Seniors outsmarting smartphones, a new way to organize your links & the truth about AI audio recorders (Episode 170, April 18, 2026)

In Rich On Tech Episode 170, host Rich DeMuro delivers a comprehensive and uplifting exploration of the latest tech trends, privacy concerns, and human-centered innovations. The episode opens with a cautionary look at the Booking.com data breach exposing traveler details, urging listeners to verify suspicious emails directly with hotels and highlighting the risks of phishing scams. DeMuro dives into privacy vulnerabilities, revealing how FBI forensic tools can recover deleted Signal messages via notification previews—prompting a strong recommendation to disable message previews on iPhones. He also examines the rising cost of tech driven by AI demand for memory chips and hard drives, positioning the current moment as a strategic time to upgrade. Practical tools like SendLinks.app for organizing links via Telegram and AI-powered Google apps for Mac and Windows are spotlighted, alongside empowering advice from 73-year-old author Ann Goldberg, whose book 'Take This Phone and Shove It' offers compassionate, accessible guidance for seniors navigating smartphones. The episode continues with listener calls, including a solution for connecting a Sirius XM radio to a 2020 Ford Fusion using an AirFly Bluetooth transmitter, and highlights Mint Mobile’s new $45/month bundle with 5G home internet and Netgear’s landmark FCC cybersecurity approval. Carly Noblock, a residential technology designer, shares insights on transforming homes into intelligent ecosystems through smart lighting, robust networks, and simple automations. The final segment emphasizes digital etiquette, advocating for clear identifiers in calls to combat AI voice scams, and promotes privacy tools like Mozilla Thunderbird and Windscribe. The episode closes with a powerful mental health message, underscoring the importance of human connection and support in an increasingly digital world.