Plus, I’m hooking Jessica from Illinois up with tips for cheap last-minute flights. Doing some holiday shopping? Here are the top tech gifts this season. Free tool to block online trolls and unique remote jobs. Also, try these Siri/Google voice commands for emergencies!
Before you buy holiday gifts, check this list for tech snoops
Once Christmas music starts playing, the trees go up and the wish lists are compiled, I know an email I’ll get: Mozilla’s latest warning about popular tech gifts that are just awful when it comes to privacy.
This year’s *Privacy Not Included guide ranks over 150 gadgets across different categories by what data they collect and what they do with it. Mozilla does a great job at these lists, for sure.
We’re not talking randomized info about where you live and when you use the product. We should be so lucky. Check these out:
- Wyze’s smart home app asks for permission to read your text messages. Nope.
- Bose headphones can track head movements — and may sell that data, along with your email address. Huh?
- iRobot jumped into AI with the Roomba, and images from inside users’ homes leaked to Facebook. Come on!
Bad news: Sonos, Eufy and Bose used to be on Mozilla’s nice list. Not anymore. And Amazon, Samsung and Microsoft Xbox have gone from bad to worse. Let’s take a closer look.
The naughty list is long
Here are lowlights from this year’s list:
- Some good broke bad: Sonos and Bose have been in Mozilla’s good graces for privacy in recent years. They have earned its *Privacy Not Included warning label for the first time.
- Google went from just OK to officially bad: Also joining the formerly OK but now naughty list are (Google-owned) Fitbit and Tile trackers.
- Bad guys who keep getting worse: Amazon, Amazon Ring, Samsung, Microsoft Xbox and Wyze were already on the naughty list, but they managed to get worse.
- AI integration is much more common: It is used in at least 94 of the products Mozilla reviewed. Often, that means your personal information can be stored, studied, shared or all of the above. Two such cases: iRobot’s test-run Roombas’ video recordings were reviewed by humans for AI training. That resulted in images from inside test-users’ homes showing up on Facebook.
- Creepiest product ever: Mozilla added a ton of new products to its roster this year. Some were good, some were bad and others left Mozilla speechless. Almost. It rarely says this, but do not buy the Angel Watch for your child or vulnerable person in your life. This surveillance watch doesn’t have a privacy policy at all!
More ways to check privacy
Head to the Mozilla Creep-O-Meter to see if products in your household help or hurt your digital privacy. It takes a hard look at the most popular consumer tech devices and assesses the good, the bad and the downright ugly. Mozilla uses a scale from one to 100, with 100 being the worst.
To get started, select which popular products you own from the list. Click See Results for a custom score based on how well (or poorly) your selections protect your personal information.
We tested it by choosing Telegram, the Apple Watch and the Google Nest video doorbell. Crushed it with a “You’re off the grid” rating! Now, all that’s left is to buy that plot of land in the middle of nowhere.
Scary sign that someone hacked your Amazon account
‘Tis the season [for scammers] to be jolly. With all the excitement and frustration this time of year, crooks are ramping up their efforts. Tap or click here for holiday scams making the rounds.
It’s not always easy to spot a scam, and you can overlook the signs as a mistake. For example, have you ever received a package that wasn’t intended for you? How about an empty box?
Opt-Out Tuesday: How to remove your info from Social Catfish
It’s a fact that Big Tech companies collect your data to build an online profile and track your shopping and browsing habits. It doesn’t end there, however. Other companies sell your information to anyone interested.
7 Mother's Day gifts that will be a hit with your mom or wife
It’s time to celebrate the moms in our lives. Maybe the mom you’re thinking of is your birth mother, partner or even a friend. Either way, it’s the best time to show how much you care — but it can be tough to pick the right present.
Top tech gifts this weekend
Ready to do some Christmas shopping? Here’s a list of the gadgets everyone wants.
Don't make these mistakes this Christmas
Expecting some tech gifts this year? Listen now for the best way to set up your gadgets.
