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What does Trump’s election mean for EVs, Tesla, and Elon Musk?

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What does Trump’s election mean for EVs, Tesla, and Elon Musk?

On the campaign trail, Donald Trump said a lot of things about electric vehicles. He said he would “end the electric vehicle mandate on day one,” that EVs “don’t work,” and that they benefit China and Mexico while hurting American autoworkers.

But he has also closely aligned himself with Elon Musk, who runs the biggest EV company in the US. And he will likely have Musk continuing to whisper in his ear on important policy matters moving forward, even going so far as to promise to appoint the mercurial billionaire to a role in his administration.

So now that he’s the president-elect, what will he actually do that will affect the auto industry and its tenuous shift to electric vehicles?

First off, he said he would “rescind all unspent funds” in President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, which includes many of the administration’s efforts to incentivize EV production in the US. Trump is likely to kill these incentives, everything from the EV tax credit to incentives for battery factories and mining.

What will he actually do that will affect the auto industry and its tenuous shift to electric vehicles?

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It could prove to be an unpopular move, as the tax credits have been shown to work. The Biden administration claims that the tax credits have been successful, saving car buyers $1 billion in 2024 alone. The credit can now be applied at the point of sale, meaning shoppers can accept a discount on their EV purchase directly from dealers. And EV sales are continuing to increase, growing 11 percent year over year in the third quarter of 2024, according to Cox Automotive.

Eliminating these tax credits and incentives will make EVs more expensive to buy for many Americans, which will likely result in fewer vehicles sold. Manufacturers will have to adjust their plans to account for the less generous tax environment. Any factory that has yet to break ground is in jeopardy.

But making cars is expensive, and development cycles last for years. Automakers will be lobbying hard for regulatory certainty — whether Trump pays heed is entirely up in the air.

“Depending on how much [the individual tax credit] would be changed, it could be very detrimental to the North American automotive industry,” Sam Fiorani, vice president of global vehicle forecasting at AutoForecast Solutions, told Automotive News. “A lot of the demand for EVs currently is driven by that incentive, and that incentive feeds the manufacturers.”

Trump could also kill the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program to install more EV chargers. However, at least 14 percent of NEVI funds have gone directly to Tesla, which is the largest provider of EV charging in the US. It’s unclear whether Trump would axe a program that benefits his new BFF. But Musk has spoken disparagingly of NEVI, so it’s certainly a possibility.

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Some Tesla investors say that while the new Trump administration is likely to be a negative for the auto industry, it could end up working out for Musk, who famously went all in for Trump, spending over $119 million to support his campaign.

“Tesla has the scale and scope that is unmatched in the EV industry and this dynamic could give Musk and Tesla a clear competitive advantage in a non-EV subsidy environment,” said Wedbush analyst Dan Ives, “coupled by likely higher China tariffs that would continue to push away cheaper Chinese EV players (BYD, Nio, etc.) from flooding the US market over the coming years.”

Eliminating these tax credits and incentives will make EVs more expensive to buy for many Americans

Trump is likely to attempt to roll back or weaken the Biden administration’s new tailpipe emission standards, which would slash greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2032. This is likely what he’s talking about when he rails against the “EV mandate.” Republicans have falsely portrayed the new standards as a ban on gas-powered cars. EVs would need to account for over half of new vehicle sales for automakers to meet these strict mandates.

If that happens, expect automakers to tap the brakes on EV production. That will likely result in Detroit’s Big Three — Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis — becoming less competitive globally, as the rest of the world continues to innovate and produce more EVs. It could also open the door for foreign automakers to come in and snap up the market. Tariffs could deter countries like China from flooding the US with cheap EVs, but that could be short-lived if China keeps making cheaper and cheaper EVs.

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Trump’s plan to slap tariffs on a variety of imported goods, including foreign-made cars, could make many vehicles more expensive to buy. Shares in BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche all fell on Germany’s stock market on the news of Trump’s victory on Wednesday. Meanwhile, stock prices in the Big Three, as well as Tesla, surged in early trading.

California’s right under the Clean Air Act to enact stronger emission standards is also likely to fall in Trump’s crosshairs, as it did last time he was in office. This could become another rat’s nest of lawsuits and counter lawsuits. Trump will be spoiling for a fight.

