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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.
Fresh finds for under $25
🔊 My pick: Bluetooth shower speaker (17% off)
Sing in the shower (on key or not). Waterproof, wireless and with a built-in microphone for hands-free calling. Now your phone will stay high and dry.
💛 Grace & stella under-eye masks (47% off): Puffy eyes? No prob. Just put one on, and you’ll look more awake in no time.
💧 Hydrocolloid pimple patches (33% off): These nearly invisible patches are lifesavers for hiding surprise breakouts.
🧽 Shower loofahs (29% off, three-pack): Ditch that old puff. You deserve ones with 4.6 stars and 48K+ rave reviews.
😌 Dermaplane razors (20% off, 12-pack): For peach fuzz, brows and random strays. Way cheaper than the salon.
✨ Fresh face, fresher start: Shop my Amazon storefront for even more affordable self-care steals. Your skin (and wallet) will thank you.
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.
📧 Let Gmail give you nudges: Go to Settings > See all settings > General > Nudges. Toggle on Suggest emails to reply to, so unanswered questions resurface at the top of your inbox. Then toggle on Suggest emails to follow up on to remind you when someone hasn’t replied to your message.
🎙️ Talk is cheap: Startup Inception Point AI is pumping out 3,000+ AI-hosted podcast episodes a week, using AI personalities like Claire Delish and Oly Bennett. The cost? Less than $1 per show. They’ve already racked up 10 million downloads, and now they’re turning these bots into full-blown egoless influencers that don’t need a mic, only an LLM.
How sextortion scams trick millions
Scammers are sending fake sextortion emails claiming they hacked your camera and contacts. It’s all a bluff. Here’s how to spot the scam and why the best response is to do nothing.
More than 80%
That was Tesla’s share of the U.S. EV market back in the day. They’re down to just 38% of sales, the lowest since 2017. Why? While other automakers pump out shiny new EVs, Tesla’s busy dreaming about robotaxis and humanoid robots. Their last “new” model was the Cybertruck in 2023.
Screenshot and record on Windows 11: For quick screenshots, press Windows key + Shift + S to open the Snipping Tool, then drag to capture the area you want. For recording, press Windows key + Shift + R, select the area you want again, and hit Start.
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.
Ultrasounds for sale? People were selling them, along with positive pregnancy test photos, on the marketplace app Mercari. They went for about $14 a pop to fake pregnancies and extort men. Wild.
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.
The cyberstalker inside her own home
A teen’s life was turned upside down when anonymous messages flooded her phone. The shocking truth? The harasser was closer than anyone imagined. George, your AI host, breaks down this chilling story along with UFOs deflecting U.S. missiles, AI startups pumping out thousands of podcasts weekly, and essential device tips to speed up your gadgets, protect your privacy, and make your tech work smarter.
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.
My pick for antivirus protection: TotalAV delivers strong, real-time protection that blocks malware, cleans junk and keeps your devices running fast. Start your first year of protection for $19 today!
🔔 Turn on Instagram post notifications: Following too many accounts? Don’t miss updates from your favorites. Take me as an example. Go to my profile, tap the bell icon and toggle All for Posts, Stories, Reels and Live videos.
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.
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.
Check app permissions on Mac: New apps often ask for access to your files, microphone or location. Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security, then check sections like Location Services, Contacts, Photos and Camera. You can disable access on an app-by-app basis.
🚨 Microsoft Patch Tuesday: The latest update fixes 86 security flaws across Windows, Office, SharePoint and more. The scariest? A remote code execution bug in Microsoft’s High Performance Compute pack. Go to Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates.