Story by Kazim Alvi

USB drives remain a popular storage option, and it's largely because they are cost-effective and compact. There's also a major downside: USB flash drives typically last less than HDDs and SSDs. So naturally, the moment something feels off, many users simply copy the data, delete it from the USB drive, and throw the drive away. However, this is a risky approach, since it's possible to recover deleted files from a flash drive, or any other drive for that matter.

That's because when you delete the data, it's not actually wiped from the drive, but simply no longer referenced. The system basically marks that part of the drive as available for new data, but unless new files are written to it, the data is not completely wiped. While you, or the operating system can't see it, the data is still there, and a third-party tool can recover it. 

This means you should take additional measures before tossing a flash drive, even after you have deleted the files or performed a quick format. There are a few options, ranging from full format and data overwriting, to physically destroying the USB drive, with the latter being the most effective. In the end, it comes down to your plans with the old USB drive, whether you are giving it to someone or getting rid of it for good.

Wiping and overwriting can protect your data

Formatting the drive is an easy way to delete its contents, but the type of format you choose is just as important. On Windows PCs, a quick format isn't the right choice when you are discarding the USB drive, because it only deletes the index. Instead, what you actually need is a full format. It takes a lot longer because the full format goes a few steps further, checking the drive for bad sectors and writing zeroes to the drive. There's still the possibility that some advanced data recovery software could retrieve the files, but it's extremely unlikely. To perform a full format in Windows, open File Explorer, right-click on the USB drive, select "Format," uncheck "Quick Format," click "Start," and confirm the change. On macOS, open Disk Utility, select your USB drive from the list, and click on "Erase." If you see "Security Options," click on it, drag the slider to the extreme right, and then proceed with the format. This essentially writes over the data multiple times, minimizing the chances of recovery. However, the option isn't available for all drives.

Another effective, and perhaps simpler option is to use a dedicated drive formatting program. They are available for both Windows and macOS, just keep in mind that you should select a software that explicitly supports flash drives. This is important, because flash drives and HDDs store data differently, and using software designed for HDDs may not necessarily work with flash drives.

Destroying the USB drive is the safest option

If there's sensitive data on the drive, whether presently or in the recent past, the safest option is to physically destroy it. Of course, the approach is only feasible if you are tossing the USB flash drive and not handing it over to someone else. But this is, by far, the only way to ensure that your data cannot be recovered.

Keep in mind that simply smashing the casing or USB connector won't do much good, because the data is stored on small memory chips embedded into the circuit board — you will need to remove the casing and specifically damage that small chip. While doing so, you must exercise caution as fragments can fly off, causing injuries. Also, if you have a drill, you could drill a hole in the memory chip. After you have destroyed the flash drive, make sure to safely dispose of it.

That said, it's important to understand when each measure may be viable. If the flash drive only had non-critical data, a full format may be enough for most users. But if the flash drive stored critical or personal files for years, physical destruction makes the most sense.

If you or a loved one ever falls victim to an impostor scam, here are the immediate steps to take.

• Contact your financial institution. Call the fraud department directly using the number printed on your physical card, or look it up online. However, even then, you have to be careful not to land on a fake page. Freeze all compromised accounts. Ask for new account numbers.
• Change your passwords: Update your credentials for online banking, email and primary accounts. Enable Two-Factor Authentication using an authenticator app.
• Disconnect remote access: If you allowed someone to access your computer or tablet, turn off your WiFi connection immediately, uninstall the software, and have a professional inspect the device for hidden malware.
• Don’t answer calls you don’t recognize.
• Report the crime. You might feel ashamed or embarrassed, but still come forward and file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.
• Contact local police and the DMV. Provide details of the scam and specify what information you provided, such as a copy of your driver’s license. Keep a copy of the police report number; state agencies and banks often request it. If your license information has been compromised, contact your state’s motor vehicle department.
• Freeze your credit file. Place a “security freeze,” also called a “credit freeze,” with all three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. This blocks lenders from pulling your credit report, effectively stopping scammers from opening new credit cards, auto loans or personal loans in your name.
• Monitor your credit history: Regularly check your credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com. You can do this once a week.

