It’s a big year for America. It’s the semiquincentennial, otherwise known as America250, and the United States is cohosting the World Cup. But spectators at these events — and the millions of people who live in the cities hosting them — may not realize that they, too, are being watched.
Technology
6 ways to stay warm and save money this winter
’Tis the season when the thermostat drops and the cost of heating rises.
Luckily, there are a variety of ways to stay warm this winter that go beyond turning on central heating or throwing some logs in the fireplace.
Whether you are staying in or stepping out, below are six different ways to stay warm(er) this season.
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1. Space heaters
Space heaters have long been a favorite for those needing to heat smaller spaces or not wanting to turn up the thermostat for their entire home.
Navy-blue space heater on marble countertop (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Top reasons to use a space heater:
- Form factor: Because space heaters are small and usually portable, they are convenient to plug and unplug and transport with you from one room to another. This is especially convenient when you only want to heat where you are and not your entire home.
- Cost Effective: Because the price of oil usually rises in the winter, it can be cheaper to use a space heater because it uses electricity, not gas, to heat.
- Temperature Control: Because sometimes it is hard to control how hot or cold you get with central heating, the space heater gives you a little more control. You can also control how much hotter it can get by adjusting the temperature on the space heater and also by your proximity to it.
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There have been safety concerns over using space heaters, as improper use can cause fires. In addition to keeping the space heaters away from any objects, crowding them, or placing them where they can be knocked over, there are specific qualities to look for in a good space heater. Newer space heaters usually include technological advances to make them safer. To find out safer features to look for as well as our top picks of space heaters, check out the right way to use a space heater in this cold season.
2. Cozy indoor gear
A man staying warm with a blanket
This may seem like a very basic principle: wear more items to get warmer. Yet new winter gear is taking warmth to a new level: instead of piling on layers in your own home, a few select items can keep things simpler and warmer. Whether it is a cozy blanket that is made into an oversized sweater like comfy or refillable hand warmers, you can be assured to take the warmth with you from room to room. For these items and more, check out the best gifts for keeping cozy all year long.
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3. Winter gloves
Gray gloves holding a peach mug (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
A good pair of gloves is a winter essential. All gloves, however, are not created equal. Several features available in more contemporary gloves can keep you warmer than gloves of years past:
- Touchscreen friendly: At some point in your winter day or night, you’ll inevitably need to access your phone. And nothing makes you colder faster than having to take off your gloves in order to use your phone. Touchscreen-friendly gloves usually have special fibers in the thumb and index fingers, allowing you to use your phone with the gloves on. Now if only being touchscreen friendly could keep you from dropping your phone!
- Waterproof: Winter usually brings rain or snow in most regions, and nothing makes you shiver and ruin the day faster than when your gloves get wet. Not only will it make you colder, but it is less likely to dry with dropping temperatures. Waterproof gloves, however, help to keep water and the chill out.
For our picks of best winter gloves in a variety of materials, check out the top 8 absolute best winter gloves that work on touch screens.
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4. Smart thermostat
Ecobee smart thermostat (Ecobee)
When push comes to shove, turning on the central heating system is definitely necessary during the cold winter months. When you need to heat multiple rooms at the same time, or the temperature drops to a certain point, it may be time to turn on central heating. In order to keep the costs manageable, you can utilize a smart thermostat. One of the top reasons why a smart thermostat can keep you warm while saving you money is that it learns your and your family’s behavioral habits and adjusts temperature settings automatically. No more forgetting to turn off the heater before leaving the house again because your thermostat will turn it off for you.
For our favorite Smart Thermostat as well as other ways to keep bills lower, check out three crucial ways to keep temperatures high and bills low this winter.
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5. Wi-Fi Thermostat
Sensi Wi-Fi thermostat (Sensi)
Even if you are ready to utilize central heating, it’s helpful to use a Wi-Fi thermostat if a smart thermostat is too expensive or incompatible with your system. Because you can access your central heating system while you’re away with a Wi-Fi thermostat, you can keep it off while you’re out of the house and turn it on when you are returning home so you can walk into a warm, comfortable home. It’s also great for those days when you can’t remember if you left the heating on or off because you can check with the corresponding app and turn it off if necessary.
