[Ep. 38] Your computer, car, and fridge are making MONEY off your screens (here's why)

[Ep. 38] Your computer, car, and fridge are making MONEY off your screens (here's why)

Windows 11 ads, Samsung fridge ads, and pop-ups in your Jeep: you paid for all three devices, so why are they still selling to you? You own your computer. You own your fridge. You own your car. Yet all three keep interrupting you with ads on screens you already paid for. In this episode, I walk you through an ordinary morning where your own smart devices start selling to you: from the Windows 11 start menu ads and lock screen promotions, to a widget on your Samsung smart fridge, to a pop-up on your dashboard before you've even left the driveway. One of them is even disguised as a warning. None of it is an accident. And all of it was hidden in the fine print you agreed to. The good news? Today I'll show you exactly how to remove ads from all three devices and take back control of the screens you paid for. What You Will Learn This Episode: * How to turn off ads in your Windows 11 start menu and lock screen * The fake "action advised" alert on your PC that's really a Microsoft sales pitch * How to stop the ads on your Samsung Family Hub refrigerator (the switch is buried three menus deep) * Why your car's dashboard started showing pop-ups, and whether they're coming back * The line in the fine print that makes all of this legal * How you quietly became the product these companies sell to * The exact settings to kill ads on your computer, fridge, and car Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to https://cyberguy.com/podcast/ [https://cyberguy.com/podcast/] to find the show on other platforms. Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.

[Ep. 37] This DMV scam is costing people thousands

An audience member named Todd got a text saying he owed the California DMV $160 and his license was about to be suspended. One problem: he hadn't lived in California for over ten years. So he sent it to Kurt with a simple question, is this real? What Kurt found hidden inside that one text reveals exactly how the scam works, and the five red flags that give it away before you ever tap the link. What You Will Learn This Episode: * How to spot the one detail in the phone number that proves the text is fake * Why the real DMV will never contact you about a violation by text * What actually happens in the 48 hours after you fill out that fake form * The reason replying with a single letter makes everything worse * How to verify a real DMV notice in under a minute, the safe way * What to do the moment you realize you tapped a scam link * How to block, report, and scrub your info so the texts finally stop Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to https://cyberguy.com/podcast/ [https://cyberguy.com/podcast/] to find the show on other platforms. Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.

[Ep. 36] The bank scam stealing your family's savings

Scam calls are emptying retirement accounts faster than ever, and the scammers behind them aren't who you think. This true crime look at financial fraud could protect your retirement and your family's future.Kurt sits down with Darius Kingsley, JPMorgan Chase's head of scam prevention, to pull back the curtain on the global operation behind those calls, and exactly what you can do to stop it.This is not just another scam alert. It's an inside look at organized criminal networks using forced labor compounds in Southeast Asia, psychological manipulation, and bank fraud to target everyday families. And it's happening at record levels right now.Darius reveals how scammers operate, what JPMorgan's fraud alert systems are detecting in real time, and the steps every family should take before a scam call ever comes through. Whether you've already lost money or want to protect someone in retirement you love, this conversation could save a family's future.What You Will Learn in This Episode:- How scammers coach your family member on exactly what to say before they ever walk into the bank- Why that "law enforcement" call might actually be coming from a forced labor compound in Southeast Asia- What bank tellers are secretly trained to watch for that can stop a scam before the money leaves- How to add a trusted contact to your bank account so the bank can alert someone you trust- What red flags signal that a family member is being targeted by scammers right now- Why acting in the first minutes after a scam is critical, and what your very first call should be- How to file a report with the FBI's IC3 and why it matters more than you might think Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to https://cyberguy.com/podcast/ [https://cyberguy.com/podcast/] to find the show on other platforms. Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.

[Ep. 35] Mother arrested after a Facebook post about dirty water

When Jennifer Combs saw sewage-colored water pouring from her neighbors' faucets in Trinidad, Texas, she did what any good neighbor would do: she spoke up online. She made a Facebook post to gather information from residents who were silenced from speaking up about their water concerns. Days later, two officers arrested her in her own front yard on a felony charge for "causing public panic." Jennifer Combs is a mom of four who'd never even had a speeding ticket. What unfolds next, a fired water clerk, a fired judge, and the real person who made the call to have her arrested, is so unbelievable that Jennifer Combs, a published crime thriller author, says she couldn't have written it herself. What You Will Learn This Episode: - Why speaking up on Facebook about a local problem can suddenly turn you into a target - What to do when your Facebook posts are mass-reported and deleted to silence you - How a small group can quietly control a town and punish anyone who pushes back - Why reporting a problem to the state matters when local officials won't act - The truth about who actually ordered Jennifer's arrest, and why - How retaliation against critics can backfire in shocking ways - What real courage looks like when standing up for your community gets you punished - Why staying silent isn't the safe choice you think it is Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to https://cyberguy.com/podcast/ [https://cyberguy.com/podcast/] to find the show on other platforms. Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.

[Ep. 34] Is that Social Security email in your inbox real?

Candace almost clicked a button that would have handed scammers her Social Security number, bank credentials, and her entire identity. The email looked completely official, but one tiny detail didn't add up, and Candace paused just long enough to forward it to Kurt. In this episode, Kurt walks through the actual email Candace received, breaks down exactly why it almost worked, and gives you five specific things to check before you ever click another link from a government address. What You Will Learn This Episode: * Why fake SSA emails are so convincing and what makes them different from the real thing * The single red flag in Candace's email that exposed the whole scam * What actually happens to your device the moment you click that download button * How scammers use your answers on a fake form to call your bank and pretend to be you * Why you might not find out you've been scammed until weeks or months later * How to check any email address in five seconds to know if it's really from the government * The five steps Kurt uses to verify any official-looking email before taking action * What antivirus software can actually stop, even if you accidentally click Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to ⁠⁠https://cyberguy.com/podcast/⁠⁠ [https://cyberguy.com/podcast/] to find the show on other platforms. Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.