The massive budget bill signed into law by President Donald Trump on Independence Day didn’t include everything on Big Tech’s wishlist, but the industry’s largest players stand to gain significantly from several provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Technology
Is that crypto email legit or just another scam?
Blockchain scams are increasingly prevalent, and it’s essential to understand what they are and how to recognize them before they take a toll on your finances.
For instance, John from Sunset Beach, North Carolina, recently reached out with a pressing question about some suspicious messages he’s been receiving in his inbox.
“I have been receiving messages from this site for a while. Can you tell me if this is a scam or real? I don’t want to pay good money to get scammed.”
Cryptocurrency scam email (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
John’s experience is not unique; many individuals find themselves in similar situations when confronted with potential blockchain scams. These scams can take various forms, often disguised as legitimate offers or services that promise easy returns on investments. Let’s look at the common signs of these scams, why they are so prevalent and what steps you can take to protect yourself from becoming a victim.
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What is a blockchain scam?
A blockchain scam refers to a deceptive scheme aimed at tricking you into losing your money or digital assets within the cryptocurrency space. As the popularity of cryptocurrencies continues to rise, so does the prevalence of these scams, which exploit the lack of regulation and the anonymity often associated with blockchain technology. In essence, blockchain scams come in various forms, each designed to mislead and defraud unsuspecting victims.
One of the most common types is the “Pump and Dump” scheme. In this scenario, scammers artificially inflate the price of a low-value cryptocurrency by spreading false information or hype. Once the price reaches a certain level, they sell off their holdings, causing the price to plummet and leaving other investors with significant losses.
Another notorious scam is the Initial Coin Offering scam. Here, fraudsters promote a new cryptocurrency project with promises of high returns and innovative technology. However, once they collect funds from investors, they often vanish without delivering any product or service, leaving investors with worthless tokens.
Phishing scams are also rampant in the blockchain world. Scammers impersonate legitimate cryptocurrency platforms or services to trick you into providing sensitive information such as private keys or login credentials. Once they gain access to a victim’s wallet, they can easily transfer funds to their own accounts.
Additionally, there are fraudulent giveaway schemes where scammers promise to double or triple an individual’s cryptocurrency holdings if they send a specific amount to a designated wallet. After sending their funds, victims find that the promised rewards never materialize.
Scammers may also create clone platforms, which mimic popular cryptocurrency exchanges or wallet services. Unsuspecting users believe they are using a legitimate platform and deposit their digital currencies, only to have them stolen by fraudsters.
A man holding cryptocurrency coins (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
DON’T GET CAUGHT IN THE ‘APPLE ID SUSPENDED’ PHISHING SCAM
Identifying the red flags of cryptocurrency scams
Here are some of the common elements of such cryptocurrency scam emails.
Unsolicited contact: Legitimate crypto services don’t randomly reach out offering free money. If you receive an unexpected email claiming you’ve won cryptocurrency or are entitled to a payment, it’s a strong indicator that something is off.
Pressure to act: Scammers often create a sense of urgency to push you into making hasty decisions. Phrases like “Act now!” or “Limited time offer!” are red flags that should make you pause and think twice before responding.
Requests for payment: Any service asking for upfront fees to receive crypto is likely a scam. Genuine platforms will never require you to pay before delivering funds or services. So, be wary of any requests for payment in advance.
Suspicious links: Scammers often embed links in emails or messages that lead to phishing sites designed to steal your credentials. Always hover over links to see where they lead before clicking, and if anything looks suspicious, don’t engage. If you have any doubts about a link’s legitimacy, it’s best to avoid clicking on it altogether. Get my picks for the best 2024 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.
A man holding a cryptocurrency coin (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
YOUR EMAIL DIDN’T EXPIRE, IT’S JUST ANOTHER SNEAKY SCAM
Scammer tactics: How they get your info
Now, you might be wondering, “How did these scammers get my info in the first place?” Great question. Let’s take a quick look at how they manage to dig up your personal details – more than likely through the shady world of data harvesting.
Data breaches: Companies get hacked, and your info gets leaked faster than gossip at a high school reunion. Always monitor your accounts for unusual activity.
