro models also use a redesigned vapor chamber to manage heat. Faster performance sounds good. More time away from a charger is something you'll notice every day.

Siri AI had a big role in Apple's Sept. 9 iPhone 18 Pro unveiling. Apple showed how its rebuilt assistant can use your personal context, understand what you're looking at and take action across the apps you already use.

During the event, Apple showed someone asking what her mother wanted to cook during an upcoming visit. Siri searched Mail and Messages to find the answer. Apple also demonstrated Siri working through the Camera app. Point your iPhone at something and Siri can answer questions about what you're seeing or take action based on what's around you.

There's also a new Siri app on the Home Screen. You can use it to start a conversation or return to an earlier one, with conversations syncing privately through iCloud. Siri AI begins rolling out in beta in English on Sept. 14 with iOS 27. Apple says support for French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish will follow in October.

This one made me pay attention. Apple announced Siri Recap for Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4. It uses ambient listening to turn conversations into high-level notes. Apple says each recap can include a title, summary and key points that appear in the Siri app. You control where and when Siri Recap takes notes. For example, you could allow it at work but disable it at night.

Then there is Live Rewind. Double-click the Digital Crown and Apple Watch can transcribe what was said during the previous 15 seconds. You can then review what you missed. That's useful if you missed something someone said in a noisy restaurant. Naturally, ambient listening raises privacy questions.

Apple says these Audio Intelligence features do not create or store audio recordings. The company says raw audio used for processing remains inaccessible, even to Apple. Apple also says Audio Intelligence does not identify or attribute speakers. Live Rewind transcripts and Siri Recaps use end-to-end encryption when syncing through iCloud.

Siri Recap and Live Rewind require Siri AI. Apple says both will arrive in beta later this year, starting in English. I like the idea of getting help remembering an important conversation. However, I would want to know exactly when the feature is active every time I use it.

Apple Watch is becoming more aggressive about turning health data into something you can understand. Series 12 and Ultra 4 use Apple's new Health Sensing System. According to Apple, Apple Watch Series 12 can now measure heart rate every five seconds throughout the day. Apple also says heart rate variability is measured up to 24 times more often than before. Apple says its head-to-head testing found the system delivered the most accurate heart rate sensing in a wearable.

For everyday users, Readiness may be the more relatable feature. Each morning, Apple Watch analyzes your recent activity, sleep and vital signs. It then gives you a score designed to help you decide whether to push harder or recover. The score can also change during the day.

Meanwhile, Apple Watch Ultra 4 gets up to 50 hours of normal use. Max Extended Workout mode can reach 45 hours. Apple Watch Series 12 starts at $399, while Apple Watch Ultra 4 starts at $799. Both are available to preorder now and will be available starting Sept. 18.

Apple also showed how the iPhone and Apple Watch can work together to assess how your body is moving. With Movement Evaluations in the redesigned Health app, you can position your iPhone so the camera can see you, then follow guided exercises while vision-based AI analyzes your movements.

Apple says the assessments can look at flexibility, strength, balance, movement mechanics and VO2 max. They can also help you track your progress while recovering from an injury. Apple says the processing happens on your device, and no video is recorded, stored or shared.

SAMSUNG GALAXY Z FOLD8 LINEUP ADDS THREE CHOICES

The final surprise may appeal to people who have no interest in spending $1,999 on a foldable phone. Apple announced AirPods 5 with Active Noise Cancellation for $129. Apple says the new earbuds provide stronger Active Noise Cancellation than the previous generation. They keep an open-ear design for people who prefer not to use silicone ear tips. The standard $129 model gets up to four hours of listening with ANC enabled. The charging case brings the total to up to 20 hours.

A $149 version adds volume swipe on the stem and a wireless charging case. It gets up to five hours per charge with ANC and up to 22 hours with the case and ANC enabled. Both versions are available starting Sept. 18, with preorders open now.

AirPods 5 also support Live Translation and Siri AI. During the event, Apple showed AirPods translating Spanish into English while the wearer continued a face-to-face conversation.

Compared with iPhone Duo, AirPods 5 may seem like a smaller announcement. Still, the $129 model could end up being one of the products far more people actually buy.

Apple gave us plenty to talk about, but iPhone Duo is the one people are going to want to pick up and play with. I certainly do. At $1,999, it carries a premium price, but Apple is clearly betting that the larger screen and new foldable experiences will be enough to tempt early adopters. What interests me more is how much smarter these devices are becoming. Siri AI finally looks like it could understand enough about your day to be genuinely helpful. Siri Recap sounds incredibly convenient too, but a watch that can summarize conversations around you deserves some healthy scrutiny about when it's listening and how clearly you know it's active. Then there are improvements you don't need a demo to appreciate. Give me longer iPhone battery life any day. And Apple Reference Image could become far more important than it sounds today if we reach a point where you can no longer trust your eyes to tell whether a photo is real.

After everything Apple announced, what would actually convince you to upgrade, and what would make you hold onto the device you already have? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

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What your HOA may be putting online about you

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 14:30:59 -0400

A scammer doesn't need to hack your homeowners association. They may only need to look at information your community already makes available.

Meeting minutes, membership records and other association documents can contain details about the people who live in a community. Depending on the HOA and state law, some records may be available to association members while others could appear on an association website or another online system.

You probably didn't put the information there yourself. You may have no idea how much someone can learn about you. Yet a name tied to an address or community can give a scammer useful details for making a call or message sound legitimate.

What your HOA puts online could reveal more about you than you realize. Here's what to look for and what you can do about it.

THE ONE THING SCAMMERS CHECK BEFORE TARGETING YOU ONLINE

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HOA records can contain details about homeowners, association business and community disputes. What members can access and what an association can publish depends heavily on state law.

HOA meeting minutes and other association records can reveal more than homeowners expect. How much information appears depends on the association and state law. Some states give HOA members broad rights to inspect association records. Sensitive disciplinary, collection and payment issues can receive additional privacy protections.

California provides a useful example. State law treats board meeting minutes as association records available for member inspection but excludes minutes and other information from executive sessions. Those closed sessions can cover matters such as member discipline, certain payment issues and other sensitive association business.

California law also allows an association to withhold or redact information when releasing it could reasonably lead to identity theft or fraud or compromise a member's privacy. The privacy concern grows when an association includes unnecessary personal details in records or makes information available more broadly than required.

HOA membership lists can contain information that scammers and data brokers would find useful. In California, state law defines the membership list as including a homeowner's name, property address, mailing address and email address as collected by the association. Members can request access to association records under state law.

Homeowners also have an important privacy option. California law allows members to opt out of sharing their name, property address, mailing address and email address through the membership list by notifying the association in writing. The law also restricts association records from being sold, used for commercial purposes or used for purposes unrelated to a member's interests as a member.

Rules differ from state to state, so check the laws where you live and ask your HOA exactly what information it collects, who can access it and whether you can opt out. The concern extends beyond the HOA itself. Once personal information appears publicly online, it can be indexed or copied and combined with information already collected from public records and other sources. Data brokers and people-search sites build profiles using many of those sources.

FIVE DATA BROKER OPT-OUT MYTHS THAT LEAVE RETIREES EXPOSED

Personal information gives scammers context they can use to make a fraudulent message feel legitimate. The Justice Department has already prosecuted companies that supplied consumer information to fraud operations.

Epsilon Data Management, one of the largest marketing companies in the country, agreed to pay $150 million after federal prosecutors said it sold consumer data to operators running fraudulent mass-mailing schemes involving fake sweepstakes and astrology solicitations. The government said many victims were elderly and vulnerable. A related company, Macromark, pleaded guilty after lists it provided to fraudulent clients resulted in at least $9.5 million in victim losses.

Those cases involved marketing databases rather than HOA records. Still, they demonstrate why personal details can become valuable to criminals. Names and addresses helped fraudsters identify and target potential victims.

HOA information can give scammers another source of context. A scammer who learns your name, street address and community can weave those details into a phone call, text or email. A message claiming to involve an assessment or another issue connected to your property can sound far more believable when the person contacting you already knows where you live.

Older adults remain especially attractive targets for financial scammers. The FBI says criminals may target older Americans because many have accumulated significant savings. Older victims can also be more likely to engage with unsolicited phone calls, texts or emails.

In 2025, Americans over 60 reported more than $7.7 billion in internet-enabled fraud losses. The FBI received more than 201,000 complaints from people in that age group, which reported the highest total losses of any age group.

Those numbers don't mean everyone living in a retirement or 55+ community will encounter fraud. They do show why reducing unnecessary personal information online deserves attention. The fewer details scammers can easily connect to you, the harder you make their job.

You may have more control over your HOA information than you realize, but your options depend on where you live and how your association handles its records.

Start by seeing what someone outside your community can find. Search your HOA's name along with terms such as "minutes," "directory," "membership list" or your own name. Check whether documents appear directly in search results without requiring a resident login. Pay particular attention to documents that connect your name with your address or other personal information.

Contact your board or management company and ask which records anyone on the internet can access. Find out which documents require a resident login and whether search engines can index anything posted on the association's website. If a document contains personal information that has no reason to appear publicly, ask whether the association can remove it, redact the information or restrict access.

Privacy rights vary by state, so find out what options apply where you live. California homeowners, for example, can opt out of sharing certain information through the HOA membership list. Other states may have different rules covering association directories and member records. Ask your HOA or management company how its opt-out process works and whether you can limit the contact information available to other members.

WHY CAREFUL PEOPLE STILL END UP ON DATA BROKER SITES

Even if your HOA removes information from a public page, your name, address and other details may already appear elsewhere online. People-search sites and data brokers gather personal information from public records, websites and other sources, then combine those details into profiles.

Start by searching for your name, phone number, email address and home address on major people-search sites. If you find a profile, look for the site's opt-out or removal process and submit a request to have your information deleted.

You can also use a data removal service to automate some of this work. These services send removal requests to data brokers on your behalf and may continue monitoring for information that reappears later.

Whichever route you choose, check back periodically. Personal information can resurface as data brokers refresh their databases or pull from new sources.

Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com

I doubt most HOA boards are thinking about scammers when they post meeting minutes or maintain a community directory. They are focused on running the neighborhood. The problem comes when information collected for one purpose becomes useful to someone with very different intentions. That is why I would spend a few minutes searching your HOA's name along with your own. See what a stranger can learn about you without logging in or proving they live in your community. You may be surprised by how quickly a name, home address and neighborhood can be connected. I would also ask your HOA what stays behind a resident login, what appears on the open web and what you can opt out of sharing. Laws vary by state, but there is no reason to make a scammer's research easier than it already is. And remember, removing something from an HOA website may only solve part of the problem. Once personal information spreads to people-search sites and data brokers, cutting down those profiles can help put some distance between you and anyone trying to build a convincing story around your life.

Have you ever discovered your name, address or other personal information in HOA records online? If you asked your association to remove or restrict it, what happened? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

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Floating solar panels could save cities millions. Is your town next?

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 08:41:50 -0400

What if your town could build a solar farm without giving up acres of valuable land? Lima, Ohio, is trying something different. The city has completed a 2-megawatt solar array that floats on the Twin Lakes Reservoir, its primary drinking water source.

More than 3,000 solar panels now sit on the water and feed electricity to the nearby water treatment plant. The city projects the system will save nearly $10 million in electricity costs over its lifetime. That kind of savings could get the attention of cities far beyond Ohio.

So, could floating solar panels eventually show up on a reservoir near you? Here's how the technology works, why cities are interested and what it could mean for your community.

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WHO PAYS FOR US POWER BOOM? BLUE, RED STATES OFFER STARKLY DIFFERENT WAYS TO LOWER UTILITY BILLS AMID AI SURGE

Lima officially celebrated the completion of its Twin Lakes Floating Solar Project on Aug. 12. The final system includes 3,120 solar panels spread across about 3.6 acres of water, according to developer D3Energy. The 2-megawatt array sits on Lima's primary drinking water reservoir. That reservoir serves roughly 35,000 residents.

Next door, the city's water treatment plant processes about 14 million gallons of water each day. It also consumes more electricity than any other city facility. That makes the plant an obvious place to look for energy savings. Lima projects the floating solar system will save nearly $10 million in electricity costs over its lifetime. Earlier city estimates put first-year savings at roughly $200,000. For a city utility, that is serious money. Actual lifetime savings will depend on factors including future electricity prices and how the system performs over time.

Instead of attaching panels to racks planted in the ground, engineers mount them on floating platforms. Anchors and mooring lines keep the array in position.

Lima uses Ciel & Terre's Hydrelio floating system. Its anchoring setup connects to the banks and reservoir bottom. The design also allows the array to move as water levels change. The project uses bifacial solar panels, which can capture light on both sides.

Electricity travels from the array to eight inverters onshore. From there, the electricity helps power the water treatment plant. The result looks a bit like a traditional solar farm that traded grass for water.

Here is where the idea gets particularly interesting. Land costs money. It also competes with housing, businesses, agriculture and other development. Reservoirs already occupy space. Lima's floating array covers about four acres.

A land-based system producing the same amount of electricity would reportedly need at least 10 acres. That could make floating solar attractive to cities with limited open space. The panels can also sit near the facilities that need the electricity. In Lima, the water treatment plant sits right beside the reservoir. That reduces the need to find a distant solar site and then figure out how to move the electricity where the city needs it.

Researchers have also studied whether floating solar can help reduce evaporation by shading portions of the water surface. Of course, every reservoir comes with different conditions. Water depth, changing levels and recreational use can affect whether a project makes sense. Federal researchers also consider existing dam operations when evaluating potential sites.

LAWMAKERS TARGET ENERGY AFFORDABILITY THROUGH SWEEPING PERMITTING OVERHAUL IN NEW HOUSE BILL

This was one of my first questions. These panels are floating on the same reservoir that provides drinking water to about 35,000 people. Lima's system uses Ciel & Terre Hydrelio floats made from high-density polyethylene, or HDPE.

Ciel & Terre says its floating system complies with the BS 6920:2000 standard for nonmetallic materials that come into contact with water intended for human consumption. Still, communities considering floating solar have more to evaluate than whether the structure can float safely.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has examined environmental and regulatory questions surrounding floating solar. Its research notes that projects can affect water bodies differently depending on the location. That means a system that works well on one reservoir may require a different design somewhere else.

There is another number worth paying attention to. The Lima project cost about $5.3 million. Federal support played a substantial role in making the numbers work. The city received a $2.4 million Department of Energy grant. Combined with almost $900,000 in federal direct-pay tax credits, that support helped offset roughly half of the project's cost.

