Everywhere you turn, there’s another online scam. The fraudsters always pivot where the attention is and now that’s politics and elections. 

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Beware of phony donation campaigns

Billions of dollars are pouring into the 2024 House, Senate, and presidential elections. I bet you’ve received a call or 10 from folks asking you to pull out your wallet. The pleas come in text form, too, plus there are videos, social media posts and DMs.

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Here are a few dos and don’ts for keeping your money safe.

• Do use a credit card. Checks and debit cards don’t have the same scam protections.
• Don’t give payment info over the phone. Find the official website and donate there.
• Don’t click links. That includes those in emails, texts or any other source. When in doubt, visit the official campaign website of the person you want to support.
• Do verify it’s a real organization. Here’s a list of registered PACs maintained by the Federal Election Commission.
• Do a search for the PAC name. Hey, it’s worth it to see if anything shady pops up. Some funnel money to their own advisors and marketing budget — not to the candidate they claim to support. This page is useful, too.

Social media pro tip: TikTok banned political fundraising in 2022. Anything you see there asking you to donate is likely a scam — or someone skirting the rules and you don’t want to be involved with that, either.

False info is spreading faster than ever

ONE LIE SECURITY EXPERTS USE ALL THE TIME AND YOU SHOULD, TOO

It’s not just your wallet you need to worry about. Fake news travels fast online — I’ve seen everything from “The election is canceled” to “Non-citizens get to vote this year.”

In some cases, foreign countries are behind it with massive misinformation campaigns. Meta says the Kremlin is the No. 1 source of AI-created misinformation ahead of the U.S. presidential election. 

The icons of Facebook and WhatsApp are seen on an iPhone in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, Nov. 15, 2018.  (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)

The most common trick on Facebook? Imaginary “journalists” who write bogus news stories. If it’s an outlet you’ve never heard of, look elsewhere to corroborate the story.

In other cases, fake info spreads because someone took a joke as fact. Take the mock electoral maps flooding social media. The trend is to take a blank map, color it mostly blue or red, and slap a clever line about how either Democrats or Republicans could win the Electoral College. They’re not real; don’t share like they are.

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Learn to spot AI images and videos

Election fakes are particularly tricky to spot because there’s so much public footage of politicians speaking. The more training data, the better the copies.

Rolls of “I Voted” stickers are stored at the Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Center ahead of the 2024 Arizona Primary and General elections in Phoenix, Arizona on June 3, 2024.  (Patrick T. Fallon / AFP)

But you can still use these guidelines to verify if it’s AI or not:

• Backgrounds: A vague, blurred background, smooth surfaces or lines that don’t match up are immediate red flags that an image is AI-generated.
• Context: Use your head. If the scenery doesn’t align with the current climate, season or what’s physically possible, that’s because it’s fake.
• Behavior: You’ve probably seen several videos of most major candidates. Look for differences in their tone, inflection and cadence. If their speech or facial reactions look “off,” it might be AI.
• Proportions: Check for objects that look mushed together or seem too large or small. The same goes for features, especially ears, fingers and feet.
• Angle: Deepfakes are the most convincing when the subject faces the camera directly. Glitches may appear once a person starts to turn to the side and move.
• Text: AI can’t spell. Look for fake words on signs and labels.
• Chins: Yep, you heard me. The lower half of the face is the No. 1 giveaway on AI-generated candidate videos. It’s subtle, but check to see if their chin or neck moves unnaturally or in an exaggerated way.
• Fingers and hands: Look for weird positions, too many fingers, extra-long digits or hands out of place.
• Accessories: Look at earrings, clothes, ties — whatever you can spot. The giveaways are often in these little details.

My best advice: Slow down. When a video gets an emotional reaction out of us, we’re quick to believe it and quick to share. That’s what scammers bank on. Watch it a few times and do your research before you make up your mind.

Get tech-smarter on your schedule

Award-winning host Kim Komando is your secret weapon for navigating tech.

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Nintendo recently confirmed it’ll announce a next-gen Nintendo Switch next year, but beyond that, the company hasn’t revealed much about the forthcoming console (including how much it will go for). If you’d rather not wait and see, the standard Nintendo Switch is currently receiving a rare discount at Amazon, where you can buy it with blue and red Joy-Con controllers for $267 ($33 off).

If you like to game on the go, the base Switch remains an excellent handheld, one that can last up to six hours on a single charge. It’s still limited to 32GB of built-in storage — unlike the larger, seven-inch Switch OLED — but its built-in microSD card slot means you can always invest in more external storage. That’ll come in handy because the Nintendo eShop is home to a vast library of both first- and third-party titles, particularly in its swan-song era, with many exciting games in the pipeline. The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom and Mario & Luigi: Brothership are both launching in the fall, for example, along with Super Mario Party Jamboree, a remastered MySims, and much more.

