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Breaking news and tips
Who’s watching your phone?
I’ve been hearing lately from more and more people who believe they’re being watched or listened to through their phones. Whether it’s an ex, a snooping spouse or someone with too much time and too little ethics, digital stalking is real and it’s sneaky.
If your gut is telling you something’s off, don’t brush it off. Here are a few simple checks you can do right now to take back control.
🔁 Check for text message forwarding
This is a hotbed for creep behavior. Someone could be reading your texts, and you wouldn’t even know.
- On iPhone: Go to Settings > Apps > Messages > Text Message Forwarding
If you see a device you don’t recognize, that’s a red flag. Turn it off and change your Apple ID password ASAP. - On Android: Open Messages > More (three dots) > Settings > Permissions > SMS
If there’s an app listed you don’t know, it could be intercepting your texts. Contact your carrier right away.
📍 Who’s tracking your location?
Built-in location sharing is helpful, but only if you control it.
- iPhone: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > Share My Location
Tap Find My and check who can see you. Remove anyone suspicious. - Android: Open Settings > Location > Location services > Google Location Sharing
Look at who has access. If you don’t recognize them, cut them off.
🎤 Check your camera and mic access
Apps don’t need to be spying tools unless you let them.
- iPhone: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera and Microphone
Turn off access for apps that don’t absolutely need it. - Android: Settings > Security and privacy > Permission Manager, then check Camera and Microphone permissions.
Be ruthless. You’re the boss of your phone, not some creepy app.
👤 Review your account access
Dirt stops here
🧽 Cleaning doesn’t have to suck (unless we’re talking about vacuums).
- Tackle tight crevices with a three-pack of cleaning brushes ($5).
- Stainless steel polish (20% off) makes your appliances shine like new.
- Keep your leather from drying out with a handy care kit (31% off).
- This electric air duster (43% off) is like a tiny leaf blower for your tech.
- Suck all that lint from your dryer using a vent cleaner kit (38% off).
👠 Shoe, don’t bother me: Toss these deodorizer bags ($11) in your gym bag or sneakers to soak up any funky smells.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Real tagline or fever dream?
It’s Friday, and while I have my usual mix of news and tips to keep you tech ahead and not tech left behind, let’s have some fun, too. I’m sure you know that companies toss millions of dollars into the marketing volcano, hoping to birth the next “Just Do It.”
🖨️ Low on ink? Before you print, change the color to #010101. It looks black, but it’s really 99% gray. In Google Docs, highlight your words, click the text color tool, and pick Add a custom color (+). Type in the number and hit OK. FYI, thin fonts like Courier New or Garamond save even more ink.
💬 Got a weird text from Home Depot? Like “your order is ready,” but you didn’t buy anything? Someone might’ve typed in your number by mistake, but it could also be a scam. Hackers can spoof five-digit numbers to send “view your order” phishing links. Don’t click anything. Log in to your account to check.
Your smart TV might already be dumb
Some TV makers are killing off updates for models 2 or 3 years old. Here’s how to fight back without buying a whole new screen.
$500 million
How much funding Perplexity AI is about to land, pushing its valuation to $14 billion. For context, it was $3 billion last June. So what’s the buzz? They’re pulling in around $100 million in annual recurring revenue and plan to launch an AI agent web browser called Comet. You could say investors are seeing stars.
Free up space on Fire Stick: These little guys don’t have much storage, so they can slow down pretty fast. To improve performance, try removing apps you haven’t used in a while. Go to Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications > Sort by App Size, pick an app, hit Uninstall and Confirm.
The rise of grandfluencers
You don’t have to be a 20-something to get noticed. There’s a whole new generation of trendsetters taking over online.
Don’t miss ‘Amazon Pet Day’
🐱 Today’s your last chance to fetch more savings.
- Walk with a no-pull harness (11% off) that won’t choke your pup.
- Muddy paws? This washable doormat (28% off) catches all that dirt.
- Snag a pet door (22% off) with three flaps to lock the weather outside.
- This smart fountain (43% off) tracks if your kitty is drinking enough water.
- Clean your furball with a vacuum (20% off) that comes with seven tools.
- And a pet bed (5% off) shaped like ramen. Weird? Yep. Comfy? Totally.
🐾 More pawsome picks: That’s just a taste. Hit this link for more Amazon pet steals your furry friend will bark (or purr) for.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Scammer ruins a 45-year marriage
What’s worse than your mom leaving your dad for a guy she met on Instagram? Finding out he’s a romance scammer and she knows — but she’s still in love. That’s what happened to Grant Inman. Now, the My Funeral Home Stories host is trying to help his mom see the truth.You, 21 min
40-foot submarine-hunting drone
The “BlueWhale” uses special sensors to spot underwater and surface threats, and can help clear mines. The cool bit? It’s fully autonomous and runs on batteries for weeks. Basically, a Roomba’s scarier cousin with serious military vibes.
🍏 Apple’s new accessibility features: Later this year, iOS 19 and macOS 16 will get a Magnifier for Mac, App Store labels and Braille Access. WatchOS 12 will add Live Captions, and VisionOS will offer better zoom for blind folks. More interesting? They’re working on a brain implant to control your iPhone with neural signals (paywall link).
☁️ Your cloud library: Ever rented a movie digitally, only to find the DVD buried in your closet? Libib helps you catalog all your physical media like movies, music, books and games. Just scan the barcode and the app (iOS, Android) fills in the info. Their free plan lets you track up to 5,000 items in the cloud.
Delete a selfie? Facebook saw it — May 10th, Hour 1
Post a pic. Regret it. Delete it. Facebook tracked when teen girls did that, says a former company exec. Then, at that moment, it allegedly hit them with beauty ads. Plus, NYC tests crime-predicting AI and drivers want buttons back in cars. I also talk to Ken from Ohio, who says his Apple Watch saved his life.
‘Amazon Pet Day’ starts now
🐶 Don’t miss your chance to snag some barking good deals.
- Pet hair everywhere? This fur removal tool (15% off) scrapes it all away.
- Lavender-scented poop bags (23% off) sure make scoop duty easier.
- Grab a two-pack of containers (10% off) to roll and scoop your pet’s food.
- These rubber balls (45% off) are way better than your old tennis ones.
- Large pups? This back seat extender (33% off) holds up to 400 pounds.
- Take your cat anywhere in a backpack (14% off) with a built-in fan and light.
- Btw, no need to pay Apple prices for high-quality earbuds. These give you great sound, noise isolation and are 15% off.*
🦴 More to chew: Click here to see everything Amazon’s got for your furry friend in their full sale.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Kiddos under 13? Here’s how to create an Apple ID for them. Apple may ask for your credit card or state ID to confirm you’re an adult. Head to Settings > Family > Add Member > Create Child Account > Continue. Double-check their name and birthday. Changing it later is tricky.
Feeling the sting of sky-high cloud costs: Here’s a smart move — switch to Oracle. Companies are saving up to 50% on their cloud bills without sacrificing performance. Want to see how much you could save? Check it out for yourself.