KMUD - Tech Mud

A ransomware gang haunts a Northern California city hall, hackers talk to kids through baby monitors, and a lightning round of scary tech stories: hijacked robot vacuums, AI voice-clone scams, a spy chip in crypto wallets, and a zombie virus thawing out of the permafrost. Plus survival tips to keep your own doors locked.

Will AI wipe out humanity before the end of the decade? This week, we dive into the world of technology - the good, the bad, and the downright paranoid. We explore the terrifyingly plausible ways artificial intelligence could end us, from hyper-efficient resource optimization to global infrastructure collapse.

This month Garth and Rick talk local internet headaches when your fiber goes dark and nobody has answers, the showdown between Anthropic and OpenAI over Pentagon AI contracts and who gets to decide when machines pull the trigger, why AI hallucinations should keep you skeptical no matter how smart the response sounds, surveillance creep from hacked traffic cams to your car's tire pressure sensors, rising component costs and supply chain trouble that isn't going away anytime soon, and a book recommendation on how Apple helped fast-track China's manufacturing revolution.

In this episode of Tech Mud, Garth and Rick focus on digital privacy in 2026 and how surveillance tech, AI systems, traffic cameras, and everyday apps are collecting more data than most people realize. The discussion is shaped by live caller questions about monitoring, data tracking, and practical ways to protect personal information. As always, it is a grounded look at the good, the bad, and the downright paranoid of technology.

In this episode of Tech Mud, Garth and Rick dig into real-world tech topics shaped by listener call-ins, including questions about security cameras, traffic monitoring, and how surveillance tech is increasingly showing up in everyday life. They also reflect on where AI landed in 2025, what proved useful, and what didn’t. From privacy concerns to practical tech decisions, the conversation stays grounded, local, and focused on how technology actually affects people day to day.

In this episode of Tech Mud, Garth and Rick look back at the AI landscape of 2025, what actually mattered, and what turned out to be hype. Along the way, they dig into real-world tech issues, cybersecurity concerns, and everyday device headaches, while taking live calls and listener questions. As always, it’s an honest look at the good, the bad, and the downright paranoid of technology.

Garth & Rick discuss the pros and cons of Linux, including how it can revive old hardware and keep it out of the e-waste pile. They also dive into what we can look forward to—or fear—in the tech world under the new presidential administration.

Big local news: Garberville and Redway are officially getting fiber-to-the-home! It’s not just a rumor—high-speed internet is coming.

Plus, we explore emerging technology trends, cybersecurity concerns, and digital privacy issues.

Tune in for insights, debates, and live tech Q&A from the KMUD audience!

Garth and Rick briefly attempt to discuss CES before diving into the massive amount of fake AI-generated videos and photos circulating online about the SoCal fires. They also explore corporate news stories and how they often appear identical. Throughout the show, they take calls to answer listener questions and debate conspiracy theories, such as lasers from space.

Tech News for the last 30 days and last minutes gifts for Christmas shopping with shipping deadlines and some item suggestions.

Join Garth and Rick on Tech Mud as they explore the latest in technology and its effects on our daily lives. In this episode:

Local Business Faces a $70K Scam Attempt – Learn how a Humboldt business narrowly avoided disaster and what you can do to protect yourself.
What Router Should You Buy? Undersea Cable Cut Controversy – The latest on accusations against a Chinese ship allegedly responsible for severing critical undersea communications cables. Big Tech Goes Nuclear – Discover why major tech companies are turning to nuclear power to meet the rising energy demands of AI.