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Hidden setting lets apps spy on you through Bluetooth
Think Bluetooth is just for headphones and car calls? Think again. It’s one of the sneakiest ways apps track you, and most people have no clue it’s happening.
Even when GPS is off, your phone is constantly “sniffing” for nearby devices like AirTags, smartwatches and fitness trackers. That’s normal.
Here’s where it gets shady: Some apps piggyback on that signal to figure out where you are, how long you stay and who else is around. I’m talking about fitness apps, shopping apps, airline apps, even flashlights and wallpaper apps. (Yep.)
Retail stores can use this data to detect when you walk by or how long you linger near a display. Creepy and totally preventable.
🔧 Take back control
Plenty of popular apps request Bluetooth access, not to connect to a device but to build a profile of where you go and who you’re near. The good news? You can shut it down in seconds.
▶️ On iPhone:
- Go to Settings, tap Privacy & Security.
- Select Bluetooth.
- Look through the list. If an app doesn’t need Bluetooth (think: Uber, Target, games), toggle it off.
▶️ On Android:
- Go to Settings.
- Select Apps (or Apps & notifications).
- Tap See all apps (or the three-dot icon for Permission manager).
- Choose an app and tap Permissions.
- Check if it has Nearby Devices or Bluetooth access. If it doesn’t need it, hit Deny.
🤯 Why this matters
This has nothing to do with pairing your earbuds. It’s about passive location tracking done without GPS and often without your knowledge.
Nail it for under $50
📏 My pick: Laser tape measure (24% off)
The future of measuring is here. Classic tape meets high-tech laser, so you can find area, volume and distance without the guesswork.
✨ Magnetic necklace clasp (33% off): Turns “why can’t I get this to clasp?” into “snap, done.” Great if you’ve got long nails or zero patience.
🔥 Hot glue gun kit (23% off): Heats up fast, won’t drip and comes with 30 glue sticks, because you know one is never enough.
📦 Packing tape (18% off, six-pack): Quiet for less tape-gun squeals echoing through the house. 4.5 stars and 12K+ reviews.
⚒️ Drywall crack repair kit (10% off): The lazy-genius fix for dents and dings. Your landlord never has to know.
👉 More tools, more wins: Don’t stop here. Stock up on more affordable DIY gear on my Amazon shop.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Smart glasses are spyware
That’s me, virtually trying on Meta’s glasses on their website, doing my best Tom Cruise Risky Business impersonation. Spoiler, I didn’t buy them.
These remind me of Google Glass. Those awkward $1,500 face computers from 2013 that made you look like a cyborg at brunch. They launched with a ton of hype and died just as fast.
Running a business isn’t easy: More than 42,000 companies trust NetSuite by Oracle, the #1 cloud ERP. It brings accounting, finances, inventory and HR together in one platform. Download the FREE “CFO’s Guide to AI and Machine Learning” today!
📺 RIP Freevee: Amazon’s free streaming service, used by millions, is officially gone. Open the app now, and you’ll be redirected to a site to download Prime Video instead. The silver lining? Some of Freevee’s original shows will still be on Prime, and you won’t need a membership to watch. Cue tiny violin.
Scammers see millennials as easy prey
Scams aren’t just targeting seniors anymore. Millennials are being hit with fake jobs, debt relief cons, romance tricks, and crypto scams. Here’s how to stay sharp.
$2 million
How much the Las Vegas Sphere makes every single day. Not from concerts but from showing the 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz. Between 4,000 and 5,000 fans show up multiple times a day, each paying about $200 a ticket. Execs estimate the film could top $1 billion over its run (paywall link). I guess the real Emerald City is in Vegas. Btw, I saw it. I loved it!
📶 Check your internet speed: Strong Wi-Fi doesn’t always mean fast internet. Run a test and check your download speed. For 4K Netflix, you’ll need 15 to 25 Mbps down. If the whole family’s streaming, gaming and scrolling, 100 Mbps or more will keep the peace. Upload should be at least 10 Mbps, too.
Old iPhone? Turn it into this
Don’t ditch your old iPhone. From security cam to kid-safe game device, here’s how to give it a second life.
