Monday, November 2, 2026

Hackers heated up Europe's supermarket freezers, the Florida jet crash, and a real Google email hiding a fake bill

Good morning! Here's what you missed this week, in plain English. Grab a coffee. One story is heavy, so we've kept it calm and stuck to what officials have said.

In this issue

A two-door supermarket freezer with a Wi-Fi symbol on top and a red thermometer pointing up. Labels read “Online freezers hacked” and “Food spoiled.”

Hackers Turned Up the Heat on Supermarket Freezers

Hackers warmed up internet-connected supermarket freezers in seven European countries. Stores threw out spoiled food.

Read the story →

A dark flight-tracker screen with a dotted flight path. Labels read “Flight tracking” and “NTSB investigating.”

The Florida Jet Crash: What We Know, and How the Last Minutes Became Public So Fast

All nine people on board died. The pilots' radio calls were online the same day. Those are clues, not answers.

Read the story →

Scam alert

A fake Google bill and a fake prize call

An email with a red “$399” box next to a phone with a red X. Labels read “Looks real,” “Don't call,” and “Go to myaccount.google.com.” — Illustration by What You Missed.

A real Google email with a fake $399 bill inside.

Scammers type a fake $399 McAfee bill and a phone number into a setting on their own Google account. Google then sends a genuine security alert that repeats their words, and they forward it to you. Because it truly comes from Google, it slips past spam filters. They want you to call. Don’t. Experts say your account isn’t hacked. If you’re worried, go to myaccount.google.com yourself, or check your bank statement.

A front door beside a giant prize check with balloons that says “YOU WON!”. Labels read “Fake prize” and “Real prizes are free · Hang up.” — Illustration by What You Missed.

The “you won!” call that ended at her door.

A Florida woman, 75, got a call from “Publishers Clearing House.” She’d won! She just had to mail a $500 gift card. The sheriff’s office says she lost about $25,310 in all. It accuses a 24-year-old flight attendant of using her airline perks to fly in and visit the woman’s home. The real Publishers Clearing House says it will never call you or ask you to pay to claim a prize. Real prizes are free. Hang up. Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Sources: U-M Safe Computing · Augment Intent · Google Help · Flagler County Sheriff · News4JAX · FTC · Publishers Clearing House

That's what you missed. See you next week!