Hackers steal $6.3 billion in Binance crypto hack: Rich explains how hackers reportedly targeted the exchange’s digital wallets and why keeping cryptocurrency on an exchange carries risks. Jeff in California loses $21,000 in SIM swap scam: Thieves intercepted his text verification codes to access his bank account, highlighting why authenticator apps are safer than SMS codes. How to protect your phone number from hackers: AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile offer free settings to prevent SIM swaps and unauthorized number transfers. Rideshare horror stories raise safety concerns: Rich shares unsettling rideshare experiences, including a driver asking a passenger about the last day of her life, another using someone else’s account and one relying on Tesla self-driving. Rich explains when to report a driver and what to do if you feel unsafe. Apple unveils its first touchscreen MacBook Pro: Rich goes hands-on with Apple’s new 14-inch and 16-inch laptops, featuring OLED displays, touch controls and a Dynamic Island. Prices start at $2,900, with high-end configurations exceeding $14,000. More rideshare horror stories and safety tips: Listeners share experiences with reckless drivers and misleading driver profiles. Rich recommends booking through official rideshare apps rather than paying drivers directly, which could leave passengers without proper insurance coverage. Tracy in Los Angeles asks whether T-Mobile is better than Verizon: Rich says T-Mobile’s coverage has improved dramatically, but recommends testing its network before switching, especially if reliable navigation is essential. T-Mobile’s Starlink satellite service offers backup coverage: Rich explains how satellite connectivity can provide limited data access, including Google Maps, when regular cellular service is unavailable. How to use two cellular carriers on one phone: Rich suggests adding an inexpensive secondary eSIM to improve coverage without changing your primary number, using automatic cellular data switching on supported phones. iPhone / Pixel Angel in San Bernardino County shares a wild rideshare story: His driver impersonated an undercover police officer and pulled someone over, only to be arrested by real police officers investigating him. Angel asks how to improve weak cellular coverage: Rich recommends Wi-Fi calling at home and checking out weBoost for signal boosters that work with multiple carriers, though they can cost hundreds of dollars. Why you should set up a guest Wi-Fi network: Rich recommends keeping visitors on a separate network to help protect your personal devices and smart home equipment. Jay in Manassas Park, Virginia can’t watch Disney Channel through his receiver: Rich suspects an HDMI copyright protection issue called HDCP and recommends restarting the equipment, checking cables and connecting the Xfinity box directly to the TV to isolate the problem. Gordon in Costa Mesa asks about LifeLock versus Incogni: Rich explains that Incogni removes personal information from data brokers, while LifeLock focuses on identity theft monitoring and recovery. He also recommends freezing your credit, using strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication and avoiding phishing scams. Rich goes hands-on with Apple’s new iPad mini: The $699 tablet features a larger 8.5-inch OLED display, thinner design, water resistance and optional matte glass that’s great for reading. Rich loves the upgrades but questions the price, especially with the screen still limited to a 60Hz refresh rate. Available November 6. Jamie Siminoff, founder of Ring, will discuss the new Ring Smart Lock, its hand-powered backup system, and why Amazon Sidewalk is becoming a bigger part of the smart home. Rich tests Capacities, a different kind of note-taking app: Instead of folders, Capacities organizes notes as objects with tags, collections and AI-powered search. Rich likes the ability to text notes into the app, connect ideas and export everything as Markdown. David in Woodland Hills wants Windows 10 back on his new laptop: Rich explains how Rufus can create a bootable Windows installation drive but recommends Start11 to restore the familiar Windows 10 look without replacing Windows 11. Granola adds free AI voice dictation for Mac: Rich tests the new feature, which offers unlimited voice-to-text dictation at no cost, making it an interesting alternative to paid competitor Wispr Flow. Tony in San Diego is locked out of his Hotmail and Yahoo accounts: Each email service wants to send a verification code to the other, leaving him stuck. Rich recommends using the official account recovery tools, setting up passkeys and avoiding fake tech support phone numbers. How to hide sensitive apps on your iPhone: Rich explains how to require Face ID for banking and other private apps, or hide them entirely in the App Library. Just remember that hidden apps won’t send notifications. Amazon’s new Alexa photo frame uses AI to pick your best pictures: The $200 frame features a 10-inch matte touchscreen, automatic photo selection, voice recordings and no ads. Rich recommends waiting for a $150 deal. Amazon Prime includes unlimited full-resolution photo storage: Rich reminds Prime members they can back up unlimited photos using Amazon Photos, with 5GB of video storage included. It’s also how Amazon’s new photo frame automatically displays your latest pictures. AI can negotiate your next car purchase for you: Ray Shefska, co-founder of CarEdge, explains how its AI agents negotiate anonymously with dealerships, compare pricing transparency and help buyers secure a deal before ever setting foot in a showroom. Don’t overlook the extras when buying a car: Ray says warranties and other products offered in the dealership’s finance office are negotiable. Always ask for the total price rather than just how much they’ll add to your monthly payment. TikTok launches Must Eat restaurant recommendations: The new feature uses more than 40 million posts, reviews and comments to highlight popular restaurants in Los Angeles, New York City and the Bay Area. Find it by tapping your city in TikTok and selecting Must Eat. iHeartRadio introduces Light Mode: A simpler interface for iPhone and Android puts favorite stations, presets, recently played content and local radio front and center. Max recommends the Status Pro X earbuds: These $199 wireless earbuds feature three drivers per earbud, high-resolution audio, LDAC support and noise cancellation. Tony asks why deleting iPhone apps doesn’t erase their data: Rich explains that some information may remain in iCloud, allowing apps to restore settings and data when reinstalled. Dawn wants to learn how to use AI: Rich recommends downloading the official ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini app and simply asking questions, including asking the AI what it can do. Tom warns about a misleading subscription offer: A $2 introductory offer from JustAnswer turned into a $65 monthly membership. Rich reminds listeners to check the fine print before entering payment information. Sam recommends Wispr Flow and Skullcandy headphones: Sam uses Wispr Flow for voice dictation and suggests Rich check out Skullcandy’s premium headphones developed with Bose. Listeners respond to Rich’s SIM swap protection advice: Candy in Florida successfully enabled Spectrum’s security settings, while other listeners thanked Rich for helping them protect their phone numbers. How to Listen: 🎙️ Live on KFI AM 640 - Los Angeles, Saturdays from 11 AM - 2 PM PT 🎙️ Rebroadcast on 710 WOR - New York City, Sundays from 8 PM - 11 PM ET 📻 Syndicated on affiliates nationwide Subscribe to the podcast. Premium subscribers can listen ad-free here. Follow Rich on Instagram. Subscribe to my free newsletter. Rich on Tech Weekly airs on KTLA+. You can download the app on Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku, and Samsung smart TVs. Disclosure: I may earn a commission from purchases made through links in this post, at no additional cost to you. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