Public records: Scammers can piece together your life story from publicly available information, everything from property records to social media profiles.
Social media oversharing: That cute dog pic you posted? It might reveal more than you think about where you live or what you do for fun.
Phishing attacks: Clicking on that “You won’t believe what happened next!” link could lead to malware that steals your data faster than you can say “blockchain.” The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing 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 and iOS devices.
WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?
Cryptocurrency on an app on a smartphone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
IS JUST READING THAT SKETCHY SCAMMER’S EMAIL DANGEROUS, OR DO I HAVE TO CLICK ON A LINK TO GET IN TROUBLE?
Protecting yourself from blockchain scams
Given the decentralized and often anonymous nature of cryptocurrencies, scams pose significant challenges in terms of tracing and recovering lost funds. Therefore, it’s essential for anyone participating in the crypto space to stay informed about these scams, exercise caution when engaging in transactions and follow the steps below.
1. Verify independently: Always log in to your accounts directly, not through email links. Scammers often create fake websites that look almost identical to legitimate ones, so it’s crucial to enter URLs manually or use bookmarks for trusted sites. This simple practice can prevent you from falling victim to phishing attempts.
2. Use strong authentication: Enable two-factor authentication on all your crypto accounts. This adds an extra layer of security by requiring not just your password but also a second form of verification, such as a text message code or an authentication app. Even if someone manages to steal your password, they won’t be able to access your account without this additional verification.
3. Be skeptical: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Scammers often lure victims with promises of guaranteed returns or exclusive investment opportunities. Always approach such offers with skepticism and conduct thorough research before making any commitments.
4. Check email addresses: Scammers frequently use domains that look similar to legitimate ones, so always double-check the email address from which a message originates. A small typo or a different domain can indicate a scam. If you’re unsure, reach out directly to the company using contact information from their official website.
5. Keep software updated: Ensure your devices and antivirus software are up to date. Regular updates often include security patches that protect against vulnerabilities that scammers might exploit. Keeping your software current is a critical step in safeguarding your digital assets.
6. Consider using a data removal service: Personal data removal services can help scrub your personal information from the web, making it harder for scammers to target you with personalized phishing attempts. By reducing your digital footprint, you can significantly decrease the chances of being targeted by malicious actors.
While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your personal data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice. They aren’t cheap, and neither is your privacy. These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites. It’s what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet. By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you. Check out my top picks for data removal services here.
Kurt’s key takeaways
Remember, in the world of crypto, vigilance is your best friend. If you’re ever unsure about an email or offer, it’s always better to err on the side of caution. Don’t hesitate to reach out to official support channels. Stay safe out there, and may your crypto wallets always be full (and scam-free).
Do you believe that cryptocurrency companies are doing enough to protect investors from scams and security threats, or do you think more stringent regulations and measures are needed? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
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The Republican-backed legislation is best known for its tax cuts on tips, deduction caps that could primarily benefit wealthy taxpayers, restriction on healthcare coverage for low-income and disabled Americans, cuts to renewable energy incentives, and tens of billions of dollars in funding to immigration enforcement. But it also includes restored tax deductions for research and development and other items that could benefit the tech industry, among other businesses.
In one high-profile fight, the tech industry failed to secure a moratorium on state AI laws, a proposal which had been supported by several trade groups and might have also affected a host of other state tech protections. But after months of lobbying from Congress to Mar-a-Lago, the industry will see slashed taxes and may receive new contracts from border enforcement funding, the Tech Oversight Project finds in a new report shared exclusively with The Verge. Some changes will likely benefit businesses of all sizes and sectors — while others may offer large companies in the tech industry the biggest benefits.
The budget bill essentially reverses a policy from Trump’s first term that limited how companies could write off research and development on their taxes. The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) forced companies to spread write-offs for domestic R&D costs across five years, rather than deducting them fully in the year they were incurred. Now, Congress is restoring the previous, more generous deduction setup, and small businesses can get retroactive tax write-offs for the last couple years when the changes — which took effect in 2022 — were in place.
