Commonwealth Games Opening Weekend Edition
🎙️ Show airs live
Saturday: 10:05am-Noon PT
on C-FAX 1070 in Victoria and
on CKFR AM 1150 in Kelowna
🔁 Rebroadcast
Sunday: 1:05pm-3pm PT
on C-FAX 1070
🎧 Podcast
Anytime
anywhere you get your podcasts
Your crew this weekend:
Cáit Caden
Producer
and C-FAX newscaster
Cait.Caden@bellmedia.ca
1) Offers of cheap 'lifetime' Microsoft Office 2024 licences are not a complete scam, but are misleading
We regularly get asked, are online offers of buy-it-and-you-own it Microsoft 365 licences (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) from what appear to be legitimate sellers, are a good deal, or a scam?
Here's a screenshot of one such offer which listeners including Robert, Jane, and Sam in Saskatoon all sent us, this one from Gamers-Outlet.net in Masachussetts…
It's not technically a scam, but it definitely is misleading:
Gamers Outlet and numerous other online stores are reselling bulk Microsoft Office Pro licences which were originally bought from Microsoft by a corporate client which has since gone broke.
The reseller got them somehow, and because reselling corporate licences was not then explicitly banned as it is now, these shady companies are taking advantage of that loophole…
- It is NOT a lifetime licence — it'll only be good for likely five years. (Office 2021 licences will stop working in October — see item #86 in our Tech Tips notes at Tech-Talk.ca/faq)
- You're getting Office 2024 only, so no OneDrive cloud backup, and no feature updates, just security updates, and the Outlook Mail software is being retired this year and replaced with the free Outlook Mail app.
- You can only install it on one computer.
- You get no support from Microsoft because the support agreement was negotiated separately with the original buyer.
In short, it's on the verge of being piracy, and Microsoft can shut down activation of the licence at any time, so we wouldn't touch it, and instead recommend you use a Microsoft 365 subscription.
If you share a Microsoft 365 Family subscription with multiple people, the $145/year cost works out to less than $25/year per person if you share the licence with five other people!
And each person gets the full Microsoft 365 suite, plus 1TB (1000GB) of OneDrive cloud storage.
2) If you've got a KARR dealer-installed car alarm, patch it ASAP with your iPhone, because it contains a massive flaw
Millions of drivers with a dealer-installed KARR alarm should download the iPhone app and install the latest firmware update now, because a security flaw can let nearby attackers unlock or immobilize more than two million vehicles.
The affected KARR Security System is an aftermarket alarm that dealerships install to protect vehicles on their lots. Dealers often leave the hardware connected after a vehicle is sold, even when the buyer declines to pay for the alarm service.
The vulnerability affects dealer-installed KARR hardware, not the automakers' factory systems. An estimated 2.2 million vehicles in North America are believed to have this vulnerability!
Because KARR is third-party equipment, automakers can't distribute the fix through their usual software update systems. The unusual arrangement places the problem outside the normal vehicle security process.
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego, demonstrated that an attacker within Bluetooth range could lock or unlock a vehicle, disable its alarm, sound its horn, flash its lights or prevent a parked vehicle from starting. (see Video #40, below in these Show Notes)
Acrisure Protection Group, which sells the KARR system, released a firmware update on July 20, but YOU have to install the update; your car dealer cannot do it for you. Owners who don't have the KARR Security app need to download it for iPhone or Android, connect it to the alarm, and select "customer service" followed by "firmware update."
How to check your vehicle
Look for a KARR sticker on the driver-side window, or one reading “SWDS” for SouthWest Dealer Services (an Acrisure subsidiary). Then check the underside of the dashboard for a small button with a blinking light. If you find one, download the KARR app and apply the firmware update—even if you never knowingly signed up for the alarm in the first place.
