Technology

The CyberGuy Report

Welcome to The CyberGuy Report. I’m Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson, and my new podcast explores the surprising ways technology shapes our everyday lives – from the gadgets we trust to the risks we don’t see coming. Each episode pulls back the curtain on the breakthroughs, stories, and people redefining how we live, work, and stay safe in a digital world.

Latest Episodes:

[Ep. 31] How facial recognition put an innocent grandmother behind bars May 13, 2026

Show notes

A 50-year-old grandmother in Tennessee was babysitting when US Marshals showed up at her door with guns drawn.

The charge: bank fraud in Fargo, North Dakota, more than a thousand miles away, in a state she had never set foot in.

The only evidence? A facial recognition match from Clearview AI, run against photos pulled from social media.

Angela Lipps spent more than five months in jail before her defense attorney, Jay Greenwood, finally got somebody to listen. This is what happens when AI gets treated like proof instead of a clue.

What You Will Learn in This Episode:

- How a single facial recognition match landed an innocent grandmother in jail for over five months

- Why the photos you've posted on social media may already be in a Clearview AI database

- What detectives should have done before issuing an arrest warrant

- How attorney Jay Greenwood proved Angela was a thousand miles away from the crime

- What to say (and not say) if police ever come to your door for something you didn't do

- How to remove your photos from facial recognition databases before this happens to you

- Why this case is a warning for anyone who has ever shared a picture online

- The simple piece of evidence that finally got Angela's case dismissed

Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to https://cyberguy.com/podcast/ to find the show on other platforms. Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.

[Ep. 30] SIM card swap scam: How hackers drain your bank account in minutes May 06, 2026

Show notes

Patricia lost service on her cell phone. The next morning, she was out thousands of dollars. In this episode, we break down a real-life example of how quick and vicious SIM-card swapping scandals can really be.

We walk through:

What SIM swap scams are and how they work
Warning signs to look out for
Why banks and carriers sometimes fail to stop fraud quickly
The timeline of how the money was stolen
What to do immediately if you think you’re being hacked
Practical steps to protect your accounts

This episode is a must-listen for anyone who uses their phone for banking, social media, or authentication codes.

Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to ⁠https://cyberguy.com/podcast/⁠ to find the show on other platforms. Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.

[Ep. 29] Fake phone numbers on Google are scamming people right now Apr 29, 2026

Show notes

Rosette needed to file a travel insurance claim, so she did what anyone would do, she Googled the phone number. Someone picked up immediately, sounded completely professional, and asked for her credit card and date of birth. It wasn't until the pricing felt off and a confirmation email didn't match the official website that she realized she'd been talking to a scammer the entire time. This is called a search result scam, and it's one of the fastest-growing fraud tactics happening right now, and it's hiding at the very top of your Google results.Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to getbeyondconnected.com to find the show on other platforms. Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.

[Ep. 28] Florida man loses $200K in PayPal Scam, then helps police catch scammer Apr 22, 2026

Show notes

An 85-year-old man receives what looks like a harmless PayPal refund email… and within days, he out $200,000. He was ashamed and lost. But instead of staying silent, he worked with the police to set up a sting operation, seeking at least partial justice for his misfortunes.

In this episode, we break down one of the most sophisticated refund scams we’ve seen, how it unfolded step-by-step, and the red flags everyone should know about.

In this episode we discuss:

How a fake PayPal refund email started the scam
The mirrored bank website that made everything look real
How crypto ATMs are often used by scammers
The moment he realized he was being scammed
How scammers isolate victims and create urgency
The police sting operation to catch the scammer
The multi-million dollar scams this trial cracked open
Partial justice – the arrest and 18-year prison sentence
Why victims rarely recover their money
Common scam variations involving warrants and gold
Warning signs everyone should watch for
The red flags and top tips the policeman (whatever his title is) suggests people do in these types of scams (“"Do the research yourself and figure out what that real phone number is"”)

This story is shocking and unfortunately, not at all rare. Just like Brian, at CyberGuy we feel a duty to share these stories far and wide. If we can help even one person recognize the warning signs and cut off a scam at the pass, we’ve done our job.

Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to www.getbeyondconnected.com to find the show on other platforms.

Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.

[Ep. 27] Your TV, doorbell, and car are spying on you... here’s what they know Apr 15, 2026

Show notes

You didn't hand over your life to big tech, but your smart devices did it for you. In this episode, Kurt breaks down the five most alarming privacy clauses buried inside the smart home gadgets most of us already own: your TV, your Ring doorbell, your Amazon Echo, and yes, even your car. The revelations are infuriating — and most of it was turned on by default the moment you plugged in. The good news? Kurt walks you through exactly how to shut every single one of these down, step by step, without getting rid of any of your devices.

What You Will Learn in This Episode:

How your smart TV is watching what you watch and selling it to advertisers in real time
Why your Ring doorbell has built a detailed map of your daily routine — including when you leave for work
What it means that real Amazon employees can listen to recordings from inside your home
How one automaker was logging your vehicle speed 25 times per second — and selling it to your insurance company
Why your Amazon Echo has been saving every conversation you've had since the day you bought it
How to turn off smart TV tracking on Roku and Samsung in under two minutes
The exact steps to lock down your Ring app, delete your Alexa history, and opt out of car data sharing
Why these devices are priced so low — and what you're actually paying with

Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to getbeyondconnected.com to find the show on other platforms.

Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.

[Ep. 26] She drove to the bank with a scammer on the phone… almost lost $15,000 Apr 08, 2026

Show notes

Dorothy Rhode got a text that looked exactly like a legitimate Apple Pay fraud alert. She called the number in the message, and the man who answered already knew her name, her address, and which banks she used.

He told her she'd been targeted by corrupt bank employees, that he was working with the FBI and FDIC, and that she needed to pull $15,000 in cash immediately and tell no one. She got in her car and drove to the bank. What happened next is the reason she's telling this story. Kurt breaks down how this scam works, why even sharp people fall for it, and exactly what to do if it happens to you.

What you will learn in this episode:

How a text message that looks completely real can be the opening move of a $15,000 scam
Why scammers already know your name, address, and bank before they call you — and how to stop that
What to say to a bank teller if you ever feel something's wrong, even mid-transaction
How to set a daily withdrawal limit on your account so scammers can't drain it even if they get in
Why hanging up without saying a word is almost always your best defense
How to filter unknown callers and unknown text senders on your iPhone so scam messages never reach you
Why the "Do Not Call Registry" does nothing — and what actually works instead
What real red flags look like: urgency, secrecy, and any request involving cash

Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to www.getbeyondconnected.com to find the show on other platforms.

Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.

[Ep. 25] Big Tech knows AI isn’t safe for kids, but they’re cashing in anyway Apr 01, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Beyond Connected, we dive deep into the world of AI-powered toys and the risks they pose for children. AI companies insist their chatbots aren’t meant for kids, yet third-party developers are creating toys that put these chatbots directly into the hands of children. RJ Cross, a researcher from the Public Interest Research Group PIRG joins the show to uncover the loopholes, risks, and what parents need to know.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

Why AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini are not designed for children, yet appear in toys.
How third-party developers exploit loopholes to insert AI into toys without proper safeguards.
Real examples of AI toys giving dangerous instructions or engaging in inappropriate conversations.
The lack of transparency around AI models and privacy policies leaves parents in the dark.
How revenue incentives drive companies to allow AI in kids’ toys despite safety risks.
The role of legislators, lobbyists, and potential solutions like citizen tech oversight boards.
Practical takeaways for parents: how to evaluate AI toys, identify risks, and protect children.

Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to www.getbeyondconnected.com to find the show on other platforms.

Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.

