Technology
Spring clean your digital footprint: Why retirees are scam targets
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Every spring, many of us follow the same routine. We replace the batteries in our smoke detectors, clean out the garage and organize paperwork while reviewing finances. These habits exist for a reason. Regular maintenance helps prevent small risks from turning into bigger problems.
However, there is one area most people rarely check: their digital exposure. Just like a home, your online presence collects clutter over time. If you do not clean it up regularly, it becomes much easier for strangers to find and use your personal information.
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DO YOU KNOW THE TRUE COST OF IDENTITY THEFT?
Your personal information can quietly spread across dozens of people-search and data broker websites without you realizing it. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Where your personal information appears online
Think about how many places your personal information exists today:
- Public property records
- Utility and service databases
- Marketing lists
- People-search websites
- Data broker profiles.
Each time you move, sign up for a service or update a subscription, that information may get copied and resold across multiple databases.
Over time, dozens, sometimes hundreds, of websites may end up listing details such as:
- Your home address
- Phone numbers
- Past addresses
- Names of relatives
- Property ownership records.
For retirees and homeowners, these details can make you particularly visible online. And unfortunately, scammers know exactly where to look.
Why does tax season increase personal data exposure
Spring is a major data collection season. During tax season, financial institutions, service providers and government agencies process enormous amounts of information.
That includes:
- Address confirmations
- Income reporting
- Property and mortgage updates
- Retirement account activity.
Much of this data eventually becomes part of public records or commercial databases. Data brokers actively monitor these updates. When new information appears, they refresh and rebuild personal profiles. That means your digital footprint can quietly grow — even if you haven’t shared anything new online.
How data brokers update your personal profile
The first quarter of the year is one of the busiest periods for data brokers. Why? Because many major databases update around the same time:
- Property records are updated after year-end filings
- Utility and service provider records refresh
- Marketing databases ingest new consumer lists
- Public records from courts and local governments get indexed
- Data brokers purchase or scrape this information and add it to existing profiles. In other words, your profile isn’t static. It’s constantly evolving.
THE EMAIL TRICK THAT REVEALS YOUR HIDDEN ONLINE ACCOUNTS
Each move, subscription or public record update can add new details to your growing digital footprint. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Why data broker opt-outs often don’t last
Many people start the year with good intentions. They search their name online, find a few people-search websites and submit opt-out requests. That is a great first step. However, many people later discover a frustrating reality. Manual opt-outs often do not last.
There are three main reasons.
Data brokers continuously collect new records: Even if a broker removes your information today, new public records may appear next month when their system refreshes, and your profile can be rebuilt automatically.
Multiple brokers share and resell data: If one company deletes your listing, another broker may still have it—and may resell it back into the ecosystem. Your information spreads like copies of a document.
Some opt-outs expire: Certain websites only remove data temporarily. Months later, listings quietly reappear. Unless you check regularly, you may never notice.
Why retirees are especially visible online
Retirees often have several characteristics that make their information easier to locate:
- Long address histories
- Property ownership records
- Public professional biographies
- Retirement community listings
- Estate and probate filings.
None of this is inherently unsafe. But when it’s aggregated across dozens of data broker platforms, it becomes a detailed personal profile.
Scammers use these profiles to identify potential targets for:
- Investment scams
- Fake government calls
- Medicare or benefits fraud
- Home repair schemes
- Identity theft attempts.
The more complete the profile, the easier it is to craft a convincing story.
Why protecting your online privacy requires ongoing cleanup
Just like home safety, privacy protection works best as an ongoing habit.
Think of it this way: You wouldn’t replace smoke detector batteries once and assume they’ll work forever. The same logic applies to your online data.
Information gets copied, refreshed, and redistributed constantly. That means protecting your digital footprint requires regular monitoring and cleanup.
How to reduce your online exposure
A few simple habits can help reduce your risk:
- Periodically search for your name online
- Limit sharing of personal details on social media
- Be cautious with unsolicited calls or investment offers
- Remove your information from people-search sites when possible.
Regularly cleaning up exposed data helps reduce the personal information scammers can use against you. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
How data removal services help clean up your online data
The challenge is that there are hundreds of data brokers, and each has its own removal process. Doing it manually can take hours, and the process often has to be repeated. That is why many people turn to automated data removal services.
These services help by submitting opt-out and deletion requests to hundreds of data brokers and people-search websites on your behalf. Instead of contacting each company individually, the service handles the process and continues monitoring databases for new listings that may appear over time.
While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your 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 and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com.
Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: Cyberguy.com.
Kurt’s key takeaways
Spring-cleaning usually focuses on physical spaces. We organize garages, review paperwork and replace smoke detector batteries. But your digital footprint deserves the same attention. Personal information spreads quietly across public records, marketing databases and data broker websites. Over time, these pieces of information can form detailed profiles that strangers can easily find online. For retirees and homeowners, those records often go back decades. Property filings, address histories and public records can make it easier for scammers to identify potential targets. The good news is that protecting your digital footprint does not require advanced technical skills. Simple habits like checking what appears about you online, limiting what you share publicly and regularly removing your information from data broker sites can significantly reduce your exposure. Just like maintaining your home, digital privacy works best as an ongoing habit. A little attention today can prevent much bigger problems tomorrow.