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Find out the differences between smart vs. Wi-Fi thermostats as well as our picks in smart vs. Wi-Fi thermostats: the pros and cons + my 5 top picks.
6. Smart plugs
By now, most people understand that electronic devices plugged into an outlet use energy even while the device is turned off. By using a smart plug, you can turn off the outlet completely. Additionally, smart plugs can be a great way to control your portable heating devices, such as space heaters or electric blankets.
If you own older models without auto shut-off features, it can be easy to leave them turned on, which increases the risk of overheating and causing a fire. But if you have your heated blanket or space heater plugged into a smart plug, not only can you make sure it isn’t using energy while off, but you can usually connect through the smart plug app to turn it off if you’ve accidentally left it on. Get more information on how smart plugs work and our top picks for the seven best ways to save money on your electricity bill.
Kurt’s key takeaways
The colder temperatures during the winter season may be inevitable, but it doesn’t mean you can’t find new ways to stay warm. Small to big additions to your life can bring more warmth and possibly monetary savings.
What are your tried and true winter staples? Are you one of those people who wait until it is absolutely necessary to turn on central heating, or do you turn it on as soon as you get a hint of chill? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
For more of my tech tips & security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.
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Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
From Kansas City to New York, the US cities hosting the World Cup have been ramping up their surveillance capabilities in the months leading up to the tournament. Security measures are at an all-time high in Washington, DC, which isn’t hosting the World Cup, but is home to a series of spectacles this summer. The Fourth of July festivities in the nation’s capital will have an unprecedented level of surveillance. Law enforcement agencies say they can’t take any risks during these once-in-a-lifetime events — but privacy advocates warn that some of this surveillance won’t be limited to this summer’s celebrations.
Both the Fourth of July fireworks on the National Mall and the July 19th World Cup final in New Jersey have been designated National Special Security Events (NSSE) by the Department of Homeland Security, the most stringent security designation the agency gives. This isn’t unusual for major sporting events — the Super Bowl is always given an NSSE designation — but it’s a first for the Fourth of July. The UFC fight at the White House in June was also an NSSE, as was the official UFC watch party on the Ellipse.
Attendees at the Fourth of July fireworks show on the National Mall will have to pass through airport-style security checkpoints and won’t be allowed to bring folding chairs or coolers. Counter-drone measures will be in place, The Washington Post reports, as will bomb technicians, countersnipers, and medical personnel from several federal agencies. While attendees will notice these security measures, others could be close to invisible — including camera networks that track their biometrics.
The measures at the National Mall appear to be a response to criticisms of lax security at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, which was infiltrated by a gunman who allegedly shot at a Secret Service agent.
There will be similar measures in place at the World Cup final, which Donald Trump is expected to attend — and where he will reportedly present the trophy to the winning team.
“This is going to be security-o-rama regardless of whether the president goes,” Jules Boykoff, author of Red Card: The 2026 World Cup, Sportswashing, and the FIFA Greed Machine, told The Verge. “If the president goes, that’s just an extra lacquering of security.”
Boykoff, a professor of political science at Pacific University, said there may be an increased ICE presence at the World Cup final as well, and pointed out that ICE arrested rapper 21 Savage at the 2019 Super Bowl — another NSSE — claiming he overstayed his visa.
Anne Toomey McKenna, an attorney who specializes in privacy and biometric surveillance, said the NSSE declaration may also make it easier to justify collecting communications data under the looser standard of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, instead of the more stringer requirements of the Wiretap Act.
Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House task force for the World Cup — and son of Rudy Giuliani — has said there will be heightened security at all the World Cup matches, even the ones Trump doesn’t attend. “You’ll have multiple perimeter checks from security. You’ll have checks while you get onto public transportation to make sure you’re a valid ticket holder,” Giuliani told the Atlantic Council’s Frederick Kempe. “Soccer fans — or futból fans — they generally like to come to stadiums late, in the 15, 20 minutes or so before the game.” But Giuliani said ticket holders should know that gates open three hours before kickoff and plan to arrive early so they don’t miss kickoff.
