Category: Science and Technology

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Observations from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope of Earendel – the farthest star ever detected – reveal a massive B-type star that is more than twice as hot as our sun and a million times more luminous. 

The star in the very distant universe, and a billion years after the big bang, was captured by the observatory’s Near-InfraRed Camera instrument. 

NASA said that Earendel – which means “morning star” in Old English and is, perhaps, a familiar-sounding name to fans of “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy – is located in the Sunrise Arc galaxy.

It is detectable only due to a combination of technology and gravitational lensing. Gravitational lensing occurs when a celestial object like the foreground galaxy cluster has such a massive gravitational pull that it warps time and space around it.

WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE CAPTURES MYSTERIOUS ‘QUESTION MARK’ IN SHOT OF FORMING STARS

Scientists using Webb and the Hubble Space Telescope – which first discovered the star – were able to detect Earendel because of its alignment behind a wrinkle in space-time created by the massive galaxy cluster WHL0137-08. 

The galaxy cluster, located between Earth and the star, is so massive that it warps the fabric of space, producing a magnifying effect that allows astronomers to look through it. 

Earendel only appears as a single point of light, while other features in the galaxy appear multiple times because of this effect. 

Due to this, scientists have determined the object is magnified by a factor of at least 4,000 and is extremely small.

WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE CAPTURES STUNNING SHOTS OF RING NEBULA

Due to the color of Earendel, astronomers also believe they can see hints of a cooler, redder companion star. The light, NASA notes, has been stretched by the universe’s expansion to wavelengths longer than the Hubble Space Telescope can detect. 

While stars as massive as Earendel often have companions, researchers did not expect Webb to reveal any such stars because they would be so close together and indistinguishable on the sky. 

NIRCam also shows other notable features in the Sunrise Arc: the most highly magnified galaxy yet detected in the universe’s first billion years. Those include young star-forming regions and older star clusters as small as just 10 light-years across. On either side of the wrinkle of maximum magnification that runs through Earendel, the features are mirrored by the distortion of the gravitational lens, with the star-forming region appearing elongated and smaller dots on either side of Earendel are two images of one older, more established star cluster. The cluster, which is estimated to be at least 10 million years old, is gravitationally bound and likely to persist until the present day. 

NASA says data analysis from Webb’s Near-Infrared Spectrograph instrument observations of the Sunrise Arc galaxy and Earendel is underway, which will provide precise composition and distance measurements for the galaxy.

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Severe storms have swept across the United States, spawning tornadoes, hail and damaging winds in multiple states. In Hawaii, both Maui and the Big Island have been hit by firestorms with severe destruction.

CLICK TO GET KURT’S FREE CYBERGUY NEWSLETTER WITH SECURITY ALERTS, QUICK TIPS, TECH REVIEWS AND EASY HOW-TO’S TO MAKE YOU SMARTER

Unfortunately, that means that some people whose houses are still intact are going to experience damage to their homes, whether it be roof damage, flooding, leaks, structural issues or something else.

What’s even more unfortunate is that this is a time when scammers will prey on, and try to take advantage of, innocent down-and-out Americans who are just trying to get their homes back to normal.

Here’s what you can do to avoid the double whammy of a post-disaster scam.

HOW TO SPOT RED FLAGS FOR THIS LATEST FACEBOOK MARKETPLACE SCAM

If you’ve ever had damage to your home from severe weather, you know how stressful the process can be to get your home back to normal. The process can be intimidating and long-winded, which is why scammers will create fake deals and claim that they can get your home fixed more quickly than anyone else.

They will claim to be a contractor who can fix your home fast and will ask for you to pay them directly in cash. Before you know it, your money is gone, the job still needs to be done, and the “contractor” has disappeared without a trace. This is all too common and can be avoided with the proper steps taken.

DON’T FALL FOR GEEK SQUAD, PAYPAL SCAM ALERT

The first step you should take after your home has been damaged is to reach out to your home insurance provider. Many insurance companies also offer mobile apps that allow you to report and track damage claims. 

These apps often have features that can help you identify reputable contractors and avoid scams. For example, the app may provide a list of recommended contractors whom the insurance company has vetted or provide tips on how to spot common scams.

Once you get the list of contractors from your home insurance provider, start doing your research on each one. One way to do this is through the Better Business Bureau, which is there to help you see if these companies have ever had any complaints, how they go about resolving complaints, and if they’re worth hiring.

You do not have to use any of the companies that your home insurance provider recommends. However, you must do the research before hiring anyone, whether they were recommended to you or not.

MORE: HOW TO PREVENT PHONE SCAMS AGAINST OLDER LOVED ONES 

MORE: HURRICANE AND DISASTER PREP: BEST TIPS FOR PREPARING FOR WEATHER EVENTS 

If you decide that you do not want to use a company recommended by your insurance, there are many online directories that you can use to find reputable contractors in your area. These directories often include reviews and ratings from other customers, which can help consumers make informed decisions about whom to hire. Examples of such directories include HomeAdvisor, Angie’s List and Yelp.

Don’t forget about using your social media, which can also be a valuable resource in dealing with storm damage. You can use social media to ask for recommendations from your friends and family or to join local groups where you can get advice from others who have dealt with similar situations. You can also see if the company you’re interested in using has a social media presence or a website so that you can see some previous work it’s done.