More autos hit with 'park outside' recall

Already 2026 has hit the second-largest number of vehicles with an NHTSA "park outside" safety recall. 2023 was a standout because of two recalls of 3.35 million Hyundais and Kias.  Click the Park Outside link for the HTSA.gov recalls website and check your vehicle for recalls.

An estimated 3.2 million vehicles nationwide currently have an outstanding “park outside” recall, according to vehicle history provider Carfax, which described the surging numbers as “concerning.” The recalls also create new headaches for drivers, who suddenly wonder where it is safe to park their vehicles.

Standard safety recalls, which still make up the vast majority of formal notices, are usually thought of as being dangers tied to driving — brakes failing or air bags exploding.  But the risks covered by park-outside recalls don’t stop when the car is off.  They can pop up anytime. That makes them a distinctive danger, experts said. “It can be a giant disaster when cars catch fire and no one is there to see it,” said Michael Brooks, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety.

The rise in park-outside recalls is being driven by the growing number of electronics and batteries packed into modern vehicles, involving ordinary wiring, seat motors, starter relays, high-voltage batteries and more, according to experts.  “The engine is off, but the circuits are still hot, and they stay hot all the time.,”  “There is a lot more electronics in vehicles today, and that means more stuff can go wrong.”

Kane said vehicles today also run hotter and have more components packed tightly under the hood, providing more opportunities for fires to start. “If something goes wrong, even if you park the car, the temperatures stay higher for longer than they used to,” he said.

This summer has been with flooded with park-outside recalls compared with previous years. Eight campaigns were announced in June and July alone, such as when NHTSA issued a notice, “Urgent Park Outside Warning Issued for 1 Million Jeeps,” blaming an electrical connection issue tied to power-steering pumps.

In the first seven months of 2026, there were 17 park-outside campaigns covering about 1.7 million vehicles, making this year among the busiest since NHTSA first created the park-outside designation more than a decade ago.

Netflix isn't just a destination for those who want some relaxing entertainment. In fact, it can also be used to get in shape, shed some pounds, and become a healthier person.

The streaming giant announced a collaboration with Nike Training Club back in 2023 that has subsequently seen both companies work together to produce a variety of fitness videos available to subscribers at no extra cost. Search for: Headspace Guide to Meditation, Headspace Mindfulness Manual, Guide to Sleep, and Women's Health - Strong Like in the search bar.

Strong Like includes classes available in a wide range of "workouts for all fitness levels and interests."

More than HALF of Americans watch TV with subtitles on, and the top reason isn’t hearing loss. It’s the audio: muddled mixes, thin-TV speakers that fire at the wall and streaming compression. Your gorgeous 4K screen ships with the sound your 1998 tube TV would laugh at.

Sound familiar? You’re in the majority. And no, it’s not your ears.

Blame your beautiful TV. As screens got thin, the speakers shrank into slivers that fire at the wall, not at you. Movies get mixed for theaters with dozens of speakers, then squeezed into your flat slab. Streaming compresses the audio again for good measure. Add today’s mumble-first acting style, and you’ve got crystal-clear pictures with mud for sound.

The studios broke it. You get to fix it.

Takes only 2 minutes

Dig into your TV’s sound settings:

• Dialogue mode. Samsung calls it Amplify or Clear Voice, LG has Clear Voice Pro, Sony has Voice Zoom. Different names, same job: Push voices forward.
• Kill the fake surround. Those “virtual 3D” modes smear dialogue everywhere. Off.
• Night mode is secretly great. It squashes the gap between whispers and explosions. Exactly your problem.

Now fix the apps

• Netflix: While a show plays, open the Audio & Subtitles menu and pick English - Stereo instead of 5.1. Stereo mixes are built for TV speakers.
• Prime Video: Amazon hid a gem called Dialogue Boost. It only works on their original shows and movies, like The Boys, Fallout and Jack Ryan. While a program plays, open the Audio menu and pick English Dialogue Boost: Medium or High. AI lifts voices out of the mix.