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The best tech gifts for when money is no object
Here at the Komando HQ, we’re always sharing clever new ways you can save money. And when you’ve got all this extra money in your pocket, sometimes, you may want to splurge on something special.
Maybe you want to upgrade your home with a larger TV, or maybe you’re passionate about art and want to spark creative discussions around the dinner table. Sports and music lovers may also want to use the latest and greatest tech to add some pizazz to their daily lives.
Check this list for privacy stealing tech gifts
Are your Christmas gifts secret spies? Listen now to learn which tech goodies put your privacy in danger.
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If you have any tech gifts on your list, listen up
Are you planning to buy any tech gifts this Christmas? Listen now for why you should buy ASAP.
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20 gifts around $25 for the person who has everything
We’re down to the wire on holiday shopping. If you haven’t finished marking off gifts on your Christmas list, you need to get it done soon.
Shopping this year is unlike any other. We’re in the middle of a pandemic, making it harder to peruse the aisles for the perfect gift. Online shopping is a lot safer — and you can find everything you need from your browser. Tap or click here for 15 great tech gifts for everyone on your list as a good starting point.
15 affordable tech gifts you’ll want to buy for yourself, too
This year’s shopping season kicked off months ago — yes, months — and you can expect killer sales will last through the new year. I’m compiling all my favorite gifts, from practical to gags, here on my site.
Finding the right tech gift is tricky. You want to make sure, first and foremost, it works the way it should. Then it would be best if you considered whether your recipient would use it.
Our favorite tech gifts and gadgets under $50
Looking for the perfect gift but stuck with a limited budget? You don’t have to spend hundreds to put a smile on your loved ones’ faces. You just need to know where to look.
Right now, Amazon is kicking off its Black Friday sale early with exclusive discounts on top-name brands and products. Tap or click here to see some of our favorite early Black Friday picks.
11 smart tech gifts under $100 for everyone on your list
Finding great gifts doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg if you know where to look. Amazon is kicking off Black Friday early with major discounts on categories ranging from toys to apparel.
This time, though, we’re showing you some of the best tech gifts you can buy for under $100. Whether you’re looking for streaming gadgets or smart home devices, you can find something for everyone on your list without breaking the bank.
27 tech and geeky gifts under $20
Who else has a hard time sticking to a budget during the holidays? It seems like the costs rack up before you know it — no matter how hard you try.
The problem is that most new tech gadgets come with a high price tag. If you have a few on your list, the cost can add up quickly.
To buy or not to buy: Hot tech products that put your privacy at risk
Our smart devices are constantly gathering information about us, whether we like it or not. Even gadgets you might not expect like smart speakers and TVs are learning about your habits and preferences every time you use them.
21 tech gifts you should grab now before they sell out
Picking out the big gifts for your friends and family is pretty easy. You can just hone in on what they like, pick a price range and then find the perfect item or two. It can be much tougher to find the good stuff for stockings, however. Need help finding gifts this year? The holiday deals are already here on Amazon.
Check your child's new toys for this common danger that's easy to overlook
Christmas has come and gone, but some things probably remain: boxes, leftover wrapping paper and gifts. Getting rid of boxes and paper is nothing, and no matter what you got for the holidays, there’s plenty of fun to be had with all your new gadgets and gizmos in the days leading up to the new year.
Here's why hackers love Christmas, too, and how they'll try to ruin your holiday
Christmas Day is a special time of the year for families across America. It’s a spiritual time for many as the year comes to a close, as well as a time of togetherness, family and generosity.
And what could be more generous than loads of high-tech presents and gadgets under the tree? Tech gifts continue to be popular year-round, but the Christmas season delivers a spike that retailers can’t help but get excited about. Tap or click to see some the most popular high-tech gifts this holiday season.
Still shopping? Last-minute tech gifts
Open/download audioChristmas is nearly here, and the clock is ticking if you’ve still got shopping to do. Everyone loves unwrapping cool tech on Christmas morning. I’ve got a few suggestions for gadgets worth the money.
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