Those incentives covered a significant share of the upfront expense. That context is important when another city looks at Lima's projected $10 million in savings. A town considering floating solar would need to look at construction costs, financing and expected electricity production. Available incentives could change the calculation as well.

Lima began considering the project years before crews put panels on the water. City Council approved moving forward with the project in 2023. Construction began in 2025 before the system came online this August.

Lima may look unusual today, but floating solar has substantial room to grow. Ohio already has more than one project. D3Energy and ARP Solar completed a 1.5-megawatt floating array for Del-Co Water in Delaware, Ohio, in 2024. A 6-megawatt system in Monroeville is expected to come online before the end of 2026.

The bigger opportunity stretches far beyond Ohio. National Renewable Energy Laboratory researchers studied federally owned or regulated reservoirs across the U.S. They estimated those reservoirs have technical potential for 861 to 1,042 gigawatts of floating solar capacity.

That figure represents technical potential rather than a prediction that thousands of reservoirs will soon disappear under solar panels. Plenty of locations would never make sense.

Still, the scale helps explain why energy developers and local governments are taking a closer look at water. CyberGuy has covered this idea before on a much larger scale. India's Omkareshwar project showed how enormous floating solar installations can become. We have also seen developers rethink the shape of solar installations on land. One Texas company is building vertical solar towers designed to produce more power from a smaller footprint.

AMERICA’S BROKEN PERMITTING SYSTEM IS QUIETLY RAISING YOUR COST OF LIVING

Here is the part I would keep an eye on. Lima expects to save nearly $10 million in electricity costs over the project's lifetime. But that does not mean residents will suddenly see a cheaper water bill. The city could use those savings in different ways. Lower energy costs could help cover other expenses, pay for infrastructure upgrades or ease pressure on future rate increases.

So, if a floating solar project comes to your town, there is one question worth asking: Will any of those savings eventually make their way back to you? That answer could determine how much this technology really helps the people paying the bills.

You probably do not spend much time thinking about how much electricity your local water plant consumes. Yet you ultimately help pay for that electricity through taxes, utility rates or both. Floating solar gives cities another way to attack that expense without buying a huge parcel of land.

It also raises questions you should ask before cheering on a project. How much will it cost? How much electricity will it realistically generate? What happens to the savings? You should also ask what testing and monitoring will protect the water supply. Those answers will tell you whether a floating solar project makes financial sense for your community.

What I like about Lima's floating solar project is how practical the idea feels. The city already owns the reservoir, and its water treatment plant right next door uses a huge amount of electricity. So instead of finding another piece of land for solar panels, Lima put them on the water. Then there is the projected $10 million in savings. That certainly gets my attention. I want to see whether those savings hold up over time and, more importantly, whether residents eventually benefit from them. Lima also gives other cities something real to look at. We are seeing communities experiment with new ways to generate and store energy, from floating solar to massive battery projects. And who knows? The next solar project in your town may end up floating right on the water.

Would you be comfortable with thousands of solar panels floating on your town's drinking water reservoir if officials said the project could save millions, or would you need to see more long-term evidence first? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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Amazon's Alexa for Shopping can now verify suspicious messages

Wed, 09 Sep 2026 14:25:06 -0400

We have seen plenty of scams borrow Amazon's name, and some of them look convincing enough to make almost anyone hesitate.

Earlier this summer, we showed you a fake Amazon email that claimed there was unusual activity on an account and pushed the recipient to "Sign In to Verify." The message even suggested a document might need to be uploaded. We have also warned about fake Amazon recruiting texts promising hundreds of dollars a day for easy remote work.

The stories change, but scammers keep coming back to Amazon because so many of us use it. A delivery warning or account alert can feel believable when you are already expecting a package.

Now Amazon is giving customers a new way to answer the question we keep asking when these messages arrive: Did Amazon actually send this? The company says about 360,000 customers contact Amazon customer service every year asking whether a message is real. Its latest answer is built into Alexa for Shopping.

AMAZON JOB SCAM TEXTS ARE SPREADING AGAIN WITH A NEW TWIST

Here is how the new verification tool works, what it can tell you and why you should still keep your guard up when an Amazon message feels suspicious.

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Amazon says U.S. customers can now ask Alexa for Shopping whether an email, text, phone call or other message actually came from Amazon. Alexa for Shopping is Amazon's AI shopping assistant. It helps customers find products, compare items and manage shopping through natural conversation. Prime membership is not required to use Alexa for Shopping, but if you are considering joining, see our guide on how to get a cheap Amazon Prime membership at Cyberguy.com.

Now, you can also use Alexa for Shopping when something suspicious lands on your phone or computer. Instead of trying to judge a message by appearance alone, you can describe it to Alexa for Shopping.

You might ask: "Did Amazon send me a text about a delivery problem yesterday?" Or you could ask whether a Prime membership email came from Amazon. You can even provide details about a phone call from someone claiming to offer an Amazon refund. The verification tool then checks the information you provide against Amazon's own communication records.

When you ask Alexa for Shopping about a suspicious communication, provide details about where it came from and when you received it. You can also tell the assistant what the message said. Amazon then compares those details with its records.

According to the company, its technology looks at information such as the sender and message content. It also considers timing and formatting.

That gives Amazon an advantage over tools that simply search for suspicious wording or potentially dangerous links. Amazon can compare the communication with messages generated through its own systems. The company says it only confirms a message as legitimate when the tool has complete confidence.

The answer depends on what Amazon finds. If Amazon can match the communication to its records, Alexa for Shopping tells you it came from Amazon. It can also provide details about the communication and account security advice.

If the message does not match Amazon's records, the tool tells you that the information provided does not appear to correspond with an official Amazon communication.

At that point, Amazon may advise you to check your orders directly in the app or contact Amazon through its official support channels. You should also avoid clicking links in the suspicious message.

There is another possibility. Alexa may tell you that it cannot verify the communication with certainty. If that happens, Amazon provides additional steps. You can submit more detailed information or use another Amazon verification option.

AMAZON RECALL TEXT SCAM COMES WITH RED FLAGS

Alexa for Shopping is only one of Amazon's verification options. Earlier this year, Amazon launched verify@amazon.com. Anyone worldwide can forward a suspicious message to that email address and receive a response about whether Amazon sent it. You do not need an Amazon account or the Amazon app to use the service.

Amazon also offers a communication verification form through its customer service pages. So, if Alexa for Shopping cannot give you a firm answer, you still have another way to check before taking action.

There is another interesting part of the new feature. When you ask Alexa for Shopping to verify a communication, Amazon says it automatically reports that submission to its customer protection and enforcement team.

Those reports can help Amazon identify developing scam campaigns and bad actors impersonating the company. That means the suspicious text sitting on your phone could potentially help Amazon spot a larger scam targeting other customers.

Amazon scams work because they often start with something completely believable. You ordered something last week, so a delivery problem sounds possible. You have a Prime membership, so an account warning gets your attention. Then the scammer adds pressure.

A fake email may claim your account has been locked. Another message might say someone placed an expensive order using your account. That urgency can push you toward a link before you have time to think.

We saw exactly that pattern in the fake Amazon account email we investigated. The message used Amazon branding and warned that the account had been placed on hold. The safest response remains simple. Do not use the link in the message to investigate the warning. Open Amazon yourself and check your account.

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Amazon's new verification feature gives you another way to check suspicious communications. However, scammers will keep changing their tactics, so these steps can help you stay safer.

Be cautious when a message pressures you to act immediately or threatens consequences if you do not respond. Scammers want you reacting quickly because slowing down gives you more time to spot something suspicious.

If a message claims your account will close or a package requires immediate action, avoid clicking its links. Check your Amazon account through the official app or website instead.

Watch for anyone claiming to represent Amazon who asks you to buy gift cards as payment. Amazon warns that it will never ask you to purchase a gift card to resolve an account problem or make a payment. If someone makes that request, stop communicating with them.

Be especially careful if a caller asks for sensitive account information. Amazon says it will never ask for your password or one-time passcode over the phone. If someone claiming to represent Amazon asks for those details, end the conversation and contact Amazon through an official channel.

Phone scams deserve extra caution because the number on your screen can look convincing. Scammers can spoof caller ID information and make a call appear to come from a familiar company. Seeing "Amazon" on your phone does not prove Amazon is actually calling. If someone unexpectedly calls about a refund or account problem, avoid giving them information. Hang up and check your Amazon account independently.

Phishing messages can expose you to malicious websites and dangerous downloads. That is why I recommend using strong antivirus software on your devices. Strong antivirus software can warn you about known phishing sites and suspicious links. It can also help detect malware if a scammer tricks you into downloading something dangerous. Of course, antivirus software cannot replace good judgment. Avoid clicking links in unexpected Amazon messages whenever possible. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com.

Amazon also points U.S. consumers toward the Better Business Bureau's Scam Tracker at bbb.org/scamtracker. Amazon has partnered with the BBB so consumers can search reports involving suspicious communications. You can search using details such as an email address or phone number. However, a lack of reports does not prove a message is safe. New scams can appear before anyone reports them. When in doubt, verify directly with Amazon.

We have spent a lot of time showing you convincing Amazon scams because they keep arriving in inboxes and on phones. Scammers understand that Amazon feels familiar, which can make an urgent message easier to believe. That is why I think this verification feature has real potential. Instead of staring at an email wondering whether the logo looks right, you can ask Amazon whether the communication lines up with something it actually sent. Still, I would keep one habit above everything else: go around the message. Open Amazon yourself. Check your account from there. If something looks suspicious, use Amazon's official verification tools before you respond. The more ways we have to interrupt a scammer's sense of urgency, the harder it becomes for that scam to work.

Would you trust Alexa to tell you whether an Amazon message is real, or would you still want to verify it another way before taking action? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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Innocent woman says police use of Flock camera led to 13 days in jail

Wed, 09 Sep 2026 09:12:24 -0400

Lindsey Brooke Isaacs was asleep at home when police arrived and told the 23-year-old that her car had been involved in a crash that killed three people. She knew they had the wrong person. Her black Dodge Durango showed no obvious collision damage, and she had a receipt showing where she had been.

Still, the investigation eventually led to her being arrested and 13 days in jail. "My heart was in my stomach," Lindsey told me on The CyberGuy Report Podcast at Cyberguy.com/podcast/. "I didn't know what was going on."

Months later, prosecutors dropped all eight felony charges against her and investigators arrested another woman in connection with the crash. Her case now raises a bigger question about how much weight investigators should give license plate camera data when a person's freedom is on the line.

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LICENSE PLATE CAMERAS ARE TRACKING DRIVERS EVERYWHERE

The deadly crash happened on Oct. 4, 2025, along eastbound Interstate 4 near DeBary, Florida. Motorcyclist Joaquin Deno died. Flagler County Deputy Administrator Jorge Salinas and his wife, Nancy Salinas, also died. Witnesses reported that a Dodge Durango was involved.

Investigators found Lindsey's black Dodge Durango through a Flock automated license plate reader. The camera recorded her vehicle traveling eastbound near the Seminole and Volusia county line at 9:51 p.m. That camera was about three miles west of the crash scene. The crash happened around 9:53 p.m. That timing became especially important later.

Lindsey's attorney, Patrick McGeehan, said his team performed a time-distance analysis and concluded Lindsey was already beyond the crash location when the collision occurred. So the camera really did capture Lindsey's vehicle. The problem came from what investigators concluded from that sighting. Lindsey put it more bluntly during our conversation. "They just picked up my car off a camera and called it the end of the day. We got her."

The Flock camera hit was far from the only information investigators had. A 911 caller described a maroon Dodge Durango and provided part of its license plate number. Later, investigators also found red or maroon paint transfer on a Ford Focus involved in the crash.

Meanwhile, Lindsey drove a black Dodge Durango. A specialized Florida Highway Patrol team later inspected Lindsey's vehicle and reported finding no damage suggesting it had been involved in a collision with another vehicle.

That finding lined up with something Lindsey said she had been telling investigators from the beginning. "Where is the damage on the vehicle?" she recalled asking police. "Because I'm standing right in front of it and I don't see any damage." Still, authorities impounded her SUV. Months passed.

On April 17, 2026, Lindsey got a call from her attorney. She had to surrender that day. "They are arresting you for this crime," Lindsey recalled him telling her. She faced eight felony charges: three counts of vehicular homicide, three counts of leaving the scene of a crash involving death, leaving the scene involving serious bodily injury and reckless driving causing serious bodily injury. Lindsey spent 13 days in jail.

During our podcast conversation, she described spending her first several days in solitary confinement. She said she had a toilet, a sink and a metal sleeping slab covered by a thin mat. Her charges were so serious, she said, that jail officials initially kept her separated from other people.

Later, Lindsey was transferred to other sections of the jail. After her first bond hearing, she remained behind bars. "I was devastated, I was scared," she told me. "I thought my life was over."

HOW SURVEILLANCE TECH LED POLICE TO ACCUSE THE WRONG PERSON

A new investigation changes the case

The case finally began moving in a very different direction after prosecutors and a specialized Florida Highway Patrol team took another look. That team found no meaningful crash damage on Lindsey's Durango. Investigators revisited witness information and followed evidence pointing toward another vehicle.

On May 22, the State Attorney's Office formally declined to prosecute Lindsey on all eight charges. Authorities then arrested Alisa Lee Montalvo on charges connected to the crash. Prosecutors allege Montalvo was driving a maroon Dodge Durango. She faces nine charges, including three counts of vehicular homicide and tampering with physical evidence. She has not been convicted, and the charges remain allegations.

For Lindsey, the news brought enormous relief. "I felt like a new woman," she told me. "I felt free." Lindsey told me she later received an apology from the head of the Florida Highway Patrol. "It felt like a miracle," she said. "Another miracle from God that I was hearing it in person, face to face."

However, she also said the experience left lasting emotional and physical effects. "This took and is going to take maybe years to get better mentally, physically, emotionally," Lindsey said. Lindsey has since filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against two Florida Highway Patrol troopers involved in the investigation, alleging false arrest, wrongful imprisonment and malicious prosecution. Those claims have not been proven in court.

We reached out to Flock Safety and the Florida Highway Patrol for comment. Flock Safety responded with the following statement:

"Flock cameras provide investigative leads; they do not identify perpetrators, determine guilt, or make arrest decisions. In fact, the complaint itself calls the Flock evidence 'exculpatory, not inculpatory,' meaning the evidence pointed away from Ms. Isaacs rather than implicating her: it accurately placed her vehicle three miles from the crash scene just two minutes before the crash. Characterizing her arrest as the result of Flock technology fundamentally misrepresents both the allegations and the role our technology played in this case."

