How to avoid getting sick this summer

PLUS: Ransomware Attacks Are Getting Worse, and more. [View in browser]( | [Your newsletter preferences]( 06.15.24 [SUBSCRIBE TO WIRED]( [FOR UNLIMITED ACCESS TO THESE STORIES]( [100 dollar bill with a pixelated glitch effect]( SECURITY ROUNDUP | 3-MINUTE READ [Ransomware Attacks Are Getting Worse]( BY DELL CAMERON Plus: US lawmakers have nothing to say about an Israeli influence campaign aimed at US voters, a former LA Dodgers owner wants to fix the internet, and more.   [Left to right: Handheld industrial laser, red watergun, and silver dome-shaped air fryer. Background: Woodgrain texture.]( FATHER FIGURE | 3-MINUTE READ [Our 24 Favorite Gifts for Your Dad]( BY MARTIN CIZMAR The best gift idea for your dad is a nicer version of something he already owns. The second best is one of these things. (And it’s not too late to get some of them.)   [Image may contain: Water, Waterfront, Port, Transportation, Vehicle, Watercraft, Boat, Freighter, Ship, Harbor, and Pier]( MURKY WATERS | 5-MINUTE READ [Ukrainian Sailors Are Using Telegram to Avoid Being Tricked Into Smuggling Oil for Russia]( BY NATHANIEL PEUTHERER Contract seafarers in Ukraine are turning to online whisper networks to keep themselves from being hired into Russia’s sanctions-busting shadow fleet.   [Image may contain: Child, Person, Face, Head, Clothing, Coat, Blanket, Pool, Water, Shorts, Beverage, Coffee, and Coffee Cup]( INFECTION CONTROL | 3-MINUTE READ [How to Avoid Getting Sick This Summer]( BY BILL SULLIVAN A microbiologist explains how to not catch summertime germs at the barbecue, in the pool, or on the trail. ADVERTISEMENT   [Model wearing a t-shirt with WIRED logo and a hat that says, “Angry Nerd”]( [Shop WIRED Merch]( [Get bags, bottles, hats, and other swag made with fair labor and ethically sourced materials.]( [SHOP NOW](   [Collection of smart devices including electronic keypad for a door, mobile phone with app, security camera, lightbulb, thermostat, outlet and more.]( NOT SO SMART | 5-MINUTE READ [I’m a New Homeowner, and Here’s How to BYO Smart Home]( BY NENA FARRELL Some houses may come with preinstalled smart devices. These are the products I loved—and the ones I’m replacing.   [Image may contain: Giordano Bruno, Person, Baby, Adult, Art, and Painting]( QUICK STUDY | 4-MINUTE READ [Reduce AI Hallucinations With This Neat Software Trick]( BY REECE ROGERS A buzzy process called retrieval augmented generation, or RAG, is taking hold in Silicon Valley and improving the outputs from large language models. How does it work?   [Two adults and one child looking into the distance in front of a ocean scene]( CULTURE GUIDES | 16-MINUTE READ [The 38 Best Shows on Max (aka HBO Max) Right Now]( BY JENNIFER M. WOOD AND WIRED STAFF House of the Dragon, Ren Faire, and Fantasmas are just a few of the shows you need to be watching on Max this month.   [Long rectangular black speaker on green chrome background]( BUYING GUIDE | 19-MINUTE READ [Your TV Sounds Awful. These Soundbars Can Fix That.]( BY PARKER HALL AND RYAN WANIATA Every television deserves a row of speakers to call its own. These are our favorite soundbars.   [A show still from season 2 of House of the Dragon, where a dragon is roaring in a dark sky.]( THE MONITOR | 3-MINUTE READ [A Blatant Attempt to Generate a House of the Dragon AI Overview]( BY ANGELA WATERCUTTER How many gallons of blood are there in the second season of House of the Dragon? How many wigs? Click here for an overview. ADVERTISEMENT   [WIRED logo image]( Thanks for reading. Was this newsletter forwarded to you? [Sign up here](. Plus, [browse more newsletters]( from WIRED. [(image) WIRED on Facebook]( [(image) WIRED on Twitter]( [(image) WIRED on Instagram]( [(image) WIRED on LinkedIn]( [(image) WIRED on YouTube]( [Podcasts]( [TikTok](   You’re receiving this email because you signed up for the Daily newsletter from WIRED. [Manage your preferences]( | [View our Privacy Policy]( | [Unsubscribe]( Have questions or comments? [Send us a message](mailto:hello@wired.com?subject=Daily newsletter feedback). Need help? [Contact us](. Copyright © Condé Nast 2024. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. All rights reserved.