Worst hack in our nation’s history

November 24, 2024

🚨 Worst hack in our nation’s history: That’s what one senator’s calling the Communist China attack on U.S. telecom companies. They listened to phone calls and read text messages for months. The kicker? They’re still in the system, and getting them out might require physically replacing old equipment. So far, around 150 people are confirmed to have been hit, but this number could hit the millions as more details come to light.

Tags: Communist China, cyberattacks, telecommunications, wiretapping

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Holiday tech hacks: Digital cookbook, easier cards, group pic tips

I’m not sure where this year went, but it’s time to dive headfirst into the festive frenzy. I’ve got some tech tips up my sleeve that’ll sprinkle a little magic on your celebrations. You’re gonna love ‘em!

If your recipes are printed or handwritten, snap a pic with your phone or tablet. Add them all to one folder (or try the Notes app on iOS or Google Keep for Android) for easy swiping. Listen here for more tips about that.

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How to make your phone feel brand-new again

One of the best parts of getting a new phone is how fresh it feels inside and out. The screen is scratch-free, your storage is empty, and the phone is zippy, no matter what. And the battery life? Oh, buddy.

The clock starts ticking the moment you take your new phone out of its box. Let’s give yours that fresh-from-the-factory feel again.

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Speed matters: If your website is too slow, customers leave. Use Google PageSpeed Insights to analyze your site’s performance. Enter your URL for a detailed analysis and steps, like compressing too-big image files and optimizing CSS code. Aim for a score of at least 90 for mobile and desktop.

So that’s what that does: On Windows, press F11 in most web browsers to quickly toggle your full-screen and regular browsing modes. Hit F2 to rename a selected file or folder and F3 to search within an open or active application. Alt + F4 closes your active window and F5 refreshes a page or document window.

➡️ Lightning fast: In Microsoft Word, use Ctrl + the arrow keys to quickly move through words or paragraphs. Combine with Shift to select text as you go.

Traveling soon? Track your luggage with your airline’s app. Open the app’s Menu > Track my bags. The naming will vary depending on the airline. Enter your reservation or tag number, and you’ll get updates along its journey. If you’re an Apple fan and have an AirTag, toss that in, too. On an Android? Try Chipolo.

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You’re hitting the road and your phone battery is low: Rats. Set the route in your GPS app before you leave, then switch your phone into Airplane mode. You’ll still follow your route thanks to your phone’s built-in GPS, but you’ll save battery life by cutting off data-hungry apps. Smart.

🎄 “How long until …” Christmas, a vacation or a birthday? Just ask your smart assistant (Siri, Alexa or Google) to do the math for you. This is way easier than counting on your fingers.

Welcome to the 21st century: You can finally save WhatsApp messages as drafts. Your unfinished messages will appear at the top of your chat list. Look for Draft in green under your contact’s name to the left of your saved message.

App-solutely attached: Android’s Digital Wellbeing tool just got smarter with Screen Time Reminders, aka gentle nudges when you’ve been glued to an app for too long. To turn them on, go to Digital Wellbeing and parental controls > Screen time reminders > Turn on. The catches? You can’t set a time for them to appear, and you can’t control how often they pop up. Still, give it a shot, and let me know if they help!