The Florida Highway Patrol did not respond to our request for comment.

What a Flock camera can record

Flock cameras are automated license plate readers, often called ALPRs. They capture images of passing vehicles and use software to identify license plates. Flock systems can also capture vehicle characteristics including make, model and color. Each camera sighting can create a record linking a vehicle with a particular place and time.

For police, that can become an extremely useful investigative tool. A stolen car can appear on a camera. A vehicle connected to a missing person case could produce a lead. However, Lindsey's experience raises another question. What happens when investigators put too much confidence in one search result? We previously explored that concern after surveillance technology helped police accuse a Colorado woman of stealing a package. Her own phone location history eventually helped show where she had really been.

One of the most interesting moments in my conversation with Lindsey came when I asked whether she blamed the Flock technology or the way police interpreted its data. Her answer was clear. "I 100% think the second one you said, how police interpret the camera footage," she told me. That gets to the heart of this story.

The Flock camera captured Lindsey's vehicle traveling on I-4. The machine did what it was designed to do. Human judgment came next. Investigators had to decide what that sighting meant. They also had to weigh it against witness accounts, physical evidence and the condition of Lindsey's car.

According to Lindsey's federal complaint, the Flock hit three miles from the crash two minutes beforehand, ultimately helped her legal team argue that she was already beyond the crash location when the collision occurred. Technology can surface a lead. People still have to prove what that lead actually means.

FLOCK SAFETY CAMERAS NEED CONSTITUTIONAL GUARDRAILS BEFORE FURTHER DEPLOYMENT, TENNESSEE MAYOR ARGUES

The debate over these cameras has now taken a major turn in Florida. On Aug. 31, the Florida Department of Transportation revoked permits for license plate reader systems within rights-of-way on Florida's state highway system.

FDOT cited the rapid growth of the systems along with reports of misuse and concerns involving data privacy and surveillance. Cameras covered by the order must be removed within 30 days. The agency also said it will stop issuing future permits for license plate readers within its jurisdiction.

However, that order does not eliminate every Flock camera in Florida. It applies to cameras within FDOT-controlled state highway rights of way. Local governments can take different approaches to cameras on city or county property. Several agencies have chosen to pull back further. Miami-Dade County, for example, announced that it would suspend its entire license plate reader program. Other Florida agencies plan to continue using cameras away from state highways.

Flock Safety has also announced significant changes to how its system operates. In August, the company announced that it was changing its recommended and default license plate data retention period from 30 days to seven days.

Flock also plans to require law enforcement customers to use its Audit Assistance tool by the end of 2026. The technology flags unusual search activity for review.

Case codes will also become mandatory for law enforcement searches by the end of the year. Flock says emergency searches can bypass that requirement, although those searches will be flagged for review. Those changes add oversight. Still, safeguards inside the software cannot determine whether an investigator has drawn the right conclusion from the information on the screen.

Most of us probably drive past license plate readers without noticing them. A single plate scan may seem harmless. After all, anyone standing beside the road can see your license plate.

A searchable network changes the equation. Instead of someone seeing your vehicle once, a network of cameras can record when that vehicle passed particular locations.

We have already reported on Flock license plate cameras appearing at some Home Depot and Lowe's parking lots. We also reported on a Washington court ruling that found Flock license plate reader images can qualify as public records under that state's Public Records Act.

Lindsey told me she knew Flock cameras existed before her ordeal. She simply had no idea how much could ride on the information they collected. "I just thought it was like a traffic camera," she said. Today, her opinion has changed. "I feel very different about those cameras now."

POWERFUL CRIME-FIGHTING SURVEILLANCE GROWTH SPURS LAWMAKERS TO ISSUE WARNING: 'ORWELLIAN'

If police tell you that your vehicle appeared in a license plate reader search tied to a serious crime, your own records could become important.

Save receipts and toll records that can help establish where you were. If your phone already stores location history, preserve that information too. Avoid changing or deleting anything related to the period investigators are asking about.

Doorbell cameras and security systems often overwrite older recordings. If footage could show your vehicle at home or somewhere else, preserve a copy as soon as possible. The same goes for dashcam video.

If authorities claim your car was involved in a collision, take detailed pictures and video showing its condition. Photograph and record each side of the vehicle and keep the original files with their date information intact.

A serious criminal accusation can escalate quickly. An attorney can help preserve evidence and communicate with investigators. Legal counsel can also examine whether the available data actually supports what police believe happened.

I'm torn on Flock cameras. If somebody burglarizes my home, I want police to have technology that can help identify the vehicle that drove away. If investigators are trying to locate a missing person, a license plate reader could provide a valuable lead. But Lindsey's story shows what can happen when a lead begins driving the investigation instead of helping investigators test what really happened. Her black Dodge Durango had no crash damage. Other evidence pointed toward a maroon Durango. The timing of the Flock hit ultimately helped her attorney argue that she could not have caused the crash. Yet she still spent 13 days in jail. As I told Lindsey during our conversation, "I can't stand when technology is used in ways that it was never intended for." That is where I land on this. The technology can be incredibly useful. The people using it still need to challenge what they think they know before someone loses their freedom. For more of Lindsey's remarkable firsthand account, listen to or watch my full conversation with her on The CyberGuy Report Podcast at Cyberguy.com/podcast/.

After hearing what happened to Lindsey, would you want Flock cameras in your community, or has this case changed how you feel about police tracking license plates? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

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AI shopping carts could drive up your grocery bill

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 16:00:04 -0400

Artificial intelligence is making its way into the grocery aisle, and it could have an unexpected effect on how much you spend. You grab a grocery cart, start working through your list and notice a screen on the handle offering directions, coupons and product suggestions. It can keep a running total and may even let you skip the checkout line. That sounds convenient. It also gives the store a new way to reach you while you are deciding what goes into your cart.

New research found that shoppers who chose a smart shopping cart spent 32% more on average than people using a regular cart. They also bought more items and stayed in the store longer. So the question for you is pretty simple: Does a smarter cart help you shop better, or does it make spending more a little too easy?

Here's how the study worked, where these smart carts are already showing up in the U.S. and how to use one without letting it push your grocery bill higher.

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NEW AMAZON AI SEARCH TURNS WORDS INTO SHOPPABLE IMAGES

The research comes from Bayes Business School at City St George's, University of London. The study, published in the Journal of Business Research, looked at how digital shopping carts were associated with spending and shopping behavior. Researchers studied smart shopping carts at a well-known German supermarket chain during March 2025.

They analyzed 12,418 individual shopping sessions over the month. Of those trips, 9,422 involved shoppers actively using the smart-cart technology. These were grocery carts fitted with tablet-style screens on the handle. Shoppers could use the technology for digital shopping lists, personalized recommendations and in-store navigation. The carts also supported checkout-free payment.

Researchers recorded how much shoppers spent and how many items they bought. They also measured how long each shopping trip lasted. The differences were substantial.

Smart-cart shoppers spent 32% more on average than non-users. They also purchased 25% more items and spent 23% more time in the store. The spending gap grew during afternoons and weekends. Meanwhile, shoppers tended to spend the most time in stores during the evening.

Those numbers naturally caught the researchers' attention because a cart that increases shopper engagement could become a valuable tool for stores. Dr. Sabrina Gottschalk, a lecturer in marketing at Bayes Business School and lead author of the study, said the findings suggest retailers could see significant revenue gains from the technology.

She pointed to special offers and new product recommendations as potential opportunities. The screen also creates another place for retailers and brands to advertise while someone is actively deciding what to buy. That last part catches my attention. The screen may help you find something faster. At the same time, it can put another product in front of you when you are already in shopping mode. Your grocery cart has essentially become another screen competing for your attention.

There is an important limitation here. The study found an association between smart-cart use and higher spending. Because the researchers observed shopping behavior rather than randomly assigning shoppers to different carts, the results do not prove that the technology itself caused the 32% increase.

Someone choosing a smart cart may already have planned a bigger grocery run. A shopper with a longer list could also be more interested in technology designed to make navigating the store easier. Then researchers found another wrinkle.

They looked at shoppers who interacted with the smart-cart screen more than 20 times during a single trip. These "superusers" bought significantly more items and stayed in the store longer. However, they did not spend more money overall. Once screen interaction reached higher levels, spending and basket size eventually began to decline.

Researchers suggested that some of these shoppers may have been using the technology more for the experience than because they wanted to buy more. So the research does not prove that tapping a smart-cart screen automatically sends your grocery bill soaring. Still, a 32% difference in average spending is hard to ignore.

BABY BOOMERS HATE 10 THINGS ABOUT TODAY'S GROCERY STORES

While this particular study happened in Germany, smart carts are already rolling through grocery stores here in the U.S. Instacart says thousands of its AI-powered Caper Carts are deployed across more than 100 cities. The company also said in May 2026 that Caper Carts spanned 15 states and were available across more than a dozen retail banners overall. U.S. retailers using the technology include Kroger and Schnucks, along with Wakefern banners such as ShopRite and Fairway Market. Weis Markets has also begun deploying them at select stores.

Caper Carts use cameras, built-in scales and other sensors to understand what shoppers put into or remove from their baskets. The screen can also deliver recommendations while customers move through the store. Amazon has a competing version called Dash Cart.

Its newest Dash Cart displays prices and keeps a running total as you shop. It can offer personalized nearby deals, help navigate the store and let shoppers bypass the traditional checkout line. Amazon says the newest version will expand to dozens of additional Whole Foods Market locations across the U.S. by the end of 2026. That means this technology could become a much more familiar part of your grocery run.

Here is where I think smart carts become especially interesting. A traditional shopping cart holds your groceries. A smart cart can also put promotions directly in front of you while you move around the store.

Instacart says its Caper Cart technology can use signals such as what is already in your basket and where the cart is inside the store to decide when to surface recommendations. The company says prompts designed to remind shoppers about forgotten items have increased average basket size in its own testing. Think about how powerful that can be.

You turn down an aisle and a promotion appears for something nearby. Something already in your cart could also lead to a recommendation for another product. Sometimes that could save you money or remind you about something you genuinely need. Other times, you may end up buying something that never appeared on your shopping list. Retailers have spent decades figuring out where to position products. Smart carts bring another version of that strategy directly onto a screen that moves through the store with you.

There is also a data side to these carts that deserves attention. Instacart says its Caper Carts use basket-facing camera sensors and outward-facing cameras. They also rely on built-in scales and location-tracking systems.

The company says those systems can detect which products enter or leave the basket and how shoppers move through store aisles. Instacart also says its technology can connect physical shopping interactions with purchase history. That data can make the cart more useful. It can also help make recommendations more targeted.

That is why I would pay attention to the privacy settings connected to any grocery-store account or loyalty program you use. Take a look at what information the retailer collects and what controls it gives you over personalized advertising.

MARYLAND MOVES TO BAN SURVEILLANCE PRICING IN GROCERY STORES

You do not have to avoid an AI shopping cart simply because there is a screen attached to it. Some of the technology can genuinely make grocery shopping easier. The key is using those features without letting every recommendation change what you planned to buy.

Decide what you need before you enter the store. When the cart suggests something extra, compare it with the list you already made.

This could actually be one of the best features of a smart cart. Keep an eye on your total as you shop instead of waiting for the final surprise at checkout.

A recommendation may be useful, but remember why it appeared on your screen. The retailer benefits when another product lands in your cart.

Do not assume a coupon or promoted product gives you the best deal. Compare prices and look at the unit price when package sizes differ.

Here is a simple experiment you can do yourself. Compare what you spend during a few smart-cart trips with your regular grocery runs. You may discover the technology helps you stay organized. You could also find that those convenient suggestions are adding more to your bill than you realized. For more ways to cut grocery costs, check out our article on 8 apps that can cut your food bill.

I like technology that removes some of the aggravation from grocery shopping. Seeing your running total can be useful. Getting out of the store without standing in a long checkout line sounds pretty appealing to me too. What I want you to remember is that the screen on your cart has another purpose. Retailers can use it to put offers and recommendations in front of you at exactly the moment you are deciding what to buy. That does not make every suggestion a bad deal. Some could genuinely save you money. Still, the 32% spending difference in this study caught my attention. As these carts become more common in grocery stores, I think we should pay as much attention to how they influence our shopping as we do to how much time they save us. Enjoy the convenience and take the discounts when they really help. Most of all, keep your shopping list and your budget in charge.

Would you grab an AI-powered shopping cart if it helped you skip the checkout line, or would knowing smart-cart users spent 32% more make you stick with a regular cart? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

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How to stream safely while traveling outside the US

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 06:47:30 -0400

Traveling abroad used to mean leaving your normal entertainment routine at home. Now, your streaming subscriptions can come with you. However, hotels, airports and cafés often mean unfamiliar Wi-Fi networks and different streaming catalogs.

If you want to stream safely while traveling outside the U.S., a VPN, or virtual private network, can help. It creates an encrypted connection between your device and the VPN server. That adds useful protection when you are on a network you do not control.

A VPN can also let you choose a server in your home country. That can be useful when you sign in to streaming services you already use. Still, content availability depends on the service, your subscription and local licensing rules. Here's what to know before you travel so you can protect your connection, stream more smoothly and avoid surprises along the way.

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INSTANTLY UPGRADE YOUR STREAMING: AT HOME AND WHEN TRAVELING

Free Wi-Fi makes travel easier. Yet you often do not know who runs the network, how it is configured or who else is connected. Most major websites and apps already use HTTPS encryption. Even so, a VPN adds another encrypted tunnel between your device and the VPN server. That can reduce what the local network can learn about your internet activity.

This protection is useful beyond streaming. You may check email, book a reservation or sign in to an account while you are away. Turning on a VPN before using unfamiliar Wi-Fi adds another layer of privacy. Of course, a VPN does not make every public network risk-free. You should still avoid suspicious Wi-Fi names, keep your devices updated and use strong account security.

Streaming can get more complicated when you cross international borders. A service may offer one catalog in the U.S. and another in Europe or Australia. Licensing agreements, regional rights and company policies often determine what appears. A VPN can be useful here because it gives you a secure way to connect to the internet while you sign in to subscriptions you normally use at home. You can also choose a VPN server in the U.S. when you need a U.S.-based connection.

However, a VPN does not guarantee access to a particular show, movie, channel or sporting event. Streaming companies set their own terms of use and regional availability rules. A program you watch at home may therefore be unavailable at your destination. Before you travel, check your streaming provider's current policies and the availability of anything you especially want to watch.