In a recent report, Quartz linked the R&D deduction changes to the wave of layoffs across the industry, describing how it made it so companies could effectively only write off one-fifth of their R&D costs in the year they were incurred, rather than the full sum, making salaries for engineers and other high-skilled roles much more costly. The nonpartisan Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) found that in the three years in which the TCJA changes took effect, Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta, and Tesla saw their tax bills rise a collective $75 billion as a result.
“The loss of full R&D expensing disincentivizes firms from significantly increasing their R&D investments”
So unsurprisingly, tech-backed groups like the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) and the Business Software Alliance (BSA) pushed to revert the rule. “The loss of full R&D expensing disincentivizes firms from significantly increasing their R&D investments because the cost of those investments has risen,” ITIF wrote in a blog post earlier this year.
Maintaining a lower corporate tax rate
Conversely, business groups successfully pleaded with lawmakers to keep a different change from the TCJA: a massive reduction in the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent. In a letter to lawmakers last year, tech-backed Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) told lawmakers that the reduction had brought the US in line with peer countries, and provided US companies “a more level playing field against their international competitors,” which the nonprofit Tax Foundation found helped boost US investment. Democrats who have opposed the lower tax rates have framed it as a handout to corporate America.
Extending lower international tax rates
The new budget law also blocks a scheduled increase in the effective tax rates on things like the money companies make abroad based on US-based patents or other intangible assets.
These kinds of taxes — the base erosion and anti-abuse tax (BEAT), global intangible low-taxed income tax (GILTI), and the foreign-derived intangible income tax (FDII) — are generally meant to prevent shifty accounting practices like moving assets to a foreign subsidiary. Before the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed, the effectively lowered rates through these three policies were set to expire at the end of 2025.
The tech industry argued protecting those low rates would keep US companies competitive with other countries, like France and the UK. “Several other nations already offer IP incentives,” ITI told lawmakers in an October letter. “It is essential that the FDII rate remains as low as possible.”
“The tax break disproportionately benefits large corporations with significant intellectual property portfolios”
But groups like the nonpartisan Financial Accountability and Corporate Transparency (FACT) Coalition and ITEP see lower rates for taxes like the FDII as a giveaway to the biggest players in the tech industry, which deal heavily in intangible assets like patents and trademarks.
“The tax break disproportionately benefits large corporations with significant intellectual property portfolios while doing little for smaller firms that lack similar assets,” ITEP wrote in a blog post last year, where it found that Google parent Alphabet reported over $11 billion in tax benefits from 2018 to 2023 as a result of the FDII.
Border protection funding could flow to tech
Alongside a significant budget increase for Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and other immigration-related funding, the law includes about $6 billion for border technologies, including surveillance systems. That money could flow to several large tech firms already engaged in the space.
Those include Peter Thiel-founded data company Palantir, which currently has a $30 million contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to build “ImmigrationOS” to create “near real-time visibility into instances of self-deportation.” Thiel-backed Anduril also stands to gain if the agency expands infrastructure like the surveillance towers it already supplies to the government. MIT Technology Review reported in 2018 that Amazon Web Services hosted Department of Homeland Security (DHS) databases related to immigration, including a deep pool of biometric data.
Other tax-saving adjustments
Tech companies and other businesses will also benefit from changes in how business interest deductions are calculated, and a permanent extension of rules allowing companies to take a full deduction of certain equipment expenses. House Democrats have previously called this kind of tactic a “Tax Scam,” writing, “Two-thirds of the benefits go to corporations making over $250 million in revenue, and from 2018 through 2021, about two dozen of the largest corporations received roughly $50 billion in tax breaks through this provision.”
Some of the tax changes in the bill will benefit smaller firms and businesses across many different industries. But large tech companies are particularly well positioned to benefit from changes in how foreign profits on intellectual property are taxed and fuller R&D write-offs. After months of cozying up to the Trump administration with little to show for it, it looks like the largest players in the industry have finally notched some wins.
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When you’re out walking, jogging or running, you should feel empowered, not unsafe. Yet a recent survey found that 92% of women in the U.S. reported feeling concerned for their safety while running, with half of those women fearing physical attack.
