Technology

Teenage typing phenom hits insane 305 words per minute

Published

3 months ago

June 25, 2024

Teenage typing phenom hits insane 305 words per minute

At just 17 years old, “MythicalRocket,” or simply “Rocket,” has achieved an astonishing typing speed of 305 words per minute (WPM), more than seven times faster than the average person’s 40 WPM. This blazing pace allowed the high school student to type the entirety of “The Hobbit” in less than six hours.

Rocket’s journey began around three years ago when he realized his gaming hobby had inadvertently made him a fast typist. He started practicing on free typing websites like Monkeytype and Typeracer, spending 15 to 30 minutes daily typing “going ham” on random word strings. Through dedicated practice, his speed rapidly increased from 140 WPM to more than 300 WPM.

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MythicalRocket typing on computer (MythicalRocket) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Shattering world records

In a video posted to his YouTube channel (@mythicalrocket), Rocket demonstrated his mind-boggling 305 WPM pace, leaving viewers in awe of his “insane” and “mind-boggling” skill. He currently holds the world record for the fastest typing speed, over 60 seconds and 15 seconds on Monkeytype.

To achieve these superhuman speeds, Rocket uses a high-tech Apex Pro keyboard, though he admits that switching keyboards initially made him the “slowest I’ve ever felt” because he had to relearn muscle memory, as he told PC Mag.

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MythicalRocket typing on computer (MythicalRocket) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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Future plans for the typing phenom

Despite his incredible accomplishments, Rocket believes he can still push past 305 WPM with more practice. He plans to continue breaking records over the summer before starting software engineering studies, where his elite typing abilities will likely prove invaluable.

MythicalRocket typing on computer (MythicalRocket) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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Kurt’s key takeaways

The typing phenom’s meteoric rise demonstrates how consistent practice and an early start can develop extraordinary skills. At just 17, MythicalRocket has cemented himself as one of the fastest typists on the planet. His incredible 305 WPM video left viewers stunned, with many finding his speed “insane” and “mind-boggling.” While he plans to study software engineering, Rocket shows no signs of slowing down his typing journey, aiming to break even more records over the summer. With his dedication and natural talents, it seems the sky is the limit for this teenage typing savant.

How has technology (apps, games, online platforms, etc.) enabled you to practice and improve skills in new ways compared to previous generations? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

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Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

Technology

Beware of the new sneaky parking QR code scam

Published

13 mins ago

September 28, 2024

Press Room

Beware of the new sneaky parking QR code scam

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Ever scanned a QR code to pay for parking and thought, “Wow, that was easy?”

Well, hold onto your smartphones because we’re about to tell you about a sneaky new scam that’s giving parkers everywhere a major headache.

You might think you’re pretty sharp when it comes to spotting online trickery, but these fraudsters are seriously upping their game with QR codes.

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Illustration of fraudulent QR code and website (Redondo Beach Police)

QR codes: From convenience to con

Remember when QR codes were just those funky square patterns you’d see on product packaging? Well, they’ve come a long way, baby. These days, they’re everywhere — from restaurant menus to, you guessed it, parking meters. But while they’ve made our lives easier, they’ve also opened up a new avenue for scammers to exploit.

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Fraudulent QR code (Redondo Beach Police)

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The scam in action

Picture this. You’re headed to the beautiful beaches of Redondo, California. You find a spot, stroll up to the meter and see a QR code for easy payment. Convenient, right? Not so fast. In a brazen move, scammers plastered fake QR codes on about 150 parking meters along the Esplanade and Riviera Village area. These phony codes were strategically placed right next to the legitimate ParkMobile and PayByPhone labels. Talk about hiding in plain sight.

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Head down the coast to San Clemente, and you’ll find a similar story. One unsuspecting driver fell victim to this digital deception. He scanned what he thought was a legitimate code, only to find himself on a fraudulent website. Within minutes, his wife’s credit card company was calling about unauthorized charges. Talk about a parking nightmare.

This scam isn’t isolated to California. Law enforcement agencies across the country are reporting similar scams, now dubbed “quishing” (QR code phishing). These scams typically target high-traffic areas and aim to collect personal and financial information from unsuspecting victims.

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Images of ParkMobile and PayByPhone apps (Redondo Beach Police)

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How the scam works

These scammers are using QR code technology to pull off their tricks. Here’s their playbook:

The fake sticker: The scammers create QR code stickers that look just like the real deal.

The lookalike URL: The crooks set up websites with names eerily similar to legitimate parking payment sites. For example, PoyByPhone instead of PayByPhone. Spot the difference? It’s not easy.

The data grab: Once you’re on the scammer’s site, they ask for your location and payment info, just like a real parking app would.