If you want a secure U.S. connection while traveling, set everything up before you leave. That way, you are not troubleshooting from an airport lounge or hotel room.

Choose a reputable VPN service and create your account before your trip. Look for one that offers U.S. server locations, apps for the devices you use and enough simultaneous connections for the people traveling with you.

Install the VPN app on every phone, tablet or computer you plan to bring. Then, sign in and test the connection before you leave home. This also gives you time to solve any password, installation or account problems while you still have a reliable connection.

Open your VPN and choose a U.S. server location. Once connected, open your streaming service and sign in normally. Websites and streaming services see the VPN server's IP address instead of your usual public IP address, while the connection between your device and the VPN server remains encrypted. Your streaming provider still decides what programming your account can access.

TRAVEL MISTAKE PUTS PHONE, LAPTOP AND STREAMING ACCOUNTS AT RISK

Streaming services have their own rules for VPN connections, regional access and travel. Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, ESPN and Apple TV+ may handle VPN connections differently, so check your service before you travel.

The exact shows, movies, channels and sporting events you can watch also depend on your subscription and the streaming provider's regional rules.

That is especially important for live TV and sports. Broadcast rights can change by country, league and even individual event. If there is something specific you want to watch during your trip, check the service before you leave.

A VPN can also protect your connection while you watch live sports through subscriptions you already have. That can be useful for football, basketball, baseball, hockey, tennis, cycling, golf and other events when you are away from home.

However, a VPN does not create a subscription or eliminate a provider's blackout rules. Your streaming service still controls access based on your plan, location and its current broadcasting agreements. For that reason, check the event and service before relying on it for a big game.

The best time to prepare is before you are standing in an airport with spotty Wi-Fi. Download the VPN app on your phone, tablet or laptop. Sign in and test it. Also, update your streaming apps before departure.

Next, sign in to the services you expect to use. Some platforms may ask you to verify your identity when they detect a new device or location. Handling that at home can save time later. If your service supports offline viewing, download a few shows or movies before you go. Offline downloads are especially useful on planes, trains and trips where the connection may be unreliable.

When you use a VPN, your traffic travels through the VPN server before reaching the internet. Distance can affect performance. If you mainly want extra privacy and do not need a particular country, choose a nearby server. A shorter distance can often improve speed and latency.

If you need a U.S. IP address for a service you normally use at home, connect to a U.S. server instead. If the stream slows down, try another server in the same country. A different location may have less congestion or better performance.

Not every streaming problem comes from the VPN. Hotel and airport networks can slow down when many people share the same connection. First, check the underlying Wi-Fi. Then, reconnect to the VPN or try another server.

Closing apps that are downloading files, backing up photos or running large updates can also help. If the connection still struggles, lower the video quality. HD and 4K video require much more bandwidth than standard-definition video. A trusted mobile connection may also perform better than crowded public Wi-Fi, depending on your roaming plan and signal strength.

THE TRICK TO SMOOTHER STREAMING AT HOME AND ON THE ROAD

Traveling with a streaming device can make a hotel room feel more like home. However, VPN setup varies depending on the device.

Apple TV: Some VPN providers offer dedicated Apple TV apps that you can install directly on supported models.

Amazon Fire TV and Fire Stick: Many major VPN services offer apps for compatible Fire TV devices.

Roku: Roku does not support traditional VPN apps directly. Instead, you generally need to connect it through a VPN-enabled router or another supported network setup.

Before packing a streaming stick, check whether your hotel television gives you access to an HDMI port. Also, remember that some hotel networks use a browser-based login page. That can make connecting a streaming device more complicated.

A streaming service may license a movie in the U.S. but not in France, Australia or another country. Another broadcaster or streaming company may hold the rights there. As a result, the same account can show a different catalog after you cross a border.

Live sports can be even more complicated because broadcasting rights often vary by market. That is why it helps to check availability before a trip. A VPN can protect your connection and change the location of the VPN server you connect through. However, it cannot change the licensing agreements behind a streaming service.

With so many VPN services available, I would focus on a few practical things. Look for strong encryption, an easy-to-use app, plenty of server locations and support for the devices you plan to bring. If you expect to stream while traveling, also check whether the VPN works well with the streaming services you use and offers servers in the countries you may need.

A VPN encrypts the traffic between your device and the VPN provider's servers, which can add an important layer of privacy when you are using hotel, airport or café Wi-Fi. Before choosing one, check that it supports your phone, computer, tablet and any streaming devices you plan to use. You should also compare how many devices can connect at the same time, especially if you are traveling with family.

I would also look closely at the provider's privacy practices, reputation and independent security audits. Free VPNs can come with limitations such as slower speeds, fewer server choices or questionable data practices, so read the privacy policy before installing one.

Remember that a VPN is a privacy and security tool. You remain responsible for following the terms of your streaming provider and any applicable laws.

For the best VPN software, see my expert review of the best VPNs for browsing the web privately on your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com/VPN.

Streaming abroad is much easier than it used to be. Still, I would not wait until you land to figure out your setup. Install your VPN and update your streaming apps before leaving home. Sign in ahead of time, too. Then download something for offline viewing so you have a backup when hotel Wi-Fi becomes unreliable. I also like using a VPN on unfamiliar networks because streaming is only part of what we do online while traveling. You may use the same connection for email, travel reservations and other accounts. Finally, remember what a VPN can and cannot do. It can encrypt your connection and let you select the location of the VPN server you use. It cannot promise that every show, channel or game will be available everywhere you travel.

What is the biggest streaming headache you have run into while traveling outside the U.S.? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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Gmail change may flood your inbox with political email

Mon, 07 Sep 2026 11:36:30 -0400

If your Gmail inbox already feels crowded, election season may add another layer of noise. Starting Sept. 8, 2026, Google's new Gmail Verified Sender Program will give qualifying U.S. political committees a more reliable path to personal Gmail accounts. That means qualifying political committees will have a new way to improve the reliability of their email delivery, provided they follow Google's security, authentication and spam requirements.

The program applies to eligible candidates, parties, PACs and other registered political committees that meet Google's requirements. Campaign Verify's eligibility criteria focus on registration and program requirements, regardless of party label.

The bigger issue for you is control. You can still unsubscribe, block a sender, report unwanted messages as spam or create your own Gmail filters.

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DO NOT CLICK FAKE 'ACCOUNT RECOVERY' AMAZON EMAIL

The Gmail Verified Sender Program is scheduled to launch September 8 for eligible U.S. political committees. Campaign Verify says political organizations must verify their sending domains before they can participate. Eligible groups include candidates, parties, PACs and other political committees that qualify under the program. Google also requires participating senders to follow email security and compliance rules. One key requirement is a user-reported spam rate below 0.3% over a rolling 14-day average.

Getting verified alone does not guarantee that every campaign message will reach your inbox. Google says continued participation depends on senders following its requirements and maintaining positive recipient engagement. If a sender's average user-reported spam rate rises above 0.3% over a rolling 14-day period, the sender violates the program's policy and could be suspended or removed. Standard Gmail spam filtering would then apply.

So, this does not give campaigns unlimited access to your inbox. However, it changes how Gmail can treat eligible political email before you personally tell Gmail what you want. One more point: verification confirms the political committee's sending domain. It should not be read as Google vouching for every claim, fundraising pitch or link inside a message.

Here is the part that could get annoying. Gmail has long used automated systems to decide whether bulk email belongs in your inbox or spam folder. Under the new program, verified political senders that stay within Google's rules can receive more reliable delivery to personal Gmail accounts.

For someone who already receives fundraising appeals, petition requests or campaign updates, that could mean seeing more political messages in Gmail. Google tells CyberGuy the program grew out of an earlier pilot and says Gmail users will remain in control of what stays in their inboxes.

"Following our previous pilot, this program is designed to connect people with the emails they want to receive while keeping them fully in control of their inboxes. To participate, bulk senders must meet strict security and compliance requirements, ensuring that messages people receive are relevant, useful, and verified," a Google spokesperson told CyberGuy.

Google also points out that Gmail users can continue to mark a message as spam, block a specific sender and unsubscribe from unwanted mailing lists. The company says the new program does not turn off Gmail's broader security protections. Google says Gmail's filters continue to block more than 99.9% of spam, phishing and malware while using recipient feedback to help determine what people want to receive. Still, if more qualifying political messages reach you, some of the cleanup work may fall on you.

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This is where your own Gmail choices become important. According to reporting on the new program, if you mark a participating sender's message as spam, Gmail can use that feedback for your account. Future messages from that sender can then be routed to spam based on your preference.

Google's standard Gmail tools also confirm that messages you report as spam move into the Spam folder. Over time, reporting unwanted email helps Gmail identify similar messages more effectively. In other words, do not assume you have to live with every campaign message that reaches you.

You have several ways to take back your inbox. Start with the least aggressive option and move up if the messages keep coming.

On a computer, open the message and look next to the sender's name. If Gmail shows an Unsubscribe option, click it and confirm. Google says some unsubscribe requests can take a few days to fully stop the mail. Gmail may also send you to the sender's website when a one-click option is unavailable.

If you did not ask for the message or the sender keeps emailing you after you tried to leave the list, select the email and click Report spam. That moves the message into Spam and gives Gmail another signal about what you do not want.

For a sender you never want to hear from again, Gmail lets you block that address. Future messages from a blocked sender go to Spam. Keep in mind that campaigns may use more than one sending address or domain. Blocking one address may reduce the flow without stopping every related message.

If the same sender or phrase keeps showing up, create a filter on your computer. Open Gmail, click Show search options in the search box and enter the sender, domain or other criteria you want to target. Then click Create filter and choose what Gmail should do with matching messages. You can archive them, apply a label or delete them automatically. I would be careful with broad keywords such as "vote" or "election." Those words can appear in news alerts, community messages and emails you actually want. A specific sender or domain gives you more control.

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Political campaigns and other organizations can obtain contact information from many sources, including public records and commercial data providers. Reducing the amount of personal information circulating online may help limit some unwanted outreach.

A personal data removal service can do much of the cleanup for you. They can send removal requests to data brokers on your behalf and continue following up as your information reappears. This can reduce your exposure across data broker and people-search sites. However, it cannot remove information from government websites, so it will not stop every political email or message.

The less personal information that data brokers have available to package and share, the fewer places marketers and other organizations may have to find your contact details. Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com.

Political email can also give scammers an easy theme to copy. If a message pressures you to donate immediately, verify your identity or click a link before a deadline, avoid using the link in the email when anything feels off. Go directly to the campaign or organization's official website instead. CyberGuy has covered how scammers use fake political donation requests and how political messages can hide scam links.

One of the best ways to reduce future clutter is to stop handing out your main email address everywhere. An email alias gives you another address that forwards to your inbox. You can use a separate alias for donations, petitions, newsletters or other sign-ups. If that alias starts getting flooded, you can shut it down without changing your primary address. For recommendations on private and secure email providers that offer alias addresses, visit Cyberguy.com.

This Gmail change arrives at a time when many people already feel buried by junk email, spam texts, robocalls and political messages.

We covered exactly that in our free CyberGuy LIVE class, "Sick of Spam?" The live session has ended, but you can still get the replay and our spam-stopping checklist. I walk you through ways to reduce junk email, cut down robocalls, curb political texts and clean up unwanted messages. Get the free CyberGuy LIVE replay and checklist at Cyberguy.com/cyberguylive/classes/#past-classes. That is worth doing before September 8, especially if your inbox already feels like a dumping ground.

Google is giving verified political committees a new path to more reliable email delivery, but campaigns still have to play by Gmail's rules. Users also retain the power to unsubscribe, block senders and hit the spam button. From a security standpoint, verifying political senders can help make impersonation harder. From an inbox standpoint, however, you may still end up doing more of the sorting yourself if campaign volume picks up. My advice is simple: use Gmail's controls aggressively when a message keeps showing up after you have had enough. Unsubscribe from legitimate lists. Report suspicious or unwanted messages as spam. Create targeted filters for repeat senders. Then think about using an alias for future political sign-ups so your primary email stays cleaner. Google's 0.3% spam threshold also gives campaigns a strong incentive to avoid irritating recipients. The real test will come after September 8, when political email volume increases and Gmail users start voting with the Report spam button.

Would you rather Gmail make more of the initial decision about which political emails belong in spam, or are you comfortable deciding sender by sender once those messages reach you? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

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Pilotless cargo aircraft could change how packages move

Mon, 07 Sep 2026 07:55:40 -0400

A broken pump on an offshore platform, or medical supplies needed after a hurricane can be tough to move quickly. The FAA just tested one possible solution: a hybrid-electric cargo aircraft that can take off vertically and fly without a crew onboard.

The FAA announced that Elroy Air and the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development conducted a cargo demonstration at Houma-Terrebonne Airport in Louisiana. The agency says it was the first remotely piloted aircraft test flight under its eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) Integration Pilot Program, known as eIPP.

That may sound like a specialized aviation test, but the bigger story is what aircraft like this could eventually do. Elroy Air's Chaparral can carry more than 500 pounds, putting it in a very different league from the small delivery drones you may picture hovering over a driveway.

So, could pilotless aircraft like this eventually change how everything from emergency supplies to everyday goods moves across the country? Here's what the FAA is testing and why it could be a big deal.

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The FAA created eIPP to help the government learn how next-generation aircraft can operate safely in U.S. airspace. In March, the Department of Transportation selected eight projects across 26 states. Louisiana is one of the participants, and more test flights are planned through the rest of 2026. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the Louisiana demonstration provides data that can help "turn these concepts from trial to deployment."

That line gets to the heart of this test. Chaparral has flown before. In December 2025, Elroy Air completed its first point-to-point cargo delivery with the aircraft. During that demonstration, Chaparral autonomously carried 213 pounds over a 2.6-mile flight. What changed here is the regulatory setting. The FAA now gets to study these flights as part of a federal program focused on bringing advanced aircraft into the national airspace.

Chaparral looks more like a small cargo aircraft than the drone that might bring dinner to your house. It uses electric propulsion for vertical takeoff and landing. Then it transitions to wingborne flight for the longer part of the trip. A hybrid-electric powertrain gives the aircraft longer-range capability without requiring charging infrastructure at every stop. Elroy Air's current Chaparral specifications list a maximum range of 450 miles and a payload of more than 500 pounds.