Granted, the Switch 2 is rumored to feature an eight-inch screen, but the standard model’s 6.2-inch display is still spacious enough in most instances. Besides, if you crave more screen real estate, you can always play it on your TV while in docked mode, unlike the Switch Lite.

If you’re looking for a piece of home decor to spruce up your home or office, few gadgets are as unique as Samsung’s new Music Frame. And right now, the capable speaker is down to a new low of around $297.99 ($100 off) at Amazon, B&H Photo, and Best Buy.

Samsung’s unique gadget looks like a traditional 12.9 x 12.9-inch picture frame — it even offers room in the front so you can add a physical photograph or art print (though you’ll only be able to use an 8 x 8-inch picture if you use the provided matte). You can hang the speaker on your wall or rest it on the included stand and even customize it with an optional white bezel ($59.99).

But what’s really neat is that the Music Frame also functions as a wired Bluetooth / Wi-Fi speaker, which is one of the reasons the gadget was one of our favorite audio products from CES 2024. It’s not going to sound as immersive as a high-end soundbar or a speaker with up-firing drivers like the Sonos Era 300, but it supports Dolby Atmos and can pair with select Samsung TVs or soundbars for surround sound. The art-inspired speaker is also compatible with Amazon Alexa and Samsung Bixby, allowing you to control it with just your voice.

Ford Motor Company recently filed a patent application that’s raising eyebrows and sparking debate about privacy and surveillance on our roads. The patent, “Systems and Methods for Detecting Speeding Violations,” describes a system that could turn Ford vehicles into mobile speed detectors capable of reporting other drivers to the police.

The patent application was filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in January 2023. However, it was formally published by the USPTO on July 18, 2024. 

This innovative yet controversial technology has the potential to revolutionize traffic law enforcement while simultaneously raising significant concerns about privacy and civil liberties.

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How it works

The proposed system utilizes a sophisticated combination of onboard cameras and sensors to monitor the speed of surrounding vehicles in real time. If a car is detected exceeding the speed limit, the system springs into action. It captures a high-resolution image of the speeding vehicle, meticulously records the speed, time and precise location of the violation and then compiles this information into a comprehensive report.

This data package is then transmitted directly to police or roadside monitoring units via a secure internet connection, providing law enforcement with instant, actionable intelligence.

Ford speed-violation detection patent image (USPTO)

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Potential benefits of the proposed system

Proponents of the system argue that it could significantly streamline the enforcement of speed limits, potentially leading to safer roads and reduced traffic fatalities. Automating the detection and reporting process could dramatically reduce the need for dangerous high-speed police pursuits, keeping both officers and drivers safer. Furthermore, the technology could be seamlessly integrated into self-driving cars, creating a network of autonomous speed monitors patrolling our highways.

Concerns about the mobile speed detection technology

However, the potential benefits are accompanied by a host of concerns. Privacy advocates worry that this technology could represent a significant step towards a surveillance state, where every vehicle on the road becomes a potential informant. There are also serious legal questions about the admissibility of evidence collected without direct police observation. Moreover, the system’s inability to confirm the identity of the driver – a limitation shared by current speed camera technology – could lead to wrongful accusations and legal complications.

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Ford speed-violation detection patent image (USPTO)

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Ford’s response

In response to the growing concerns, we contacted Ford, and a spokesperson clarified the company’s intentions: “The patent explicitly states this idea is specific for application in law enforcement vehicles, such as the Ford Police Interceptor, and it’s a system that would automate a capability that law enforcement already have in use today, except this would utilize the built-in system and sensors in the vehicle. This patent does not state that driving data from customers’ vehicles would be shared with law enforcement, which is what some media have incorrectly reported. And note, patent applications are intended to protect new ideas but aren’t necessarily an indication of new business or product plans.”

However, skeptics point out that the language in the patent application seems to leave room for broader applications, potentially opening the door for future expansion of the technology’s use.

Ford speed-violation detection patent image (USPTO)

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Legal and practical challenges

Implementing such a system would face numerous hurdles, both legal and practical. The admissibility of evidence collected without direct police observation could be challenged in court, potentially rendering the system ineffective as a law enforcement tool. The inability to confirm the identity of the driver, similar to current speed camera limitations, could lead to innocent vehicle owners being wrongly penalized for violations committed by others driving their cars. Furthermore, there’s likely to be significant public backlash against what many would perceive as an invasive surveillance system.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

Ford’s patent for mobile speed detection technology presents a fascinating yet contentious development in traffic law enforcement. While it promises enhanced road safety and efficiency, it also raises critical questions about privacy and the potential for misuse. As this technology evolves, it will be crucial to balance its benefits with the protection of civil liberties, ensuring that advancements in safety do not come at the expense of our personal privacy. The ongoing debate will undoubtedly shape the future of how such technologies are implemented and regulated.

What are your thoughts on the balance between technological advancements in traffic law enforcement and the protection of personal privacy? Do you think the benefits outweigh the potential risks? 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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