The quick getaway: With your data in hand, the thieves start making unauthorized charges faster than you can say “parking ticket.”

Park and pay station (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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How to protect yourself

1. Scrutinize the URL: Before entering any information, carefully examine the web address for any irregularities or misspellings.

2. Use official apps: Whenever possible, use the official city parking app instead of scanning QR codes.

3. Inspect for tampering: Be wary of QR codes that appear to be afterthoughts or look like they’ve been added on top of existing signage.

4. Consider alternative payment methods: Sometimes, using coins or a credit card directly at the meter is the safest option.

5. Keep your device updated: Regularly update your phone’s operating system and security software to protect against the latest threats.

6. Avoid public Wi-Fi for payments: Public Wi-Fi networks are often unsecured, making them prime hunting grounds for cybercriminals. When making parking payments, use your cellular data connection instead. Remember, it’s better to use a bit more mobile data than to risk your financial information falling into the wrong hands. If you must use public Wi-Fi, consider using a VPN to encrypt your connection and protect your data from potential hackers. For best VPN software, see my expert review of the best VPNs for browsing the web privately on your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices.

7. Be wary of unsolicited messages: Ignore links sent via email, text or social media claiming to be for parking payments. Instead, manually enter the official parking website or use the city’s app.

8. Use secure scanning methods: Your smartphone’s built-in camera is typically sufficient for scanning QR codes. Avoid downloading third-party QR code scanning apps, which could potentially contain malware.

9. Verify payment requests: If you receive a QR code for payment via email, don’t rush to pay. Contact the company directly through their official channels to confirm the request.

10. Don’t click on suspicious links: Be cautious about clicking on any links that appear in emails, texts or social media messages regarding parking payments. Scammers often use these methods to direct you to fake websites that may look legitimate but are designed to steal your personal and financial information.

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 & iOS devices.

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What to do if you’ve been scammed

If you think you’ve fallen victim to a QR code con, don’t panic. Here’s your action plan:

Contact your bank: Immediately call your credit card company or bank to report the fraud and freeze your accounts.

File a report: Contact your local police department.

Alert the FTC: File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov/complaint.

Monitor your credit: Keep a close eye on your credit reports for any suspicious activity.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

Remember, scammers are constantly evolving their tactics, but so are the good guys. By staying informed and using a healthy dose of skepticism, you can enjoy the convenience of digital payments without falling victim to these parking predators. So, the next time you’re out and about looking for a parking spot, keep these tips in mind, and don’t let the scammers take you for a ride.

In your opinion, how can cities better protect residents and visitors from scams like these? 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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Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:

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Technology

Welcome to Meta’s future, where everyone wears cameras

Published

8 hours ago

September 28, 2024

Press Room

Welcome to Meta’s future, where everyone wears cameras

All around Meta’s Menlo Park campus, cameras stared at me. I’m not talking about security cameras or my fellow reporters’ DSLRs. I’m not even talking about smartphones. I mean Ray-Ban and Meta’s smart glasses, which Meta hopes we’ll all — one day, in some form — wear.

I visited Meta for this year’s Connect conference, where just about every hardware product involved cameras. They’re on the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses that got a software update, the new Quest 3S virtual reality headset, and Meta’s prototype Orion AR glasses. Orion is what Meta calls a “time machine”: a functioning example of what full-fledged AR could look like, years before it will be consumer-ready.

But on Meta’s campus, at least, the Ray-Bans were already everywhere. It was a different kind of time machine: a glimpse into CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s future world where glasses are the new phones.

I’m conflicted about it.

The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses.

Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge

Meta really wants to put cameras on your face. The glasses, which follow 2021’s Ray-Ban Stories, are apparently making inroads on that front, as Zuckerberg told The Verge sales are going “very well.” They aren’t full-fledged AR glasses since they have no screen to display information, though they’re becoming more powerful with AI features. But they’re perfect for what the whole Meta empire is built on: encouraging people to share their lives online.

The glasses come in a variety of classic Ray-Ban styles, but for now, it’s obvious users aren’t just wearing glasses. As I wandered the campus, I spotted the telltale signs on person after person: two prominent circle cutouts at the edges of their glasses, one for a 12MP ultrawide camera and the other for an indicator light.

This light flashes when a user is taking photos and videos, and it’s generally visible even in sunlight. In theory, that should have put my mind at ease: if the light wasn’t on, I could trust nobody was capturing footage of me tucking into some lunch before my meetings.

But as I talked with people around campus, I was always slightly on edge. I found myself keenly aware of those circles, checking to see if somebody was filming me when I wasn’t paying attention. The mere potential of a recording would distract me from conversations, inserting a low hum of background anxiety.