The cargo system is unusual, too. Elroy designed modular pods that workers can load before the aircraft arrives. Chaparral can pick up a pod, fly it to another location and leave it there. That could reduce the amount of ground equipment needed at remote sites. Because it can take off vertically, Chaparral can serve locations that lack a traditional runway.

There is an important detail behind the word "pilotless." The FAA described the Louisiana demonstration as remotely piloted. Elroy Air later said Chaparral completed a week-long series of flights autonomously with no pilot onboard while operating under Air Traffic Control oversight.

That means humans still play a role in overseeing these operations even when the aircraft handles the flight autonomously. As testing continues, regulators will have to determine how much human supervision is required and how the aircraft should respond to communication failures, changing weather or other unexpected problems.

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You probably will not see a Chaparral dropping an Amazon box onto your front lawn anytime soon. The aircraft targets what the logistics industry calls the middle mile. That means moving cargo between larger points in a delivery network rather than carrying one small order to your doorstep.

Elroy Air has pointed to offshore energy operations and industrial supply chains as potential uses. The company also sees an opportunity in disaster response, where damaged roads can make moving supplies far more difficult. For example, Chaparral could carry replacement equipment to an offshore facility without sending a crewed helicopter. After a major storm, aircraft like it could eventually help move heavier supplies into areas that ground vehicles struggle to reach.

Elroy Air said when it joined eIPP earlier this year that the program could include cargo operations across the Gulf Coast, including energy industry locations in Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi.

Delivery drones are starting to show up in more places, but most of them are still carrying pretty small loads. Amazon plans to expand Prime Air drone delivery to nearly 500 U.S. cities and towns by the end of 2026. Those drones are built for lightweight packages delivered directly to customers. We recently took a closer look at Amazon's huge drone delivery expansion and what it could mean if you live in one of the communities getting the service.

Meanwhile, other companies are working on the last part of the trip. Robot.com's R-dog uses wheeled legs to get over obstacles such as stairs and curbs while carrying deliveries.

Chaparral takes on a much bigger job. Instead of carrying one sandwich or a small box, it is built to move substantial cargo between locations. That could make heavy-duty delivery one of the first places where this kind of aircraft proves especially useful.

The Louisiana flight represents one step in a much broader federal test program. The FAA says it will study these demonstrations, identify problems and refine procedures for advanced air mobility. Louisiana and the other eIPP participants plan additional flights through the rest of the year.

Watch how much human supervision the FAA requires as the technology develops. Regulators will also have to decide where these aircraft can operate routinely. Another major test will come when something goes wrong. Communication can fail. Weather can change. The aircraft will need dependable ways to respond safely when either happens. Those answers will tell us much more about how close pilotless cargo aircraft are to regular commercial use.

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The biggest change could happen behind the scenes before you ever see one of these aircraft overhead. If heavy cargo can move faster between remote locations, companies could shorten some supply routes. Communities that are expensive or difficult to reach could gain another delivery option.

Emergency response could benefit as well. An aircraft that takes off without a runway could potentially keep supplies moving when damaged infrastructure slows trucks or traditional aircraft.

However, communities will want answers about noise and flight paths. Safety questions will be even bigger as these aircraft begin sharing more airspace with conventional aviation.

For you, the FAA's work now could eventually influence which autonomous delivery services reach your area and what safeguards come with them.

What gets my attention here is how much work this aircraft could actually take on. We have watched small delivery drones inch closer to everyday use for years, but Chaparral is built for a much bigger job. It can move hundreds of pounds over real distances without needing a runway at every stop. I also like that the FAA is testing this in a real-world program instead of rushing it into wider use. Regulators need to see how these aircraft handle shared airspace, changing conditions and unexpected problems. The bar should stay high when you are talking about hundreds of pounds flying overhead. For now, I would keep an eye on remote worksites, disaster response and other places where moving cargo is difficult or slow. If these aircraft prove they can do that safely and reliably, they could end up changing a much bigger part of the delivery network.

Would you feel comfortable with pilotless cargo aircraft routinely flying over your community if they could speed up deliveries and emergency response? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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Autonomous excavators are digging with empty cabs

Sun, 06 Sep 2026 13:03:52 -0400

If you have ever driven past a construction site and watched an excavator moving huge piles of dirt, you probably figured there was an experienced operator sitting in the cab. On some job sites in Texas and Nevada, there is nobody in that seat.

San Francisco-based Bedrock Robotics has autonomous excavators doing real commercial earthwork with no operator onboard. The company says the deployments follow a year of testing on active job sites with human supervision.

Seeing AI take over software tasks is one thing. Watching it control a massive excavator on a live construction site feels very different. Bedrock says this could help contractors deal with worker shortages and keep projects moving more efficiently. Here's how the technology works and what could come next.

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100 KODIAK DRIVERLESS TRUCKS ARE HEADED FOR PUBLIC ROADS

Bedrock says its operator-free excavators are now active on major infrastructure projects. One machine is working on a Nevada water treatment facility with Sundt Construction. In Texas, Bedrock is working with Champion Site Prep on a multimillion-cubic-yard earthwork project.

The company also has a 1.2 million-cubic-yard civil sitework project with Zachry Construction Corporation. The current work centers on rough early earthmoving and foundation prep.

The company is concentrating on clearing earth, cut-and-fill operations and rough cuts before moving into more detailed work. That makes sense because earthwork comes early in a project. If crews fall behind there, everything that follows can feel the delay.

Bedrock measures excavator productivity by the cubic yards of earth moved during a shift, a company spokesperson tells CyberGuy.

How much earth a machine should move depends on the project, soil conditions and the rest of the equipment involved. Still, the spokesperson says, "As of our deployments in August 2026, two years after the company was founded, we are already near human-level productivity."

Bedrock calls its system the Bedrock Operator. The company designed it as a retrofit for existing heavy equipment. Bedrock says crews can install its sensor and computing package in a day without permanent changes to the machine. Once a site manager sets the initial plan, the software takes over the digging work. Bedrock says its machine-learning system can understand the surrounding area and plan movement. It can then carry out complex tasks.

The company says it trained the system on tens of thousands of hours of field work. However, there is an important detail about the current rollout. Bedrock is deploying new excavators that it outfitted and tested at its own facilities. When we asked when the system would begin operating on contractors' existing equipment, a Bedrock spokesperson said the company has no update to share yet but hopes to have more soon. So the retrofit model remains central to Bedrock's plan. The live operator-free deployments are still in an earlier phase.

Seeing a huge excavator move with nobody inside will probably make some people nervous. Bedrock knows safety will help determine how far this technology goes and says it comes first as the company expands deployment. The machines monitor their own progress while they work. If a machine gets stuck or cannot continue, the system can call for help.

When we asked how often a person needs to step in, a Bedrock spokesperson told CyberGuy, "It's relatively rare." If a machine encounters something unusual or gets stuck, someone monitoring the fleet can briefly intervene until the autonomous system is ready to take back over.

Bedrock also keeps a person in the loop. That gives the system a path to human support without requiring someone to sit in the cab all day. On active sites, that becomes especially important. People walk through work zones. Water trucks and other heavy equipment move nearby.

Bedrock says the safety response happens automatically. "If a person or unauthorized object gets too close to a Bedrock-equipped machine, the machine will automatically stop," the spokesperson said. The excavator stays stopped until the person or object has moved to a safe distance, with no manual intervention required.

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Bedrock picked excavators for a reason. The company says excavators can account for about 25% of a contractor's fleet. They also take years to master.

Bedrock estimates that an operator may need five years or more to fully develop the skill. That creates a difficult staffing problem. Contractors need experienced people, yet many projects involve long stretches of repetitive earthmoving.

Bedrock wants autonomous equipment to handle more of that repeatable production work. Skilled operators could then focus on detailed jobs or supervise a larger operation.

We have seen autonomous excavators before. CyberGuy previously covered HEAP, a 12-ton robotic excavator that built a massive stone wall on its own.

What makes Bedrock different is where the technology is headed now. These excavators are doing commercial work on active job sites as part of real infrastructure projects.

The timing helps explain why investors are pouring money into this technology. Bedrock has raised more than $350 million. Its founding team includes former Waymo engineers who spent years working on autonomous vehicles.

Meanwhile, construction companies are struggling to find enough skilled workers. Bedrock cites industry estimates showing that roughly one in five construction workers is over age 55. Another estimate says more than 40% of the construction workforce could retire within the next five years.

The company also points to research showing that 92% of firms with open craft positions have difficulty filling at least some of those jobs. Those departures could hit contractors while demand remains high across many types of building projects.

Costs add another pressure point. Bedrock cites a McKinsey analysis that found large construction projects typically took 20% longer than scheduled and ran up to 80% over budget.

Then there is safety. Construction accounts for a disproportionate share of workplace deaths compared with its share of the overall workforce. Automation could help reduce exposure to dangerous tasks. However, companies will still need to prove that autonomous machines can work safely around people over long periods.

Bedrock also takes a firm position on what this technology means for equipment operators. "We do not expect operators to be replaced at all," a Bedrock spokesperson tells CyberGuy. In the near term, the company sees Bedrock-equipped machines working alongside existing crews because contractors do not have enough skilled operators to tackle every project. Longer term, Bedrock expects some experienced operators to move into supervisory positions overseeing autonomous equipment. The company compares that future role to becoming a "foreman for machines." At the same time, Bedrock says people who want to continue operating equipment themselves should still have a place in construction for years to come.

The long-term idea goes far beyond one excavator digging by itself. Bedrock wants multiple machines to coordinate across a job site. Bedrock co-founder Kevin Peterson described a future where an excavator could work alongside a bulldozer, truck and grader.

Instead of each machine operating as a separate tool, software could help coordinate the larger job. That could change project scheduling in a big way. A site manager might eventually assign the goal while a connected fleet determines how to move the work forward.

Bedrock says this coordinated model remains on its roadmap. For now, the company is scaling excavator deployments and expanding the types of tasks its system can perform.

Here's why this could affect you. Construction delays can hold up new housing, road projects and water infrastructure. If autonomous equipment can keep earthwork moving when contractors cannot find enough experienced operators, some projects could move faster and stay closer to schedule.

Bedrock says it sees autonomous machines working alongside people rather than eliminating operator jobs. In the near term, that could give existing crews more help with repetitive earthwork. Over time, some experienced operators could end up supervising groups of autonomous machines while others continue working directly in the cab.

Permits and material shortages can still slow a project down. Skilled workers also remain essential for planning, detailed work and handling situations the technology cannot manage on its own.

I'll be watching whether that near-human productivity holds up as these machines move onto more job sites. Bedrock says human intervention is relatively rare today, but I also want to see how that changes when one person is monitoring a larger fleet.

Safety will be the other big test. I want to see what happens when something unexpected enters the work zone. The more autonomous equipment we put around people, the more important that real-world track record becomes.

What catches my attention here is that Bedrock has moved beyond showing what an autonomous excavator might be able to do someday. These machines are already doing paid work on active construction sites with nobody sitting in the cab. Bedrock now tells us the machines are nearing human-level productivity and that human intervention is "relatively rare." Those are encouraging signs, but I want to see how those claims hold up across more projects and over longer periods. I also like hearing Bedrock say directly that it does not expect operators to disappear. If autonomy helps contractors handle more work while experienced people take on tougher jobs or supervise the machines, there could be a real upside for both crews and the projects they build. The real test will come as Bedrock puts more of these machines to work. If they stay safe and productive around real crews, those empty cabs may become a much more familiar sight.

If autonomous machines could help finish construction projects faster, would you be comfortable seeing them on job sites, or would you worry about what they could mean for workers? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

Should you use a separate computer for online banking?

Sun, 06 Sep 2026 08:16:14 -0400

When so much of your financial life lives online, protecting the device you use to access your money deserves some extra thought. Nancy from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, recently wrote to us asking whether keeping banking and investments on an entirely separate computer could provide another layer of protection.

"I've had several clients tell me they have bought a computer that is only used for online banking, financial institutions and anything to do with their investment accounts. Is this a good strategy for protecting some of your assets? What are the upsides and what are the downsides?"

Nancy, yes. Using a separate computer only for banking, investments and other financial accounts can add a meaningful layer of security. I especially like this approach for someone with substantial savings or retirement assets. It can also make sense if you simply want to keep your financial life separated from everything else you do online.

However, buying another computer will not make your accounts untouchable. How you set it up and how you use it are what make the strategy worthwhile.

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Think about what happens on the computer you use every day. You open email, click links and shop online. Maybe you also use social media, download documents or install browser extensions. All of that creates opportunities for malware, phishing attempts or malicious software to reach your device. A dedicated financial computer removes much of that exposure.

On this computer, you would skip email and casual web browsing. Online shopping would happen on another device. Ideally, you would install very little software beyond what the computer needs for security and accessing your financial accounts. That gives attackers fewer opportunities to reach the device you use to manage your money. Our guide to safely viewing your bank and retirement accounts online also explains why protecting the device you use is an important part of financial security.

The biggest advantage is isolation. If malware gets onto the laptop you use for email or everyday browsing, your dedicated financial computer remains separate.

There are several other benefits worth considering:

For people who do not need to check investments constantly, that separation can be especially useful.

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This is where you need to be careful. A banking-only computer can reduce certain risks, but it cannot protect you from every way criminals may try to reach your money.

If you reuse a password that later appears in a data breach, having a separate computer will not solve the problem. Every financial account should have its own strong password. A password manager can help create and securely store unique passwords for you.

Many financial institutions still use text messages to send security codes. Criminals may try to hijack a victim's phone number through SIM swapping or an unauthorized number transfer. If that happens, they could potentially receive verification messages without ever touching your banking computer. Our guide on how to avoid a malicious SIM swapping scam explains how protections such as a carrier PIN or number-transfer lock can help reduce that risk.

Suppose you receive an alarming text on your phone claiming someone transferred thousands of dollars from your account. You walk over to the dedicated computer and type the website address included in that message. If the address leads to a phishing site, the separate computer cannot protect you from entering your login information there. That is why I recommend bookmarking your financial institutions' legitimate websites and using those bookmarks rather than following addresses sent through unexpected emails or texts.

A computer that spends most of its life sitting unused can create another problem. It still needs security updates. Operating system and browser updates regularly fix vulnerabilities that criminals may try to exploit. Keep automatic updates enabled and restart the computer when necessary. If you have not used the financial computer in several weeks, let it finish installing updates before signing into your accounts.

If you decide to take this approach, keep the computer's purpose very narrow. The less you do on it, the more useful the separation becomes.

Keep Windows, macOS or ChromeOS updated automatically. Your browser should stay updated too. Do not keep postponing restarts when an important security update requires one.

