Let’s talk about your Social Security number
“To safeguard your Social Security number, use the government’s free Self Lock feature. You’ll need an E‑Verify account to do this online. You can also request a block by calling the Social Security Administration at 1‑800‑772‑1213. Expect to wait — trust me.
“If your SSN is stolen and used for someone’s gain, like opening up a loan or getting a job, start with the Federal Trade Commission at IdentityTheft.gov. Fill out the form there, and you’ll get an entire plan for how to recover your identity and protect yourself going forward.
“The IRS also has a place to report if you suspect someone is using your SSN: Identity Theft Central. Major red flags to watch for? You receive a tax form for a job you didn’t do or you submit your taxes and there’s already something on file.”
-Kim Komando newsletter, Nov 1, 2024
OCT 31
Want to keep getting Windows 10 updates? It’ll cost you $30
I am going with this deal for my old laptop. -Max
Spoof Eventbrite phishing emails look to lure in victims in major attack
“The new iOS message format that might throw you for a loop.
‘Unlocking clearer sound on your Android
“Secret trick to sending iMessages later
“Android rolls out anti-theft features”
-Cyber Guy Report, Oct 31, 2024
The Essential Guide to Using Apple’s New Passwords App: Passkeys, 2FA, Sharing and More
Nearly a Million Users Afftected by Landmark Data Breach
OCT 28
UnitedHealth Group confirmed over 100 million people had their health care and personal data stolen in a massive ransomware attack on a subsidiary, Change Healthcare. It’s a pretty safe bet your personal info and health data might be
at risk.
Hospital systems get hacked and go down. Keeping physical records sounds old-school, but if digital systems are unavailable, this step could save your life. Let’s walk through how to do it.
Start with your meds
Make a detailed list of all your medications, including dosages and names, and keep both digital and physical copies handy.
“If you’re on an iPhone, the Health app is perfect — first responders can access it in an emergency. You can also try the Notes app and snap photos of your prescription bottles for quick reference.
“Android users, Google Keep is a great option for this. If you order prescriptions online, check if there’s a list you can access there.
“Bottom line: You should have a complete, accessible record of your meds for yourself and your loved ones. It could make all the difference in an emergency.
“Move on to your medical records
These days, most health care records are stored in online patient portals, making them easy to access anytime. You can often request a printed or emailed copy directly from your provider. Just be prepared to wait.
“To skip the hassle, try syncing your health records directly to your phone so they’re always at your fingertips. You can even download them as a PDF for quick access whenever — or wherever — you need them.
“If you have an iPhone, here’s how to sync your medical records to your phone’s built-in Health app.
“Team Android, Google doesn’t provide a built-in Health app as part of the phone’s operating system. All hope is not lost to get your medical records on your phone. Try the free CommonHealth app that connects with about 15,000 health care providers.”
-Kim Komando newsletter, Oct 28, 2024
“Stop squinting: Just make your text bigger! On an iPhone, go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size. Next, tap Larger Text and enable Larger Accessibility Sizes. A slider at the bottom of the screen lets you increase or decrease the text size. On Android, open Settings > Accessibility > Text and display > Select font size, then adjust the slider. (Note: These steps may vary for Android, so if you can’t find ‘em immediately, just poke around under Accessibility.)”
-Kim Komando newsletter, Oct 28, 2024
OCT 27
“5 to 7 feet off the ground: That’s the ideal height to place your router. Routers emit radio waves that spread outward and downward, and any objects in the way can disrupt those signals. Get yours off the floor!
“PSA: Slow down: A 65-year-old woman in Maine lost $23,000 to a scammer posing as Bank of America. The thief tricked her by saying they needed her to share her screen to stop an unauthorized transaction, then they had her complete a wire transfer to “protect” her money. If you get one of these “act now” calls, don’t bite. Hang up and call your bank.
‘ICYMI, a PayPal update: Starting Nov. 27, PayPal will share all your purchasing data with third-party merchants — think products, preferences, sizes and styles. Yes, you can stop it. In the app, tap your profile photo at the top right, followed by Data and privacy. Under Manage shared info, tap Personalized shopping and toggle off the switch. On desktop, click the settings gear icon in the top right, then select Data & Privacy > Personalized shopping to toggle off the slider.
-Kim Komando newsletter, Oct 27, 2024
OCT 26
Windows 11 Strikes Again with Pop-up that Can’t Be Disabled
100 Million Affected in Worst U.S. Health Care Data Breach
OCT 26
Beware of fake parking tickets on your windshield with fake fines
OCT 24
Samsung phone users under attack, Google warns
OCT 23
“Mac warning: Microsoft researchers found a serious macOS security bug that lets hackers access your private data. It bypasses Safari’s protections, meaning your search history, camera, microphone and location are all at risk. The good news? There’s already a patch. Don’t wait — go to System Settings > General > Software Update > Update Now.