Fighting — over tax credits, emission standards, federal spending, state’s rights, and more — will become a hallmark of this presidency and its approach to the auto industry, just as it was last time. But this time around, EVs are becoming mainstream, and a lot of the investments can’t just be unspooled. Climate change is a looming threat, and EVs are seen as an important tool to fighting it. This time, there’s just a lot more at stake.

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My iPhone says I have 14 viruses. What should I do next?

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My iPhone says I have 14 viruses. What should I do next?

Although iPhones have robust security features, they are not entirely immune to threats. While they are generally safer from viruses and malware than Android devices, no device is completely invulnerable.

This point was reinforced by a strange experience that caught our attention when “Pam” of Mesa, Arizona, wrote to us, “My iPhone says I have 14 viruses. What program can I [install] to help with my phone? How can I [make] my phone safe?”

Well, Pam, we’re more than happy to explore why you are getting strange messages on your iPhone suggesting that there were 14 viruses on it. There are various reasons why you could be seeing these types of messages, and there are workarounds to make your phone safe again.

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Woman shocked about virus alerts on her phone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Why am I getting virus or malware alerts?

The iPhone is less vulnerable to viruses and malware due to its closed-code design. This means that Apple doesn’t share all of its code information, which makes it harder for hackers to exploit vulnerabilities to take over a user’s apps or iPhone. It’s important to note that Apple will never send you an alert via pop-up, text or email that you have a virus on your device.

My iPhone says I have 14 viruses. What should I do next?

Warning on phone’s home screen (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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Watch out for these fake virus alerts on your iPhone

Below are several reasons why you could get notifications on your iPhone about viruses, which you may or may not actually have.

1) Pop-up ads: You may not actually have any viruses or malware on your iPhone. Instead, it can be an ad that pops up from your mobile browser stating that you have viruses or malware on your iPhone. These can scam you in a couple of ways:

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  • It causes you to click on the ad, which can cause you to download viruses or malware.
  • It sends you to another website that asks you for private information, such as payment, so you can pay to get rid of the virus or malware.

2) Fake apps: Some scammers have fake apps that display fake alerts about viruses or malware to scare people to download their apps or purchase their services to get rid of these fake problems.

3) Phishing scams: This alert about viruses can be a scam email or text message claiming you have viruses or malware that need to be eradicated from your device. Do not click on any links or call any numbers as it will likely transfer you to the actual scammer, who will likely hard sell you to buy their services, part with private and financial information or give them access to your iPhone.

My iPhone says I have 14 viruses. What should I do next?

Man scrolling on his iPhone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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How do I protect my iPhone?

Even though it is more difficult to penetrate the iPhone, it doesn’t mean it is impossible. In fact, some hackers watch for particular vulnerabilities in iOS to launch their attacks. If you see such warnings, it’s best to ignore them and avoid clicking on any links or downloading any suggested software. Below are several key steps you can take to secure your iPhone.

1) Keep your iPhone up to date: Occasionally, Apple releases new iOS updates to address known vulnerabilities. When possible, it is best to update the iOS so that your iPhone is safe from known vulnerabilities.

2) Install and run strong antivirus software: An antivirus software actively running on all of your devices can help keep them all safe, including your iPhone. With iPhones, strong antivirus software will prevent you from clicking on any malicious links that may then install malware onto your devices, which can potentially extract personal information from your device. Avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading attachments from unknown sources. These can be phishing attempts designed to steal your personal information.

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The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have 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.

3) Download apps only from the App Store: Stick to downloading apps from the official Apple App Store. Apps on the App Store are vetted by Apple for security, reducing the risk of downloading malicious software.

4) Enable two-factor authentication (2FA): Adding an extra layer of security to your Apple ID can help protect your personal information. With 2FA, even if someone gets your password, they won’t be able to access your account without the second factor.

5) Use strong passwords: Ensure that your passwords are strong and unique for different accounts. Consider using a password manager to keep track of them.

6) Monitor app permissions: Regularly check the permissions granted to your apps and revoke any that seem unnecessary. This can help prevent apps from accessing more information than they need.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

While most iPhone users rest easy knowing that the iOS keeps most common viruses and malware at bay, they are still susceptible to scammers trying to work around the closed code and scaring people into making bad choices that endanger their phones and data. Because Apple never sends out alerts about viruses or malware on your iPhone, it should be the first clue of a scam. Even if it looks official, iPhone users do not get alerts from Apple about viruses or malware. If you do install a good antivirus program, that will be the only program notifying you that there is anything amiss with your iPhone. Understanding these scams can go a long way in keeping you calm and your phone safe.