3) Watch out for fake Spotify 'payment problem' emails
These scam emails, as shown in the screenshot below, claim your last Spotify subscription payment could not be processed, and urge you to tap/click on a button to update your payment info…
This is a standard garden-variety scam: the email is coming from a non-Spotify address (highlighted in yellow), it's not addressed to you, just to 'Hello' (I've blurred our the recipient's email, address in the body), it doesn't even use the correct Spotify logo, and the Update My Account button takes you to a fake Spotify log-in page, in this case, hosted on a garden centre website in Montreal! (update: that web-page has since been taken-down; apparently it was created by an employee who no longer works there who worked on their website.)
NEVER tap/click on buttons or links in emails like this!
If you think there could be a problem with payment for an account, open the app for that service, or go to their website and log into your account and check.
4) Don’t get fooled by TikTok resin art scams
Resin art has become a popular corner of TikTok, with some videos attracting millions of views. But not every glossy, colourful post is what it claims to be. Scammers are using the look of handmade resin art to trick buyers, collectors, and even fellow artists into sending money for work that either doesn’t exist or wasn’t created by the person posting it…
The scam is fairly straightforward. A TikTok account presents itself as a resin artist, posts satisfying videos, and invites people to “DM to order.” In some cases, the videos are stolen from other creators, the account has no real process footage, and the seller disappears after receiving payment.
How to spot a TikTok resin art scam
Check the TikTok account
Before ordering, look for signs that the artist is genuine:
- The account didn’t appear overnight and has a history of original posts.
- The same videos don’t appear under multiple creator names or belong to another artist.
- The creator shows themselves making the artwork, with consistent process videos, a recognizable workspace, and works in progress.
- The videos don’t contain obvious AI artifacts, such as impossible resin effects or objects moving after they’ve supposedly been sealed inside hardened resin.
- Comments raising concerns haven’t been deleted or buried under generic praise.
- The seller isn’t pushing you to order only through direct messages or asking for payment before you’ve verified who they are.
Check the website
If you do click through to a website, spend a few minutes checking it before you buy:
- Look for a genuine returns and refunds policy, a physical business address, company or VAT details (where applicable), and consistent contact information.
- Check how old the website is. Scam sites often use domains that were registered only weeks or months ago, especially when they claim to have been selling handmade products for years.
- Search for recent independent reviews rather than relying on testimonials published on the site itself.
- Run a reverse image search on the product photos to see whether they’ve been copied from another artist.
- Only pay using a method that offers buyer protection, such as a credit card or PayPal. If a seller insists on a bank transfer, cryptocurrency, or another irreversible payment method, walk away.
Not every resin art account is a scam. Many belong to genuine artists, and that’s why impersonation scams can be so convincing.
If you’re unsure, paste the website address into Malwarebytes Scam Guard and ask whether it shows signs of being fraudulent. It can help identify suspiciously new domains and other common scam indicators.
5) Watch out for scammers who are now sometimes making FaceTime calls to steal bank account passwords
A growing scam relies on Apple's popular FaceTime video calling app, with fraudsters using the service to impersonate bank reps and drain consumers' bank accounts.
Victims first receive a text message about account activity related to their bank or credit card, and are asked to call a phone number included in the text. Other times, they receive a direct call from the scammer, who says they require "additional verification."
That's when the fraudster switches from an audio-only call to FaceTime. Victims are tricked into sharing their computer screens with the scammers while they log into their online banking accounts. The scammer watches in real-time while victims expose passwords, account numbers and even one-time security codes.
Apple says scammers are exploiting FaceTime because consumers generally trust the app and view it as a secure platform. But the tech giant urges consumers who believe they're receiving a suspicious FaceTime call from someone posing as a bank representative to take a screenshot of the call. Tap the "info" button next to the call, hit "take live photo," and send the image to ReportFaceTimeFraud@apple.com.
Here are other tips you should heed to avoid falling victim to the FaceTime scam.
- Never share your screen with anyone who calls out of the blue. Apple notes that it will not ask for a customer's password, passcode or two-factor authentication code.
