Silo is such a complicated show that even its showrunner gets confused sometimes. While filming the final seasons of the Apple TV sci-fi thriller, Graham Yost remembers two instances where he messed up details: once it was an actor who realized that a conversation they were about to shoot should’ve already taken place, the other involved the Japanese localization team pointing out that a subtitle didn’t match what was going on onscreen. In both instances, the problem was ultimately fixed, but Yost’s reaction was the same: “Oh shit, you’re right.”
Technology
Mystery box shows are complicated for everyone — even the actors
Keeping everything straight is one of the big challenges of working on such a complex series, and as Silo enters into its final two seasons, the challenge has only increased. So it’s a good thing Yost has a team working alongside him looking for those mistakes. “It’s a lot to keep track of, but everyone is pitching in,” he says, “and I love this sense of collaboration.”
Season 3 of Silo starts streaming on July 3rd, and it expands the story’s scope quite a bit. The series follows the lives of the residents of a huge underground bunker hundreds of years in the future. The silo is home to 10,000 people who essentially live in a vertical city, one divided into layers that each have their own jobs and cultures, from the mines at the bottom to the government up top. The only way to navigate the silo is through a massive spiral staircase that goes from top to bottom, creating a very physical form of class division.
Initially it seemed the residents were the last remnants of humanity living in a postapocalyptic wasteland. But over the course of the first two seasons, it became clear that they lived in but one silo of many, each housing their own communities while isolated from the rest. Season 3 adds a new wrinkle: showing how the world came to be this way in the first place, a process that starts in a world that looks much like our own.
The season 3 premiere constantly jumps back and forth between the bleak future where we’ve spent the last two seasons and our present day, when the decisions were made that led to everyone being trapped inside of underground bunkers. Things are already complicated as the show picks up from last season — protagonist / silo mayor / reluctant revolutionary Juliette (Rebecca Ferguson) has just become the first person to venture between silos and is now suffering from memory loss — and the multiple timelines only ratchets that up.
“It’s a lot of pieces you’re trying to put together.”
The cast of Silo all have different techniques for dealing with this challenge, which becomes even harder given that scenes are rarely shot in chronological order. For some, daily team meetings with directors can be an invaluable tool. “A lot of days, we’d start the day with story time, and the director would go through where we’re at, where we just came from, what happens next,” explains Alexandria Riley, who plays newly promoted authority figure Camille Sims in the show. “It’s already a complicated story anyway, but then when shooting out of order, you do get a bit foggy.” Ferguson notes that the hair-and-makeup team can be particularly helpful in tracking the story, as they need to be on top of things like scars and burns to maintain consistency. Every detail counts. “The little changes that you do have enormous ripple effects going forward,” she says.
“It’s a lot of pieces you’re trying to put together,” adds Common, who plays Camille’s husband Robert on the show. “It is our job to know where we are, but thank god we had support, too. There are times when I’d have to talk to Alex about something just to be reminded.” The two actors even had separate rehearsals together to make sure they had everything down.
Others took a different approach. Jessica Henwick, for instance, joined the main cast as the present-day investigative reporter Helen in season 3, and says that “I didn’t read any scenes except my own. Because I’m a fan of the show, I wanted to preserve that experience. I will watch season 3 as a fan and see what happens. I don’t know what happens except in our storyline.” (Henwick is such a fan that, soon after she was cast, she had a single goal in mind: “I went to the set and explored the stairs.”)
Image: Apple
One thing that doesn’t help much, however, is delving into the source material. Silo is based on a trilogy of books by author Hugh Howey; the first two seasons explored the first book, while the final two will wrap up the rest of the story. But much has changed in the adaptation as the TV show attempts to both make Juliette a more visible figure in the central part of the story and update some of the plotlines to reflect present day concerns like AI.
“I started reading the books and realized very quickly that that wasn’t going to help, because the books are so different,” explains Ashley Zukerman, who plays a congressman in the present day storyline. He says that keeping both the novels and the TV show in his mind at the same time wouldn’t be helpful and instead found “that reading the whole scripts and then finding a way to forget [what his character wouldn’t know] was useful.”
With two seasons to go, Silo is racing toward a conclusion as it attempts to wrap everything up. Yost says that four seasons was always the plan, so the process has been figuring out how to fit everything into a set number of episodes. But since the final two seasons were filmed back to back, it also means that the Silo team are done having to worry about keeping all of those complicated plotlines straight. And as much as she says she’ll miss the experience of working on the show, there is one thing Ferguson is excited to be done with beyond memorizing storylines.
“I fucking hated running up and down those stairs,” she says.