The surveillance isn’t limited to one-off events and in fact involves building up a massive apparatus across the country. Through FEMA, the Department of Homeland Security gave $250 million in grants to states that are hosting World Cup matches, much of which was used to buy counter-drone equipment, according to The New York Times. The FBI has also been training local law enforcement agencies on drone mitigation. According to Giuliani, the Fan Fests in all 11 host cities will be covered by counter-drone technology. It’s unclear whether these cities are using the same tech that led to an airspace closure in El Paso earlier this year.
This is going to be security-o-rama regardless of whether the president goes.
New York City — technically one of the host cities, even though the matches are taking place across the river in New Jersey — spent $6.5 million on counter-drone technology. In Kansas City, Missouri, authorities have confiscated at least 16 drones since the World Cup began.
“The general rule with the World Cup and Olympics is that local and national police forces use the sports mega event like their own private cash machine,” Boykoff said. “The World Cup creates a state of exception that allows for all manner of securitization processes.” And in many cases, once these tools are in place, they remain. Paris, for example, enabled AI video surveillance ahead of the 2024 Olympics — and is keeping it in place through the end of 2027 despite privacy concerns.
Similar camera systems have been installed throughout the US ahead of the World Cup, even in areas far beyond stadiums. Kansas City also planned on putting cameras equipped with facial recognition on some city buses, even though the state government refused to fund the project over privacy concerns. The city initially went through with the program anyway, saying it would help identify missing persons and could thwart human trafficking attempts during a major international sporting event. City officials said that the images captured are checked against active missing persons alerts and only retained if there’s a match.
“Privacy is always a tricky thing,” Tyler Means, chief mobility and strategy officer at Kansas City Area Transportation Authority, told The Washington Post. “We’ve always had cameras on our buses. It’s just new technology. I think in time it’ll smooth over and people will realize, ‘Well, it didn’t really feel any different.’”
The cameras aren’t operational yet because of backlash and technical delays, but Kansas City plans on implementing the program later this year — even though the World Cup will be over by then.
The America250 celebrations will be monitored by thousands of law enforcement officers, including National Guard troops and FBI agents, many of whom will be wearing body cameras. Several cities have expanded or reactivated CCTV systems ahead of the World Cup. Seattle reportedly reactivated dormant cameras after FBI and Seattle Police Department officials briefed the mayor on “credible threats” during the games.
McKenna said the increase in surveillance at these events isn’t unwarranted given the increased level of risk, but said there’s an issue with how biometric data is gathered and retained. McKenna noted that British Columbia, which is also hosting the World Cup, has regulations around how long surveillance footage from matches and other events can be retained — rules the US lacks.
Though CCTV has been around for decades, advances in camera technology — and AI integrations — have made these systems incredibly sophisticated. Early footage “told us a lot about what was happening, but it really wasn’t that different from what a police officer standing on the street could see themselves,” McKenna said. “That’s how the law in the US reached the conclusion that CCTV systems are okay — because it happens in a public space, so there’s no real reasonable expectation of privacy risk under the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.”
But cameras reach much farther than they used to — they can tilt, pan, or zoom, and can often see several miles away. They can be equipped with thermal imaging devices and facial recognition technology, all of which may be accessible to law enforcement. Some AI software can even analyze people’s facial expressions and claim to predict a person’s behavior, McKenna said.
“We have increasingly advancing AI systems with analytical capabilities that can merge so much data and detect things from the footage that before we wouldn’t know,” McKenna said. “An officer on the street wouldn’t be able to identify every person walking by, but facial recognition technology software is very common, and it can be utilized together with the footage that is being taken and collected by CCTV systems.”
All of this information can be sent to federal fusion centers, where information is shared between local law enforcement and federal agencies like ICE and the FBI. McKenna explained that when there’s more information-sharing between local law enforcement and federal security agencies, “we lose control over how that information is used.”
“That’s part of the protection we’re supposed to have under our laws — that information that’s been collected for national security purposes not be used for domestic law enforcement purposes,” McKenna said. “We have increasingly seen a blurring of national security measures becoming part of domestic law enforcement.”
