If police try to get you to unlock your smartphone

October 16, 2024

If police try to get you to unlock your smartphone: Say no. Under the Fourth Amendment, they need a warrant to search it. Once they’re in, they can access your private info and, theoretically, use it to pressure you into a confession. That’s where the Fifth Amendment comes in: The government can’t force self-incrimination. It pays to know your rights.

Tags: Police, privacy, smartphones

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Starlink is powering a new wave of pig-butchering scams

Pig-butchering scams are getting more sophisticated — and more costly — by the day. One report found criminals have swindled an estimated $75 billion from victims. And just recently, a criminal organization in Asia was taken down, adding another $46 million to that tally.

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The best budgeting and finance tools for home and business

The Mint budgeting app has been folded into Credit Karma, owned by Intuit. It’s been around since 2006, so it’s a shame to see it go. Worry not! There are other options out there.

Don’t just blindly choose the first app that pops up when you search for budgeting apps. There are several factors to consider when selecting the one that fits your needs best.

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No more passwords, please: Passkeys are becoming the new standard for Windows 11 security. Instead of typing in a password, you’ll confirm it’s you using another trusted device, like your phone, that has access to your biometric data. Fast, easy and less hackable. I’m in.

1/2 teaspoon

Amount of cinnamon to consume each day to shrink your waist. The changes are small, but, hey, anything that lowers my BMI with basically no work is OK in my book. You can take cinnamon in capsule form, or sprinkle it on your morning oats or in your coffee.

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Hard drive 101: How to buy, store and protect yours

All that drive space that comes with your computer, phone or tablet can quickly fill up, especially if you’re a movie fan, gamer or just have a lot of photos to store. The quick and easy fix? Pick up an external drive.

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Keep it secret: Apple iOS 18 lets you lock any app behind a Face ID test — perfect for keeping friends and family out of your private apps if they grab your phone. Tap and hold on the app icon on your home screen, then choose Require Face ID (or Require Touch ID on older models).

🫧 Don’t burst my bubble: On Android, you can use “Bubbles” to keep a conversation floating on your home screen. Go to Settings > Apps > Messages > Notifications > Additional Settings and look for Bubbles. Now you can customize which convos, if any, pop up.

Money move: Sign up for text and email alerts from your bank. Yes, it’s a bit annoying to approve purchases, but this has notified me a few times someone got their hands on my card. In your banking app, go into Settings and look for Alerts or Notifications. Smart move, for sure.

🔍 Looking for a file? On a PC, hit the Windows key and start typing its name. That’s it. On a Mac, hit Cmd + spacebar and type away. This shortcut saves so much time!

Superior sorting: Gmail on the web auto-sorts your emails into tabs like “Social” and “Promotions.” But what if Google gets it wrong? Drag a message into a different tab, and Gmail will remember your choice for that sender next time. Pro tip: Drag my email into Primary so you always see it front and center!