Additionally, over one-third experienced physical or verbal harassment, including sexist comments, honking, or being followed. To help address this alarming trend, Urban Eyes introduces a high-visibility safety vest with cameras built in. By capturing real-time footage of your surroundings, this clever wearable tech empowers you to stay focused, feel protected, and reclaim control of your outdoor workouts.
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ATM JUGGING SCAM ON THE RISE AS THIEVES TARGET VICTIMS
A man running while wearing a safety vest with cameras (Urban Eyes)
How a safety vest with cameras helps deter attackers
Attackers don’t want to be caught on camera. When you wear a vest with front and rear cameras, you send a clear message: you’re being recorded. This visible deterrent makes would-be harassers think twice before approaching. With bright white, eye-shaped cameras and flashing blue LEDs, Urban Eyes makes sure everyone knows you’re protected.
A woman wearing a safety vest with cameras (Urban Eyes)
How this safety vest with cameras works in action
Slip on the vest, power up the cameras, and hit the ground walking, jogging or running. The wireless remote lets you control both cameras with one button. Want to snap a photo? Just press the remote. All footage is stored locally, so you’re always in control, no cloud connection required.
WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?
Top features of this safety vest with cameras
- Dual 2.5K cameras: Capture every stride, front and back, day or night.
- Ultra-lightweight design: Weighs just 0.9 lb, moves freely without feeling weighed down.
- High-visibility panels: Reflective piping and bold colors keep you seen in low light.
- Long battery life: Record up to 90 minutes on a single charge.
- Secure storage: Footage saves directly to SD cards in each camera.
- Easy Plug & play: No app headaches. Use the wireless remote to start, stop, or pause recording instantly.
Pocket-sized remote for the safety vest with cameras (Urban Eyes)
A safety vest designed for comfort and everyday use
Urban Eyes fits most chest sizes (28″-52″) and comes in five color combos. The adjustable waistband and breathable fabric mean you can sprint, jog, or walk comfortably. There’s a large zippered pocket for your phone and smaller pockets for keys or cards, no more juggling essentials.
The benefits of this safety vest with cameras
The Urban Eyes safety vest with cameras gives walkers, runners or joggers, a sense of control and confidence. Knowing the cameras are recording adds an extra layer of protection, making it easier to stay focused instead of feeling vulnerable. The vest’s bright colors and reflective details make sure you’re seen by drivers and cyclists, even in dim conditions. It also keeps things simple. There’s no need to download an app or connect to Wi-Fi. You just press the remote and start recording. Most importantly, it gives you peace of mind. Instead of worrying about who might be behind you, you can concentrate on your pace and your path, knowing that your vest is capturing everything along the way.
A woman holding the pocket-sized remote while wearing a safety vest with cameras (Urban Eyes)
Urban Eyes safety vest: Price and preorder info
Urban Eyes is available for preorder at about $204. Choose your color, order online, and expect delivery in about 35 days.
Kurt’s key takeaways
Personal safety tech has come a long way.
With Urban Eyes, you get more than a vest; you get a visible deterrent and a personal eyewitness. You protect your home, car, and personal data; why not protect yourself when you’re out and about?
Would you feel safer running, walking, or jogging with a camera vest, or do you prefer other safety gadgets? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
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Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
It’s been a long time coming, but we finally have a real look at the end of Stranger Things. Netflix just released the first teaser trailer for the show’s fifth season, which will also be its last when it starts streaming later this year. As was alluded to in the finale of season 4, the new trailer — which, despite being called a teaser, clocks in at nearly three minutes long — is focused on the major showdown with Vecna that will presumably end the string of supernatural bad luck in Hawkins, Indiana for good.
Here’s the official setup for the finale, according to Netflix:
The fall of 1987. Hawkins is scarred by the opening of the Rifts, and our heroes are united by a single goal: find and kill Vecna. But he has vanished — his whereabouts and plans unknown. Complicating their mission, the government has placed the town under military quarantine and intensified its hunt for Eleven, forcing her back into hiding. As the anniversary of Will’s disappearance approaches, so does a heavy, familiar dread. The final battle is looming — and with it, a darkness more powerful and more deadly than anything they’ve faced before. To end this nightmare, they’ll need everyone — the full party — standing together, one last time.
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