“Stop preapproved credit cards and insurance offers coming to your physical mailbox with OptOutPrescreen. You can stop offers for five years or forever. I picked forever.
“👉 Uh-oh, your PC’s monitor went blank: Before you hold down the power button, hit the Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + B. This tells your computer, “Hey, the display is messed up. Can you fix it?” In nerd speak, it refreshes or resets your graphics driver.
“Windows, quit showing me ads: Microsoft places ads in the Start menu. Go to the Start menu > Settings. Choose Personalization > Start and toggle off Show recommendations for tips, shortcuts, new apps, and more. Magic? Nope — tech smarts!”
-Kim Komando newsletter, Oct 23, 2024
Don’t Panic! Here’s How to Find Your Photos After the iOS 18 Update
-Cyber Guy Report, Oct 20, 2024
-I’m delaying iOS upgrade until 18.1 is out. This would have corrected any bugs in 18.0. -Max
OCT 21
‘Card declined’ scares online shoppers in latest scam to run up fraudulent charges
9 Useful Microsoft PowerToys Features You Might Have Overlooked
Cybercrime Agency Issues New 2FA Warning For Gmail, Outlook, Facebook And X Users
OCT 20
Killer new Windows feature: How to use your phone as a webcam
“AI voice scams spreading: An elderly father was duped out of $25,000 after scammers called him using an AI-generated voice of his son. The caller, his “son,” claimed he’d hit a pregnant woman while driving and needed bail money ASAP. The father withdrew the cash, an Uber picked it up, and the con artists disappeared. Reminder: Scammers thrive on fear and urgency, so always verify phone numbers and set up a family safe word for emergencies.”
-Kim Komando newsletter, Oct 20, 2024
“Want to up your privacy game? We’ll show you three iPhone settings you need to turn off in iOS 18 right now. Plus, learn how to activate your Android split screen feature for amazing multitasking.”
-Cyber Guy Report, Oct 20, 2024
“A screenshot that scrolls: This is great when you need a record of something that goes off the screen of your phone, like a web article or document. On Android, press the power + volume-down buttons together, then, on the screen, tap Capture more (Pixel) or the down arrows (Galaxy). On an iPhone, hold down on the power + volume-up buttons, tap the thumbnail that pops up, then tap Full Page.”
-Kim Komando newsletter, Oct 20, 2024
OCT 19
“Sounds like the plot for a Stephen King horror movie: A nation gives its enemies’ kids a free, fun app that takes over and destroys their lives right in front of their parents’ eyes. Newly leaked confidential docs prove Communist China-owned ByteDance knew kids could get addicted to TikTok in under 35 minutes. They also knew TikTok would cause anxiety, depression, memory issues, slower brain development and sleep problems. Hopefully, there’s no sequel.”
-Kim Komando newsletter, Oct 19, 2024
“Discover how scammers are using your personal info to pull off financial scams, and learn some savvy tricks to protect yourself.”
-Cyber Guy Report, Oct 19, 2024
OCT 18
“QR code scam spreading: Watch out for malicious QR codes in your email, posing as your bank or shipping services. Scan one and you’ll land on a fake login page hungry for your real username and password. Always check the sender’s full email address, watch the URL you’re redirected to, and turn on multifactor authentication for every app and service you can. I know it’s a pain.
“Windows key + V: This lets you see and paste from a list of items you’ve copied to your clipboard recently. It’s super handy for pasting multiple things without having to go back and forth to copy them again one by one. To use it, make sure Clipboard history is turned on in your Windows settings.
“Cmd + Shift + 5: On a Mac, this brings up the screenshot toolbar, where you can take screenshots or record your screen. Capture the entire screen, a selected window or a specific portion, and you can even choose to record a video.”
-Kim Komando newsletter, Oct 18, 2024
OCT 16
Voters Beware: Text Scam Targets You
AI-powered scam targets 2.5 billion Gmail users in sophisticated phishing attacks
OCT 15
“Gmail scam spreading: This is frightening. Watch out for fake Gmail account recovery request notifications that look like the real deal. Hackers try to convince you to sign in through a phony login page, where they can then capture your password. Ignore or decline the request and they’ll follow up with an AI-generated Google support call in which the caller claims someone has accessed your account and stolen your data. Ignore that, too. Pass this on so everyone knows this is happening.”
-from Kim Komando newsletter, Oct 15, 2024
Windows users are being tricked by sneaky malware scheme
OCT 13
MoneyGram Hack Exposes Customers’ Sensitive, also Crippling Services
Ransomware Attack Impacts 237,000 Comcast Customers
OCT 10
Fidelity data breach compromises more than 77,000 customers
OCT 8
Stealthy Malware Has Infected Thousands of Linux Systems for Years
How Data Brokers are Fueling Elder Fraud in America
OCT 6
Beware of this new phishing scam that could arrive in your mailbox