Meta recently launched Facebook Verified, a free “real human” badge you get by taking a video selfie. Their facial recognition matches that selfie against the photos on your profile. The badge shows up in Marketplace, Groups and Dating.

Here’s the part that matters. Once your face becomes proof of identity, a leak gets personal fast. The selfie isn’t stored as a cute photo. It becomes a face template, a mathematical map of your specific geometry. The same biometric data could be used to impersonate you, match you across accounts or fool systems that use your face to approve access.

You can change a password. You can freeze a credit card. You can’t cancel a face.

Before you tap verify

Open Settings & Privacy > Face Recognition > check whether verification is already switched on. New accounts often are.

If you do verify, don’t use a photo that also lives on your banking or work profiles. That’s how faces get cross-matched.

Amazon quietly runs five separate discount sections (Resale, Outlet, Haul, Renewed and a coupon page) with markdowns up to 70%. Resale, Outlet and Renewed, search “Haul” in the app and use the &pct-off URL trick. Steps below. None get home page billing, because full price pays the bills.  

Amazon Resale: The original secret.  Click here to start.

Formerly Amazon Warehouse, this is where returned and open-box items land after inspection, at 30% to 70% off. Every item wears a condition label, from “Like New” (packaging’s rough, product’s perfect) down to “Acceptable” (works fine, looks like it’s been through something).  You still get the 30-day return window, and most items ship Prime. Already eyeing something? Scroll down the product page to “Other Sellers,” and check for a used option at a lower price. 

Amazon Outlet: Brand-new, overstocked  amazon.com/Outlet

Nothing used here. This is overstock and seasonal clearance from big-name brands, typically 30% to 70% off. 

Amazon Haul: The alternative to Temu Go to amazon.com/haul/store.

Amazon’s everything-under-$20 store, built to beat the ultra-cheap apps at their own game, without the sketchy shipping wait. Search “Haul” in the Amazon app. Quality varies, so read reviews, but for phone cases, cables and party stuff? 

Amazon Renewed: Refurbished  Check them out here

Professionally inspected refurbs (think iPads, Dysons, laptops) backed by the Renewed Guarantee: 90 days to get a replacement or refund if it’s not right.

The coupon page nobody clicks “Amazon coupons”

Search for digital clip-on coupons that stack with sale prices. Run any Amazon search, then add &pct-off=50- to the end of the web address. Boom, only items 50% off or more. Change the number to taste.

• Scammers are impersonating the FBI to target people who already lost money to fraud once.
• They use AI-generated videos of real FBI officials, fake agent profiles and copycat versions of ic3⁠.gov (Internet Crime Complaint Center) to look legitimate.
• If you or someone you love has ever reported a scam or lost money to one, you’re exactly who they’re looking for.

This is alarming. Scammers are impersonating the FBI itself, specifically the people who handle Internet Crime Complaint Center reports. And they hunt one group above all others: Americans who already lost money to a scam.

The pitch sounds like mercy: We recovered your funds. We can help you file to get them back. Simply cover the fee.

Why it looks so real

The bureau updated this alert, and the upgrade is the ugly part. Criminals run AI-generated videos of senior FBI officials. They build social media profiles for agents who never existed. They stand up copycat sites that mimic the complaint center’s hub at ic3⁠.gov, issue official-looking case reference numbers and move it all to Telegram.

A security firm spotted one Facebook page calling itself “Ic3 Scam Recovery Inc.,” complete with invented testimonials promising a professional case assessment.

Here’s how they find you. They read the public posts. Somebody vents in a Facebook group about losing eight grand, and within a day, a polite stranger slides into their direct messages.

The numbers explain the effort. The IC3 logged more than a million complaints in 2025 with losses topping nearly $21 billion, a 26% jump in a single year. Americans 60 and older absorbed more than $7.7 billion of that. Government impersonation alone drew over 32,400 reports and nearly $800 million in losses.