[Ep. 24] Text Scams, Deepfakes & Outdated Computers: Your Biggest Cybersecurity Questions Answered Mar 25, 2026

Show notes

Today on Beyond Connected, we’re answering your biggest cybersecurity questions - from suspicious texts to deepfake scams and outdated computers.

Are you unknowingly putting your personal data at risk? Let’s break it all down.

Is this text message a scam? Here’s how to find out.
Is a dedicated financial computer a smart idea? If you do it right, yes!
How do I saved my loved one from a deepfake impersonation or romance scam? This one’s tricky...I’ll walk you through it.
Shouldn’t the FTC help with these impersonation scams? Yes, but it’s not that simple.
How do I know if my computer is too old? I’ve got a nifty list you can reference to find out if your operating system is too old. And if it is, you may be at risk.

Thanks for sending in these fantastic questions! If you have a question about data privacy, technology, cybersecurity, or scams, feel free to leave us a message! Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.

Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to www.getbeyondconnected.com to find the show on other platforms.

[Ep. 23] Police thought she was a porch pirate… Then the Security Camera told the truth Mar 18, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Beyond Connected, we speak with Chrisanna Elser, whose life took a shocking turn when a police officer knocked on her door and accused her of stealing a package from a nearby home.

Lucky for her, she was the perfect person to fight this kind of case. Using footage from her dash cam, surveillance systems, and even her Google Timeline, she quickly assembled the evidence to prove her innocence.

What began as a simple misunderstanding quickly revealed deeper questions about how surveillance technology is used, how much we rely on it, and what happens when the system gets it wrong.

In this episode, we explore

• How license plate reader technology identified the wrong person

• What happened when police refused to review evidence that proved innocence

• How personal technology helped build a defense

• The surprising role of Google Timeline in clearing her name

• Why surveillance tools need guardrails and oversight

• The hidden risks of modern surveillance technology

• What you should do to protect yourself if technology falsely accuses you

Chrisanna’s story raises a powerful question for the digital age.

If technology can be used to accuse you, should you also be using technology to defend yourself?

Watch the full conversation to hear how one woman turned the tables on a false accusation and what we can all learn about privacy, surveillance and digital evidence.

Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to ⁠www.getbeyondconnected.com⁠ to find the show on other platforms.

Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.

[Ep. 22] Donny Osmond performs with his AI younger self in Las Vegas Mar 11, 2026

Show notes

What would it feel like to perform a duet with your 14-year-old self?

In this episode, we sit down with entertainment icon Donny Osmond to talk about the surreal experience of sharing the Las Vegas stage with an AI powered digital version of himself. Using archival photos, voice samples from his teenage years, and next-generation stage technology, Donny is literally performing with his younger self in front of a live audience.

But this conversation goes far beyond nostalgia.

Donny isn’t just embracing new technology, he truly understands it. From AI and digital twins to fan apps and social media strategy, he’s deeply engaged with the tools shaping hte future of entertainment. It’s a fascinating look at how a legendary performer continues to reinvent himself in a world powered by technology.

We dive deep into AI ethics, artist rights, deepfake risks, fan apps, social media, space travel, and what it really means to reinvent yourself in the digital age.

This is a masterclass in staying relevant in a world powered by AI.

If you care about technology, creativity, AI ethics, digital twins, celebrity reinvention, or the future of entertainment, this one is for you.

In this episode, we cover:

• How AI recreated 14-year-old Donny for a live Vegas show

• The technology behind the holobox stage illusion

• The ethics of AI in music and protecting artists

• Whether AI is helping or hurting creative industries

• Launching a dedicated fan app instead of relying only on social media

• Thoughts on space travel and modern tech billionaires

• Favorite gadgets, security upgrades, and smart home privacy

Enjoying the show? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. Head over to www.getbeyondconnected.com to find the show on other platforms.

Have a question for Kurt? Call 877-655-KURT and leave a voicemail.