Butt out

November 7, 2024

🖊️ Butt out: Writing Tools is Apple’s new AI that cleans up text in any app. If that creeps you out or it’s just annoying, switch it off. Open Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions. Turn on Content & Privacy Restrictions. Now tap Intelligence & Siri > Writing Tools > Don’t Allow. Heads-up, this only applies to iPhone 16 models, the iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Tags: AI (artificial intelligence), Apple, Apple iPhone, Apple iPhone 15, Apple iPhone 16, Apple Siri, Apple Writing Tools, privacy

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Reader question: 'What can I use instead of QuickBooks?'

If you’re a business owner, you don’t need us to tell you that running a business is tough. Don’t let QuickBooks and spreadsheets slow you down, making things more complicated than necessary. It’s time to upgrade to our sponsor NetSuite.

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Don't want your ISP or Big Tech seeing what you look up? Do this

Doing online searches without a VPN is asking your internet service provider, Google or your search engine of choice to snoop on what you do. All that information — the products you look up, medical conditions you search for, people you Google — is compiled into the dossier about you.

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Apple just dropped the update to test your hearing: You’ll need a pair of AirPods Pro 2 and an iPhone running iOS 18.1. Go to Settings > AirPods Pro > Take a Hearing Test. If hearing loss is detected, turn on hearing aid features under Settings > AirPods Pro > Hearing Assistance. FYI: The test takes about 10 minutes, and you’ll need to remain in a quiet room; otherwise, you’ll have to start over. Spoiler: This only works if you have mild to moderate hearing loss.

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13% risk reduction

Of cognitive decline by just exercising once a week. Even a 30-minute walk positively impacts your brain. If you can’t make it outside, take your calls or watch a show on a walking pad. You can do this!

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

5 things that make you a target online

Too many people share just about everything online. That’s a one-way ticket to Scamtown. Some info makes you an especially prime target. Keep these close to the vest.

Widows and widowers are big targets. Crooks want to get their grimy hands on inheritance money. Take Rosalie Douglass, who tried her hand at online dating and listed “widow” as her relationship status. Two different scammers connected with Rosalie and swindled her out of a staggering $430,000.

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💪 Swole is the goal: Young men are flooding social media with the perks of testosterone replacement therapy, aka steroids. Are better endurance, bigger muscles, less fat and more dates too good to be true? Yes. Side effects include hair loss, acne, blood clots and, yup, things not working downstairs. Still, prescriptions are up 20% in the last three years.

A scam in time for the holidays: “Card declined” messages are all over scammy retail sites. It’s a trick to get you to pay twice so they can steal twice the card details. Before you check out, make sure the URL starts with “https” (don’t skip the -s).

$1,000,000 prize

Through the Microsoft Rewards sweepstakes program. Use their products, like Bing, Edge (a sacrifice, I know) and Xbox Game Pass for points. You can earn up to 200 entries. Sign up here for five. Bing is like store-brand cereal; it barely does the job, and you never want it again.

Young girls are obsessed with antiaging products: Scarlett, who’s only 11, says, “I didn’t want to get wrinkles and look old.” These products aren’t made for kids’ sensitive skin and can cause rashes, chemical burns and, ironically, premature aging. Talk to the kiddos.

🚨 Scammers’ newest trick: This time, it’s fake arrest warrants claiming you’re facing felony charges for missing jury duty. They’re using texts and calls — a huge red flag, since the police don’t text about arrests. These warrants can look legit, with a judge’s signature and all. Pro tip: Any time you get a call from the police, call your local non-emergency line to see if the police call is real.