I can’t leave you out, Android pals: Scan with Google Drive. Hit the plus sign in the bottom right > Scan. Follow the on-screen instructions, then save it to your account. So easy.
Genius tech life hacks no one tells you — until now
You know you must reset your phone when you sell or get rid of it, but what about your printer?
No joke, your home office powerhouse stores more than you realize and can be dangerous in the wrong hands. It’s easy to wipe it, though. Check out No. 4 here.
Then, there are the tech tips that make you feel like a real power user. Here’s a Google Drive trick I use almost every workday.
You’re giving away too much for grocery deals
Each swipe of your loyalty card, keypad entry of your phone number or submission of your email address tells the store everything you bought, when you bought it, in what quantity and at what price, along with your payment details.
And guess what? All that info goes to third parties they share the data with. Try one of these methods instead:
- Use your office phone number as your loyalty number. If the store needs an email address, give a disposable one.
- Look for stores that don’t require loyalty programs for discounts, like Trader Joe’s, Walmart and Target.
- Most grocery stores have a coupon section on their website where you can print, snip and hand in paper coupons.
- Whatever you do, never give your Social Security number or driver’s license number.
- Ask for the discount anyway. Cashiers usually have a code to charge the digital price without belonging to their loyalty program.
- If all else fails, smile politely and ask the person behind you, “Hey, mind if I use your card?”
Smart news go-around
Have a friend who shares articles from Apple News or another aggregator? Sometimes, you can’t open them or get a paywall from Apple.
Here’s a workaround: Do a Google search for the title. You’ll almost always find it free to read on the original site.
Tech you can’t toss in the trash
There are certain tech items you can’t put in your recycle bin or trash can. Doing so is illegal in some places. Here are the proper ways to handle them:
Simple guide to managing your Android device storage like a pro
Want more out of your Android phone? We all do. Thankfully, Android is very versatile and accessible. But what if your device is running out of storage and downloading apps isn’t an option?
Here’s a quick guide to managing (and understanding) your device storage.
Taylor Swift’s new album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” was leaked to Google Drive two days early. Swifties were quick to call it an AI deepfake (paywall link). Surprise, the leak was real. Swifties did get a consolation prize: 15 additional songs. Share this with your favorite Swiftie.
3 smartphone tech tips everyone over 50 must know
Embracing the digital age can improve your life, both personally and professionally. But it can be hard to keep up with the crowd if you didn’t grow up with high-tech gadgets like smartphones or tablets. That’s why we’re sharing a few tech skills all folks over 50 should know.
The safe way to save your tax files from years past (do this now!)
We’re down to the eleventh hour: Tax Day is coming up on April 18. If you’re one of the millions of Americans filing electronically, watch out! A popular e-file tax site was caught spreading malware for weeks. Here’s what you need to know.
Copycat: Before you share a file in Google Drive, make a copy. Hit File > Make a copy, then rename it and share that. If you don’t, anyone with access to the original doc can review all your edits, changes and versions.
5 things you’re paying for that you can get free from Google
If your company uses Google, you’re probably looking at Docs, Sheets, Calendar and more on a daily basis. Did you know you could easily open new Google files from within your browser? Here are the shortcuts you’ll wish you knew sooner.
The real way Facebook knows so much about you (and how to stop it)
Is Facebook always listening? The truth is, it doesn’t need to.
Big Tech companies have far easier ways of gathering information on you. Take Google. If you use Gmail, Google Drive, YouTube, Google Podcasts, and an Android phone, think about every bit of information you willingly pass along. Tap or click to erase what Google knows about you.
Do this now with your Amazon storage so you don't lose everything
Next year, the Amazon Drive shutdown could wipe away your photos, files and other important documents. On the bright side, Amazon Prime users have time to take action. The company will permanently stop supporting Amazon Drive on Dec. 31, 2023.
Data-hungry apps: These are the worst for your privacy
Big Tech is always after your data, and that’s especially bad when it affects national security. TikTok has been accused of spying and sending U.S. data to China. Tap or click here to keep your info safe.
Facebook, Instagram, PayPal, YouTube, eBay, Google, and TikTok. These are some of the biggest names in tech, with billions of active users worldwide. You likely have accounts with some or all of these companies. Did you read the fine print before agreeing to their privacy policies? Most people don’t.
Google trick: Shortcuts to quickly open Docs, Sheets and your calendar
Most everyone knows some basic keyboard shortcuts. Ctrl + C for copy, Ctrl + V for paste, Alt + F4 to close an application or other active item and the infamous Ctrl + Alt + Delete for when things aren’t going so well.
Have a Google account you created years ago? Do this or it could disappear
Gmail is the most popular email service globally and has been so for some time. Though Google has been the topic of questionable privacy practices, people still love their Gmail accounts.
Some Gmail users recently received emails from Google saying that their accounts would be marked as inactive. The messages appeared legitimate and their accounts were active, so what was the problem? Tap or click here for our report.
Easily move from iPhone to Android with this new app
Apple and Android fans are as loyal as can be. Once you’ve chosen an operating system, most likely, you’ll stick with it for years. Since you are an Android fan, tap or click here for hidden features you should be using.
It’s tax time – Easy ways to scan without a scanner
Tax season isn’t only when the IRS kicks into high gear. Scammers do, too.
Rumors swirl every time a new rule or regulation rolls out, and you can bet cybercriminals use that confusion to swindle people. Tap or click for a fact check: Do you need to submit a selfie with your taxes this year?
This new warning in Google Drive means a scammer may be after you
Millions of people use Google’s suite of productivity tools. Unfortunately, that makes them big targets for hackers. Earlier this year, criminals used the comments feature in Google Docs to spread malware.
The company is now taking steps to clamp down on files that go against its terms of service. If files are in violation of Google’s terms of service or program policies, they may be restricted.
Google Drive could start blocking files it says are against its terms of service
Google Drive is a cloud-based storage system that lets you store files, which you can access by logging into your account from any phone, tablet or computer. It’s useful for keeping files organized and sharing them with others.
Best ways to organize your cloud storage files
Think back to the days when we had to store everything locally on our computers. Thumb drives and external hard drives helped, but it was cumbersome.
Today, everything syncs right to cloud storage. Is it safe to store personal documents like your ID, financial info, or medical files in the cloud? Tap or click for the answer.
Mozilla just blocked dangerous extensions used by 450K Firefox users
It is hard to imagine a time before internet browsers had extensions. Tap or click here for the 10 best Chrome extensions to use with Google Drive. These powerful add-ons are downloaded and used within the browser and can help with translations, conversions or many other tasks.
Update Chrome to get access to a bunch of time-saving new features
Storing online files and documents in Google Drive is incredibly helpful. Once uploaded, they are safe from accidental deletion, malware infection, or when you might run out of storage space. Tap or click here for nine things you didn’t know your Chromebook could do.