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Smartphone cameras are convenient, but they lack the charm of analog instant cameras. If you’re trying to relive the nostalgia of waiting for an instant photo to develop, Amazon is selling the second-generation Polaroid Go instant camera with a 16-photo film pack for $71.99 (usually $109.99). That’s the lowest price we’ve seen for the bundle, with a pack of film usually costing $21.99 on its own. Plus, it’s four dollars cheaper to buy the bundle than to buy just the camera on its own.
With its more compact footprint, the Polaroid Go 2 shoots on smaller film to match. Where classic Polaroid photos are 88mm x 107mm, the Go film is 53.9mm x 66.6mm, a great size for sticking to your bulletin board or stashing in your wallet. The camera has a USB-C port for charging the battery, which can run for up to 15 packs of film on a single charge.
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Medicare and Social Security scams target older adults by impersonating trusted government programs and creating fear around benefits, medical coverage or legal trouble.
The scam may arrive as a phone call, text, email, social media ad or even a message that appears to come from a benefits office. The goal is usually simple: get sensitive information, redirect money or pressure someone into acting before they stop to verify the story.
These scams are effective because they sound official. A caller may claim your Medicare account needs to be verified, your Social Security number has been linked to fraud or your benefits are about to be suspended. In reality, that urgency is often the biggest warning sign.
Once people know the patterns, these schemes become much easier to spot and shut down. Here’s how these scams work, the warning signs to watch for and the steps you can take to protect yourself or someone you love.
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Scammers may use unexpected calls or messages to pressure older adults into sharing Medicare, Social Security or financial information. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
How these scams usually work
Most Medicare and Social Security scams follow a familiar script. First, the scammer pretends to represent a trusted institution. Then he introduces a problem or opportunity — a frozen benefit, a replacement card, a refund, free medical equipment or a security issue tied to your identity. Finally, the sammer asks for personal details, payment information or immediate action.
A Medicare scam may ask for your Medicare number, Social Security number or bank details to “confirm” enrollment or process a benefit. A Social Security scam may claim your Social Security number has been suspended or linked to criminal activity and must be “reactivated” right away. These claims are false. Medicare does not cold-call people for sensitive information, and the Social Security Administration does not suspend Social Security numbers or demand instant payment to resolve a problem.
Why seniors are a common target
Older adults are often singled out because scammers assume they are more likely to answer landlines, trust authority figures and have retirement savings or steady benefit income. Government impersonation scams are designed to exploit those assumptions with urgency, pressure and official-sounding language.
Scammers are also meeting seniors where they already spend time. Recent reporting has highlighted a surge in Medicare-related scam ads on Facebook, with roughly 73% of impressions from leading scam ads reaching users over 65. AI is making the problem worse too, with fraudsters using more polished scripts and, in some cases, cloned voices to sound more believable.
Real examples of Medicare and Social Security scam tactics
One common Medicare scam offers free braces, genetic testing, screenings, grocery cards or other extra benefits in exchange for your Medicare number. Once scammers get that information, they may use it to bill Medicare fraudulently or as part of a larger identity theft scheme.
Another tactic plays on confusion about policy updates or refunds. A caller may say you overpaid for Medicare Part D, qualify for a refund or need to verify a new Medicare card. Then they ask for your Social Security number, bank account information or a fee to process the request. Legitimate agencies do not handle unexpected benefit issues this way.
Social Security scams usually rely on fear. A scammer may claim your Social Security number was used in a crime, your benefits are frozen or police will be contacted unless you verify your identity or send money immediately. Some scams even blend Medicare and Social Security language to sound more official.
IS YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER ON THE DARK WEB?
A threatening or urgent phone call about benefits, legal trouble or account problems is a major warning sign of a government impersonation scam. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Warning signs to watch for
The exact script changes, but the red flags are remarkably consistent.
Unsolicited contact
An unexpected call, text or message claiming to be from Medicare or Social Security should always be treated carefully. Surprise outreach is a common trait of impersonation scams.
Pressure to act right now
Scammers want people to feel rushed. They may say your benefits will end today, a refund will disappear or your identity is at immediate risk unless you comply.
Requests for personal information
A request for your Medicare number, Social Security number, bank account details, passwords or one-time verification codes is a major red flag, especially during an unexpected contact.
Demands for payment in unusual forms
Gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, Zelle or cash-by-mail are strong signs of fraud. Government agencies do not demand payment that way.
Threats or intimidation
If someone threatens arrest, benefit cancellation or legal action unless you act immediately, he is trying to trigger panic. That is not how legitimate agencies resolve problems.
