Dating sites that bill themselves as discreet and private have often failed to live up to that promise. Take Ashley Madison for example, a dating website specifically marketed to people seeking extramarital affairs, which suffered a massive data breach in 2015. Hackers leaked the data of 32 million users, including personal information, emails, and financial details, leading to public outrage, lawsuits, and reported suicides.

Now, a dating safety app called Tea has suffered a breach of its own, compromising selfies, photo identification, and images from posts, comments, and direct messages within the app.

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DIOR DATA BREACH EXPOSES US CUSTOMERS’ PERSONAL INFORMATION

What you need to know about the Tea data breach

Tea launched in 2023 as a U.S.-based “dating safety” app for women, requiring verification via selfies and government-issued ID. The ID requirement was phased out later that year. The app gained viral momentum in July 2025, reaching the top of the U.S. App Store and accruing millions of users 

On July 25, users on 4chan discovered a publicly accessible Firebase storage bucket containing data of Tea users (via 404Media). A post reportedly exclaimed: “DRIVERS LICENSES AND FACE PICS! GET THE **** IN HERE BEFORE THEY SHUT IT DOWN!” 

Tea later confirmed that the breach involved unauthorized access to a legacy database containing approximately 72,000 images, including 13,000 selfies and ID photos, and 59,000 images from posts, comments, and messages. These belonged to users who signed up before February 2024.

Tea’s leadership issued public statements confirming the image breach and claimed the data came from older systems not migrated to current secure infrastructure. Tea also stated that no email addresses or phone numbers were exposed and that only legacy users were affected.

New revelations from independent researcher Kasra Rahjerdi and reporting by 404 Media showed that the breach extended far beyond images as approximately 1.1 million direct messages (DMs) spanning from early 2023 through July 2025 were also exposed. These included highly sensitive conversations about abortions, cheating, phone numbers, meeting info, and more.

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In response, Tea disabled its DM system and took the affected messaging system offline. The company announced that it found no evidence of intrusion into other parts of its infrastructure.

CyberGuy reached out to Tea for comment but had not received a response by the time of publication.

Tea app customer notice. (Tea)

Why the Tea app breach is devastating for users

The Tea data breach is a nightmare for all of its users, and it just goes on to show how irresponsible companies are while touting privacy. 

Tea positioned itself as a safe space for women to share intimate experiences and then failed at the single most important promise it made, which is protecting that intimacy.

This wasn’t just usernames or email addresses. We are talking about government IDs, selfies, and 1.1 million private DMs containing confessions, relationship details, and deeply personal topics like assault and abortions. That’s the kind of breach you can’t walk back. Once those images and conversations are out in the wild, they are effectively permanent.

Tea wasn’t a generic social app. It marketed itself as a “dating safety” platform for women, meaning users had a reasonable expectation of higher-than-standard privacy protections. 

These leaks hit a misogynistic forum first. Victims weren’t just exposed, they were immediately subjected to harassment campaigns, doxxing attempts, and having their faces and stories circulated without consent.

A woman using an app on her smartphone. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

6 ways you can protect yourself from Tea data breach

If you’ve ever used Tea or even just signed up, it’s important to take action now. Here are six steps to help protect your privacy and limit the fallout.

1) Sign up for identity theft protection

If your ID was part of the leak, you’re at risk of impersonation, and an identity theft protection service can help you stay safe. These services alert you to suspicious activity like new credit inquiries, account openings, or changes to your financial records, helping you act before the damage spreads.

See my tips and best picks on how to protect yourself from identity theft at Cyberguy.com/IdentityTheft.

2) Use a personal data removal service

Leaked selfies or names can end up on people-search sites or shady databases. A personal data removal service can help you remove all this personal information from the internet. While no service promises to remove all your data from the internet, having a removal service is great if you want to constantly monitor and automate the process of removing your information from hundreds of sites continuously over a longer period of time.

Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com/Delete.

Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: Cyberguy.com/FreeScan. 

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3) Change your passwords and use two-factor authentication (2FA) 

Attackers often cross-reference usernames and reused passwords across the internet, even if your login wasn’t part of the leak. Updating your passwords and enabling two-factor authentication on all accounts is a basic but crucial defense. Consider using a password manager, which securely stores and generates complex passwords, reducing the risk of password reuse. 

Check out the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2025 at Cyberguy.com/Passwords.

4) Be alert to phishing and blackmail attempts and use strong antivirus software

After high-profile leaks, it’s common for victims to receive threatening messages. Don’t respond. Don’t click links. Report the message and block the sender. If you feel unsafe, contact local cybercrime authorities or a digital rights organization.

The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping  your personal information and digital assets safe.

Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at CyberGuy.com/LockUpYourTech.

5) Check where your images are being shared

Use reverse image search tools like Google Images or PimEyes to see if your face has been posted elsewhere. If you find anything, document it. Report it to the platform and avoid engaging directly with whoever shared it. 

6) File a complaint with regulators

If you believe your data was mishandled, you can file a complaint with:

• The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at reportfraud.ftc.gov
• Your state’s attorney general or data protection authority

This adds pressure on the company to take responsibility and may help prevent future misuse of your data.

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Kurt’s key takeaway

It’s an absolute shame that a platform promising privacy and giving women a space to open up didn’t put in the effort to protect the data it was holding. If it were any other kind of app, this could still be contained. But one where people share sensitive information puts users in real danger. We’re already seeing people harass those whose data was leaked, and it will likely get worse from here. 

Do you think apps that handle sensitive data should be held to stricter security standards? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

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Carbon dioxide usually gets blamed for climate change, not praised for solving it. But Google plans to flip the script. The company just announced a partnership with Italian firm Energy Dome to help store clean energy using carbon dioxide in an entirely new way.

This collaboration will deploy long-duration energy storage systems, also known as LDES, at Google’s renewable energy projects across the globe. The idea is simple yet powerful: store extra energy when wind and solar production are high, and release it when the skies darken or the wind dies down.

Most current batteries can only provide about four hours of backup power. That might help during short dips in production, but it fails during overnight outages or cloudy, windless days. Energy Dome offers a better solution.

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STOP GOOGLE FROM FOLLOWING YOUR EVERY MOVE

Energy Dome’s CO2 Battery. (Energy Dome)

Why Google chose the CO2 Battery

Google selected Energy Dome’s CO2 Battery because it provides clean, dispatchable energy for up to 24 hours. Unlike lithium-ion systems, which depend on expensive and often hard-to-source materials, this battery uses off-the-shelf mechanical components and simple physics.

Instead of storing electricity in chemical form, the CO2 Battery stores it by compressing carbon dioxide gas into a liquid. When the power grid needs more electricity, the system heats and expands that liquid CO2 back into a gas. As the gas expands, it spins a turbine, just like steam would, which generates electricity.

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Once the gas cools, the system captures it again in the dome for future use. This closed-loop process repeats as needed, providing an efficient, carbon-free way to smooth out power demand and supply.

Energy Dome has already proven that the technology works. Its first commercial facility in Italy has been operating successfully for over three years. With a 20-megawatt, 200-megawatt-hour capacity, the plant proves that carbon dioxide can play a surprisingly powerful role in making renewable energy more dependable.

How the Energy Dome’s CO2 Battery’s charge and discharge works. (Energy Dome)

A Scalable, reliable way to store clean power

Google’s backing could significantly accelerate the global rollout of this technology. While wind and solar are affordable and widely available, they remain inconsistent by nature. Without storage, their reliability suffers.

Energy Dome’s CO2 Battery helps bridge this gap. It can store renewable energy when production is high and release it when demand peaks. This flexibility supports not just Google’s data centers but entire communities that rely on a stable power grid.