Have you ever received what looks like an official alert from Apple notifying you about viruses on your iPhone? Have you received pop-ups and other alerts trying to get you to buy services or forward you to random websites? What steps did you take to figure out if it was legitimate or not? 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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If the Electoral College has invaded your phone screen, here’s how to get rid of it

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If the Electoral College has invaded your phone screen, here’s how to get rid of it

Some iOS users with the Washington Post app installed may have looked down at their device tonight only to find an undismissable black toggle hovering on their screen, with electoral vote counts in the 2024 presidential race slowly ticking upwards. (On my own iPhone it appears as the dynamic island.) If you tap on it it merely expands to give you more information about the race, along with little drawn portraits of the candidates, which is decidedly not the content you want if you were just trying to find the button to make the whole thing go away.

It took me a little bit of jumping around to figure out how to get rid of it, but this is how to dismiss the Electoral College hell-toggle on iOS:

Go to your Settings. Select Apps towards the bottom. Scroll down to the Wash Post app. Click on Live Activities. Turn off the toggle Allow Live Activities. The hell-toggle should vanish.

Turn off “Allow Live Activities” if you want to get rid of the electoral count toggle.

If you want to bring it back, turn on Allow Live Activities again, and then go into the Washington Post app. Click on the gear wheel icon in the upper right to access your settings. Select Live Activity Settings and turn on the toggle to allow live updates from the presidential election. You may need to also click on “Start Presidential Activity” beneath that.

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Apparently Apple News also has a hell-toggle, and it presumably can be dismissed in your iOS settings in a similar fashion. I am not plagued with the Apple News hell-toggle, so I wouldn’t know.

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Robot dog is making waves with its underwater skills

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Robot dog is making waves with its underwater skills

The world of robotics has taken an exciting plunge with the latest iteration of MAB Robotics’ Honey Badger quadruped robot. This innovative machine is not just another land-dwelling robot dog; it is now making waves with its ability to walk underwater.

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Honey Badger 4.0 quadruped robot underwater (MAB Robotics) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

From land to sea: The Honey Badger’s evolution

MAB Robotics, a Polish company founded in 2019, has been refining its Honey Badger robot since its inception. The fourth generation, known as Honey Badger 4.0, has added a surprising new skill to its repertoire: underwater locomotion.

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Robot dog is making waves with its underwater skills

Honey Badger 4.0 quadruped robot underwater (MAB Robotics) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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Diving into the details

The Honey Badger 4.0 measures about 23.6 inches in length and stands between 9.8 and 19.6 inches high, weighing in at approximately 26.5 pounds. This compact yet capable machine boasts a payload capacity of around 4.4 pounds. It is equipped with RGB and thermal cameras, lidar and gas sensors, allowing it to navigate various environments effectively. The robot can operate for up to two hours on its built-in lithium-ion battery and can be controlled remotely via 5G or a fiber-optic cable.

Robot dog is making waves with its underwater skills

Honey Badger 4.0 quadruped robot underwater (MAB Robotics) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Making waves in robotics

What truly sets the Honey Badger apart is its amphibious capability. Recent footage shows the robot confidently walking along the bottom of a swimming pool. While legs may not be the most efficient means of underwater propulsion, this versatility opens up new possibilities for the robot’s applications.

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Potential applications

The Honey Badger’s amphibious nature makes it ideal for a variety of tasks. It could be invaluable in search and rescue operations in disaster areas, as well as for inspection and maintenance in flooded environments. The robot is also well-suited for industrial inspections across diverse settings and can contribute to research and development in robotics and locomotion.

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Robot dog is making waves with its underwater skills

A group of Honey Badger 4.0 quadruped robots (MAB Robotics) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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Kurt’s key takeaways

The Honey Badger 4.0’s ability to operate both on land and underwater showcases the potential for versatile and adaptable robots in various fields. As MAB Robotics continues to refine and improve their design, we can expect to see even more impressive capabilities from this tough little robot dog. The future of robotics is looking increasingly amphibious, and the Honey Badger is leading the pack.

As we develop more advanced robots like the Honey Badger 4.0, what concerns do you think we should keep in mind for our communities? 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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