Caller ID that looks official
Scammers can spoof caller ID to display a local area code or names like Medicare or Social Security. A familiar-looking number is not proof that a call is real.
Criminals can use stolen personal information and online tools to make Medicare and Social Security scams more convincing and harder to spot. (Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
5 Prevention tips that actually help
The best defense is slowing the interaction down. A few simple habits can make it much harder for a scammer to catch you off guard.
1) Never share personal information unexpectedly
Never give out your Medicare number, Social Security number, bank details, passwords or verification codes during an unexpected call, text or message.
2) Verify the claim yourself
If someone claims to be from Medicare or Social Security, hang up and contact the agency yourself using the number on official mail, your card or the official website. Do not call a number provided by the person who contacted you.
3) Review your Medicare statements
Protect your Medicare number the same way you protect a credit card number. Review Medicare Summary Notices and Explanation of Benefits statements for services, equipment or providers you do not recognize.
4) Have a response ready
It helps to prepare a simple response before a suspicious call ever comes in. You can say, “I don’t provide personal information over the phone. I’ll call back using the official number.” That gives you an easy way to end the conversation before a scammer can build more pressure.
5) How identity theft protection can add another layer of security
Medicare and Social Security scams can become far more damaging once a criminal gets your Social Security number, financial information or other personal details. That information can be used to open fraudulent accounts, take over existing accounts or commit identity theft long after the original scam call or message ends. Identity theft protection can add another layer of monitoring and support if that happens.
An identity theft protection service can combine identity and financial monitoring with alerts designed to help you spot suspicious activity sooner. Depending on the plan, monitoring may cover credit activity, financial accounts, investment and retirement accounts, phone takeovers, SIM swaps, utility accounts and other areas where criminals may try to use your identity.
What identity theft protection can help with:
- Identity recovery support: If your identity is stolen, a restoration specialist may be able to help guide you through the recovery process.
- Scam reimbursement: Some plans include reimbursement for certain eligible scam losses.
- Identity theft coverage: Higher-tier plans may include coverage for stolen funds, eligible personal expenses and legal or expert assistance following identity theft.
- Monitoring for suspicious activity: Alerts can help you investigate signs that someone may be using your identity or financial information without your permission.
Identity theft protection does not replace the precautions that can stop a Medicare or Social Security scam in the first place. You should still hang up on suspicious callers, independently verify benefit questions through official government channels and regularly review your Medicare and financial records. If you believe your Social Security number or other personal information has been compromised, act quickly.
Check whether your personal information may already be exposed
Scammers can be much more convincing when they already know details about you. A free exposure scan can help identify personal information connected to your email that may appear in known data breaches or on risky sites. Seeing what information may already be exposed can also help explain how a scammer knew enough about you to make a fake Medicare or Social Security message sound legitimate.
Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com
What to do if you already responded
If you already shared personal or financial information, move quickly.
- Contact the relevant institution using its official number.
- Review bank and credit card activity for anything unfamiliar.
- Check Medicare records for claims you do not recognize.
- Consider a fraud alert or credit freeze if your Social Security number may have been exposed.
- Write down the date, phone number and details of the contact for your reports.
Quick action can reduce the odds of broader identity theft or financial damage.
Kurt’s key takeaways
Medicare and Social Security scams keep working because they target two things older Americans understandably take seriously: their health coverage and their financial security. What concerns me most is how much more convincing these scams are becoming. Criminals can combine personal information found online with spoofed phone numbers, polished messages and even AI-generated voices to make a fake warning feel legitimate.
That means the best defense is no longer trying to recognize every new scam script. It is creating one simple habit: Never make an important decision during an unexpected call, text or email. Hang up, verify the claim independently and involve someone you trust if anything feels off. A scammer needs urgency to win. Taking away that urgency puts you back in control.
Have you been targeted by a Medicare or Social Security scam? What did the scammer say or do that raised a red flag for you? Let us know in the comments below. Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com
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At D23, when asked about the potential for a sequel to the cult classic The Simpsons: Hit & Run game, Matt Groening replied, “I think the original game is coming back in some form,” before current showrunner Matt Selman added, “or not.” The tone in both of their voices and the body language suggests that Groening may have just revealed something he wasn’t supposed to.
The original title came out way back in 2003 for PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, and Windows. While it’s possible to get the game up and running on modern computers, it’s not available on modern consoles. It’s currently not in the PlayStation Plus Classics Catalog or on the Xbox backward compatibility list. It’s possible that the game could simply return that way, as a direct port. But a more interesting possibility is a full HD remaster. They wouldn’t even need to rerecord the voice acting since the original cast absolutely nailed it the first time around. Alright, mindless drones, return to your ugly families.
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