Burn these four rules into your brain

One. The IC3 has no social media presence. None. Any Facebook page, X account or Instagram profile claiming to be IC3 is fake, full stop.

Two. The FBI will not call, email or text you offering to recover your money. That call is a scam.

Three. Type ic3⁠⁠.gov into the address bar yourself. Skip the search results, especially the sponsored ones. Confirm the address ends in .gov before you type a single detail.

Four. Nobody legitimately charges you a fee to get your own money back. The second somebody mentions crypto, gift cards or a wire transfer, hang up.

If this has already happened to you or someone you love, report it at ic3.gov. And for people 60 or older, the Justice Department runs an Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-372-8311, staffed by real people who walk you through the filing.

Getting scammed is not a character flaw. Professionals did this to you, and they do it all day. The only shame in this story belongs to them.

Text-to-911 in AZ

Text-to-911 service is available in every Arizona county, including Maricopa County. Arizona Department of Public Safety+1.

How to use Text-to-911 in Gilbert

• During an emergency, open a new text message in your phone’s  messaging app.

• Enter “911” as the recipient.

• Type your message clearly stating the nature of the emergency and your exact location.

• Send the message.

Text-to-911 is intended for emergencies only, such as when you cannot make a voice call (e.g., due to speech disability, danger, or being unable to speak) 

Important tips

• Voice calls are preferred if possible, as they allow faster information gathering 

• Include your exact location — texting does not automatically send your GPS to 911 

• Use plain English, avoid abbreviations or emojis, and keep messages concise 

• No multimedia (photos, videos) is supported — only text is allowed 

• Ensure your phone has an active text plan; Text-to-911 may not work without service 

• Response time can be slower than voice calls, so be prepared for delays 

Non-emergency contact

For non-emergency police matters, use Gilbert PD’s non-emergency number: (480) 503‑6500. 

WOW! One photo of your grandkid’s pencil drawing becomes a 10-page illustrated storybook, with the art drawn in your grandkid’s own style, and it reads itself aloud. Free, about two minutes, no design skills required.

The Short Version: Snap a photo, open Gemini's Storybook tool, paste one prompt, then print the PDF. Steps below.

Google’s free, truly amazing Storybook tool inside Gemini takes one photo of a pencil drawing, then writes and illustrates a 10-page picture book around it. It even reads the story aloud. Total time: about two minutes. The look on your grandkid’s face: permanent.

 How to do it

1. Snap a clear photo of the drawing in good light, one masterpiece per photo.
2. Go to gemini.google.com/gem/storybook, or open the Gemini app and pick Storybook under Gems.
3. Upload the photo and paste this prompt: “This is my grandkid’s drawing. She’s 7. Write a creative storybook that brings her drawing to life, and illustrate it in the style of her drawing.” That first part is Google’s own suggested prompt. The style request at the end is my twist, so the book looks like HER book, not a stock cartoon.
4. Give it a minute or two. Out comes a 10-page book with art on every page and a Listen button that narrates it. You can even change the reader’s voice.
5. Tap Share, then Print and save it as a PDF. Print it at home, or upload that PDF to a photo-book site and turn it into a hardcover keepsake. If your printer jams halfway through, relax. Every good story needs a little conflict.

Make it theirs: Ask the tool to use your grandkid’s name as the hero, the family dog as the sidekick or a lesson baked in (“trying new foods,” “being brave at the dentist”). Want a different look? Storybook does comic book, claymation, crochet, even a coloring-book version the artists can fill in themselves.

 Rather use ChatGPT?

Upload the drawing photo and paste: “Write a 10-page illustrated children’s storybook starring this character. Keep the drawing’s exact look, one picture per page, then make it a printable PDF.” You get the pages and the file, ready to print.

Two FYIs. Gemini’s Storybook requires an adult account, so this is a do-it-together project with you at the wheel. And read the book once before bedtime. AI still improvises, and you want to see the plot twist before your 6-year-old does.

Tuck the original drawing inside the back cover of the printed book, with the date on it. Twenty years from now, that’s not a book. That’s a time machine.