AI, software, security and the apps you use every day, written for business owners and everyday people. New stories through the day, zero clickbait.
A congressional review finds federal agencies cannot say how much scam money is lost or returned, while the FBI reports losses above $2 million an hour.
Read more: Americans lost nearly $18 billion to online scams, and little comes backScam callers are posing as the Chickasaw County Sheriff's Office and demanding money for an overdue balance, and the calls may show a local number.
Read more: Sheriff warns of fake deputy calls demanding paymentVaani AI Research has opened a self-serve tool for building voice agents that answer calls in many languages, though its claims are untested by outsiders.
Read more: Vaani AI Launches a Tool to Build Phone Agents That Speak Many LanguagesAndroid quietly reworks your music before it reaches your headphones. Engadget explains how to switch off extra effects and when a USB-C adapter helps.
Read more: How to get better sound from your Android phone and headphonesBermuda police warn that scammers posing as bank fraud investigators are talking people into installing AnyDesk, then moving money out of their accounts.
Read more: Fake bank agents are tricking people into handing over their screensAARP Washington wants a statewide ban on crypto ATMs, saying scammers use them to move stolen cash fast and out of reach.
Read more: AARP Wants Washington State to Ban Crypto ATMs Used in ScamsDataline raised $10.6 million for a network that scores data for reliability before AI tools act on it, which matters if AI starts handling money.
Read more: Startup raises $10.6M to help AI tools check their data firstAndroid quietly gives Google's DNS a second route on public Wi-Fi. AdGuard, NextDNS and other ad-blocking DNS picks can leave a phone offline.
Read more: Android gives Google's DNS a backup route that ad blockers don't getChainalysis says an outside attacker using AI tools got into its systems and saw customer names and emails. Here is the risk and who should pay attention.
Read more: Chainalysis says an AI-driven attack exposed customer names and emailsCisco Talos found infostealer malware that asks AI chatbots to size up what a victim is worth. Here is who is exposed and what to do about it.
Read more: New password-stealing malware uses AI to profile its victimsMicrosoft 365 Family now gives the whole household a shared 2TB instead of up to 6TB, at the same price. Heavy OneDrive users may need to act.
Read more: Microsoft 365 Family plan cuts shared storage to 2TB, same priceA Fast Company piece argues business AI may still be missing its defining breakthrough, the way search needed Google, so today's tools may not last.
Read more: Business AI may still be waiting for its Google-style breakthroughA New Jersey radio host says a store manager told him card machines differ on purpose to slow thieves. It is one claim, not a confirmed reason, but holiday shoppers should slow down.
Read more: Why every card machine at the store works a little differentlyAlphabet, Amazon and Intel fell on worries about AI spending, while Ford and GM rose. A possible December rate hike adds to the pressure on your investments.
Read more: Big tech stocks slide as AI spending worries grow, but Ford and GM riseAnker's MagGo Power Bank 2 Pro snaps onto a phone's back, but a review says it works best with iPhones. Android owners should check first.
Read more: Anker's new MagGo power bank is great, but Android phones miss outNews.com.au reports an Australian's bank account was emptied in minutes. The details are thin, but a few quick settings in your banking app can limit the damage.
Read more: Australian's bank account emptied within minutesA hidden one-pixel image lets anyone, even a stranger, see when you open their email. Turning off automatic images in your email app stops most of it.
Read more: Anyone can see when you open their email. Here is how to stop itTexts claiming to be FedEx, about a parcel you never ordered, follow a known scam pattern. The link behind them is built to collect card details, logins or a download.
Read more: Fake FedEx texts about parcels you never ordered are a known scamApple has passed Nvidia as the world's most valuable company, as investors look for safer bets while worries grow over AI spending.
Read more: Apple is once again the world's most valuable companyBioLite's new Backup battery keeps a fridge running through a blackout. Wired found it works well, but it costs $1,999 and the install was harder than promised.
Read more: A Home Battery Just for Your Fridge Works, but Costs $1,999Asana CEO Dan Rogers uses AI agents to sort his email, check his calendar and watch rivals. His main lesson: they only help once you give clear instructions.
Read more: This CEO has AI helpers run his inbox, calendar and rival watchingMore than 10 million people have turned on Meta's Muse, but big companies say it sends them very few orders so far. Here is what that means if you shop or sell online.
Read more: Meta's AI shopping helper Muse is barely moving sales so farRumors say Samsung's next phone software, One UI 10, could be renamed Galaxy OS. One writer lists five annoyances he wants gone, and some you can change now.
Read more: Samsung may rename its phone software Galaxy OS, and fans want fixesAndroid Authority picked five upcoming phones it thinks are worth saving for, a useful list if you skipped upgrading this year and your current phone still works.
Read more: Five Android phones coming soon could be worth waiting for
