Call me, maybe: Delete your outgoing voicemail message if it uses your voice and replace it with the default included with your device. Why? Hackers can copy your voice to access protected financial records — or pose as you to rip off your friends and relatives.
Stop annoying political texts
Cyber crooks are hiding behind legitimate-looking political messages to lead you to dangerous websites. I also get into online job scams, five signs your phone might be tapped, and how to rent a pool for your summer vacation.
Hey, Android owners: Google Messages is rolling out a new feature within “Profile sharing” that lets you customize how you’re seen by others you’re messaging. The next time you open the app, follow the prompt or navigate to your avatar menu to adjust your name and photo and how they’re shared. You’ll have three options to choose from: People you message, Only your contacts or No one.
What percentage of Americans admit to routinely spying on their partner’s phone and checking their text messages?
⏩ Smartphone shortcut: Your sister sent you a picture a month ago. You can scroll and scroll to find it or use this trick. On iPhone, open Messages, tap a convo, then tap the person’s profile photo. Scroll to Photos > See All. On Android, open Messages, tap the search bar at the top, then choose the sender from the list of names.
🫧 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.
Double trouble: Scammers are creating copycats of major retail sites and hitting you with “card declined” messages when you try to pay. It’s a trick to get you to enter another card number so you pay twice. The sites are spreading in search results, social media ads and email links. Always check the URL closely, and if your card declines, call your bank first.
Be careful where you vent: Friendly reminder that Google Chat, Microsoft Teams, Slack and other work chats aren’t private. IT or your manager can pop in at any time. Edited messages and deleted convos are stored on servers, too, not truly deleted (paywall link).
Last messages from the Titan submersible: The crew experienced communication issues en route to the Titanic but said things were “all good here.” At about 3,350 meters deep, with pressure at 4,900 pounds per square inch, they sent a final text — “dropped two wts” (weights) — and then contact was lost. So sad.
Hackers are targeting VPN wireless routers: ASUS, TP-Link, Zyxel and Ruckus have already been hit. How it works: They break in, infect your router with malware, then use it to infect others. Warning signs you’re part of a botnet: Weird PC behavior, slow speeds when your internet is working fine, and strange emails and messages you didn’t send. Keep your router updated and run antivirus software.
Where is that? You know you sent someone a pic but can’t find it. On iPhone, open Messages, tap a convo, then tap the person’s profile photo or group name. Scroll to Photos > See All. On Android, open Messages and tap the search bar at the top.
Forced advertising: Soon, you’ll see ads on Snapchat next to messages from your friends. Sponsored snaps will show as unread messages in the main chat tab, but they won’t trigger push notifications, at least. Snap’s stock price is hovering near an all-time low. This is def not a coincidence.
No tech whiz needed to intercept Apple iMessage texts: Message forwarding, as the name implies, forwards messages to another device automatically. It’s handy if you set it up but an invasion of privacy if someone else did. To check, go to Settings > Messages > Text Message Forwarding.
Forget polite vacation autoreplies: Folks are getting sassy with their out-of-office messages (paywall link), like, “I’m out having way more fun than emailing you back. I’ll probably forget to reply.” The whole point? No fake promises to get back to you ASAP … which none of us can do after a trip, anyway!
I’ve seen it: Photos of a Pennsylvania man, Brian Posch, are all over Facebook with the message “HELP FIND HIM.” Sadly, Brian passed away months ago. So why are messages still being shared? Because scammers are posting them to trick others into sharing their link. Once the post gets a ton of shares and follows, they change their page to a scammy site where they steal your money. Gotta be on your toes!
What percentage of divorces are blamed on people reconnecting or finding new loves on Facebook? Is it … A.) 7.5%, B.) 14.29%, C.) 22.43% or D.) 33.91%?
What a creep: Ava Kris Tyson will no longer co-host MrBeast’s mega-popular YouTube channel after allegedly sending risque messages to a minor. Tyson started chatting with the victim when they were 13 and she was 20, and she met up with them IRL when they turned 16. More sketchy posts keep coming out, too.
When a deleted text message isn't
Think your deleted text messages are gone for good? One husband found out the hard way and is now suing Apple for over $6 million. Also, rough times ahead for discount travel sites, the best weather apps to keep you updated, and apps that make grocery list-making a breeze.
How to block political text messages
Feeling overwhelmed by campaign text messages? You’re not alone. Here’s how you can put an end to them.
📧 Mark Cuban scammed: The billionaire received strange notifications in Gmail before answering a phone call from someone ready to fix his account. He bought it, hook, line and sinker. Reminder: Google will never ask for passwords or verification codes over the phone, email or messages.