Europe has an electric bike problem. Direct-to-consumer e-bikes from inexpensive Chinese brands like Engwe and countless others can be easily purchased online despite openly flouting EU restrictions. They feature throttles and powerful motors that can be easily unlocked to far exceed the 25km/h (16mph) legal speed limit — no pedaling required.
Technology
How to reclaim your phone and block unwelcome political text messages
Text messages that come to your phone as spam messages are a nuisance at best and a risk to your personal security at worst. But somewhere in between lies a unique type of spam text message that includes propaganda to convince you of whom to vote for in the upcoming election.
Of course, this is a nuisance, but is it also something more than that? Something more dangerous that you need to be aware of?
If you’re receiving those unwelcome political text messages from fundraisers, here’s what you need to know about them and how you can reclaim your phone and block those messages for good. With the upcoming election, you should be free to vote without any influence from strangers texting your phone. How did they get your number, anyway?
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A man on his phone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
What are political text messages?
Political text messages are communications sent via SMS by political campaigns, party committees, political action committees (PACs) and interest groups. These messages aim to solicit support, funds, votes, gauge public opinion through surveys and provide information about political events and initiatives.
Due to their high open rates and direct reach, they have become a popular tool in modern campaigning. However, there is a risk that such messages can backfire because recipients may find them intrusive and choose to support a different candidate instead.
Political text message (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
How to tell if a political text message is legitimate
As election season approaches, it’s important to be vigilant about the political text messages you receive. While some may be genuine communications from campaigns or organizations, others could be scams designed to deceive you.
Here are some tips to help you determine the legitimacy of these messages:
Check for grammatical errors: Fake messages often contain poor grammar, spelling mistakes or awkward sentence structures. Legitimate organizations typically ensure their communications are free from such errors.
Verify the source: If you receive a message claiming to be from a known political campaign or organization, verify it by contacting it directly using a phone number or website you trust, not the information provided in the message.
Look for unfamiliar numbers: Legitimate political campaigns usually send texts from identified numbers. Scam texts often come from unidentified or unusually long numbers.
Understand brand communication: Familiarize yourself with how political campaigns say they will contact you. Many organizations provide guidelines on their websites about what legitimate communications will look like.
A person receiving text messages on a cell phone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
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How did they get my number?
Political organizations often obtain phone numbers from voter registration records, which include names, addresses and contact information of registered voters. These records are public and can be accessed by anyone involved in political communications.
Additionally, political groups may purchase phone numbers from data brokers who compile extensive profiles using various data points, including online activity, subscriptions and demographic information. Essentially, even if you haven’t directly given these campaigners your phone number, they’ve found it online some other way.
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Can these messages mean that they can take my information?
While the messages themselves typically do not extract personal information directly, responding to or engaging with these texts can contribute to the data profiles that political organizations maintain.
Each interaction provides additional data points that can be used to refine outreach strategies. However, be cautious of links within these messages because they could potentially lead to phishing attempts if not from a legitimate source.
What rules govern political texts
Here’s the thing. You’d think the Do Not Call Registry would help, but, sadly, it doesn’t cover political stuff. And those federal laws about phone communications? They’re not much help either.
Why? Well, it’s kind of a sticky situation. See, lawmakers are worried about stepping on First Amendment toes. Plus — let’s be honest — they need to reach voters themselves. So, they’re not exactly rushing to put up barriers.
Now, there is one rule. Political groups can’t use auto dialers to spam you with texts unless you’ve said it’s OK. But here’s the catch. The Supreme Court defined auto dialers in a way that lets a lot of texting tech off the hook.
So, what does this mean for you? Well, if you’ve ever liked a political meme, taken an online survey about democracy or donated to a cause, you might’ve put yourself on their radar. It’s like open season for political texters.
A man receiving a political text message on his smartphone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
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Best ways to stop political text messages and stay safe on your phone
1. Block the contact
If you regularly receive calls and messages from the same number, you can block it to prevent those calls and texts from reaching you. This is effective if the messages come from the same number but may be less effective if the sender uses multiple numbers.
On iPhone
- Open the Messages app and locate the political text message.
- Tap on the message to open it.