⚡ Crypto malware scare: In the biggest supply chain hack in history, hackers hijacked 18 huge npm packages (chalk, debug and others), slipping in code that swapped crypto wallet addresses mid-transaction. Those poisoned packages? Downloaded over a billion times. Developers yanked the infected versions and purged caches in record time. Mischief managed, but it shows how fragile the web’s plumbing really is.
Gadgets that slap
📺 My pick: INSIGNIA 32” Smart Fire TV (38% off)
Perfect for small bedrooms, dorms and kitchens. Alexa even takes the “lost remote” excuse off the table.
🎧 Over-ear headphones (37% off): A 65-hour battery keeps your podcasts rolling for days. 4.5 stars and 29K+ reviews.
🔊 Portable Bluetooth speaker (15% off): Waterproof, wireless and loud enough to turn anywhere into a dance floor.
💿 Leather CD player (15% off): Dust off those old discs. This plays your old CDs and pairs with Bluetooth.
🔌 Tower power strip (20% off): Eight outlets + five USB ports = one neat tower that finally ends desk chaos.
🛒 Crank up your cart: I rounded up 25 more great gadgets over on my Amazon storefront. Go give yourself a treat.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Bluetooth is spying on you right now
Think Bluetooth is harmless? Think again. George, your AI host, explains how apps secretly use Bluetooth to track your movements and how to shut it down on iPhone and Android.
George will also tell you about a lawyer suing Meta, new webcam malware, AI fantasy football, Gen Z’s wired headphone comeback, AI musicians landing record deals. Plus: quick device hacks for Gmail, Apple Watch, Chrome, Fire Stick, and iPhone charging.
Charlie Chaplin’s in theaters after 100 years
Charlie Chaplin famously rereleased his 1925 silent classic The Gold Rush in 1942 with new narration and edits, believing it would connect better with modern audiences. Now, thanks to film archivists and AI, the silent masterpiece has been painstakingly restored. The 4K version just premiered at Cannes and hit 250 theaters worldwide.
🕳️ The web’s falling apart: Google just told a judge the web’s in “rapid decline.” Advertisers are bailing for streaming and shopping platforms, leaving websites high and dry. Basically, the internet’s breaking up with quirky blogs and small sites for someone hotter, richer and way more into retail. It’s kind of like watching your favorite diner get replaced by a Sweetgreen.
Apple targets you with ads: Apple feeds you ads in the App Store, News and Stocks. They’ll tell you it’s “privacy-friendly.” Turn it off on your iPhone: Settings > Privacy & Security > Apple Advertising > Personalized Ads. Done.
Scammers threatened to murder my dad
Lauren from San Francisco got a call that would terrify anyone: her dad crying as a man saying he’d be killed. Only… it wasn’t her dad on the line. Plus: Google dodges a breakup, Amazon cuts perks, and an AirTag leads to a thief caught in stolen clothes.
Squeaky clean steals
💦 My pick: Wet spray mop (17% off)
Forget lugging around a bucket. This mop works on wood, tile, laminate … basically, if you walk on it, it’s good to go.
🏠 Front door mat (17% off): Stop dirt at the door. Built tough for rain, snow and messy shoes.
🪰 Indoor fly trap (32% off, two-pack): Ditch the messy flypaper. Plug these in, and they’ll handle little invaders.
💚 Mesh screen cleaner (10% off): Finally, a way to clean dusty window screens without pulling them out.
✨ Microfiber cleaning cloth (47% off): Just add water, and watch your glass and mirrors shine.
🧽 Scrub the rest: More handpicked goodies that make your home spotless are waiting for you on my Amazon storefront.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
👨🏻💼 Prep for interviews with ChatGPT: Use Voice Mode and ask it to play the role of a recruiter. Tell the bot the position and responsibilities from the job ad, then have it ask potential questions one at a time. Ask for follow-ups to add more pressure. Good way to calm those pre-interview nerves.
A smart tip to help protect your retirement savings: With the economy so unpredictable, I don’t put all my eggs in one basket. I protect a portion of my savings with real gold and silver from Goldco. And right now, Goldco is giving up to 10% back in FREE silver when you open a qualified account.