🔋 Battery-saving tip: Background App Refresh lets apps update in the background so they’re always ready when you open them. Handy, right? But it drains your battery and data. If your older phone is chugging, try turning off this feature. On iPhone, go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and switch it off for some apps or completely. On Android, head to Settings > Apps > [app name] > Battery > Background Activity and turn it off for specific apps.
Fitness apps are selling your privacy – how to protect your data
After a busy week, I love a long run or hike to clear my head. MapMyWalk and AllTrails are my go-to apps for tracking steps and finding new spots to hike. Bet you’ve got your favorites, too. And while you’re sweating it out, those apps are soaking up your data.
About 80% of the top fitness apps share your info with third parties. Don’t stress just yet; I’ve done the heavy lifting to keep your privacy safe.
Counting more than your steps
Fitness app makers aren’t helping you get in shape out of the goodness of their hearts. They make money selling your info to advertisers. Some are way more data-hungry than others.
🥇 Fitbit and Strava (tied): They collect nearly twice as much data as most fitness trackers. Fitbit shares your contact info and email usage data with advertisers. Strava gives away your precise location. Say a few days a week you leave your house, hit a nice trail nearby, stop for coffee and walk home. Anyone with access to that data knows exactly where you are. It’s happened to CIA agents, who have tracked down President Biden and others this way.
🥈 Nike Training Club: Coming in at a close second, this app collects all location data within a city block. It also shares details like your race, sexual orientation, disability status, religion and biometric data. Yikes!
🥉 Runna: Like Strava, it shares your precise location and any “user content” like your photos, videos and purchase history.
If an app is free, your data is probably the real price you’re paying. Always dig into how the app makes its money. Usually, I’d rather pay a couple of bucks a month if it means they’re not selling off my data.
Time to check your app permissions
They tell your apps what they can or can’t access. Now, some apps need specific permissions to work correctly, like location info for tracking your run. Beyond the basics, it’s up to you.
- On Android: Head to Settings > Apps, then pick the app you want to change and tap Permissions. You’ll see what the app can access. Toggle off any permissions you don’t want it to have.
Want to do a general sweep? Go to Settings > Apps, hit the gear icon (top left), then tap Configure Apps > App permissions.
How to run a 5-minute privacy check on your phone
We’ve all got a lot of sensitive info on our phones — texts with loved ones, banking details, passwords and family photos. You don’t want anyone snooping around, whether it’s an app maker on the other side of the world or the guy sitting behind you at the coffee shop.
Calling all sports fans: It’s playoff time! Right now, new DraftKings Pick6 customers who play $5 get $50 in Pick6 credits with code KIMK. Play online or download the DraftKings Pick6 app for iPhone or Android. Rooting for you!
Retailers have so many ways to track you – Here’s how to fight back
If you have a pulse and an internet connection, companies want all the details they can get about what you’re willing to buy. Now that your holiday shopping is done, it’s time to take back control.
There’s a bit of work you can do and then to reclaim your privacy, but if you’re looking for a longer-term solution, I’ll share my secret weapon in the fight against tracking.
Tech how-to: Remove duplicate photos and declutter your digital library
If your photo library feels out of control after the holidays, you’re not alone. Between taking multiple shots to get the perfect one and sharing images with friends and family, duplicate photos pile up quickly. Here’s a simple guide to declutter your digital photo collection.
Screenshot with ease: On iPhone, press the side button + volume-up button. On Android, it’s usually the power + volume-down buttons.
✋ One handy tip: Your phone has a one-handed setting built in … good if you have small hands or you’re always multitasking. On Android, go to Settings > System > Gestures > One-handed Mode. To shrink only the keyboard, hit the four-box icon above it and choose One-handed. On iPhone, go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch, and turn on Reachability. Now, hold the globe button below the keyboard, then tap the keyboard icon with an arrow.
Best wildfire app: I’m praying for everyone in California near the wildfires. I went looking for the best source for folks dealing with wildfires and found the nonprofit Watch Duty. I talked with CEO John Mills after reading their story. They’re totally volunteer-run and deliver real-time updates across 13 states. Get their app on iPhone, Android or in your browser.
Calling back a random number? Hide yours first. Punch in star, 6 and 7, followed by the number you’re calling, and that’s it. The caller will see “Private” or “Blocked.” If you want your number hidden all the time, change the settings on your smartphone. On an iPhone, tap Settings > Phone > Show My Caller ID. Toggle it Off. On Android, the option is called Hide Number.
Game changer: Snap a pic with your phone’s camera, and you can copy, search or translate the text. On iPhone: Open the image in Photos. Tap and hold the text and select an option. On Android: Open a pic in Google Photos, then tap on the Lens icon. Select the text, then tap the action you want to take.
Wait, what? You can reread that Android notification you didn’t fully look at the first time. Head to your Settings and tap Notifications > Notification History to view that push alert.
Before you hit the road: Download your directions so you can still navigate if your cell service cuts out. Open the Google Maps app and search for your destination. On Android, swipe up. On iOS, swipe to the end of the options. Tap Download to save an offline map you can access anytime.
Tech tip: Share your ETA on the go
I hate being late. No one wants to leave friends hangry at a restaurant. Here’s a trick I use: Share your ETA right from your map app. It keeps everyone in the loop.
It’s way better than sharing your location 24/7. Imagine if we’d had this tech back in our 20s. Total concert and party game‑changer!
How to install antivirus and scan your computer
If you’re online, you’re at risk, plain and simple. There’s more out there after your info and wallet than you realize, from phishing scams to ransomware and malicious apps to malware.
That’s why it’s critical to protect your personal and business devices correctly. When it comes to your computer, tablet and phone, you need a robust security suite.
🛃 Oman, I Kuwait to Rome around: Download the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Global Entry app for iOS or Android. Snap a selfie while in the security line, and you won’t have to do it at the kiosk when returning to the U.S. The catch: You must be registered with the Global Entry program, which costs $100 for five years.
Mysterious drones over New Jersey: Are they aliens?
The drones hovering over New Jersey fly lower than commercial planes, a few thousand feet up, and produce a slight electric hum. Most are two to three feet long, but some are the size of an SUV.
The internet is bursting with conspiracy theories. Are they military tech? Foreign surveillance? Something not of this world?
🤖 “So, uh, where do I find ChatGPT?” I get that in my email every day. Use it on the web or download it for iPhone or Android. You’ll need to create an account. The free tier works for most people.
It’s Kah-man-do: Tired of Siri butchering names? Just say, “Hey, Siri, that’s not how you pronounce [name].” Siri will ask for the correct pronunciation, and voila — all set. On Android, it’s a bit more complicated but totally doable.
🤖 Team Android: If you have pics like your driver’s license on your phone, set up a locked folder in Google Photos. Open the Google Photos app > Utilities > Set up Locked Folder. Follow the on-screen directions to finish up.