- Urgency is a red flag. Anyone who pressures you to make money moves immediately should be considered suspicious. Hang up and contact your bank at the number on the back of your card.
- If you receive a scammy-seeming text, don't call the number included in the message. To contact your bank, call the number on the back of your bank card.
7) To find out if your anti-malware program is any good, see if it'll catch harmless virus and malware test files from WICAR.org
EICAR — the German-based European Institute for Computer Antivirus Research — is known around the world for having created the EICAR test file, which is a harmless 68-byte string of computer code which is used to test antivirus and antimalware systems.
It's not malware or a virus — it just pretends to be one, so anyone can test to see if their antivirus/antimalware software will block it, as it should.
Because hackers are getting smarter, the EICAR crew have developed a raft of more-sophisticated variants of their test file, to see if those will also be blocked, as they all should be.
We encourage you to go to their test page at WICAR.org and find out!
Tech Deals This Weekend
Freedom Mobile is now offering Back-To-School (BTS) deals to anyone on both service and phones
All of the below plans include unlimited Canada/USA/Mexico calling and data-roaming, unlimited global texting and unlimited Roam Beyond calling 126+ destinations around the world and back to Canada, plus a monthly allotment of Roam Beyond data for use in those countries…
- $35/month: 10GB + 1GB Roam Beyond (unchanged)
- $40/month: 70GB + 1GB Roam Beyond (previously 5GB Roam Beyond)
- BTS – $45/month: 125GB + 5GB Roam Beyond (previously $45/100GB)
- BTS – $50/month: 175GB + 10GB Roam Beyond (previously $50/150GB)
- BTS – $60/month: 250GB + 10GB Roam Beyond (previously $60/200GB)
- BTS – $70/month: 250GB + 20GB Roam Beyond (new)
Bonus this weekend if you ask: get $5/month extraoff any plan of $45/month or more!
As for phone deals, here are some of the best offers:
- Samsung Galaxy S25 FE – $0/month financing with device return on a $60/month plan
- Google Pixel 10 – $1/month financing with device return on a $50/month plan
- Samsung Galaxy A17 5G – $0/mo financing with donthvice return on a $50/month plan
- iPhone 17 – $17/mo financing with device return on a $60/month plan
- iPhone 17e – $11/mo financing with device return on a $60/month plan
- Samsung Galaxy S25 – $10/mo financing with device return on a $50/month plan
Mark your calendars: next Wednesday, July 29, will be the next Seniors Day at London Drugs, with most items 10% off
London Drugs will be having its second Seniors Day this coming Wednesday, July 29, and unlike other chains, almost everything will be 10% off for LD Extras members who have Photo ID confirming they're 55 or older. (If you're not a member of the LD Extras loyaltry program, it's absolutely free to sign up, and you can do that on Seniors Day.)
Gift cards, prescriptions, and lottery tickets are not included, but big-ticket items like computers and TV's are included, so you can save a fair amount!
No strings attached: Gary at Tesseract is giving away a $200 Red Tiger F7NP dashcam kit with 4K front and HD rear cameras…
Just stop-in at Tesseract at 720 Broughton Street in downtown Victoria anytime this coming week and enter the draw! Gary will announce the winner on "Tech Talk" next Saturday, Aug. 1.
Tech News Of The Week
Items start at #10, so the numbers don't get thrown-off if we add more security items above!
Tip: if an item in these Show Notes has the icon on the right in the upper-right corner, you can click/tap on it to make the additional info open in a new tab.
10) Samsung is betting that you'll be willing to pay a lot of money for its new lineup of folding phones
Samsung has unveiled its 7th-generation of foldables: the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold8, and the Galaxy Z Flip8…
The newly-designed Galaxy Z Fold 8 has a unique form factor, boasting a passport-style design that folds open to reveal a Samsung Galaxy Tab-like display. It'll be released here in Canada next Wednesday, July 29 — unlike the Galaxy XR and TriFold, which never made it north of the border.