- Tap on the phone number or contact name at the top of the screen.
- Tap on the “i” information icon.
- Scroll down and select “Block this Caller.”
- Confirm by tapping “Block Contact.”
On Android
Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer
- Open the Messages app and find the political text message.
- Tap and hold the message until a menu appears.
- Tap on the “Block” option (this might also be labeled as “Block number” or “Add to Spam” depending on your device).
- Confirm by tapping “OK” or “Block.
2. Reply and/or file a complaint
Responding to the text with “Stop,” “Unsubscribe” or “Cancel” can opt you out of future communications from that sender. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) also provides options to report unsolicited texts by forwarding them to 7726 (“SPAM”) or filing a complaint online.
Responding to a text with Stop (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
3. Delete and report junk
On both iPhone and Android, you can delete and report unwanted messages as junk. Here’s how:
On iPhone:
- If a sender isn’t in your contact list and you haven’t replied, you’ll see a “Report Junk” option below the message.
- Select this option to delete the message and confirm your decision by clicking Delete and Report Junk to report it to Apple and your carrier.
Android:
Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer
- Open the Messages app and find the unwanted message.
- Tap and hold the message until a menu appears.
- Select “Report Spam” or “Report Junk” from the menu.
- Confirm the action to delete the message and report it to your carrier.
Report junk and delete and report junk on iPhone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
4. Filter unknown senders
Both iPhone and Android have features to filter messages from unknown senders, reducing interruptions from unwanted texts.
On iPhone:
- Open the Settings app.
- Scroll down and select Messages.
- Scroll down again to “Filter Unknown Senders” and toggle it on.
On Android:
Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer
- Open the Messages app.
- Tap the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner.
- Select “Settings” from the dropdown menu.
- Choose “Spam protection.“
- Toggle on “Enable spam protection” to filter messages from unknown senders into a separate folder
5. Contact the political campaign
As a last resort, you can contact the campaign’s office to report the message. This could help prevent future communications and bring the issue to the campaign’s attention, especially if they are not following best practices.
6. Invest in personal data removal services
To further reduce the number of unwanted political text messages, consider investing in personal data removal services. While no service promises to remove all your data from the internet, having a removal service is great if you want to constantly monitor and automate the process of removing your information from hundreds of sites continuously over a longer period of time. Check out my top picks for data removal services here.
7. Never click on links in political texts
Be cautious of links, and do not click links in political texts because they may contain malware or lead to fraudulent websites. Also, be aware that some political texts may be fake, designed to mislead or defraud you. Scammers often disguise themselves as legitimate political campaigns, nonprofits or government agencies to exploit the election season’s heightened communication. These fake texts may attempt to extract personal information or solicit fraudulent donations by creating a sense of urgency or panic.
The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware and potentially access your private information is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe. Get my picks for the best 2024 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices.
THE “DO NOT CALL” LIST LOOPHOLE: WHY YOUR PHONE STILL WON’T STOP RINGING
Kurt’s key takeaways
Political text messages may be a nuisance, but they can also pose risks to your privacy and influence your voting decisions. As the election approaches, it’s essential to take control of your phone and block these unwanted messages. Remember, your vote is your voice. Don’t let it be drowned out by unsolicited texts. By understanding how to manage these communications, you can focus on making informed choices this election season, free from outside influence.
Have you ever received a political text message? What did it say? Did they keep coming? Did you try one of these methods to try and stop it? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact
For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter
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Here in Amsterdam, cheap Super73-knockoffs ridden at almost twice the legal speed have made the city’s renowned bicycle lanes increasingly chaotic and dangerous. Across the Netherlands, over 10,000 of these electric “fat bikes” were seized in 2024.
Engwe’s new Mapfour lineup is the company’s attempt at going legit by expanding from souped-up electric fat bikes and foldables into “premium commuter” e-bikes. And because they’re the first e-bikes that Engwe has designed exclusively for European roads, the company swears they can’t be unlocked for more speed.
I’ve been riding the new Mapfour N1 Pro model for the last few weeks. It lists for €1,899 (almost $2,000), or €1,799 during the initial launch — a price that brings heightened expectations.
