All tech. No filler.
Join 550,000+ people who stay ahead of the tech curve with The Current, delivered daily. No fluff, no BS.
It’s just not for your home devices — here’s how your VPN can be a multipurpose digital survival tool wherever you’re using it.
I’ll never forget when my son, Ian, asked me where in Los Angeles I lived. I told him I couldn’t remember — it was 30 years ago, and I lived there for maybe six months. A few minutes later, he called and had the address. It was available for free to anyone on the internet […]
I’ll tell you the tricks scammers use and what you can do to protect yourself and your money.
Don’t leave your business vulnerable to cyberattacks. Poor offboarding practices can put your cybersecurity at risk, so follow these steps.
Here are this season’s top wished-for gifts, sure to please everyone on your list!
AI chatbots are super useful, but you have to be careful what you include in your prompts to them.
Breaking news and tips
8 ways your phone is tracking you – That you can stop now
You understand that your phone knows where you’re located. This is how GPS works, how Find My sees your location and why you get local ads on Facebook and Google. Like other data on your phone, that location data is a hot commodity for internet marketers.
Thankfully, you don’t have to stand for this kind of data collection. These tactics are legal because the companies behind them give you a choice to opt in or out, but not everyone knows how to change the settings. We’ll show you how to stop your phone from tracking you. Ready to go dark? Let’s get started.
This tip is brought to you by our sponsor, TotalAV. Right now, get an annual plan of TotalAV Internet Security for only $19 at ProtectWithKim.com. That’s over 85% off the regular price.
1. Tweak your phone’s location settings
You can prevent iOS and Android from tracking you, but companies don’t make it easy. The feature is buried inside your device’s privacy settings and, by default, records your daily routine.
Known as “Frequent Locations,” it keeps track of where you are and how long you stay there. It even knows where you live and work based on how long you’re there and when you visit.
If you find this unsettling, you can turn the feature off. Here are the basic steps, but depending on your specific model and operating system, you may need to follow different instructions.
Turn off location settings on Apple devices
- Open Settings.
- Tap Privacy & Security.
- Select Location Services.
- Scroll down and tap System Services.
- Choose Significant Locations to see the logged record of where you’ve been and toggle it off.
You can also clear your history here by clicking Clear History.
You’re getting sleepy
👑 One-third of our lives is spent sleeping. These gifts will make your recipient feel like royalty doing it.
- A glass mushroom lamp ($25) gives their room a cool ‘70s vibe. Groovy!
- A bedside water carafe? Talk about luxury. 💅
- The best word to describe these stained-glass light bulbs is “whimsical.” They’re hand-painted!
- For the art lover (or the dramatic one), gift wireless gallery lights (28% off). They’re battery-powered and easy to install.
- Velvet blackout drapes ($34) curtain-ly make every room a whole lot cozier.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Focus! Blurry pics are a bummer. Sometimes your phone’s cam picks the wrong spot. For a quick reset, tap the area on your screen you want to be the clearest. Easy and effective.
🐾 Spreading paws-itivity: Robotic pets are bringing smiles to lonely older adults who can no longer care for real pets. New York alone handed out over 30,000 lifelike cats and dogs. The bots purr, bark and respond to touch, just like the real thing, and work especially well for folks with dementia. Another benefit: No poop-scoopin’.
Will we need teachers in the future?
Across 266 school districts, K-12 students are testing a new AI tutor. Khan Academy’s Khanmigo runs on OpenAI’s tech. helps answer students’ questions, flags other AI-generated answers and creates lesson plans for teachers in seconds. FYI, “Conmigo,” means “with me” in Spanish.
Watch out for fake holiday e-cards
Get a sweet note in your inbox with a digital gift card attached? Stay alert. It could be a scam.
You can’t dodge facial recognition: I thought this was super interesting. A hat, mustache and sunglasses used to be enough, but not anymore. The same goes for wearing a mask. AI is now trained to detect your eye shape. That’s all it takes.
Best sites to watch movies for free
Streaming websites are more popular than ever — but free streaming services are even better. It’s easy to overspend on Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max and other paid apps. That’s why so many of us head to our browsers and type “free movie websites” or “watch online movie sites.”
📚 Useful site: WorldCat.org is the world’s largest library search engine. It connects you to libraries around the world — a catalog of 405 million books, 440 million articles, 10 million musical scores and lots more. How does a librarian organize their music collection? The Dewey Decibel System! (I couldn’t resist.)
Are we alone? Coast to Coast AM’s George Noory on UFOs, alien tech, and hidden truths
At 11, he had an out-of-body experience. Now, Coast to Coast AM’s George Noory is the top expert on the unexplained. He shares proof of alien visits, explains recent congressional hearings, and reveals incredible alien tech. Wondering what’s really out there? This might change how you see the universe.
What 32-degree weather does to your phone
Winter weather isn’t just tough on you. It’s tough on your tech, too. Here’s why your phone struggles in the cold.
$106 million
Import worth of neckties in the U.S. market. It was a record-low $61.4 million in 2020, when most people worked at home. Now, ties are totally back. Gen Z guys and gals are ushering in a tie renaissance (paywall link). I had a joke about ties, but it’s knot funny.
The morning habits of CEOs (including me!)
I ran across this story (paywall link) about the morning routines of tech billionaire CEOs. It was interesting but not that thorough, so I did additional research. Here’s what I found, and even though I’m far from a billionaire, I’ll share my morning recipe for success, too.
#TikTokResume: Gen Zers are sharing video resumes on TikTok to get a job. Smart idea. It’s easier to show off your skills in a video than with a boring paper or online resume. Fun fact: 86% of job seekers use social media to find their next roles. You might want to share this with your favorite Gen Zer who can’t land a job.
Get your foot in the door: Your website’s footer is prime real estate! Make sure yours has your business address, contact details and hours of operation. Social media icons are a must, and it’s smart to have your privacy policy there, too. Bonus points if you embed a map. <a href=”https://www.komando.com/getsmallbiz/” trigger-id=”4779805″>Join the list for my free small-biz newsletter for more intel like this.</a>
Find out who’s calling you from an unknown or blocked number
Scam and spam calls are getting more common. And they’re hard not to answer because the number comes up as “unknown.” When there’s no caller ID number, you can’t be sure if it’s a spam caller or an important call you’ve been waiting for.
Heads-up, Apple shoppers: Scammers are walking into Apple Stores with fake IDs and QR codes to steal laptops before the real buyers show up. It’s not quite clear how the shysters are getting the intel, so keep an eye on your order status and pick up your new tech ASAP.
$60,000 reward
For helping to catch the UnitedHealthcare CEO’s killer. A tip from a McDonald’s employee ultimately led to 26-year-old Luigi Mangione’s arrest. If he’s convicted of Brian Thompson’s murder, the Secretary of State decides if the tip is worth a payout. I’d say from what I’ve read, the answer’s a big yes.
🚗 Amazon now sells cars in 48 cities: Right now, it’s limited to new Hyundai models, but more brands and leasing options are coming to Amazon Autos next year. The price at checkout is what you’ll pay, so no back-and-forth with pushy salespeople. PSA: Don’t drink and shop, because that would be wheelie, wheelie bad.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.