Have you ever searched your name online and been surprised by how much personal information appeared? What steps have you taken to protect your digital footprint? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.
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Technology
Intel and LG Display may have beaten Apple and Qualcomm with the best laptop battery life ever
Just how little power might it consume? Notebookcheck has tested a version of the laptop with that LG Display screen and a new Intel Panther Lake chip — and it appears to be the most efficient laptop that’s ever gone through its Wi-Fi web browsing test. At idle, the Core Ultra 325 laptop drew as little as 1.5 watts, and lasted nearly 27 hours of web browsing despite only housing a 70 watt-hour pack. That’s well shy of the 99.5Wh Dell has sometimes crammed into its 16-inch models.
That’s more battery life than Notebookcheck has gotten out of any MacBook or MacBook Pro, and apparently more than all but two other laptops since it started running this test in 2014. And of those two laptops, one relied on a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus chip, a larger 84Wh battery, and a mere 60Hz screen — while the other had two batteries for a total of 149Wh and a 60Hz screen as well.
I should caution you that we typically see much less battery life in an actual workday than we do in fixed battery life tests. But compared to other laptops, this Dell + Intel + LG Display combo seems like the new battery life champ. Note that Dell also sells it with a higher-res tandem OLED screen, though. To get the best battery life, you’ll need to settle for 1920 x 1200, no OLED, and no touchscreen.
While Dell may deserve a lot of credit as the system integrator, this tech may not be exclusive to Dell for long. LG Display announced that it’s become the first in the world to mass-produce a 1–120Hz laptop LCD panel (which it’s branding as Oxide 1Hz), and plans to mass-produce an OLED version in 2027. Intel, too, isn’t just working with one display vendor: last October, it announced it was working with Chinese panel maker BOE on 1Hz refresh rate computers too.
Technology
Woot is offering over 20 percent off Switch 2 controllers and games today
Woot is running a day-long sale coinciding with the start of Amazon’s Big Spring Sale. Many products across multiple tech categories are discounted, including dozens of video games and accessories. What’s more, you can get an extra 20 percent off through 12:59AM ET on March 26th when you use code SAVETWENTY. Also, if you’re a Prime member who links their Amazon account, you’ll get free shipping.
Of the grab bag of products, the Nintendo Switch 2-related discounts stood out the most. For instance, you can get the physical version of Mario Kart World at Woot for $52 ($28 off). If your Switch 2 didn’t already include a digital copy of the exclusive, World is a must-have racing title that’s fun to play alone or with others (my colleague Andrew Webster called it “the perfect launch game” in his review). It includes an open world chock-full of challenges — a series first — or you can race through different course-filled cups, just like in the old days.
Additionally, 8BitDo’s fantastic Ultimate 2 and Pro 3 controllers — both compatible with the Switch 2 and other platforms — currently cost $36 and $37.60, respectively. Considering that both gamepads typically cost over $50 each, the savings are steep enough to consider getting more than one gamepad. The Ultimate 2 and Pro 3 have a similar set of features — rumble, motion controls, TMR joysticks, customizable back paddles, an extra shoulder button, and adjustable triggers — but their button and stick layouts cater to different gamers.
While the Ultimate 2 is arranged like a Switch 2 Pro (which itself is an Xbox-style layout), the Pro 3 is more akin to a PlayStation controller, with sticks close together in the middle. One neat feature of the Pro 3 not found in the Ultimate 2 is the ability to pull off its magnetic buttons and swap their positions, which is handy if you’re switching platforms. Both models also feature a 90-day Woot warranty. Read our Pro 3 review.
If you already own Mario Kart World — or don’t own a Nintendo Switch or Switch 2 — there are also plenty of other great deals to choose from, including titles for both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X / S.
Here’s a smattering of favorites:
Technology
Air taxis in the US could launch this summer
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For years, air taxis felt like one of those “almost here” technologies. You have seen the sleek designs. You have heard the promises. Quiet flights. Lower costs. No traffic. And yet, nothing.
Now, that might actually change. A new federal push could put electric air taxis in the sky as early as this summer. Not everywhere. Not at full scale. But in enough places to make this real for the first time. This is the first program of its kind designed to bring air taxis into everyday U.S. airspace.
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Joby’s long-tested aircraft is nearing final FAA approval and could be among the first to carry passengers in U.S. air taxi services. (Joby Aviation)
What exactly is an air taxi?
An air taxi, also called an eVTOL, is a small electric aircraft that can take off and land vertically. Think helicopter without the noise and cost. These aircraft are designed to move people short distances across cities or regions. You could skip traffic entirely and fly from one part of a city to another in minutes.