There are still a couple weeks left in the World Cup. But there’s no telling how long all the surveillance data gathered around the matches will be stored, or how it will be used.
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Empty Waymo vehicles swarm Atlanta neighborhood
Atlanta residents captured alarming video of dozens of Waymo driverless cars continually circling their quiet neighborhood for hours. Tech expert Kurt Knutsson warns this ‘AI takeover’ raises significant safety concerns, especially for children, highlighting a critical lack of human intervention and company accountability from Waymo regarding these autonomous vehicles and potential glitches.
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Zoox has a new version of its robotaxi, and yes, it still looks like something that rolled in from the future. The Amazon-owned company has updated its custom-built electric robotaxi with new comfort and usability upgrades. The vehicle still has no steering wheel or pedals, and it can still drive in either direction. However, Zoox now wants the inside to feel less like a tech demo and more like a ride you might actually relax in.
That is a big shift. Once robotaxis move beyond early testers and start picking up more riders, small things suddenly become important. A stiff seat, a sliding phone or a cupholder that cannot handle your giant iced coffee can turn a futuristic ride into an annoying one fast. Zoox says the new updates came from testing, early deployments and feedback from half a million riders. In other words, this robotaxi makeover seems designed for the people sitting inside, not the engineers admiring it from the curb.
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WOULD YOU RIDE IN WAYMO’S NEW OJAI ROBOTAXI?
Zoox’s updated robotaxi keeps its steering-wheel-free design while adding rider-focused upgrades inside and out. (Zoox)
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What Zoox changed inside its robotaxi
The biggest changes are inside the cabin. Zoox added more padding and ergonomic curves to the seats and headrests. That should help make the ride feel more comfortable, especially if you hit rough pavement or sit in the vehicle for more than a quick hop across town. The company also updated the color, materials and finish. The new interior uses aloe-green seating with stone-grey flooring and trim. Zoox says the lighter palette creates a calmer cabin.
There is another everyday benefit, too. A lighter interior can make it easier to spot your phone, keys or wallet before the vehicle pulls away. Anyone who has ever left something in the back seat of a rideshare knows how stressful that moment can be. Zoox also added fluting to the wireless charging pad to help keep phones in place. The cupholders are larger. The touchscreen is easier to see. None of that sounds dramatic, but those details become important when a vehicle may eventually shuttle lots of people a day.
The Zoox robotaxi still has no steering wheel
The core Zoox design has not changed. CyberGuy previously reported on Zoox’s first public-road robotaxi milestone back in 2023, when the company’s autonomous vehicle carried passengers in Foster City, California. This is still a purpose-built autonomous vehicle, not a regular car with self-driving software added later. There is no driver’s seat, steering wheel or traditional controls.
The vehicle has carriage-style seating for four people, with passengers facing each other. It also has a moonroof, starry night lighting and a sensor setup that includes cameras, radar, lidar and long-wave infrared sensors.
The robotaxi can drive bidirectionally, which means it does not need to turn around the way a normal car does. It also uses four-wheel steering and can travel at speeds of up to 75 miles per hour. That design is the whole point of Zoox. The company wants a robotaxi built around riders from the start. Still, that also makes federal approval more complicated because many vehicle rules were written for cars with human drivers.
Why the outside of the robotaxi changed too
Zoox also made exterior changes that focus on visibility and communication. The company relocated its bidirectional reflectors so people outside the vehicle can better understand which direction it is moving. Zoox says those reflectors rotate color to clearly distinguish the robotaxi’s front from its rear. That is important because a boxy robotaxi that can drive both ways may confuse pedestrians, cyclists or other drivers.
Zoox also added a new speaker and microphone to the door interface. The vehicle now supports two-way audio, which can help riders talk with Zoox Support. It may also help first responders communicate in an emergency. That may sound like a small upgrade, but it is important. If there is no driver, someone still needs a clear way to talk to the vehicle, the rider or support staff when something goes wrong.