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The battery also offers another key benefit. Its spinning machinery adds natural inertia to the grid. That helps stabilize power flow, which becomes more important as older fossil fuel plants shut down and leave behind fewer tools for grid balancing.

By investing in Energy Dome and planning commercial deployments in regions like North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, Google hopes to meet its goal of operating on 24/7 carbon-free energy by 2030.

Energy Dome’s CO2 Battery. (Energy Dome)

What this means for you

This breakthrough in energy storage will impact far more than Google’s internal operations. As this technology expands, more people could benefit from reliable electricity even when solar panels stop producing or the wind turbines stop turning.

Cleaner and more flexible energy storage also reduces the need for fossil fuel power plants. That shift helps lower emissions and create a more resilient grid for homes, schools, hospitals, and businesses.

The scalability of the CO2 Battery opens the door to broader access. Communities around the world could see improvements in both affordability and energy security as deployment grows.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

Google’s partnership with Energy Dome solves a very current problem. The world needs clean energy that works around the clock, not just when the weather cooperates. Long-duration energy storage delivers that reliability. By storing power in carbon dioxide and releasing it on demand, this new battery model offers a cost-effective, scalable, and sustainable solution. With global investments and commercial projects already underway, the future of clean energy could arrive much sooner than expected.

Would you trust a CO2-powered battery to keep your home’s lights on through the night?  Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

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Checking your drink for drugs no longer needs to feel like a science experiment. Scientists in South Korea have created a new solution, a temporary tattoo sticker that instantly detects tampering. This simple sticker works fast, stays discreet, and offers surprisingly powerful protection. 

At first glance, it looks like ordinary skin art. In reality, it functions as a chemical sensor. The sticker detects GHB (gamma hydroxybutyrate), a drug commonly used to spike drinks. When even a tiny amount of GHB touches the sticker, the design changes from yellow to red within one second. 

This breakthrough gives partygoers, college students, and anyone in social settings a quick and subtle way to stay safe. Best of all, it’s easier to use than any traditional strip, swab, or test card.

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AI MODELS CAN SECRETLY INFECT EACH OTHER

A man and a woman having drinks at a restaurant. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

How the GHB-detecting tattoo sticker works

Using the tattoo is simple. Apply the sticker to your arm, wrist, or hand before heading out. Later, if you’re unsure about your drink, just dip your finger in, then touch that drop to the sticker. A color change to red means the drink contains GHB. Unlike other tests that can take several minutes or require privacy to use, this method is fast and low-profile, perfect for crowded clubs, bars, or house parties.

New tattoo sticker detects GHB in your drink. (Adapted from ACS Sensors 2025, DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.4c03737)

This drug-detecting tattoo sticker works in real life situations

The science behind this sticker is impressive. It’s made from a flexible material called polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), and inside are gels containing a chemical called BHEI. That’s what reacts to GHB and triggers the color change. Researchers tested the stickers on drinks like whiskey, beer, vodka, soju, and even coffee. They still worked after being stretched, twisted, or exposed to water. The detection limit is so sensitive that it can catch as little as 0.01 micrograms of GHB per milliliter.

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Even better? If your sticker changes color, the red result stays visible for up to 30 days after you remove it. That means you could potentially use it as evidence if needed.

The scientists shared these results in a paper published in the journal ACS Sensors.

Illustration of friends having drinks at a bar. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

What this means for you

Heading to a concert, a party, or just grabbing drinks with friends? This tiny sticker puts control in your hands. No lab gear or technical skills are necessary. Plus, there’s no need to explain what you’re doing to strangers. Just take a second to apply the sticker. Because it’s designed to be low-cost and easy to mass-produce, wide availability could be coming soon. 

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Kurt’s key takeaways

Drink spiking is a serious issue that’s hard to see, hard to stop, and hard to prove. But this tattoo-like sensor changes that. It adds a layer of protection that’s quick, subtle, and science-backed. More versions may come in the future to detect other drugs like ketamine or Rohypnol. But even now, this single-sticker solution could help prevent dangerous situations before they start.

