✏️ Whiteout: Those white Apple charging cords get so dirty. Here’s a secret for removing the black streaks: Use a pencil eraser. Yep, it’ll buff them right off. Oh, and I finally hung up all my pencil drawings, but I’m afraid it makes my house look kinda sketchy.
Check your phone! Hidden page shows if your calls are being intercepted
You know we love a good iPhone secret. Tap or click here for 10 iPhone tricks Kim uses daily, and you will, too.
Here’s an iPhone feature that you might not know about. A built-in tool checks whether your calls or messages are being forwarded. This is great if you’re worried about privacy. Even better, it’s super easy to try.
Keep reading to learn how to unlock it and see for yourself.
Find out if someone is snooping on your phone
Most Apple users know that the keypad they use to dial phone numbers can also be used to input commands that let you do many things. These include everything from displaying your device’s IMEI number to adjusting settings for blocked calls.
Your keypad is where you’ll utilize this cool privacy trick. Open the Phone app and tap on the keypad. Plug in the code *#21#. After doing so, hit the green Call button to activate it. The results should look like the following:
A list of reports should pop up over a gray field. In it will be all the details regarding the activity of your calls, SMS messages and even faxes. If they are listed as Disabled, you’re all good. Essentially, your calls and messages are not being forwarded to another device.
Enabling any of these settings allows you to forward incoming messages and voice calls to another phone, which can be helpful if done intentionally.
How to secure your calls and texts
Suppose you haven’t enabled any of these settings and see they’re enabled. In that case, you can disable Call Forwarding on your iPhone.
Here’s how:
Google's secret text adventure game
Now, developers at Google have done it again. They’ve hidden a different kind of “Easter egg” within the Google search bar. This new game is a tribute to classic text adventure games where players complete tasks by typing in basic commands.
The exploding pager espionage caper
Thousands of pagers and walkie talkies mysteriously exploded all at once in Lebanon, set off by a secret code. What happened? Get the story in this quick podcast.
Calling all history nerds: A little robot captured never-before-seen footage from an unexplored area of the Great Pyramid of Giza. The secret hatch, discovered in the Queen’s Chambers in 1993, had been blocked by a stone. The big reveal? A smaller chamber with intricate symbols painted on the floor. Its purpose is still a mystery. Check out the video here.
Car companies are tracking your driving
Are you a speed racer? You’re being watched. Major car companies are watching how you drive and selling your data to third-party brokers. Plus, discover secret codes to protect your family from scams and why the FCC is cracking down on illegal jammers.
Amazon's secret profit center
Streaming costs are spiraling, but Amazon’s secret fees are the real eye-opener. What started as a simple $79 Prime membership has ballooned into a $22 billion profit machine — without most people even realizing it.
How to get cheap flights with expert Clark Howard
Money-saving guru Clark Howard is here, sharing his top-secret strategies to land the cheapest flights imaginable — and trust me, the airlines do not want you knowing these tricks. We talk about clever booking hacks, algorithms, hidden deals, and the perfect time to strike.
Score eBay deals with this tip
Looking to snag the best prices? Here’s a secret tip the pros swear by — it’s your key to scoring unbelievable bargains.
America's drinking water is under attack
Water systems in Kansas, Texas and Pennsylvania have already been hit by hackers in China, Russia and Iran. Plus, clothes that block 5G waves, AI coming to Alexa, and Walmart’s new digital pricing. We also chat with Joseph Cox about his book “Dark Wire,” which is about Anom, the FBI’s secret app used by criminals.
Store secret photos and files on your phone
Your phone holds all your precious info — photos, files, apps, everything. It should stay private unless you decide to share it.
Silence is golden (unless you have a toddler): Did you know you can instantly silence incoming calls on your smartphone by pressing the side button (volume up or volume down) once? Yup! It’s a tech secret the pros know — and now you do, too. You’re welcome!
🤫 Instagram secret: Have you seen those IG posts with multiple accounts listed? You can do it, too! The Collab feature lets you add up to three pals to coauthor posts or Reels. Before you post, tap Tag people and you’ll see the collaborator option. Sweet!
Amazon’s secret 25% discount: Send your old tech to Amazon through its Trade-in Program, and get a gift card for the value. Bonus: You’ll get an extra 20% off if you’re upgrading to a new Amazon device, like an Echo or Kindle.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
The streaming secret
Traditional TV or streaming — which do you think is winning? I have the surprising answer in this one-minute podcast.
White font secret to beating AI
Want to increase your chances of getting noticed by AI systems during job applications? Here’s why a little white font goes a long way, in 60 seconds.
10 tech company customer service phone numbers plus a secret way to know wait times
The legality of going cashless
Ready to bid farewell to your wallet? Here’s why cash is your secret weapon for privacy, in one minute.