It'll be powered by a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, and up to 1TB of storage…but all this comes at a hefty price: the Fold 8 starts at $2400 CAD! That's for the 256GB model with 12GB of RAM. If you'd prefer a 512GB model, that'll cost you $280 more, while the 1TB model with 16GB of RAM will set you back $3240!
The larger Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra has a 50MP camera (up from 12MP), a larger battery, faster charging speeds, and a slightly thinner design. It also has a 200MP primary camera, 10MP telephoto and two selfie cameras. The 200MP main camera now has HDR to offer true-to-life images, and the ProVisual Engine should improve processing for Nightography and true skin tone when taking videos. The Ultra costs $300 more than the Fold 8, starting at $2700 CAD with 256GB of storage and 12GB of RAM, and topping-out at $3540 for the 1TB model with 16GB of RAM!
Finally, there's the small new Galaxy Z Flip8, which starts at $1550 CAD. It also uses the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 Elite processor, which should offer a notable power bump over the Flip7 which was powered by a Samsung's own Exynos 2500 processor. There’s also a 50MP primary shooter, a 4,300mAh battery and 12GB of RAM.
There’s also a pretty cool feature called Fan Cam, which allows someone to focus on one person in a video. For instance, you could be at a concert, and the video will focus on the main act instead of everyone in a vertical video. The Flip8 is also available with 512GB of storage, which costs $1830 CAD, an extra $280 to get double the capacity.
11) Apple's foldable iPhone launch in question amid production hiccups
The launch of Apple's first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Ultra, is currently in question due to production hiccups.
Reports indicate that Foxconn, Apple's assembler, is making adjustments to its mass production plans, which could cause delays of up to two months.
The key issues being addressed include the foldable display and hinge.
The foldable iPhone is still, at the very least, expected to be unveiled alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models in September, with a book-style design, an inner display of around 7.7", a 5.5" cover screen, a thickness of roughly 4.5mm, and a starting price above $2800 CAD.
However, whether it'll ship alongside, or trail, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max remains uncertain.
MacRumors
Foldable iPhone Still Faces Production Hurdles, Report Says
Apple's foldable iPhone still faces production hurdles that leave its exact launch timing undecided, according to a new report from DigiTimes, even as Foxconn carries out what supply chain sources describe as "final mass-production adjustments". The report says Apple has assigned Foxconn to lead the device from new product introduction (NPI) through to mass production, citing the assembler's experience with precision structural components and large-scale production tuning.
12) Canada Post has halted parcel delivery to 12 EU countries because of a new €3 fee on parcels that used to be duty-free
Canada Post has suspended parcel service to a dozen European Union countries until further notice, because of new customs rules for low-value shipments.
The affected countries are Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, and Spain.
Canada Post says it'll continue accepting shipments to other EU destinations where Delivered Duties Unpaid — a shopping agreement in which the person buying a product pays the duty — is feasible, such as Poland, Latvia, and Sweden.
The European Union has introduced a €3 customs duty on all parcels imported from outside the bloc that are worth €150 or less, or about $240 CAD.
Such packages used to be duty-free, but the EU says that exemption was "designed for an era of occasional online purchases" that no longer fits reality. Last year, 5.9 billion items came into the EU as low-value packages, which made up 97% of all imported items for the bloc.
The EU says many parcels are undervalued or falsely declared to avoid customs duties, and current rules give non-EU sellers an "unfair advantage" over businesses that manufacture or sell products in the European Union.
The EU says the new €3 customs duty is temporary, as imports will be taxed based on the value, origin, and tariff classification of the product coming in as of July 1, 2028.
The USA made a similar move last August, getting rid of its nearly century-old de minimis exemption that allowed packages under $800 US into the country without extra fees.
13) To see if there's lightning somewhere, use the free My Lightning Tracker & Alerts app
Thursday's lightning storm that passed over Greater Victoria prompted several people to ask which app is best for tracking lightning. There are lots of them, but after checking with friends and weather experts, the answer remains the same as last year: My Lightning Tracker & Alerts by JRustonApps. It's free (with ads) for iPhones, iPads, and Android devices.