Reserve it for your bank, brokerage accounts, retirement plans, credit cards and other important financial services. Avoid email and social media. Do your online shopping and everyday browsing on another device.

I would also keep strong antivirus software running on the dedicated computer. Look for protection that can detect malware, phishing attempts and other online threats in real time. Even on a computer with limited use, antivirus software adds another layer of protection in case a malicious website or other threat reaches the device. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com

Go directly to your financial institution's legitimate website and save it as a bookmark. Then use that bookmark whenever you need to sign in. Be especially careful with financial links that arrive through text messages or emails, even when they appear urgent.

Never reuse your banking password somewhere else. If another website suffers a data breach, criminals may try stolen usernames and passwords on financial accounts. A password manager can create strong, unique passwords and remember them for you.

Enable multi-factor authentication on every financial account that supports it. If your institution offers a passkey or physical security key, consider using it. An authenticator app may also provide stronger protection than receiving a verification code by text. For more on the differences, see our guide to whether bank text codes are enough to protect you.

Do not wait until your monthly statement arrives to discover suspicious activity. Set alerts for logins, withdrawals, transfers, new payees and password changes whenever your financial institution offers them. These notifications can give you an early warning when something happens that you did not authorize.

No. You can safely manage financial accounts from a well-maintained everyday computer if you follow strong security practices. Keep the computer updated. Protect each financial account with a unique password and use strong authentication whenever possible.

For many people, those protections combined with careful online behavior will provide strong security. However, I look at the equation a little differently for someone managing significant retirement savings or investment assets. The cost of a basic computer may be relatively small compared with the amount of money you are trying to protect. You also do not need an expensive machine for banking and investment websites.

If you decide the extra separation makes sense for you, take a look at my best laptops for 2026 and best desktop computers for 2026 at Cyberguy.com to compare current options. A dedicated machine can create a cleaner and more controlled environment for accessing your financial accounts. Just remember that the separation only works if you maintain it. Once the "banking computer" becomes the computer you also use for email, social media or general web browsing, much of that security advantage disappears.

Nancy's question gets at something I wish more people thought about before a scam or account takeover happens. A separate computer for online banking can be a smart additional barrier, particularly when you are protecting significant savings or retirement assets. Keeping email, downloads and everyday web activity away from that machine reduces the opportunities criminals have to reach it. Still, I would never rely on the computer alone. Your passwords matter. Your phone number needs protection. Strong authentication can help stop someone who gets hold of a password, while account alerts can warn you when something suspicious happens. So, if buying a dedicated computer gives you greater control over how you access your money, I think it is a sensible strategy. Treat it as another layer in a larger financial security plan rather than a replacement for the protections you already need. And if protecting your money is top of mind, you can still watch the free CyberGuy LIVE replay, Protect Your Money From Today’s Biggest Threats, at CyberGuyLive.com. We cover bank alerts, stronger account logins, phone-number protection, credit freezes and additional safeguards for retirement accounts.

Would you spend a few hundred dollars on a separate computer if it could reduce the risk to your savings and investments, or do you think securing the computer you already own is enough? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

AI robot pet could know your family too well

Sat, 05 Sep 2026 12:42:59 -0400

We've covered home robots that can fold laundry and others designed to become AI companions. Now there's one that wants to remember your family. The OlloNi SS1 is an AI robot pet that can recognize family members and pets as it moves around your home. OlloBot says it can learn your routines, respond to emotional cues and save memorable family moments along the way.

Here's where it gets really interesting. OlloNi has a removable "Red Heart" memory module designed to carry those memories into a future OlloBot. So, when the robot gets replaced, years of personalization could move right along with you.

I can see the appeal of that. I also think it's important to ask yourself this: How much of your family's life are you comfortable letting a robot remember? Here's how OlloNi works, what it can remember and the privacy questions to consider before deciding whether you'd want one in your home.

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The OlloNi SS1 is OlloBot's newest AI companion robot pet, developed by Hong Kong-based Ollobot Robotics Limited. Unlike a robot built mainly for chores, the SS1 is designed to interact with the people and pets living around it.

Two circular eye screens display expressions while a separate main screen handles information and direct interaction. The setup gives OlloNi a face that can react visually without relying on spoken responses every time.

A 4K camera with motion tracking helps the robot recognize individual family members and household pets. OlloBot says the SS1 gradually learns routines and preferences as it spends more time with a household. It also adapts to different communication patterns.

That puts OlloNi in a different category from a robot vacuum or a machine built mainly to handle physical work. The goal here is to make the robot feel increasingly familiar.

OlloBot is also giving the SS1 what it describes as proactive emotional interaction. The company says the robot uses several types of information to interpret what is happening around it. That includes someone's tone of voice and facial expression. It can also learn behavioral patterns over time.

For example, OlloBot says the robot may notice when someone appears to be feeling low. Instead of waiting for that person to issue a command, OlloNi could approach and initiate an interaction.

We recently covered Familiar, another emotionally aware AI robot pet. That robot is also designed to learn routines and react to the people around it. OlloNi takes the idea in another direction by connecting that personalization to a memory system that can survive beyond the original robot.

One feature I can see families using is OlloNi's 4K camera. With permission turned on, OlloBot says the SS1 can recognize moments such as laughter or celebrations and capture them automatically. Its AI-assisted Vlog feature can then edit the footage and add music to create home videos.

I like the idea behind this. When something memorable happens, someone usually reaches for a phone. That often means the person recording ends up watching part of the moment through a screen.

OlloNi could change that. Because the robot is already moving around the home, it could capture moments while everyone else stays in them.

But this is also where I would start thinking seriously about privacy. You are allowing a connected 4K camera to move around your home and decide which moments may be worth saving.

That is a lot of access to give any device, no matter how cute the robot looks.

OlloNi also supports remote viewing and two-way voice and video calls. Unlike a camera sitting on a shelf, the robot can move around the home and follow activity. OlloBot says this could make remote check-ins feel more active for family members who live apart.

The idea could appeal to someone who wants to stay connected with an older relative or other family members from a distance. OlloBot's website also says its app can let you see and interact with OlloNi while you are away. The app is designed to show daily moments and memories the robot has captured.

However, remote access raises the stakes for security. A camera that can move around your house deserves strong account protection. Owners should know exactly who can connect to it and what happens if an account gets compromised.

This may be the most unusual part of the SS1. OlloBot calls it the Red Heart. The detachable module has 16GB of RAM and 64GB of local storage. OlloBot says the module carries the robot's long-term memories and personalized information.

Now, imagine replacing the robot several years from now. Instead of starting over, OlloBot says you could move the Red Heart into a future-generation OlloBot. Family memories and personalized information could then follow you to the next device. That is a clever idea. Most gadgets become disposable once their hardware gets old. OlloBot wants the relationship you developed with this one to survive the upgrade.

At the same time, think about how personal that little module could become. Years of family life could potentially be tied to it. That makes the Red Heart something I would want protected every bit as carefully as the robot itself.

This is where I would slow down and read the fine print. OlloBot says the SS1 uses local encrypted processing and includes a physical camera cover. The company also says facial recognition and automatic family moment capture work with your permission.

Those are good things to see. Still, a robot that can move around your home, recognize faces and build memories over time deserves more than a quick glance at the privacy settings. OlloBot's current privacy policy was last updated July 6, 2026. It covers the company's store and broader services, including device and usage information collected when people interact with those services. The policy also says some information may be handled by outside vendors that provide services such as IT management, data analytics or cloud storage.

What I want to see next is something much more specific to the SS1 itself. If this robot can recognize your family and save moments inside your home, you should know exactly where that information goes. OlloBot should explain what stays on the Red Heart, what leaves the robot and how long anything gets stored.

I would also want a clear answer about deletion. If OlloNi spends years learning your routines and how your family interacts, you should be able to see what it knows and permanently erase that information when you want it gone.

AI WEARABLE WATCHES YOU TO PREDICT WHAT YOU NEED

There is another privacy point worth watching. OlloBot's Aug. 28 announcement lists children separated from their parents by distance among the potential users for the SS1.

Meanwhile, OlloBot's current privacy policy says its "services are not intended to be used by children." It also says the company does not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of majority in the user's jurisdiction. That does not automatically mean there is a conflict.

The current policy appears geared largely toward OlloBot's store and broader services rather than offering a detailed privacy framework specifically for the SS1. Still, OlloBot should clarify how those terms apply when a product is designed to interact with families and potentially children inside the home. Parents should not have to guess.

This is one of the first questions I would ask about the Red Heart: What happens if you lose it? If your family has used OlloNi for years, that little removable module could contain a very personal history of life inside your home.

OlloBot says the SS1 uses local encrypted processing, which is encouraging. What I want to know is what happens when the Red Heart comes out of the robot. If someone finds or steals it, does the information remain encrypted and inaccessible? I would also want a way to remotely erase the module if it disappears.

The whole appeal of the Red Heart is that families could keep it for years and move their memories into a future OlloBot. If OlloBot wants us to hold onto something that personal for that long, I want to know exactly how it will keep those memories protected.

OlloNi goes beyond watching the people around it. The robot also pays attention to what is happening inside the home. OlloBot says the SS1 includes temperature and humidity sensors along with ambient light and spatial sensors. That gives the robot more context about its surroundings. The company says those sensors can help with reminders and brief activity records tied to relevant interactions rather than continuous recording.

If all of this has you wondering what the robot costs, there is a catch. You cannot back the planned SS1 crowdfunding campaign right now.

OlloBot previously said it would launch the OlloNi SS1 globally on Kickstarter in August 2026. In July, the company narrowed that window to late August. Then the plan changed.

On Aug. 28, OlloBot announced that it had postponed the crowdfunding launch. The company pointed to recent changes in the U.S. regulatory and market access environment for robotic devices made abroad. OlloBot says it wants a clear path to market and fulfillment before moving forward.

For now, the company has not announced a new crowdfunding date. OlloBot says it will share an updated timeline through its official channels once one is confirmed. So, consider the SS1 a robot to watch rather than one you can order today.

OlloNi SS1 shows how quickly the idea of a home robot is changing. We have spent years watching robots get better at physical work. Now companies want these machines to learn about the people living around them. That changes what you need to consider before bringing one home.

With a robot like OlloNi, start by looking beyond the cute eyes. Find out what its camera records and who can access those recordings. Next, understand the memory system.

You should know what stays locally on the robot and what gets transmitted elsewhere. Also check whether you can permanently delete information when you want it gone. Remote access deserves attention too. Look for strong account security and controls that let you shut off features you do not use.

Finally, think about the lifespan of your data. The entire point of the Red Heart is to keep personalized information after you replace the robot. That makes long-term software support especially important.

We recently saw why connected robots deserve scrutiny when a security report raised concerns about a Yarbo robot mower. The issues involved remote access, cameras and home-network exposure. Yarbo later acknowledged the core technical findings and began rolling out fixes.

OlloBot has already said it uses local encrypted processing and includes a physical camera cover. Now I want to see the deeper security details behind those promises. We reached out to OlloBot with questions about data storage, remote access and Red Heart security but did not hear back before our deadline.

MAJORITY OF YOUNG ADULTS SAY THEY ARE 'MORE CONCERNED THAN EXCITED' ABOUT AI: PEW RESEARCH

OlloNi SS1 caught my attention because OlloBot wants this robot to become more personal the longer it lives with you. The Red Heart is the feature I keep coming back to. Instead of losing years of personalization when the hardware gets old, your family's memories could move into the next robot. I can see why that might feel special.

I can also see why some people will want the exact opposite. A robot that recognizes your family and captures private moments can learn a lot about what happens behind your front door. When those memories are designed to last for years, privacy becomes part of the buying decision from day one.

OlloBot's physical camera cover and local encrypted processing are good places to start. Before anyone hands over money, though, I want clearer answers about recordings and remote access. The company also needs to explain exactly what happens to information stored in the Red Heart. That does not make OlloNi a robot to fear. It makes it a robot that asks for a lot of trust.

Would you want an AI pet remembering years of your family's life and carrying those memories into its next robot body, or would that feel like giving a machine too much access to your home? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

9 warning signs of identity theft you should never ignore

Sat, 05 Sep 2026 12:07:27 -0400

Identity theft can start quietly. You may not see a drained bank account or a maxed-out credit card. The first warning could be a strange letter in the mail, an unfamiliar inquiry on your credit report or a password reset alert you never requested.

Those little clues are easy to brush off, but catching them early can give you more time to protect your money, credit and accounts. One unusual message does not automatically mean someone has stolen your identity, so do not panic. Instead, verify what happened and pay attention to anything else that looks out of place.

Here are nine identity theft warning signs you should never ignore.

CYBERCRIME LOSSES NEAR $21B: 5 WAYS TO PROTECT YOUR MONEY

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Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson walks you through five simple ways to help defend yourself against AI scams, fraud, identity theft and financial hacks. You’ll learn how to set up bank alerts, strengthen your account logins, protect your phone number, freeze your credit and help secure your retirement savings against unauthorized transfers. No technical experience is needed.

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A company may contact you after discovering that customer information was exposed. The notice could come from a bank, retailer, employer, healthcare provider, insurer, school or another organization.

Read it carefully. Find out what information may have been involved, when the incident occurred and whether the company is offering steps such as password changes or credit monitoring. Save the notice with your other records.

A breach notice shows possible exposure, not confirmed identity theft. Still, it is a good reason to review your accounts and strengthen your security.

Check your credit reports for hard inquiries you do not recognize. A hard inquiry generally appears when a lender reviews your credit after you apply for credit.

Also look for new accounts, unfamiliar addresses, collections accounts or loans you never requested. Identity thieves may use stolen information to apply for credit before you notice anything unusual.

Check all three major credit bureaus rather than relying on a single report. Details can differ from one report to another, so reviewing only one may leave gaps.

If you find an inquiry or account that does not belong to you, contact the lender using a trusted phone number or website rather than contact information from a suspicious message.

A bill for a credit card, utility service, medical account or buy-now-pay-later purchase you did not make is a serious warning sign. So is a call from a debt collector about a debt that does not belong to you.

Do not ignore the notice simply because you believe it is a mistake. Ask the organization for details, dispute the account and keep copies of your correspondence.

Be cautious about sharing personal information with an unexpected caller. If you need to contact a company, find its official number independently.

Review checking, savings, credit card, payment app, investment and retirement accounts regularly. Look for small test charges, unfamiliar withdrawals, new payees, password changes, profile updates or transfers you did not authorize.