The N1 Pro is slathered in premium capabilities like GPS/GSM tracking for which some bike makers charge subscriptions. The monocoque frame and fork are made from carbon fiber supplied by Toray — “the same high-quality carbon fiber as Trek and Specialized,” claims Engwe. There’s even turn-by-turn navigation built into the full-featured app, a large colorful display integrated into the handlebars, and a built-in mechanical lock in the rear wheel hub that automatically engages when the bike is turned off and stationary.
My review bike was missing a fender bolt, occasionally flashed a strange error code, and the solar-powered rear light won’t turn on. Still, it’s likely the highest quality electric bike Engwe has ever made.
$1714
The Good
- Looks and rides sporty
- Long list of features for price
- Removable battery
- Can’t be speed hacked
The Bad
- Strange error messages
- Servicing parts likely an issue
- Doesn’t support height range claimed
- Can’t be speed hacked
I have lots of experience with assembling direct-to-consumer e-bikes and the N1 Pro was ready to ride in about an hour, which is typical. Even with a carbon-fiber frame it weighs 20.1kg (44lbs) fully assembled according to my scale, which is heavy for an e-bike — just not Veloretti-heavy.
In the box you’ll find a basic toolset that includes everything needed for assembly and instructions written in stellar English unlike some previous Engwe tutorials I’ve read. I had to assemble the pedals, front wheel, kickstand, handlebar, and fenders, and fish out a replacement fender bolt from some spare bicycle parts I had lying around. I then went to adjust the saddle to my height only to discover that I was too tall for the N1 Pro.
The saddle stem has a marked safety line that stops well before the height needed for my 6 foot (183cm) frame, despite being sold in the Netherlands where I’m considered a short king. Nevertheless, exceeding the line by about 2.5cm (one inch) hasn’t made the saddle feel insecure, even when riding over rough cobblestones. Engwe claims the N1 Pro supports riders from 165–190cm, and is considering offering the option for a longer saddle stem at checkout based upon my feedback.
The N1 Pro’s geometry puts the rider into what’s essentially a mountain bike stance: a moderate forward lean with hands spread wide out in front of the body. That wrist and body angle combined with a rather stiff saddle are not ideal for riding long distances, especially in combination with a backpack that’ll put even more weight on the hands and derrière. I do like that fun, sporty posture over short distances, but if you’re looking for a more relaxed ride then Engwe has the upright €1,399 MapFour N1 Air available in both step-over and step-through frames.
The 250W mid-drive Ananda motor on the N1 Pro is nearly silent under the din of road noise, and the integrated torque sensor provides an intuitive pedal-assist at all speeds. It produces up to 80Nm of torque that lets me easily start from a dead stop in fourth gear (of seven) on flat roads, but testing on a hill with a gradient of about 15 percent required a start from first gear. Typically, I only needed to shift to a high gear when I wanted to use my leg power to propel the bike at speeds above the 25km/h motor cutoff.
Despite claiming a range of up to 100km from its modest 360Wh battery, my first test performed over a few weeks yielded just 23km off a full charge in near-freezing conditions. I usually rode in power setting three of five on mostly flat roads. The second test performed on a single warmer day improved the range to 27km with 28 percent charge remaining — or an estimated 36km if I had time to run the battery dry for a below average 10Wh consumed per kilometer travelled. The bike battery seems to suffer from idle battery drain of about 1-2 percent per day when parked inside my house.
Worrisome for a “premium” e-bike: on two occasions I saw an “09” error message flash on the display which Engwe is still diagnosing. Once, while starting the bike after it had been sitting outside in the rain for a few hours. Another time after riding home on a rain-soaked street while switching between the N1 Pro’s regular and high-beam lights. In the first case, a simple reboot cleared it and I was able to ride away fine, but the other time required riding home under my own power before it inexplicably cleared the next morning.
- The bike’s integrated display is readable in all lighting, and shows the remaining battery level, speed, power level, and even distance and direction of next turn if using the navigation built into the useful but overwrought Engwe app.
- I didn’t find Engwe’s turn-by-turn navigation very useful as the guidance presented on the display wasn’t informative or urgent enough for me to make confident decisions when traversing the dense network of crossroads in Amsterdam.
