However, if you want to try one of the AI-assisted Legal Decoders, the one that seems to be most highly rated (and again we did not test it) is called Legalese Decoder: https://topapps.ai/ai-apps/legalese-decoder/.

 

This free web app allows you to upload and translate legal documents into simpler English. It uses AI and machine learning to analyze the text and provide a clearer and simpler interpretation. It has a free version but the free version has limitations (e.g., page upload limits), but it can be a good starting point for shorter documents. Again we remind you that we have not tested it.

 

While this free tool can be helpful for general understanding, it may not capture every nuance of a complex legal document. So again, to be safe, and to keep us out of trouble :-) ...  it's best to consult an attorney who can provide you with professional advice.

We hope this helps you, Kat.

Storage Sense – Another Way to Clean Up Windows
Windows 10 & Windows 11

There are dozens of programs that you can download to clean up your Windows computer.  Windows even comes with Disk Cleanup which was supposed to be deprecated by Microsoft some time ago but wasn’t – at least not yet. Of course, then there are PrivaZer and BleachBit, as well as the popular (but not popular with us), CCleaner.

Somewhere, along the way, Windows Storage Sense has been forgotten. So, we’re going to revisit Storage Sense for Windows 10 today.  We’re also going to introduce you to the streamlined Storage Sense in Windows 11.

Windows 10 Storage Sense

Right-click the Start button and choose Settings. In Settings choose System > Storage.

If you have not done so already, turn on Storage Sense by sliding the switch to the “On” position.

If you want to run a quick cleanup, click “Configure Storage Sense or run it now”.

Under “Temporary Files” make sure you check the selection box next to “Delete temporary files my apps aren’t using”. And then check to make sure you have “Never” selected under “Delete files in my downloads folder if they haven’t been open for more than:”. You can easily clean up your Downloads folder manually.

Next, under “Free up space now”, click the “Clean now” button.

That’s all there to using Storage Sense to do a basic cleanup. If you’re an advanced user and like to tinker with settings, you can fine-tune Storage Sense and customize it to your liking.

Windows 11 Storage Sense 

Click the Start button and choose Settings from the Start menu. Then click on System > Storage. Yep! Just like Windows 10.

When Storage opens, click on “Storage Sense”…

You can see in an instant how much free space you have and how much space you’ve used.

In the System > Storage > Storage Sense section, turn the switch to the “On” position under “Automatic user content cleanup”. If you want to see more categories, to get a better idea of where your space is being used and what can be cleaned up click on “More categories”.

You can set up Storage Sense to clean your computer at intervals from every day, every week, every month, or when disk space gets low. We suggest every week. We left all the other options set at “Default”. Unless you have some reason not to use the Default settings, we suggest you leave yours set at default too.

Windows lets you know which files are safe to clean.

You don’t need any third-party clean-up programs to keep your Windows 10 or 11 computer clean. You can set up Windows Storage Sense to clean up your Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC. 

AI Voice Cloning, Real Trouble: How Scammers Can Mimic Anyone’s Voice to Steal Your Money
A tip for everyone

Imagine getting a call that sounded exactly like a friend or family member but it isn’t… it’s a scammer trying to steal your money or your personal information.

Well, there’s a new trick scammers are using to scam people to steal money, personal information, or even damage reputations. Scammers are now using artificial intelligence to clone anyone’s voice. This is called AI voice cloning, and it’s being widely used by scammers and it is very hard to detect.

Here are a couple of news stories to show you just how real the threat of AI voice cloning is…

Gym teacher accused of using AI voice clone to try to get a high school principal fired

A physical education teacher and former athletic director of a Baltimore County high school has been arrested and charged with using an AI voice cloning service to frame the school’s principal.

The Baltimore Banner reports that Baltimore County police believe a recording that circulated on social media in January with purported audio of Pikesville High School principal Eric Eiswert making racist and antisemitic comments was fake...

Read more at The Verge.

Here’s another recent news report that shows how real the threat of scammers using AI voice cloning is.

Sheriff’s Office warns about grandparent scams using voice cloning

TUSCOLA CO., Mich. (WNEM) – The Tuscola County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a recent grandparent scam after a county resident was targeted by one.

In grandparent scams, a scammer calls pretending to be your grandchild, sounding panicked and saying they’re in deep trouble. The sheriff’s office said one situation a scammer might use is saying they got in a car crash and wound up in jail. The scammer will then ask victims to help by sending them money.

The sheriff’s office said there’s been a new evolution to the grandparent scam called voice cloning.

Scammers can use AI (Artificial Intelligence) to clone the voice of a loved one using a short audio clip of their voice, which can be obtained from media posted online, and a voice cloning program. When the scammer calls you, they sound just like your loved one…

Read more here.

OK, now imagine this: Your phone rings. It’s your bank, and the voice on the other end sounds just like the person you usually talk to. They say there’s a problem with your account and need your personal details – like your password or social security number. But it’s not your banker… it’s a scammer using a fake voice to steal your money!

Here’s how AI voice cloning works: Scammers take a recording of someone’s voice, maybe from a voicemail or social media video. Then, using fancy computer stuff, they can make that voice say ANYTHING. It can sound so real, it’s easy to be fooled.

Why should you care? Scammers can use cloned voices to pretend to be anyone you know or trust. They could sound like your boss, your child, your grandchild, or anyone. They can use voice cloning to trick you into giving them money, and personal information, or damage your reputation.

So, what can you do? Be super careful! If someone calls you and asks for personal information, even if they sound familiar, don’t give it out right away. Hang up and tell them you’ll call them back at a number you know is real, like the one on your bank statement, company website, or friends or family members’ numbers you know. The more you know about voice cloning, the harder it will be for scammers to use it.

The good news? Just like with any new tech,  smart people are working on ways to catch fake voices. In the meantime, stay alert and trust your gut! If something doesn’t sound right, it probably isn’t. 

Keep the Candle Burning... Don't Let the Fire Die

He left the candle burning, just as she had asked him to do. Though it had been seven years since she went away, he would light a candle every evening at nightfall. Every night while he tried to sleep through his pain and his loneliness, the candle flickered silently casting dancing shadows upon the walls in the quiet hours.

He lit the candle again, wiped a tear from his cheek, and fell into bed exhausted. Yet he knew that this night, like most other nights, sleep would not come.

He lay awake watching the ballet of shadows – again. Some nights he’d listen to the wind breathing in the boughs of barren branches of the tree she had planted outside their bedroom window - one spring day long ago...

What is Doxxing?

Doxxing is the act of publicly revealing private or identifying information about someone online, typically without their permission. This information can include things like:

Real name
Home address
Work address
Phone number
Email address
Financial information
Social media profiles

Doxxing is often done with malicious intent, such as to harass, intimidate, or humiliate the victim. It can also be used to damage someone's reputation or livelihood.