Use ‘em or lose ‘em: Tech account inactivity policies
Did you know most online services have policies that allow them to delete inactive accounts and all associated data? In fact, Google is in the process of deleting old Gmail accounts as we speak.
It’s amazing how that can turn a simple mistake or moment of forgetfulness into a full-scale data catastrophe.
Andrew, my podcast cohost, found that out when Shutterfly deleted thousands of his photos — pics of his kids that weren’t stored anywhere else. Shutterfly’s account inactivity policy requires a purchase every 18 months. Otherwise, yep, all your stuff gets the boot.
The clock is ticking
For all kinds of reasons (storage, privacy, security, compliance with laws and regulations), companies don’t let old accounts sit longer than they have to. Each has its own time frame for holding onto your info, and it’s up to you to keep track.
So, how long are we talking? I did the work to find out how much time you’ve got with the major tech companies:
At the very least, you need to log into your account and do something (send an email, run a report, upload a pic — whatever) within the time frames above.
Have I convinced you this is important yet? Good. Keep going.
Here’s your game plan
Your digital life needs upkeep, just like your house and your relationships!
Make a list. I keep a running list of accounts I fire up. Am I perfect at keeping it updated? No, but it sure is better than nothing.
Focus on what’s important. Some stuff, like photos, demand special treatment. Get yours into a single account and set check-in reminders on your calendar.
Don’t rely on your memory. Enable any inactivity notifications offered by the service. If they don’t offer it, put it on your digital calendar.
Use a password manager. It’s one of the easiest ways to keep track of your accounts. Bonus: No more hitting “Reset password.”
Keep extra copies. Regularly back up your most important files and photos to an external hard drive or cloud service. Pros use the 3-2-1 rule.
Ask nicely. If an account gets closed due to inactivity, reach out to customer support. Some companies have a grace period for recovery.
🕵️ The case of the missing Edit button: The Edit button in your iPhone Photos app was last seen in the upper-right corner before a recent iOS 18 update. Now, it’s at the bottom of the screen between the Info (i) and Trash icons. The icon looks like three stacked sliders. Apple probably thinks this is more user-friendly, but I beg to differ.
💸 The next big thing? Former Apple designer Jony Ive and OpenAI’s Sam Altman are working on an AI-powered device. Details are scarce (of course!), but they say it’ll handle advanced tasks like booking travel and identifying plants from photos, with more power than the average smartphone and fewer disruptions than a standard phone.
The $40K fake invoice scam we were too smart to fall for
Scams come with the territory when you own a business. Last week, we got one here at the Komando HQ that even I haven’t spotted before. Let’s just say I was equal parts impressed and annoyed. That’s why if you own a business or do anything with money at a company, you need to know this.
Channel your inner detective: Every Facebook photo has an ID number that lets you find exactly who posted it. On your computer, right-click on a photo on Facebook, then hit Open in New Tab. In the new tab, look at the address bar, and copy the middle set of numbers in the URL. Then, type https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid= in the address bar and paste in the numbers right after the equal sign. Press Enter and bada-bing.
Remember when: Here’s a fun idea for categorizing family pics on your computer. Say you have two little ones. Create a folder for each kid. Within those, organize by the year, their age or their grade. Now you can see Billy in third grade or Lucy at age 2 in two clicks. Pro tip:Adobe Bridge is a solid, free option for sorting pics on your computer. I still miss Picasa.
⏩ 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.
🗑️ Bring it back: Don’t panic if you accidentally delete a pic. In the Google Photos app, go to Collections > Trash to see any photos or videos deleted in the last 60 days. In Apple Photos on your iPhone, swipe up, then, under Utilities, tap Recently Deleted. You’ll have 30 days before it’s gone for good, so move quickly!
🧼 Your photos are a mess: Find what you want with AI-powered albums. On a Mac, open Apple Photos and choose File > New Smart Album. Pick what you want (like photos of the beach) and it’ll pull in pics that match. In Google Photos for the web, go to Albums > Create Album. Here, you can choose the people and/or pets you want to include.
👋 Don’t fall for this: There’s a new viral post making the rounds on Facebook, Instagram and other Meta platforms. The post says if you don’t copy the post and share it, you’re fine with Meta using your info and photos. Reality check: It’s fake and won’t do diddly-squat. Make your account private; Meta AI (supposedly) only pulls from public posts.
Speaking of AI photos: Snapchat’s My Selfie feature creates neat AI-generated pics of you. The catch (there’s always a catch): If you use it, you’re giving Snap permission to use your face in ads and sponsored content, and you won’t get paid for it. No, thanks. To disable this, go to your profile photo > tap the Settings cog > toggle off See My Selfie in Ads.
My favorite way to scan on iPhone: Use the Notes app. Pro tip: Choose the option to Scan Documents instead of Take Photo or Video. This keeps your phone from putting a duplicate copy in your Photos app. Less clutter that way!
This is the same generation that ate Tide Pods: Gen Z’s latest social media trend is snapping photos of their TSA security trays while we all wait in line behind them. They neatly arrange their sunglasses, jewelry, bags and shoes before sending them through the X-ray, captioning it with gems like, “Am I overpacking for the one-day late-summer getaway?” Oof.
✈️ This is your hacker speaking: There’s an app small airlines use to upload flight crew to precleared TSA lists. Cybersecurity researchers found they could edit photos and names in the app, meaning fake pilots could bypass security checks. Yikes. The TSA says 300 people have evaded airport security since March 2023.
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.
Find what you want: Google Photos has a slick, new, Gemini AI-powered tool: Ask Photos. Open your app to see if you have early access. If so, you’ll find an Ask button at the bottom of your screen. Type in searches in regular language, like, “On the boat with Barry” or “Playing ball with Abby.”
🛫 Ticket to scam: Boarding passes display your full legal name, ticket number and passenger name record. That six-digit code plus your last name gives anyone access to your booking info online (think email, phone number, address), and they can even change or cancel your flight. Do not post photos of your boarding passes on social!
North Korean spies are infiltrating U.S. companies: They’re applying for IT jobs with stolen IDs, peppy cover letters and AI-generated photos (paywall link). The goal is to get access to U.S. company networks and then steal intellectual property or create backdoors for cyberattacks. Always insist on an in-person or video interview and thoroughly vet applicants’ work histories and references.
