November's Digital Life: Who's really watching?
Keep up to date on curated AI, security, tips, tricks and more with The Digital Life!
Welcome to November! As the election nears and holiday shopping kicks off, we’re exploring some surprising ways your data—and even your attention—is being closely monitored.
In this issue:
The Big Think: Why campaign ads seem so perfectly targeted and how “free” apps track our every move.
ICYMI - Election Alert: Tips for spotting disinformation no matter your politics.
It’s Apple Time: iOS 18.1’s latest and a fresh iMac lineup.
Security Spotlight: Hackers, AI scams, and wiretap breaches—what to know.
Tips & Tricks: A free shortcut guide and new Windows Co-Pilot features
Get prepped for fall with us! 🍂 Give us a call if you’re ready to plan your tech goals for the season.
The Big Think - Who’s Targeting You This Season?
With elections around the corner, ever wondered why campaign ads seem to know exactly what to show you? It’s not just a hunch—chances are, if you’ve got “free” apps loaded up, they’re working overtime to know your every move. From location tracking to aggregating your personal data, these apps build a detailed profile that’s valuable to advertisers, politicians, and, yes, even the government.
The reality? This data-collection party is happening on almost every device and app we use. Apps track and analyze everything, from the places we visit to the words we say (and even sometimes the things we don’t think anyone hears!).
As we head into the holiday shopping season, this same surveillance goes into overdrive, targeting us with ads that somehow seem to read our minds. If you’re curious (or just a little creeped out), take a look at these insights from Ars Technica on phone tracking and a must-watch video that digs into the wild world of data-driven ads.
It will only take 11 minutes to change the way you see targeted ads, tracking, and those perfectly timed holiday deals! 😯🎄
ICYMI - We’re having an election
With election season heating up, disinformation is flooding in from both domestic and foreign sources. Whether you're a Republican, Democrat, Independent, or just eager to sharpen your critical thinking, Tangle's non-partisan newsletter is an invaluable resource. This recent article is a MUST READ. It dispels common election fraud myths, offering clear insights to help you see through the noise. Check it out and keep your perspective grounded!
It’s Apple time - again
Apple fans, the highly anticipated iOS 18.1 has rolled out with enhancements like redesigned widgets, improved live voicemail, and battery health updates, though we’re still waiting on the much-talked-about Apple Intelligence. And if you're eyeing hardware, the new iMac lineup has landed with upgraded specs and fresh colors just in time for the holiday season!
Security Spotlight: Digital Fortress Breaches
China-linked hackers reportedly breached Verizon and AT&T’s ultra-secure “red rooms,” where wiretap data for U.S. agencies like the NSA and FBI is routed. This alarming security lapse could also connect to recent hacks of key election candidates' devices, highlighting serious vulnerabilities at the intersection of national security and personal data integrity in a critical election year.
This new Gmail scam uses an AI-driven call posing as Google support to convincingly fake a security breach, tricking you into giving away two-factor authentication codes. Even a security expert nearly fell for it! Read this to protect yourself from these frighteningly realistic tactics.
Could you be next? Hacked clients reveal just how close we all are to a breach. Check out this newly updated guide on keeping safe in 2024!
Tips? We got ‘em!
Windows users, your new AI sidekick is here! Whether you’ve spotted it or not, Co-Pilot’s latest features are set to streamline browsing and boost productivity—discover its potential in this quick read.
Snap up the secrets to speed! Grab our free guide on keyboard shortcuts for Windows and Mac to slice seconds off your tasks—one key at a time. Also, don’t forget to explore even more handy tools on our free resources page!
The Bonus Round: Where the Curiosities Live
Since it’s autumn, here’s a stroll down memory lane! Picture 2004: you’re rocking a Moto Razr flip phone, T9-texting your way through, and snapping shots on a clunky digital camera. Emails? Not on Gmail—that was invite-only! Back then, photos lived in shoeboxes, MP3s hid on hard drives, and “podcasts” were just radio downloads. Whatever happened to all those iPods anyway? 🤔
Fast-forward to now, and tech’s unrecognizable: instant emails, cloud storage, and cameras in every pocket. This throwback site is your time machine to 2004 that showcases the gadgets, quirks, and simpler digital life.
Check it out—you might find yourself wondering how we ever survived without cloud storage, unlimited text, or selfies galore. And hey, maybe your old iPod is still kicking around somewhere… 🤣😂
