Yes, your smart TV is spying on you - Here's how to stop it
Smart TVs are big money savers compared to other tech on the market. They include built-in apps that can save you from buying streaming devices like a Roku or Fire TV Stick.
As with any smart technology, there’s a price to be paid for the convenience. In return for an always-connected experience, smart TVs collect data on users — a lot of it. Tap or click here to listen to Kim’s Daily Tech Update about the smart TV dilemma.
You won’t believe how your smart TV is not just gobbling up your viewing data. In some cases, it’s also gathering information about your home. This guide will walk you through how to opt out of this data collection so you can return to binging your favorite shows in peace.
Turn off your smart TV’s tracking features
Can you minimize your smart TV’s snooping activities? Yes. Our advice: Turn off its tracking features — especially Automatic Content Recognition (ACR).
What is ACR, and how do you turn it off? It’s a visual recognition feature that can identify every ad, TV show or movie you’re playing on your TV. This includes streaming boxes, cable/over-the-air TV and even DVD and Blu-Ray players.
RELATED: 5 things you didn’t know your smart TV could do
This data is collected and can be used for marketing and targeted advertising purposes. If this sounds too creepy, there are ways to turn it off. The exact methods will depend on your TV’s brand.
Vizio
You can turn off your set’s ACR features if you own a Vizio smart TV. Here’s how:
On older Vizio TV sets that use Vizio Internet Apps (VIA), go to the TV’s System and then: Reset & Admin > Smart Interactivity > Off.
On Vizio smart TVs that use the newer SmartCast system, go to System > Reset & Admin > Viewing Data > toggle it to Off.
Android tip: Copy and paste text from your phone to your PC
We all love Universal Clipboard, an Apple-exclusive feature that allows you to share a copied chunk of text between your iPhone and Mac.
Did you know that Windows 10 and 11 users can do the same on Android? It’s true. You should give it a shot if you’re not already doing it. Tap or click here for seven things you didn’t know your Android could do.
Another country just banned TikTok on certain devices - Is it banned in your state?
Social media and video-sharing platform TikTok is fighting an uphill battle to remain available on mobile devices. Calls to ban the app have intensified over the last few months, even though the company assured U.S. senators that it is committed to protecting user data.
New ransomware could lock down your smartphone
There is plenty of malware out there, all with devastating consequences. But arguably, the worst type of malware is ransomware. That’s when hackers infect your mobile phone or computer with a virus that locks down your information. Only after you pay the ransom is your device unlocked.
These printers are vulnerable to hackers - Update yours now
Some of the essential gadgets you must keep updated include your router and mobile devices. If hackers manage to breach those, they could steal a wealth of information. But that doesn’t mean you can overlook other household electronics.
Wordle is still free, but now it's packed with ad-tracking tech
You have undoubtedly heard of the word guessing game Wordle by now. It became an online sensation in only a few months, with millions of people trying to decipher the colored clues daily.
Initially, the game’s design was simplistic, with a clean user interface and the promise of remaining free. But as popularity grew, the creator sold the game to the New York Times (NYT) for an undisclosed amount. As many feared, the media powerhouse soon started to make changes.
Here's how the kids are getting around your parental controls
There is an old saying that if you want to know how something works, give it to a child, and they’ll figure it out. Sometimes, something odd happens with technology, like when Alexa told a child to put a penny on exposed electrical prongs.
3 simple tech resolutions you can actually keep
If you have ever made a New Year’s Resolution, you know how difficult it can be to keep. But just because 2021 has been just as much of a mess as the year before, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t use tech to go into the new year.
7 ways someone can hack your phone
Any American without a mobile device is in the minority. Only 3% of Americans don’t own a cellphone, the Pew Research Center says. Mobile devices play a central role in our daily tasks, as conduits for alarms, messaging, navigation and even grocery shopping.
Can't make or send calls? A Google bug is to blame, but you can fix it
Users of Android devices might have noticed over the last few days that they can’t make or receive calls. No amount of rebooting will solve the issue, with some users taking to online forums to see if others have a solution. Tap or click here to upgrade your old Android to avoid losing access to your Google account.
These are the apps that drain your phone's battery and storage the most
Mobile devices are exponentially more powerful than a decade ago in both battery power and capabilities. But that has resulted in more taxing apps being developed. Advanced graphics, added functionality, and improvements in coding ensure that mobile phones are utilized to their full potential.
Ring just made its biggest security change in years - Here's how to enable it
Ring cameras are incredibly useful to see what is going on in your house or in the backyard. By connecting them to your Wi-Fi network, you can see who is at the front door right from your mobile device.
While these video doorbells are a great way to fend off porch pirates, you shouldn’t leave your total home security up to them. Tap or click here for our home security comparison: DIY options vs. traditional home security.
10 apps you should remove from your phone right now
There are plenty of things to worry about in life, but dangerous apps on your mobile device shouldn’t be one of them. Unfortunately, we don’t live in a perfect world, and there will always be some questionable digital content.
Tech tip: How to take a screenshot of an entire webpage on your iPhone
Taking a screenshot on a PC or Mac is fairly simple, as most browsers have the functionality built-in. Certain shortcuts on a keyboard will also make a copy of what is visible on the screen. It’s great when you want to share a snippet of a webpage or save text for later.
Worried about malware? Don't make these mistakes with your iPhone or iPad
When it comes to mobile devices, it’s Apple vs. everyone else. The iOS-powered iPhone and iPad are produced by the same company, while you can get an Android device from many manufacturers. The debate is one for the ages, but Apple fans have always had one key argument in their favor: malware and virus protection.
How-to: Simple editing tricks for your social media posts
You don’t need to be a professional photographer to take amazing photos. Technology in mobile devices allows you to snap spectacular images that are ever so close to competing with traditional DSLR cameras.
The basics of photography still apply, though, as internal software can’t always correct composition, subject matter or lighting. But there are some small changes you can make that will improve your photos. Tap or click here for three simple tips to take better photos every time.
How to ditch Facebook's algorithm and see the posts YOU want to see
Most of us have a love-hate relationship with Facebook. It’s been an easy way to keep in touch with friends and family during the pandemic, but it can be frustrating to deal with the platform itself.
Facebook has had its share of controversies and security issues over the last few years, making us wary of using it. That’s not the only issue, though. Facebook can also frustrate you because it also has tight control over any content posted to its platform — including what posts you’ll see on your News Feed.
Fitness app could lead a stranger right to your home — change this setting
If you’re worried about privacy breaches on your mobile devices you should be. Hackers and snoops are everywhere looking to find as much information about you as possible for many reasons. And none of them are good.
There are tons of issues that can stem from using certain apps on your devices, like your personal data being shared or sold. Some apps, like a popular free VPN, have even exposed to selling out its users. Tap or click here to find out why free VPNs are bad news.
Fix your spotty Wi-Fi with this app for Mac and Windows
Wi-Fi is a vital component of our lives, especially now that many are quarantined in response to Covid-19. We are shopping, working, and even socializing online more than ever, and we depend on a reliable wireless signal. But have you ever found yourself racing through your office or home with your laptop chasing down a decent Wi-Fi connection?
How to share medical information on your phone in an emergency
Over the last few years, mobile devices have become an integral element of health care. Personal health apps, such as fitness tracking and weight loss, lead the pack. Additional health-related apps welcomed by consumers and physicians alike include doctor-on-demand, prescription management, and patient portals.