The pitch is simple:
- Faster than driving
- Cheaper than helicopters
- Cleaner than traditional aircraft.
It sounds great. But getting there has been anything but simple.
Why air taxis are still waiting on FAA approval
The biggest hurdle has not been technology. It has been regulation. The FAA requires commercial aircraft to meet extremely high safety standards. We are talking about failure rates closer to commercial airlines than cars.
That creates a problem. Traditional aircraft follow well-known designs. eVTOLs are completely new. They take off vertically, then transition into forward flight. That adds complexity and risk.
Companies like Joby Aviation, Archer Aviation and others have spent years testing. Some have logged thousands of flights. Still, full approval has remained just out of reach.
How the FAA is fast-tracking air taxis in the U.S.
Now comes a major shift. The government has launched a new initiative called the eVTOL Integration Pilot Program. The goal is to speed things up without lowering safety standards.
Instead of waiting for full nationwide approval, companies can begin limited operations in specific areas. This rollout breaks from the old all-or-nothing approval model. Instead of waiting years for full certification, companies can now prove safety in real-world conditions and expand from there.
Eight pilot programs have been approved across the country, including:
- New York and New Jersey, with flights from Manhattan heliports
- Texas connecting cities like Dallas, Austin and San Antonio
- Florida testing passenger flights, cargo and medical use
- North Carolina and Virginia are exploring autonomous operations.
PRIVATE AUTONOMOUS PODS COULD REDEFINE RIDE-SHARING
eVTOL Integration Pilot Program sites. (U.S. Department of Transportation)
These pilot programs span 26 states, creating one of the largest real-world test environments for next-generation aircraft. These aircraft will not just carry passengers. They will support cargo delivery, emergency medical response and regional transportation. Data from these pilot programs will help the FAA create new rules to safely expand air taxi use nationwide. That last part matters more than it seems.
“This is the clearest sign yet from the White House, the FAA and the DOT that bringing air taxis to market in the United States is a real priority,” said Adam Goldstein, founder and CEO of Archer. “We appreciate Secretary Duffy and Administrator Bedford’s leadership and are excited to bring Midnight to the skies of some of America’s largest cities.”
Why air taxis are part of a U.S. vs China aviation race
This push is not only about getting you across town faster. It is also about keeping up. China has already moved ahead in drones and air mobility. Companies there have been running real commercial passenger flights since 2023.
Meanwhile, drones have changed modern warfare and logistics. They are cheap, effective and scalable. The U.S. wants to lead again. That means accelerating innovation across civilian and military systems. Air taxis are one piece of that bigger strategy.
The autonomy factor no one is talking about enough
Here is where things get even more interesting. Many of these aircraft are designed to become autonomous. At first, you will likely see pilots on board. But long-term, the goal is to remove them. Why? Pilots add weight. They increase the cost. They limit scalability.
Companies are already testing highly automated systems that can handle complex flight decisions in real time. That means the version of air taxis you see in the next few years may not be the final version.
What this means for you
This is where it gets real. Air taxis will not replace your car overnight. But they could start changing how you think about getting around. Here is how it could impact you:
Shorter commutes in crowded cities
If you live near a major metro area, you may soon have a new option that cuts travel time dramatically.
Faster emergency response
Medical flights and disaster response could become quicker and more efficient.
New pricing models for travel
At first, rides may feel premium. Over time, prices could drop closer to rideshare levels.
More automation in transportation
If air taxis go autonomous, it signals a bigger shift across all forms of travel.
New safety questions
Faster rollout means regulators and companies will need to prove these systems are safe in the real world.
NEW YORK HALTS ROBOTAXI EXPANSION PLAN
Archer’s aircraft is part of the new FAA pilot program, aiming to launch short city routes that could cut travel times dramatically. (Archer Aviation)
So when will you actually be able to ride one?
The timeline is finally getting clearer. You may start seeing limited operations as early as summer 2026. That does not mean you can open an app and book a flight right away.
Early access will likely focus on:
- Specific routes
- Controlled environments
- Pilot programs with limited passengers.
But once that door opens, expansion tends to move quickly. We saw it with rideshare. We saw it with electric vehicles. This could follow the same path.
“The first time I saw a Waymo on the road in San Francisco, it was a big deal. Now, self-driving cars are just part of everyday life there. I believe the eIPP will do the same thing for air taxis. Every safe flight builds towards public acceptance, and we need to build that acceptance in parallel with our certification efforts,” said Adam Goldstein, CEO of Archer.
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Kurt’s key takeaways
Air taxis have lived in the “almost here” category for a long time. Now, they are stepping into reality. There are still real challenges ahead. Safety, cost and infrastructure all need to catch up. But this new approach changes the pace of progress. Instead of waiting for perfection, the industry is moving forward in controlled steps. And once people experience this kind of travel firsthand, expectations will shift fast.
If you could skip traffic and fly across your city in minutes, would you try it… or wait until everyone else goes first? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.
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Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
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