Kim Komando Daily Tech Update Why every family needs a code word
Nov 7, 2025
AI voice cloning is becoming a real threat, with scammers impersonating loved ones to solicit money urgently. Every family should adopt a secret code word to thwart these deepfake calls. Plus, discover the risks of home title theft and how it can drain your equity. Learn about online privacy protection with tools like ExpressVPN. Kim also shares a bizarre tale of a pet causing a fire and discusses the challenges of kids using wearable tech. Lastly, she emphasizes the importance of recording vital calls for future reference.
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Set A Family Code Word Now
- Choose a family code word this weekend that only close relatives know.
- Use it to verify urgent calls asking for money to defeat AI voice cloning scams.
How Scammers Clone Voices
- Deepfake phone scams now use cheap software that convincingly mimics loved ones' voices.
- Scammers harvest voice samples from social media like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
Dog Sparks Fire Caught By Alarm
- David Sassner received a SimpliSafe alert showing his dog had started a fire by chewing a lithium-battery device.
- The fire burned the rug but the dog was fine and the alert likely prevented worse damage.