Would you trust a tiny sticker on your skin to help keep you safe? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

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If you live near a busy street, this new breakthrough from Switzerland could offer some long-awaited relief. Researchers at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA) have developed an ultra-thin traffic noise absorber that significantly reduces sound levels while occupying just a fraction of the space required by traditional materials.

The new absorber is only about 2.1 inches thick, yet it performs on par with much bulkier products, such as rock wool. Even more impressively, it can be customized to target specific types of noise, making it ideal for a variety of indoor and outdoor settings.

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SUSTAINABLE 3D-PRINTED HOME BIULT PRIMARILY FROM SOIL

Ultra-thin traffic noise absorber. (EMPA)

How the new material works

The innovation lies in the material’s composition: a multi-layered mineral foam made from gypsum or cement. Each layer contains pores of different sizes, designed to force air particles to travel in longer, more winding paths. That extended journey helps dissipate sound waves more efficiently than flat or uniform insulation.

EMPA researchers also use numerical modeling to simulate how sound will move through the material. By adjusting pore sizes, perforation patterns, and layer thickness, they can fine-tune the acoustic performance for a specific space or type of noise. This kind of control makes the absorber suitable for locations ranging from quiet stairwells to bustling office environments.

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Ultra-thin traffic noise absorber. (EMPA)

Real-world test in Zurich

To test the material in a real-world setting, the EMPA team installed a prototype in a driveway in Zurich. They covered roughly 130 square feet of wall space with panels just over 2 inches thick. One end of the driveway opens onto a busy street, while the other leads into a quieter courtyard.

The results were immediate and measurable. Traffic noise dropped by as much as 4 decibels. The sound reduction was most noticeable when cars entered or exited the driveway, since the panels caused the noise to bounce multiple times before reaching the courtyard. For context, a 4-decibel reduction is sufficient to noticeably reduce the irritation caused by street noise, especially in densely populated urban areas.

Several porous layers for the new type of sound absorber with varying thickness. (EMPA)

Built for flexibility, designed for the future

One of the best features of this sound absorber is how little space it requires. Traditional insulation materials tend to eat up valuable inches, limiting where they can be used. This thin, dense material offers more freedom for architects, interior designers, and developers to include noise protection in areas where every inch matters.

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The panels can also withstand outdoor elements. They are weather-resistant, fireproof, and made of recyclable materials, making them both durable and environmentally responsible. Because they do not release harmful particles, they are also safe for indoor use in places like schools, offices, and apartment buildings. 

The catch: Still handmade, for now

While the design and performance are promising, the current production method poses challenges. The panel perforation is still done manually, which makes it time-consuming and difficult to scale. However, EMPA is already working with Swiss manufacturer De Cavis to streamline production and prepare for broader commercial use. Once automated, this material could become a standard feature in construction projects where noise control and space efficiency are both top priorities.

Sound absorbers tested in a driveway in Zurich. (EMPA)

What this means for you

If you’re dealing with constant background noise from traffic, nearby businesses, or shared walls, a product like this could be a game-changer. A thinner absorber means you can finally enjoy peace and quiet without sacrificing living or workspace space.

Whether you’re a homeowner looking to quiet a bedroom wall, a property manager renovating an apartment complex, or an architect designing a new office building, this material opens up possibilities that simply didn’t exist with traditional insulation.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

Noise pollution doesn’t just interrupt your day; it affects your health, mood, and productivity. That’s why a versatile, slim, and powerful sound absorber like this is more than just a material upgrade. It’s a lifestyle upgrade. While it’s not yet widely available, the work being done to bring this technology to market suggests that quieter cities, homes, and workplaces may be within reach much sooner than expected.

If you could cut the traffic noise outside your window in half using panels thinner than a paperback book, would you do it? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

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