Scammers sometimes begin with a small transaction to see whether an account is active. Other times, they try to take over the account entirely.

Contact the financial institution immediately through its official app, website or statement. Ask what steps are needed to secure the account, replace cards, investigate transactions and protect any linked accounts.

Turn on account alerts for purchases, transfers, password changes and other important activity. Alerts are useful, but they work best when you still review statements yourself.

Pay attention to unexpected letters or online notices from the IRS, Social Security Administration or a state agency. Examples include a tax return you did not file, benefits you did not request or a claim connected to an employer you do not recognize.

Do not respond using a link or phone number in an unsolicited message. Visit the agency's official website or use a phone number from a statement or a previously verified account.

Keep every notice. Government-related identity theft can take time to resolve, and a clear record of dates and communications may help.

A phone that unexpectedly loses service can have an innocent explanation, such as an outage or billing problem. But it can also be a sign that someone transferred your number to another device or took over your mobile account.

That is exactly what happened to Patricia Escriva, whose phone suddenly lost service before scammers used a SIM swap attack to get into her accounts and steal thousands of dollars. We broke down her story and what you can learn from it in The CyberGuy Report podcast: How hackers drain your bank account in minutes.

If your phone suddenly goes offline, and you cannot explain why, treat it as a warning sign. Contact your wireless provider right away from another phone and ask whether there was a recent SIM change, number transfer or account update. A SIM is the small card or digital profile that connects your phone to a mobile network.

Once your number is secure, review important accounts for password resets or login attempts. Ask your carrier about an account PIN or other protections against unauthorized changes.

HEALTHCARE DATA BREACH EXPOSES 3.75M PATIENT RECORDS

An unexpected password reset email, multifactor authentication code or sign-in alert may mean that someone is trying to access an account. It may also be a fake message designed to trick you into clicking a link.

Do not share a verification code with anyone who calls or messages you. Open the account through its official app or type the website address yourself, then review recent activity and change the password if needed.

Start with your primary email account. Email often acts as the doorway to password resets for banking, shopping, healthcare and other services. Use a long, unique password and turn on multifactor authentication, which requires an extra verification step beyond your password.

Avoid reusing passwords. If one website is breached, a reused password may give criminals an opportunity to try the same combination elsewhere.

A sudden wave of calls, texts or emails that use your correct name, address, family details or account information deserves attention. This does not prove identity theft, but it may indicate that personal data is circulating among scammers.

Be especially cautious when a message creates urgency, demands payment, asks for a verification code or tells you to move money to "protect" it. Banks, government agencies and legitimate companies do not need you to hand over a one-time code to keep your account safe.

Instead of replying, contact the organization through a trusted channel. Then review your accounts, credit reports and recent security alerts.

An unfamiliar mailing address on a credit report, a changed email address on an account or a notification that your identity was verified somewhere you do not recognize can signal an attempted takeover.

Review account recovery information, authorized users, linked devices and connected apps. Remove anything you do not recognize and change the password from a trusted device.

If the change involves a bank, credit card, phone provider or government account, contact that organization promptly. A small profile change can be an early step in a larger attempt to control the account.

First, slow down and verify the information. A suspicious text may be a scam, and a legitimate account alert may be the result of a family member's purchase or a forgotten subscription.

If the activity is confirmed, or you cannot explain it, take these important steps:

Use a trusted number or official app. Ask the organization to secure the account and investigate.

A credit freeze restricts access to your credit file, making it harder for someone to open new credit in your name. Place a freeze with all three major credit bureaus if appropriate for your situation.

A fraud alert asks lenders to take extra steps to verify your identity. It provides another layer of protection and works differently from a credit freeze.

Change important passwords, use a password manager to create and store strong, unique passwords, review recovery settings and add account protections through your wireless provider.

Check banking, credit cards, payment apps, investments, retirement, healthcare, utilities and government services.

Save breach notices, screenshots, dates, names, dispute numbers and copies of letters.

If you confirm that someone has used your identity, report it to the Federal Trade Commission at IdentityTheft.gov. The site will help you create an FTC Identity Theft Report and build a personalized recovery plan. You can also use that report when working with credit bureaus, businesses and debt collectors to dispute fraudulent accounts or information. Some companies may also ask for a police report.

If your information appears in a breach, you may not be able to remove it completely. Focus on making the exposed information less useful. Freeze your credit, secure your accounts, limit unnecessary public information and keep watching for new warning signs.

You can take many important steps to protect yourself, including checking your accounts, using unique passwords and freezing your credit. An identity theft monitoring service can add another layer by watching for signs that your personal or financial information may be misused.

Depending on the service and plan you choose, monitoring can include credit reports, checking and savings accounts, investments and 401(k) accounts, bank account takeovers, home title changes, phone takeovers, identity verification, dark web exposure, data breaches and social media activity.

That broader monitoring can be helpful because identity theft can show up in more places than your credit report. If fraud occurs, restoration support may also help reduce the burden of dealing with calls, paperwork and disputes.

Monitoring works best as an added layer of protection rather than a replacement for good security habits. Continue reviewing your accounts, watching for unusual activity and acting quickly when something looks wrong. See my tips and best picks on Best Identity Theft Protection at Cyberguy.com

NEW BANK SCAM LAWS COULD STOP SUSPICIOUS PAYMENTS

Identity theft often gives you warning signs before serious damage is done. A strange charge, an account you do not recognize or even a password reset alert you never requested can be your cue to take a closer look. Trust your gut when something feels off, verify what happened and act quickly to lock down your accounts and credit.

A few minutes spent checking now could save you a much bigger headache later. The key is to stay alert without living in fear. Keep an eye on your accounts, use strong security protections and know what steps to take if your information ends up in the wrong hands.

Have you ever spotted one of these identity theft warning signs, and what tipped you off that something was wrong? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

Robot dog could deliver your next package and an ad

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 16:30:01 -0400

We've covered robot dogs patrolling with police and training to handle terrain that could someday take them to the moon. We've even watched wheeled versions tackle some pretty wild ground. And whenever we show these machines, one question keeps coming up: What happens when they reach a flight of stairs? Well, Robot.com may have an answer.

Its new four-legged R-dog is built to carry packages where traditional wheeled delivery robots can get stuck. It can also show ads along the way, turning your future delivery into something of a moving billboard.

So, can R-dog really get your package closer to your front door while making the economics of robot delivery work? Let's take a closer look.

ONE-WHEELED AI SECURITY ROBOT COULD PATROL YOUR PROPERTY

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R-dog is Robot.com's latest concept for autonomous delivery. The San Francisco-based company unveiled it on Aug. 11. The idea tackles one of the most frustrating parts of robotic delivery: the final stretch to your door. A wheeled robot may handle the sidewalk just fine, only to meet a curb or staircase it cannot cross. Robot.com designed R-dog to cover those final 330 feet with a mix of wheels and articulated legs.

Each leg ends in a wheel, so R-dog can roll efficiently across flatter ground. When the route gets more difficult, those flexible legs are designed to help it deal with stairs, curbs and other obstacles. The cargo compartment forms most of the robot's body. Robot.com says it can carry food orders and standard packages inside.

And yes, it definitely looks like a robot dog. There is even a tail, which gives the machine a friendlier appearance than your average delivery box on wheels. That personality may be more than decoration. Robot.com wants people to notice R-dog, interact with it and feel comfortable when it appears in public spaces. As you will see, that becomes especially important once advertising enters the picture.

Getting a delivery robot across town can actually be easier than getting it from the sidewalk to your front door. Traditional delivery robots tend to perform best on predictable surfaces. Smooth sidewalks work well because wheels are efficient and relatively simple.

Then the terrain changes. A staircase can end the trip. A high curb can cause trouble. Even an awkward building entrance may force someone to step in. That creates an obvious weak point in a system that is supposed to reduce human involvement. Robot.com wants R-dog to keep going when a standard sidewalk robot would have to stop.

Its four-legged design could also expand the places where autonomous delivery makes sense. Campuses, apartment complexes and neighborhoods can all include routes that become difficult for wheels alone. Of course, getting over the obstacle is only useful if the package also reaches the right person. That brings us to R-dog's unusual delivery system.

The cargo compartment can hold multiple items, including stacked food orders and e-commerce packages. Once R-dog reaches its destination, an unattended auto drop-off system releases the order. The robot can then continue to its next assignment. And yes, the visual is hard to ignore.

The package appears to slide out through the back of the robot. There really is no delicate way to say this: It looks a little like R-dog poops out your delivery. Funny visual aside, the system could have a practical advantage. You would not necessarily need to stand outside and physically unload the robot before it could leave.

Still, one question remains. Robot.com says the compartment can carry multiple orders, but its current materials do not explain exactly how the concept chooses the correct package when several items are loaded inside. That is one of the details I want to see explained as R-dog gets closer to real-world deployment. The company is still refining parts of the prototype, including its storage setup.

HUMANOID ROBOTS WORK NONSTOP IN PACKAGE TEST

Now we get to the part that makes R-dog more than a quirky delivery machine. The robot has two video screens connected to R-ads, Robot.com's advertising platform. Brands can remotely manage campaigns shown on the company's robots.

In other words, every trip can potentially earn money twice. The robot can perform a delivery while its screens carry paid advertising through the neighborhood. That business model makes some sense. People already ignore plenty of static advertising. A four-legged robot rolling past with a tail has a much better chance of making someone look.

You might stop to watch it. Maybe you pull out your phone for a photo or video. Someone else could share that clip on social media. From an advertiser's perspective, that kind of attention can be valuable. Robot.com also promotes natural voice conversations, allowing R-dog to respond when people interact with it. That could make the advertising experience more engaging than simply walking past another screen.

The company says R-ads also offer campaign analytics. However, its public R-dog materials leave some details about those measurements unclear. I would like to know exactly what the system measures when people interact with these robots and how that information gets handled. Those answers become more important if machines like R-dog eventually appear in busy public spaces.

Of course, legs alone do not get a robot safely through a crowded neighborhood. It also needs to understand what is happening around it. Robot.com is working with FieldAI on the navigation stack planned for the production version of R-dog.

FieldAI's Field Foundation Models are designed to help robots operate in changing real-world environments without requiring prior mapping. That could allow R-dog to adapt when the route ahead looks different from what it expected, whether someone left an object in the way or the path suddenly changes.

Robot.com also runs its fleet through a platform called REMI. The company describes REMI as its fleet-management platform and physical API layer. The advantage here is that R-dog does not need an entirely separate operational system. Robot.com can plug the new four-legged design into technology it already uses across its fleet.

CEO and co-founder Felipe Chavez Cortes summed up that strategy when he said, "We built R-dog to run on what already exists."

Robot.com already has robots in the real world

R-dog may be new, but Robot.com has already spent years putting robots to work. The company was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in San Francisco, with additional offices in Colombia. Robot.com says more than 500 robots are deployed across the United States and Canada, plus Dubai and other MENA markets. Those machines have completed more than 2.5 million tasks.

Its lineup includes R-kiwi for sidewalk delivery and R-cargo for industrial logistics. Robot.com also develops R-noid, a humanoid platform aimed at workplace tasks. That existing fleet gives Robot.com experience to build on.

Robot.com says commercial deployments are targeted for 2027. The company's CEO has said college campuses will come first, although Robot.com has yet to announce specific campuses or cities. That makes campuses a logical proving ground. They offer lots of short deliveries, plenty of foot traffic and exactly the kinds of curbs or stairways that R-dog was designed to handle.

Robot.com already operates campus delivery robots in North America and expanded its autonomous delivery partnership with Sodexo in August 2026.

Pricing has not been announced. And do not expect to walk into a store and buy an R-dog for your house. At least initially, Robot.com appears focused on commercial delivery pilots and brand activations rather than individual consumers.

For now, businesses can sign up for early access to delivery pilots and advertising activations ahead of the planned 2027 rollout.

NEW WHEELED ROBOT SAYS NO THANKS TO HUMANOID HYPE

If R-dog performs the way Robot.com hopes, robot delivery could get closer to your actual doorstep instead of stopping at the sidewalk. That could make autonomous delivery practical in more places and reduce the number of times a person has to step in to finish the trip.

But R-dog also gives us a preview of where the economics of robot delivery may be heading. Moving a package is one revenue opportunity. Selling advertising during the journey creates another. That means your future delivery experience could look very different. The same machine bringing dinner to your door might also be displaying a commercial as it rolls away.

Convenience will get plenty of attention, but I will also be watching the privacy side. Robot.com should be clear about what its advertising system measures when people approach or interact with R-dog.

I have seen plenty of robot dogs that can climb, jump or show off in a demo. R-dog caught my attention because Robot.com is trying to apply those abilities to a very ordinary problem: getting a package all the way to your door. Wheels are great until the sidewalk ends.

Giving a delivery robot articulated legs could help it complete routes that stop other machines short. The advertising angle may be equally important to whether this idea works as a business. If R-dog can earn money from an ad while it is already out making a delivery, that gives operators another reason to deploy it.

Still, R-dog remains a concept heading toward commercial use in 2027. I want to see how it handles real stairs, crowded sidewalks and everyday weather before calling the problem solved. I also want more details about how multiple packages get sorted during unattended deliveries and what information R-ads collect from public interactions. Those answers will tell us a lot about whether R-dog becomes a useful delivery tool or simply a very clever way to get people to look at a screen.

Would you be comfortable with a robot dog climbing your steps to deliver a package if it was also showing ads along the way, or would you rather stick with a human at the door? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

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Fake patient portal scam can steal your login and infect your PC

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 12:20:32 -0400

If you have ever checked a lab result or sent your doctor a message online, you may already know MyChart. It is a widely used patient portal from Epic that hospitals and medical practices use to give patients online access to health information and care teams.

That growing reliance on patient portals caught the attention of Mary M. She recently wrote to us after hearing from her primary care physician, or PCP, and several specialists about moving more of their patient communication online.

"I just got a lot of updates from my PCP and specialist doctors saying they are moving toward this, but they are already compromised!! I think this is a topic for you!"

Mary raised a concern many patients may share as they hear about scams targeting MyChart users. There is an important point to clear up. The warnings reviewed here describe criminals impersonating MyChart through phishing campaigns. They do not report a breach of the MyChart platform itself.

MEDICARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY SCAMS: WARNING SIGNS AND TIPS

Epic has documented scams that copy the MyChart experience to steal login details. One version can also push malware onto Windows computers. Here's how the scam works and how to protect yourself before a fake MyChart alert catches you off guard.