Overall, the key is to stay informed and use technology to your advantage. By using the resources available to you, you can protect yourself from scammers and ensure that you get the help you need to repair any damage caused by a storm.

FOR MORE OF MY TECH TIPS & SECURITY ALERTS, SUBSCRIBE TO MY FREE CYBERGUY REPORT NEWSLETTER BY HEADING TO CYBERGUY.COM/NEWSLETTER

BEWARE OF THIS NEW BITCOIN BLACKMAIL SCAM

One of the biggest scam tactics that the Better Business Bureau has seen is when a contractor asks for you to pay them directly in cash or give them the check that you’ve received from your insurance company. 

Often times, when insurance companies pay claims, they will send one check that is meant for multiple contractors, such as a roofing team, siding team, and others. You should never hand that insurance check over to a contractor or pay them in cash.

HOW TO GUARD AGAINST ‘BRUSHING’ SCAMS

The best way to pay a contractor is via credit card. That way, you have their name, and that you paid them, on file, and you can reach out to your credit card company in case anything goes wrong. If you ever do need to file a complaint, contact the Better Business Bureau, where you can file a claim 24/7.

HOW TO AVOID THE MALICIOUS PHONE SIM SWAP SCAM

There are websites dedicated to tracking and reporting scams related to storm damage. You can use these sites to stay informed about common scams and to report any suspicious activity you encounter. Here are a few examples:

The National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) – You can call their hotline at 866-720-5721 to report fraudulent activity related to natural disasters. They also have a website where you can report scams and find resources on how to protect yourself from fraud.

Better Business Bureau – The BBB has a Scam Tracker tool on its website where you can search for scams related to storm damage and other types of fraud.

ScamPulse.com – This website is run by the Better Business Bureau and allows you to search for scams related to any natural disasters. You can also report a scam and find resources on how to protect yourself from fraud.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) – FEMA has a webpage dedicated to disaster fraud where you can learn how to recognize and report scams related to storm damage.

StopFraud.gov – This website is maintained by the United States Department of Justice and provides information on how to report and prevent fraud related to natural disasters.

It’s important to be vigilant and cautious when dealing with storm damage and always verify the legitimacy of contractors and repair services before hiring them.

DON’T FALL FOR THESE WRONG NUMBER TEXTING SCAMS

Before a storm even hits, consider investing in a personal locator beacon, also known as a PLB, which is a small, handheld device that transmits a distress signal to emergency services in the event of an emergency. It uses satellite technology to pinpoint your exact location and can alert rescuers where cell coverage may be limited or non-existent.

Stay safe with these five best personal locator beacons

If you have no cell phone service after a storm, but own an iPhone 14 or an iPhone 14 Pro or later model, you can use the feature – Emergency SOS via satellite. Apple has partnered with satellite communications company Globalstar to create the feature and uses satellite connectivity to put you in touch with local emergency dispatch centers if they are in an area with no cellular coverage.

I also recommend you have a well-stocked emergency kit that includes essential supplies such as non-perishable food, water, first aid supplies, and a battery-powered or hand-crank radio. It’s also a good idea to have a plan in place for where to go and what to do in the event of a severe weather emergency.

Get my six survival gear must-haves by heading to Cyberguy.com/SurvivalGear

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A CYBERCRIMINAL GETS ACCESS TO YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS?

By taking these precautions and being prepared ahead of time, you can increase your chances of staying safe and minimizing the impact of a storm on yourself and your loved ones. 

It is also important to exercise caution and remain vigilant after a severe storm; as I mentioned, scammers often exploit the vulnerability of innocent individuals like us. Thus, it is imperative to stay alert and take necessary precautions.

Have you ever experienced storm damage or encountered a scam related to it? Share your story with us, and let us know how you dealt with it by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

For more of my security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter

Copyright 2023 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.

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Artificial intelligence leader OpenAI has once again updated its ChatGPT chatbot smartphone app, making improvements and minor bug fixes. 

Recent changes made at the end of last month expanded access to Custom Instructions to iOS devices.

“Custom instructions now give you more control over ChatGPT’s responses. Set your preferences once, and they’ll steer future conversations. This feature is now available for Plus users and expanding to all users in the coming weeks,” the update on July 28 noted. 

Custom Instructions let users share anything they’d like ChatGPT to consider in its responses. 

WHAT IS AI?

“Your instructions will be added to new conversations going forward, and you can edit or delete them at any time,” a notice on the app says. 

These instructions will help improve model performance, according to OpenAI. 

“Your custom instructions will be used to make ChatGPT and our models work better,” it notes. People can visit the Health Center to learn more about how their data is used.

WHAT IS CHATGPT?

When a user wants to add something to apply to Custom Instructions, there are prompts. 

“What would you like ChatGPT to know about you to provide better responses?” the app asks. 

“How would you like ChatGPT to respond?” 

Those answers will be applied to all new chats if Custom Instructions is toggled on. 

App users can find Custom Instructions under Settings. 

OpenAI introduced the ChatGPT app for iOS in mid-May, starting the rollout in the U.S. before expanding globally. The app for Android users became available in July. 

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