- It has a very loud alarm that can ward off thieves and help locate the e-bike in large parking garages.
- The daytime running lights are fun and help with visibility, but also dorky if you choose the animated options.
- The solar-powered rear light never worked on my review unit.
- Engwe provides a chain guard on shipping units.
- The hydraulic disc brakes from an unspecified vendor provide good controlled stops.
- Includes a 1-year warranty on electrical components, chassis, and battery.
1/19
There was a time when premium e-bikes had list prices around €2,000 / $2,000. Those days are as gone as the free venture capital propping up e-bike startups, pushing premium prices up to a starting price closer to €3,000 / $3,000. The Engwe N1 Pro is therefore priced about right. It’s not a bad e-bike, but it’s also not great despite checking off lots of features on a marketing sheet.
Just remember, servicing a direct-to-consumer e-bike can be a problem as it requires the ready availability of spare parts and the knowledge to replace them. As with any electric bike exposed to the elements and regular road use, the N1 Pro’s motor and any proprietary electronics like the controller, display, battery, lights, buttons, and integrated lock will eventually need servicing. So you’d better be on very good terms with your local bike shop or be handy with a wrench and oscilloscope to prevent your mail-order e-bike from quickly turning into e-waste.
Photography by Thomas Ricker / The Verge
Elon Musk’s SpaceX is preparing to launch the eighth flight test of Starship from Boca Chica, Texas, which could blast off as soon as this Friday as long as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) gives its approval.
“Starship Flight 8 flies Friday,” Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, said in a post on X Sunday.
For the first time, the upcoming flight has a planned payload deployment and multiple experiments on re-entry geared toward returning the upper stage booster to the launch site to be caught.
The launch will also include the return and catch of the Super Heavy booster that will blast the rocket off the launchpad.
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Starship Flight 7 launches from Starbase, Texas, before its upper stage was lost. (Associated Press)
During the flight test, Starship will deploy four Starlink simulators, which are about the same size as next-generation Starlink satellites, SpaceX said.
The Starlink simulators will be deployed in the same sub orbit as Starship and are expected to burn up upon re-entry.
While Starship is in space, SpaceX also plans to relight a single Raptor engine.
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Starship Flight 7 launches from Starbase, Texas. (Associated Press)
If all goes as planned, the launch window will open at 6:30 p.m. ET.
The launch comes more than a month after SpaceX launched Starship Flight 7 from the Starbase test site in Boca Chica, which resulted in Starship experiencing a “rapid unscheduled disassembly” nearly 12 minutes into the flight.
The Super Heavy booster descended back to Earth, where it maneuvered to the launch and catch tower arms at Starbase, resulting in the second ever successful catch of Super Heavy.
Starship, however, was not as successful.
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“Starship experienced a rapid unscheduled disassembly during its ascent burn,” SpaceX said in a statement Jan. 16. “Teams will continue to review data from today’s flight test to better understand root cause. With a test like this, success comes from what we learn, and today’s flight will help us improve Starship’s reliability.”
SpaceX has investigated what caused Starship to break apart, though the investigation remains open.
For Starship Flight 8 to blast off, the FAA must give its approval, which could come in a few ways.
In 2023, the FAA issued a five-year license to SpaceX for launches from Texas, which is revisited for every launch in case modifications need to be made for things like the trajectory of the rocket. The FAA could grant approval once mission specifics and license modifications are made, the FAA told Fox News Digital.
But also lingering is the open investigation into the Starship Flight 7 mishap. To fly again, the investigation needs to be closed, and the FAA must accept the findings. Specifically, the FAA weighs whether the incident put public safety at risk.
At the time of this writing, the investigation had not been closed, and the FAA had not given approval. Still, it is common for the approval to be issued a day or two before launch, the FAA noted.
SpaceX did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment on the matter.
Fox News Digital’s Louis Casiano contributed to this report.
The goal, Patel says, is to continuously cycle through all of Framework’s actively supported laptops, updating each of them one at a time before looping back around and starting the process over again. Functionality-breaking problems and security fixes will take precedence, while additional features and user requests will be lower-priority.
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