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This one caught my attention because the warnings are coming from several credible sources at nearly the same time. Penn Medicine said on Aug. 26, 2026, that it was seeing a nationwide scam involving emails and text messages made to look like they came from MyChart. Then, on Aug. 28, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday warned consumers about another MyChart impersonation scam involving a bogus Medicare Kit.

Epic has also detailed two phishing campaigns its security team investigated this summer. Put all of that together, and you can see why I want you to be especially careful with unexpected MyChart messages right now.

The tricky part is that many of us are already used to getting legitimate emails about appointments or new test results. A fake MyChart alert can land right alongside the real ones, and scammers are counting on you reacting before you take a closer look.

One campaign starts with a message that looks routine. Epic says the email carries MyChart branding and tells the recipient, "Your recent results are ready."

The button inside the email leads to a fake sign-in page. According to Epic, scammers copied code from the real MyChart site, which helps the page look convincing.

The bogus page asks for an email address and password. If you enter them, the scammers can capture those credentials. Then the attack gets more aggressive.

After the victim signs in, the fake site displays a made-up medical record. Epic says one version shows a pop-up claiming an "AI-powered review" found critical patterns in blood work.

That is a powerful pressure tactic. A warning about your health can be much harder to ignore than an ordinary phishing message.

Epic says real critical results come from your care team rather than a website pop-up. The fake chart then claims you need to complete a human verification step before seeing more information.

This part should stop you immediately. Epic says the site instructs Windows users to press the Windows key and R, paste content from the clipboard and press Enter. Those steps open the Windows Run box and execute a command the website placed on the clipboard. According to Epic, following those instructions installs malware.

Epic also saw an August 2026 version with an "Unlock Full Report & See Diagnosis" button. Clicking it downloaded a Windows file called Full_Analysis_Report.exe. The page then coached the victim through bypassing the computer's security warning. Your medical results should appear inside MyChart. A patient portal should never require you to download a Windows program to reveal a diagnosis.

FAKE PASSWORD-MANAGER ALERTS COULD PUT YOUR VAULT AT RISK

The second campaign uses a different hook. Epic says scammers sent fake emails telling people they had been selected for a "2026 Medicare Health Kit." Penn Medicine has also warned about messages advertising a free "MyChart Medicare Kit" or "Senior Health Package." MyChart does not run giveaways.

After someone clicks, Epic says the link can pass through unrelated advertising sites before reaching a fake MyChart-branded survey. A countdown clock pushes the victim to move quickly. Eventually, the site says the kit costs $0 but asks for a shipping fee. Before payment, it collects personal information. The final page asks for credit card details. Epic says no kit ships.

Patients already expect electronic messages from doctors and hospitals. A real test-result notification may show up on the same day as a fake one. Scammers can copy that familiar routine. They can also use fear to shorten the amount of time you spend checking a message.

If a fake portal hints at a serious health problem, your first instinct may be to find out what happened. That is why opening the portal independently can make such a difference. We recently covered another healthcare scam that uses fake QR codes around medical settings. Those codes can send patients to bogus sites asking for patient portal credentials or Medicare information. The MyChart campaign follows the same basic idea. The scammer borrows trust from a healthcare service you already recognize.

A few simple steps can help you slow things down before an urgent-looking message leads you to the wrong place.

If an email says a new result is waiting, avoid using the button inside the message. Open the MyChart app directly. You can also use a saved bookmark or start from your healthcare provider's official website. Epic says each healthcare organization can have its own MyChart URL. You can use MyChart.org to find your provider's official portal.

Do not rely on the sender name alone. An email can display "MyChart" while coming from an unrelated address. Look at the full address and compare it with previous legitimate messages from your healthcare provider. If anything feels off, contact your provider through a phone number or website you already trust.

MyChart says it will never tell you to use keyboard shortcuts or run a command to verify, fix or unlock your account. A website asking you to open the Windows Run box should be an immediate warning sign. Close the page.

MyChart supports two-step verification (2FA). The extra check can help protect your account if someone gets your password. Depending on your setup, you can verify your login through a code or an authenticator app. MyChart also supports passkeys, which can reduce your reliance on a reusable password.

Avoid reusing a password from another important account. A password manager can create and store a strong password for you. If a phishing site captures one password, reuse can turn one stolen login into a much larger problem.

The malware part of this scam shows why strong security protection still has a role. Strong antivirus software can help warn you about malicious downloads or suspicious websites. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com.

Keep Windows and your browser updated too. For more ways to recognize suspicious email, see our guide on how to spot and prevent phishing attacks in your inbox.

If a message claims a serious result needs immediate attention, do not let the urgency decide what you click. Open the official MyChart app yourself or call your provider using a number you already trust. Epic specifically warns that real critical results come from your care team rather than a scary website pop-up.

Scammers can make phishing messages more convincing when they already know details such as your phone number, home address, age or family connections. A data removal service can help remove some of that information from people-search sites and data brokers. It will not stop a fake MyChart message from reaching you, but it can give scammers less personal information to work with when they try to make a message feel legitimate. Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting CyberGuy.com.

Epic says MyChart does not run giveaways. If an email promises a free Medicare kit or health package under the MyChart name, do not enter personal information or payment details.

FAKE PARTY INVITATION SCAM CAN HIJACK YOUR COMPUTER

Your next move depends on what happened after you opened the page.

Close the page. If you did not enter any information, run a command or download a file, avoid interacting with the site any further. Mark the original message as junk or phishing. Do not click an unsubscribe link inside the suspicious message.

Go to MyChart through the official app or your provider's trusted website. Change your password right away. Then review the contact information saved in your account, including your email address and phone number. If anything looks unfamiliar, contact your healthcare organization's MyChart help desk.

Call your bank or card issuer using the number printed on the card. Tell them the card information went to a fraudulent website and ask about replacing the card.

Disconnect the computer from the internet. Have the computer checked before you use it again for sensitive activity. Run a full security scan with strong antivirus software. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at CyberGuy.com. Then change important passwords from another trusted device if you used those accounts on the affected computer.

Contact your healthcare provider and health insurer. Medical identity theft can create problems beyond a stolen password. Fraudulent activity can end up connected to your health records or insurance. We explain the warning signs and recovery steps in medical identity theft follows you into the doctor's office.

What gets me about this scam is how naturally it fits into something many of us already do. Doctors want patients using portals because they make it easier to see results and stay connected with a care team. Scammers know those messages already have our attention. I would keep using MyChart if my doctors rely on it. I would simply change how I respond to unexpected notifications. If an email says an important result is waiting, I would open the app myself rather than letting the email choose where I go. The malware trick also deserves extra attention. A website asking you to open the Windows Run box or ignore a security warning has crossed a very clear line. Close it and verify the message through your provider. The hardest part may be resisting the fear factor. A message about an abnormal medical result can make anyone move quickly. Taking a few extra seconds to open the real app could protect your patient account and your computer.

Have you received a suspicious MyChart message, or are you becoming more cautious about how you open patient portal alerts? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

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Fox News AI Newsletter: The network driving fight against data centers, Flock cameras

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 11:01:26 -0400

IN TODAY’S NEWSLETTER:

- ‘No Kings’ protest network behind fight against AI data centers and Flock cameras

- US adversary turns up the heat on America’s AI lead with an underestimated edge

- OpenAI's ChatGPT pivots after previously putting Trump alongside Putin as top threats to democracy

CROSSED WIRES: The same hard-left network behind "No Kings" and other protests is leading the battle against data centers and Flock surveillance cameras, according to a Fox News Digital investigation and a new report.

SILICON STANDOFF: China is racing to build the data centers and energy infrastructure needed to power artificial intelligence, raising concerns that Beijing’s ability to rapidly construct massive projects could help it get closer to America’s commanding lead in the physical infrastructure underpinning the AI race.

MACHINE VERDICT: OpenAI’s ChatGPT originally rated President Donald Trump as a major threat to democracy when prompted, according to a new study, but the results differed following an inquiry from Fox News Digital.

CITY HALL RIFT: New York City public school students under 9th Grade will be banned from using generative AI for at least one year, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced Wednesday.

'SAME PLAYBOOK': As the development of data centers continues to grow into one of the top hot button political issues in the United States, some experts are sounding the alarm on the various left-wing groups and climate activists who are pouring money and resources into data center opposition campaigns.

GRID ON THE BRINK: Your lights. Your water. Your hospital. Your internet. All four depend on digital systems that foreign hackers are now targeting.

‘BACKWARDS AND POOR’: President Donald Trump took aim Monday at the growing backlash against data centers, warning that communities that shut the door on the facilities risk missing out on the jobs and economic gains of America's AI boom.

OPINION: Very few people disagree. Artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics will profoundly impact the lives of every man, woman and child in our country. These revolutionary technologies will radically change our economy and, quite likely, eliminate tens of millions of jobs over the next decade.

BIG TECH BATTLE: It’s the fall of 2028. A debate moderator turns to two presidential nominees who spent their governorships fighting over data centers. "China’s AI lead is now a fact," she says. "In 2026, you decided to restrict data-center construction, and the machinist in Youngstown, Ohio, watched his job follow the servers to the Gulf. What do you tell him? Which of your policies would you take back?"

RURAL REBOOT: In central Washington, a farming town of roughly 8,100 people has become an unlikely showcase for America’s data-center boom.

CTRL ALT DECEIVE: America's rivals stand to gain from a growing backlash against the data centers powering the nation's AI boom and foreign money is helping fuel it, Brittany Kaiser warned.

HARD AT WORK: The race to build more data centers for artificial intelligence is driving demand for more than chips and electricity. It also requires vast networks of high-speed optical fiber to move data between servers, putting one of America’s oldest manufacturers at the center of the boom.

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Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future with Fox News here.

Android Motion Assist could ease car sickness on your phone

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 15:30:53 -0400

Ever tried to answer a text from the passenger seat and felt your stomach turn before you reached the second line? For people prone to motion sickness, a phone can go from useful to unbearable fast.

Google is now rolling out a great Android tool designed to make that screen easier to tolerate while the vehicle moves. It is called Motion Assist, and it places animated dots around the edges of your screen that react to the motion of the vehicle.

Apple has offered a similar feature, Vehicle Motion Cues, since iOS 18 arrived in 2024. Google began working on its own version around the same time. It originally appeared under the name Motion Cues before Google renamed it Motion Assist. Now some Pixel owners are starting to see the finished feature on phones running Android 17.

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Your eyes may tell your brain that you are sitting still and staring at a steady screen. Meanwhile, your inner ear can feel the car moving underneath you.

Those mixed signals can trigger motion sickness. The CDC says it can happen when what you see does not match the movement your body feels, which can leave you nauseous or dizzy.

Reading a text or scrolling through your phone can make things worse because your eyes stay focused on a screen that appears still while the car keeps moving.

Motion Assist gives your eyes another visual clue. Small shapes appear around the edges of the display while you continue using the app in the middle of the screen.

Your phone uses motion sensors, including its accelerometer and gyroscope, to follow changes in the vehicle. As the car turns or changes speed, the on-screen cues move along with that motion.

The goal is to give your eyes information that lines up more closely with what your body feels. That may reduce the sensory mismatch that can leave you reaching for the window button.

Google's version also gives you control over the look of the cues with options for shape, size, color and opacity. You can also have Motion Assist activate automatically when your phone detects that you are traveling in a moving vehicle.

Here is the frustrating part. You may have Android 17 and still come up empty when you look for Motion Assist. So far, the feature has appeared on select Pixel phones running Android 17. This seems to be a staged rollout rather than a single switch flipped for everyone at once.

The feature appears to arrive through Google Play services rather than through a separate Motion Assist app. Google explains that its system services can deliver new features separately from the main Android operating system update. Google has yet to publish a dedicated Motion Assist support page or a complete list of supported Android phones. So, for now, Android 17 alone may still leave you waiting.

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If Motion Assist has reached your Pixel, here is where to look:

You can also add a Motion Assist tile to Quick Settings so you can turn the feature on or off manually.

Motion Assist also lets you customize the color, shape and opacity of the on-screen cues. A Randomization option can automatically vary those settings.

If you do not see Motion Assist, that does not necessarily mean anything is wrong with your phone. Google appears to be rolling out the feature in stages, and it is still missing from some Pixel phones running Android 17.

If you do not see Motion Assist on your Pixel, first make sure your phone is up to date. To check for the latest Pixel software, go to Settings > System > Software updates and install any available update.

Then check your Google Play system update. Go to Settings > Security & privacy > System & updates > Google Play system update. Install any available update and restart your phone if prompted.

However, updating your Pixel may not make Motion Assist appear right away. As mentioned above, Google appears to be rolling out the feature gradually. So, if your phone is fully updated and Motion Assist remains missing, you may simply have to wait for Google to enable it on your device.

If you have an iPhone, Apple already offers its version of the same idea.

Here is how to turn on Vehicle Motion Cues:

You can also choose On when you want the cues displayed continuously.

Apple lets you customize the pattern and color. You can also change the size or number of dots shown around the screen. Apple says the feature works best when you are seated facing forward. One important safety note: use this as a passenger feature. Apple warns against using Vehicle Motion Cues while operating a moving vehicle.

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The idea may sound almost too simple, but it targets the sensory conflict linked to motion sickness. Still, everyone responds differently. Apple describes Vehicle Motion Cues as a feature that may help reduce motion sickness. Google uses similar language for Motion Assist.

Think of the moving cues as another tool you can try rather than a guaranteed fix. If the screen still makes you feel sick, put the phone down and look toward the horizon. The CDC includes looking at the horizon among its strategies for reducing motion sickness.

Another option is to listen instead of looking at your phone. We have a step-by-step guide showing how to get your phone to read articles aloud on both iPhone and Android at Cyberguy.com.

A row of moving dots may sound like a tiny phone feature until you are the person who cannot answer a message from the back seat without feeling queasy.

That is what makes Motion Assist interesting. Google is trying to solve a very ordinary problem using sensors already inside your phone. You need no extra app or accessory.

If the feature works for you, a car ride could become a chance to catch up on messages or read something longer without immediately regretting it.

I like phone features that solve an annoyance you feel in everyday life. Motion Assist falls squarely into that category. If you get motion sickness, I would try the automatic setting as soon as it appears on your Pixel. There is very little effort involved, and you will know quickly whether the moving cues help you. iPhone owners already have a similar option hiding in Accessibility. That is also a good reminder to explore those settings from time to time. Some of the most useful features on your phone can sit there unnoticed for months.

Would moving dots on your screen make you more willing to use your phone during a car ride, or would you rather put the phone away completely? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

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