With Apple's Homepod finally on the market, the trifecta of voice assistants from Amazon, Google, and Apple is complete. However, with more devices on the market, there are higher chances hackers will find vulnerabilities and steal your information. Jason Glassberg, co-founder of Casaba Security and self-proclaimed "ethical hacker," joins Cheddar to discuss how to protect your device from hackers.
Glassberg says if a hacker can gain access to your smart speaker, he or she could order the doors to unlock, intimidate loved ones (especially children) with verbal threats via the speaker, or simply record everything you say. He suggests making sure you buy a brand new device (not a used one on the internet) so you can avoid past owners having access to your information.
Plus, which companies are more vulnerable to a hack? Glassberg says Sonos and Bose are the weakest links. Researchers have found simple internet searches turn up results on ways to hack smart devices.
U.S. states could face some hurdles as they experiment with road usage charging programs aimed at one day replacing motor fuel taxes, which are generating less each year, in part due to fuel efficiency and the rise of electric cars.
The U.S. Department of Transportation is awarding almost $1.7 billion in grants for buying zero- and low-emission buses, with the money going to transit projects in 46 states and territories.
With household expenses rising, going green can save you thousands. Cheddar News spoke with Sara Morrow from Consumer Reports about ways to help people slash their bills with climate-friendly home improvements.
About 61% of people who use the internet are addicted to it, according to research. Cheddar News dove in at a recent meeting for a 12-step program as part of a group called ITAA (Internet Technology Addicts Anonymous). The group ( https://internetaddictsanonymous.org/ ) was formed to help the growing number of tech addicts, with more than 6% of the globe's population now addicted, according to the University of Hong Kong.