When I put a pair on for myself, the situation changed

Then, when I put a pair on for myself, the situation suddenly changed. As a potential target of recording, I’d been hesitant, worried I might be photographed or filmed as a byproduct of making polite eye contact. With the glasses on my own face, though, I felt that I should be recording more. There’s something really compelling about the experience of a camera right at the level of your eyes. By just pressing a button on the glasses, I could take a photo or video of anything I was seeing at exactly the angle I was seeing it. No awkward fumble of pulling out my phone and hoping the moment lasted. There might be no better way to share my reality with other people.

Meta’s smart glasses have been around for a few years now, and I’m hardly the first person — or even the first person at The Verge — to be impressed by them. But this was the first time I’d seen these glasses not as early adopter tech, but as a ubiquitous product like a phone or smartwatch. I got a hint of how this seamless recording would work at scale, and the prospect is both exciting and terrifying.

The camera phone was a revolution in its own right, and we’re still grappling with its social effects. Nearly anyone can now document police brutality or capture a fleeting funny moment, but also take creepshots and post them online or (a far lesser offense, to be clear) annoy people at concerts. What will happen when even the minimal friction of pulling a phone out drops away, and billions of people can immediately snap a picture of anything they see?

Personally, I can see how incredibly useful this would be to capture candid photos of my new baby, who is already starting to recognize when a phone is taking a picture of her. But it’s not hard to imagine far more malicious uses. Sure, you might think that we all got used to everyone pointing their phone cameras at everything, but I’m not exactly sure that’s a good thing; I don’t like that there’s a possibility I end up in somebody’s TikTok just because I stepped outside the house. (The rise of sophisticated facial recognition makes the risks even greater.) With ubiquitous glasses-equipped cameras, I feel like there’s an even greater possibility that my face shows up somewhere on the internet without my permission.

There are also clear risks to integrating cameras into what is, for many people, a nonnegotiable vision aid. If you already wear glasses and switch to prescription smart glasses, you’ll either have to carry a low-tech backup or accept that they’ll stay on in some potentially very awkward places, like a public bathroom. The current Ray-Ban Meta glasses are largely sunglasses, so they’re probably not most people’s primary set. But you can get them with clear and transition lenses, and I bet Meta would like to market them more as everyday specs.

Of course, there’s no guarantee most people will buy them. The Ray-Ban Meta glasses are pretty good gadgets now, but I was at Meta’s campus meeting Meta employees to preview Meta hardware for a Meta event. It’s not surprising Meta’s latest hardware was commonplace, and it doesn’t necessarily tell us much about what people outside that world want.

Camera glasses have been just over the horizon for years now. Remember how magical I said taking pictures of what’s right in front of your eyes is? My former colleague Sean O’Kane relayed almost the exact same experience with Snap Spectacles back in 2016.

But Meta is the first company to make a credible play for mainstream acceptance. They’re a lot of fun — and that’s what scares me a little.

Technology

Fox News AI Newsletter: AI bad actors 'not very Christian'

Published

8 hours ago

September 28, 2024

Press Room

Welcome to Fox News’ Artificial Intelligence newsletter with the latest AI technology advancements.

IN TODAY’S NEWSLETTER:

– ‘CHiPs’ star Erik Estrada says certain people using AI are not ‘very Christian’
– Las Vegas Sphere’s robot is seen ‘learning about humans’ from her interactions with guests
– OpenAI reportedly looking to strip control from nonprofit board, go for-profit in restructuring

Erik Estrada attends Hollywood celebrity sporting clays invitational luncheon and presentation at Spago on Feb. 5, 2011, in Beverly Hills, California. (Brian To/FilmMagic)

‘CAN DESTROY LIVES’: During an interview with Fox News Digital, the 75-year-old actor and “Divine Renovation” host acknowledged the benefits of AI but cautioned that the new technology is also frequently being used for nefarious purposes.

WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS: Meet Aura, a humanoid robot that serves as a “spokesbot” at the Sphere located at Las Vegas’ Venetian Resort.

Aura the robot, located at the Sphere in Las Vegas, can have conversations with guests and answer any questions he or she has about the venue or about any other topic. (Christine Gregorian)

CHANGE IN STATUS: OpenAI is working on a corporate restructuring plan that would pull control from the ChatGPT creator’s nonprofit board and transform the organization into primarily a for-profit entity, according to a report from Reuters.

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, walks from lunch during the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference on July 6, 2022 in Sun Valley, Idaho. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images | Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

DEEPFAKE IMPERSONATOR: Authorities are investigating a mysterious “deepfake” video call that successfully impersonated a Ukrainian high official.

Sen. Ben Cardin, a Democrat from Maryland, during an event in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. (Aaron Schwartz/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Subscribe now to get the Fox News Artificial Intelligence Newsletter in your inbox.

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This article was written by Fox News staff.