If you're concerned about identity theft in 2025, you're not necessarily paranoid. Frequent and massive data breaches provide scammers with the personal information they need to pull it off. If someone assumes your identity they can open new credit cards, raid your bank accounts, ruin your employment prospects, or even commit crimes for which you are blamed. With so much at stake, many people are paying $20 or more a month for identity theft protection services. But are they wasting their money? Here's the scoop...

Should you consider cheating when playing chess with an AI? Why should Jurassic Park be required viewing for all bioscientists? And have all the good guys in tech gone to the dark side? Get answers in today's Geekly Update... it's jam-packed with the latest tech news. This issue is guaranteed to make you 146% smarter -- you'll see why. Read, think, and comment!

Has this ever happened to you? You visit an online store, and later get an email from that website, even though you never provided your email address? I find this disturbing, and you probably will too, when you learn how this is happening. Read on to learn the source of mystery marketing messages, and steps you can take to protect your inbox...

Are tech support phone reps deliberately wasting your time? Why are QR codes showing up on grave stones? And is it possible to become invisible online? Get answers in today's Geekly Update... it's jam-packed with the latest tech news. This issue is guaranteed to make you 146% smarter -- you'll see why. Read, think, and comment!

A clever but pernicious software technique that's been known for more than a decade is finding favor among today's malware authors, complicating the work of anti-virus developers and digital forensic analysts. Tracking down so-called “fileless malware” is to detection of regular malware what ghost-hunting is to catching a garden-variety burglar. Read on to learn about this resurgent threat and what you can do to stop it...

Do you know what's going on under the hood of your PC or Mac? Most people don’t, and most of the time they don’t need to know. But there are occasions when a detailed inventory of a computer’s components comes in handy. Read on to learn some surprising reasons why you SHOULD know what's going on inside your computer, even if you're NOT a techie. These software tools will let you “x-ray” your PC, so you can see what's inside without touching a screwdriver. Read on...

Check out these handy Windows 10 and 11 keyboard shortcuts that can save time, wrist motions, and for some people, carpal tunnel pain. Keyboard shortcuts are combinations of two or more keys (or a key and a mouse button) that, when pressed simultaneously, perform a task that would normally require moving the mouse around, clicking, and possibly navigating sub-menus. There's even a useful super-secret keystroke that very few people know! Here are some keyboard shortcuts you should know, and try for yourself...

It's a common question: “How can I speed up my Internet connection?” Unless you enjoy watching paint dry, a slow internet connection can be very frustrating, especially when you're trying to stream a movie, play an online game, or download a file. Sometimes the slowdown is beyond your control; the Internet is subject to traffic jams and congestion, just like any other highway. However, there are several steps you can take to speed up your internet connection. Here's a trove of tips and tools that can turbocharge your telecommunication tranmissions. Or maybe just increase the speed of your Internet connection...

Is your favorite video game getting Smell-o-Vision in the near future? Should your web browser be reminding you to breathe? Is Mark Zuckerberg leaking oil from a loose neck bolt? And is it time to get serious about the Windows 10 end-of-life deadline? Get answers in today's Geekly Update... it's jam-packed with the latest tech news. This issue is guaranteed to make you 146% smarter -- you'll see why. Read, think, and comment!

According to a report produced by Javelin Strategy & Research, identity theft affected over 15 million U.S. consumers in 2023, with losses over $23 billion. Spikes have been noted in 'new account fraud' and 'account takeover fraud' -- two of the most damaging types of ID theft. I haven’t found stats for 2024 yet, but we can assume they’re equally dismal. Read on for my tips on avoiding fraud and identity theft, and see if you've made any mistakes that can make it easier for scammers to victimize you...

Has Siri predicted the winner of the 2025 Super Bowl? Is a powerful new Chinese AI chatbot a threat to the rest of the world? Will the Blue Triangle of Death be showing up on your electronic device? And what happened to those mystery drones? Get answers in today's Geekly Update... it's jam-packed with the latest tech news. This issue is guaranteed to make you 146% smarter -- you'll see why. Read, think, and comment!

A teenager and his parents were arrested this week, charged with running a scam involving ATMs and card skimmers that impacted over 900 people. And that's just one recent example. The biggest threat to financial networks is not ransomware, phishing, or denial-of-service attacks. It’s “ATM skimming,” the illegal capture of debit card data and PIN numbers by a “skimmer” device inserted into an Automated Teller Machine (ATM). Here's how to spot a skimmer and how to protect against this type of scam...

Has the new U.S. president unveiled an interstellar teleportation device? Will artificial intelligence cure cancer in 2025? Should naughty robots be punished with pushups and squat thrusts? And how does one take a good photo from the window of a space craft that's moving at 17,150 miles per hour? Get answers in today's Geekly Update... it's jam-packed with the latest tech news. This issue is guaranteed to make you 146% smarter -- you'll see why. Read, think, and comment!

A concerned reader asks: “Bob, I'm worried that I might have a computer virus. My computer will sometimes stop and a warning says I have a virus, and I must call a number on the screen. Then supposedly they will walk me through the process to fix it. Is this true? I have antivirus installed but still, it pops up now and then.” Is this virus alert real or rogue? Here's my diagnosis...

Has the arrival of way-too-cute robots lulled us into a false sense of security? Will AI make it way too easy for cybercriminals to trick us? Is Microsoft pretending to be Google? And why are mice wearing virtual reality goggles? Get answers in today's Geekly Update... it's jam-packed with the latest tech news. This issue is guaranteed to make you 146% smarter -- you'll see why. Read, think, and comment!