The screenshots are from Thursday afternoon's thunderstorm, as it worked its way across the Salish Sea. If you want, you can have the app alert you when lightning is expected near you.
In addition to the free version, you can pay $7 for the ad-free Pro version, which lets you get alerts for any location, and gives you many more alert filtering and notification options. Kyle likes this app so much, he paid the $7 for the ad-free Pro version.
14) Tip: if you find an online recipe you want to keep, use the Just The Recipe app to create a version with no on-screen junk
There are a lot of great recipe sites on the internet — especially if you have allergies or dietary restrictions — but many of them are cluttered with ads and other irrelevant content.
You can now strip out all of that and keep just the recipe, by copying the web-address of any recipe and pasting it into the free Just The Recipe: Cook Smarter app on iPhones, iPads, and Android devices.
On a computer, you can use their website, JustTheRecipe.app…
Here's a screenshot of an example: a New York Cheesecake recipe from OnceUponAChef.com….
…and here's a screenshot of the top half of what it look like when you paste the address into JustTheRecipe.com…
You can save up to 20 recipes for free, or you can save unlimited recipes and print any or all of them, for $2.80/month CAD or $21/year CAD…
15) Tip: You can access the basic abilities of Adobe Photoshop for free online by going to PhotoPea.com
If you need a photo editor that's more powerful than what comes with a Windows or Mac computer, you can now access many of the pro features of Adobe Photoshop for free, using the online photo editor, PhotoPea.com…
It lets you create and open Photoshop .psd files, so you can create or edit a project, including adjusting layers and vector graphics, and much more.
No need to install heavy software on your device. Just open your browser and start editing for free!
16) Samsung has unveiled the dive-focused Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 and GalaxyWatch 9
If you like to scuba-dive and have an Android phone, you'll be interested in Samsung's new Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, which is 10ATM rated, allowing users to dive up to 100m with the watch.
It also has a Diving Standard Certification, making it a perfect watch for diving, with Health Coach training helping you with your diving abilities.
It also tracks Ocean Swimming progress, and has a MIL-STD rating, which should help it avoid being damaged by bumps and dings.
The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 starts at $950 CAD.
If that's overkill for you, Samsung has also released the Galaxy Watch 9 which comes in two sizes: 40mm and 44mm. While it lacks the 10ATM rating, it still has a 5ATM rating, letting you go as deep as 50m. It’s also MIL-STD graded for more protection. It starts at $520 CAD.
17) At last, WhatsApp for iPad can be set up without another device
WhatsApp is making its iPad app work more like a standalone service by letting users create an account without first setting it up on a phone.
Meta is rolling out the change as part of a wider WhatsApp update that also expands CarPlay support, adds basic PDF tools and makes it easier to share music. Direct registration addresses one of the largest limitations of the iPad app since its 2025 launch.
WhatsApp for iPad previously relied on the company's linked-device system, which required users to establish an account elsewhere before connecting the tablet. The new process lets users register, complete setup and begin using WhatsApp directly from the iPad app.
Important: WhatsApp has confirmed that users still need a phone number and the ability to receive a one-time passcode when registering an account on an iPad.
But, after registration, the account works independently on the iPad rather than treating it as a companion device linked to a primary phone, so you could set-up a WhatsApp account for a parent on their iPad if they don't have a smartphone.
WhatsApp.com
New Feature Roundup: Sign up on iPad, WhatsApp in your car, and more
Your most important conversations don't just live on your phone anymore. You're catching up with friends from the couch on your iPad, checking in with family on the drive home, and switching between many different apps to manage your work and day.
18) Freedom Mobile has two new budget prepaid Canada/USA plans that are just $15/month and $25/month
The $15/month prepaid plan gets you unlimited Canada/USA phone calling and texting, while the $25/month prepaid plan gets you that plus 90GB of data to use over the six month duration…
Both plans are prepaid: $90 for the six-month talk-&-text plan, and $150 for the six-month talk/text/data plan.