The refreshed cabin uses aloe-green seating, stone-grey trim and added padding to create a calmer ride. (Zoox)
Zoox wants more riders, but approval still comes first
Zoox says this latest version is its production intent vehicle, and it plans to move into large-scale production at its robotaxi facility in Hayward, California. Zoox says it is live in Las Vegas and San Francisco, while Austin and Miami are listed as “Now Arriving” on its ride pages. Availability varies by city, so this is still not the same as opening an app anywhere and calling a ride. Zoox says riders can download the app at zoox.com/app to ride in Las Vegas or join the waitlist in other cities. Zoox wants to make the updated robotaxis available to more riders later this year, but that expansion remains subject to regulatory approval.
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Zoox has petitioned NHTSA for a temporary exemption from certain requirements in eight Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for its automated vehicle. NHTSA previously granted Zoox a demonstration exemption for its driverless vehicles, but broader commercial deployment still depends on regulatory approval. That decision could shape how quickly Zoox moves from limited access to more widespread availability.
Why this robotaxi redesign is important for you
This update says a lot about where robotaxis are headed. The early race focused on whether autonomous vehicles could safely drive through cities. Now, companies also have to prove that people will enjoy using them. That is a different challenge.
You may be willing to try a robotaxi once because it feels new. However, would you use one again if the seat feels stiff, your drink tips over or you cannot figure out how to get help? Probably not.
Zoox seems to understand that. The company is polishing the experience before it tries to scale the service. That makes sense because robotaxis will be judged by the whole ride, including whether the vehicle feels safe, comfortable and easy to use.
The bigger robotaxi race is heating up
Zoox isn’t alone in the robotaxi race. Waymo already operates in several markets, Tesla has been pushing its own robotaxi plans and other autonomous vehicle companies continue to test driverless technology. Zoox stands out because its vehicle has no traditional driver setup at all. That makes it visually striking, but it also puts the company closer to the center of the regulatory debate.
Federal rules still have to catch up with vehicles that were never designed for a human driver. Until that happens, companies like Zoox may need exemptions before they can fully launch paid service. For riders, the question becomes less about whether the technology looks cool and more about whether it feels safe, comfortable and easy to use.
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Your phone holds your email, passwords, photos, banking apps and personal data. In this free CyberGuy Live replay, Kurt the CyberGuy walks you step by step through simple phone security fixes you can do at your own pace. You’ll learn how to improve your privacy settings, spot the latest phone scams, use trusted security tools and walk away with a simple checklist to stay protected. Watch the replay and get our checklist here: CyberGuyLive.com
Larger cupholders and a redesigned charging area show how Zoox is focusing on everyday rider comfort. (Zoox)
Kurt’s key takeaways
Zoox’s updated robotaxi shows how autonomous vehicles are moving into a new phase. The technology still has to prove itself on safety, but the ride experience now counts too. Better seats, clearer screens, larger cupholders and easier communication may sound minor, yet those are the things that become important for everyday riders. The bigger issue is approval. Zoox can make the cabin calmer and more comfortable, but broader commercial deployment still depends on regulatory approval. That is the part to follow closely because it could affect how quickly steering-wheel-free robotaxis show up in your city.
Would you climb into a driverless taxi with no steering wheel if it looked this calm inside, or would you still want a human at the controls? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com
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The Fire HD 8 that launched in 2024 was the last new addition to Amazon’s budget-minded tablet lineup, but the company has quietly updated the Fire HD 10 that debuted the year before. In 2023 it was offered with multiple storage configurations that each came with 3GB of RAM, but the 32GB version now ships with 4GB of RAM, and a small price bump from $139.99 to $154.99.
The Fire HD 10 with 64GB of storage still only comes with 3GB of RAM and the other specs for both tablets remain the same, including a 10.1-inch, 1,920 x 1,200 display, a 2GHz eight-core processor, a 13-hour battery, and expandable storage through a microSD card. The refreshed version is also only available for purchase with lock screen ads, but those can be removed after the fact by paying a one-time fee. If you’ve been eyeing this tablet but don’t want to pay a $15 premium for it, Amazon still sells the original 3GB/32GB model for $139.99, but stock may sell out.
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