Fifi’s owner actually came on my radio show to give us more details about Fifi and what Amazon is doing to cover up their drivers’ bad decisions.
How the government spies on you
When I shared my tip on opting out of the Transportation Security Administration’s new facial recognition tech at airports the other week, I got a ton of questions. First and foremost, though, a lot of you said, “I didn’t know I could do that.”
You can and you should (steps below). But your face isn’t the only data metric the government collects about you. Here are a few things we know they know.
What you look like and where you are
Many other places use facial recognition, like grocery stores, banks, sports and concert venues. I’m pretty sure you’ve gone to at least one of those in the past year.
Government AI tools add pictures you’ve shared on social media to a facial-recognition database that’s then paired with CCTV cameras everywhere. This tech can pinpoint your location, associations and activities with creepy precision.
Who you’re talking to (and what you’re saying)
After 9/11, Congress enabled warrantless monitoring of foreign communications. The National Security Agency (NSA) exploits a loophole to conduct mass surveillance of Americans, too.
They copy some info directly from fiber-optic cables (crazy, right?) and get other stuff from companies like Google. They also have access to real-time internet activity with a “secret” program called XKeyscore.
What you’re posting and who you’re following
The government monitors Facebook, X, Instagram and all the rest. Even if your account is private, the government can ask companies for access. Remember, friend: What you post on social media is out there forever.
What you’re buying and browsing
Data brokers buy info from your internet service provider, Big Tech companies and even smart appliance manufacturers. Then, they package it up and sell it to advertisers — and the U.S. government. This is another reason to get your personal information out of all these invasive databases.
60-second privacy fix, Google edition
In today’s episode of “I always feel like somebody’s watchin’ me,” our “close friend” Google is recording our voices. And, of course, they’re being sneaky about it.
Yep, a hidden feature in your Google account is snatching up audio recordings from your web and app activity, interactions with digital assistants, and more.
Hide your Instagram Stories: If family members or coworkers follow you on IG, you might not want them to see those party vacation pics. In the app, tap your profile picture in the bottom right, then tap the three lines to the top right > Settings > Privacy > Story > Hide Story From, and select anyone you want to hide your story from. They’ll still be able to see your profile and posts!
🚨 Shed light on this: The FTC says most subscription apps and websites use “dark patterns.” These manipulative design techniques push you to buy things and/or put your privacy at risk. Examples: Being forced to enter payment details for a free trial or upload your contacts to access features. Watch out for this.
What percentage of Americans admit to routinely spying on their partner’s phone and checking their text messages?
Peeping Tom caught in the act at Target
Stories like this make my blood boil. Some creep was caught taking pics up women’s skirts at a Target store. Let’s give a big cheer for the woman who called him out — and filmed it.
Peeping Toms and tech are a match made in you-know-where. They use everything from smartphones to hidden cameras to get their fix. Luckily, I’m on your side to keep you and your loved ones safe.
A VPN isn't just for your computer - Here's why you need a VPN on your router, too
If you aren’t protecting your router, you’re exposing a weak spot for cybercriminals to strike. Don’t be like the millions of people using outdated routers or weak default passwords. That’s right: A study from Comparitech found that one in 16 home Wi-Fi routers use their manufacturer’s default admin password.
Surgeon General's warning on social media
Do you think adding a warning label to social media will actually help all the issues they’ve created?
Please leave me alone: You can stop pesky political texts if you know the steps. Here’s what not to do: Reply “STOP.” You’ll just get more junk.
Go away: On Instagram, block spammers, creeps and someone you’re just done hearing from. Click More in the bottom left > Settings > Comment. You’ll see Block comments from. Choose People. Select their name, then remove.
Fake your location to get the lowest prices: A friend of mine in Phoenix booked a rental car in the U.K. It was $955. I told her to try this trick. She used her VPN to change her location to the U.K. and the same car for the same dates was $322. Just another reason why you need ExpressVPN on all your devices. Use this link to get three months free.
Quick privacy tip: Task Manager on a Windows PC and Activity Monitor on a Mac can give you an overview of everything happening on your machine. On a PC, hit Ctrl + Shift + Esc. Click the Processes tab. On a Mac, hit Cmd + spacebar to open Spotlight Search. Then, type Activity Monitor and press Enter. See anything weird? Google it before you panic.
What are you doing in there? Open the Google Maps app and tap your profile. Tap Location sharing. If you’re sharing your location with anyone, you’ll see their names here. Tap a profile, then tap Stop to quit sharing with them.
15 million vets’ health data was leaked: It was part of the recently reported Change Healthcare and UnitedHealth ransomware data breach. Supposedly, patients’ “full medical histories” weren’t compromised, but with more dirt coming out about the breach almost every day, who’s to say how deep this rabbit hole goes? Watch out for medical ID theft.
Piece of mind: Colorado just became the first state to pass a brainwave privacy law as part of the Colorado Privacy Act. Any company with mind-reading gadgets needs your consent before snooping through your thoughts. Sounds good, but, in reality, how would we know?
Smart speakers are great: But if you’re worried about accidental (or intentional) eavesdropping, find and use the mic mute and camera shutter buttons on your devices. On an Echo, the light will turn red to indicate the mic is off.
For your eyes only: If you’ve got sensitive pics in your Google Photos collection and you want to make sure they don’t get seen, tap on and hold an image, then pick Move to Locked Folder. Now that photo needs a PIN or fingerprint to view, just like your phone.
Find out which apps are listening: Have an iPhone? Open Settings > Privacy and Security > Microphone. From there, disable the apps you don’t want picking up conversations. On Android, go to your Settings menu and find the Apps Permission Manager. Disable the microphone for any apps you don’t want listening in.