19) Saying 'Google it' today makes you sound old! Try saying 'Search it up' instead, which is what younger people say
Young people these days — Gen Z and Alpha — aren’t talking about Googling things. They may still be using Google, but they’re not “Googling it.” Instead they’re saying “search it up,” as in: Who is that Norwegian soccer player with the long blond hair? Search it up. The “it” is dropped if you have a direct object, as when you “search up Erling Haaland.”
Here's an excellent New York Times Magazine article on this significant shift by Sophie Haigney…
20) Rogers is once again raising the price of Sportsnet+
Rogers-owned Sportsnet is emailing subscribers outlining the details of hefty price-hikes coming in September.
The email states, “We are committed to bringing you the best live sports streaming experience with the most premium content. To support these continued investments, the Premium annual plan fee for Sportsnet+ will be adjusted to $344.99 plus applicable taxes, starting with your first bill on or after September 22, 2026.”
All available plans are affected by the rate-hikes:
- The Standard plan will increase by $5/month — from $30/month to $35/month (a jump of 17%) — with the Annual plan going from $250/year to $270/year, an 8% hike.
- The Premium plan is going from $43/month to $45/month, and from $3259/year to $345/year.
These price increases should not come as a surprise — Rogers recently signed a $4.35 billion deal to acquire the rest of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE), which would give it ownership of several major sports teams including the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs, the AHL’s Toronto Marlies, the NBA’s Toronto Raptors, MLS’ Toronto FC, and the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts.
22) EU slaps Google with a $1.42 billion CAD antitrust fine
European regulators have fined Google 890 million euros ($1 billion USD/$1.42 billion CAD), alleging the company gives preferential treatment to its own services.
The fine is Google's first under the European Union's sweeping Digital Markets Act which aims to scrutinize Big Tech's operating practices in Europe.
However, the U.S. tech giant and its parent Alphabet are likely to avoid fresh fines as EU regulators lauded good progress in its ongoing efforts to comply with the landmark legislation.
The fines underscored Europe's determination to prevent Big Tech companies from thwarting rivals, defying U.S. criticism and retaliatory tariff threats.
One fine of 460 million euros ($738.5 million CAD) was handed out to Google by the European Commission under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) for favouring its own services in shopping, hotels, transport and sports results in search results.
A second fine of 430 million euros ($689 million CAD) targeted Google's restrictions on its app store Google Play preventing app developers from steering users free of charge to cheaper offers on rival app stores or websites.
25) We've also started compiling a list of our favourite phone apps
The "Our Favourite Apps" list — which will have a lot more added in the coming weeks — is on our home page, and you can also get to it by going to Tech-Talk.ca/apps.
26) Kathryn's Paleontology News Item of the Week: Dinosaur skull found in BC campground belong to T. rex 'great-uncle,'
The remains of a dinosaur skull found at a campground in Tumbler Ridge in northeastern BC nine years ago, belonged to a tyrannosaur that was lighter and faster than its more famous relative, the T. rex, say the authors of a new study.
University of Alberta researchers studied the cast of a partial skull impression that was left about 76 million years ago and discovered it belonged to a horned dinosaur known as Gorgosaurus.
"G'day" from former "Tech Talk" producer Kathryn Abbott, who's moved to Adelaide, South Australia to become a paleontologist! Adelaide is 16.5 hours ahead of us, just coming out of winter.
Suzanne and I and our neighbour Eileen joined thousands of you at Market Square last Sunday to watch Spain beat Argentina 1-0 in stoppage time to win the 2026 World Cup!
Our former homestay student from Spain, Sofía, watched the Final with her dad (and most everyone else!) in the town of Cerceda, near their summer home north of Madrid…
…and finally, our "Sign Of The Week"…
And so it goes…
July 25 & 26, 2026 Show Notes