Free and cheap police scanner apps for your phone

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If you wanted to listen to police radio chatter in the old days, you had to shell out a few hundred bucks at Radio Shack for a dedicated scanner. Now there’s an app for that. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tags: apps, choices, phone


Facebook's Instagram accused of illegal facial recognition scans of millions of users

Instagram is one of the most popular social networks on the planet, but are you familiar with who is running the platform? No, it’s not an independent company — it’s everyone’s favorite data aggregator: Facebook.

Unlike Facebook proper, Instagram has managed to steer clear of most of the reputational damage endured by its parent platform. Plus, as a visually-focused medium, it’s a lot more obvious when you’re being marketed to on Instagram than it is on Facebook. Tap or click here to see why it feels like there are more ads on Instagram nowadays.

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Privacy warning: 5 video doorbells failed security tests - See the list

Smart doorbells are growing in popularity, and they’re more readily available than ever. Between Ring, Nest and numerous other competitors, securing your home has never been easier.

But how “secure” are these security devices, exactly? While they may keep us aware of threats to our homes and families in real life, not all of them can handle threats from the digital realm. Tap or click here to see the security settings you need to change on your video doorbell.

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Scientists tested 14 different face masks - see the winners and losers

Over the past few months, face masks have become part of a community effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Despite the fact that masks are now required in many public spaces, there isn’t a hard rule on which masks people should choose.

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Microsoft gets back into the smartphone game with $1,400 foldable gadget

Do you remember the Windows Phone? Back in the halcyon days of 2010, Microsoft launched a line of smartphones designed to be cross-compatible with its own desktop operating system. While the hardware and software designs were nice, reception to these products was decidedly mixed.

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Online fraud is skyrocketing – Can you guess where most of it comes from?

The Justice Department recently shut down hundreds of sites for defrauding customers with fake hand sanitizer and disinfectant sales. The sellers, based out of Vietnam, tricked tens of thousands of customers into making purchases that never arrived, and got away with it by using PayPal and fake UPS tracking numbers to conceal their crimes.

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The 5 best smartwatches you can buy right now

We all know the terrible feeling that comes from hearing your phone hit the ground after it’s fallen out of your pocket or hand. The thud and smack from the device hitting the tile or concrete evokes an unrivaled feeling of dread, and picking it up off the ground to find your screen has been shattered is even worse.

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TikTok caught tracking user data. Another nail in the coffin?

TikTok has been a hot-button topic in the news as of late. On one hand, the app is more popular than ever — with more than 100 million registered users in the U.S. alone. On the other, the app has become a security concern for the U.S. government due to threats of espionage and data collection from Chinese government affiliates.

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Recalled onions behind massive salmonella outbreak

Updated 08/13/20: with new details.

The coronavirus pandemic is still raging on, months after the outbreak began. And depending on which part of the country you live in, things are worse now than ever.

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Can you beat this tricky color perception test?

How is your eyesight holding up? Do you still see clearly as you did in your youth? Most of us have at least a little bit of blurred vision when we get older so it’s a good idea to have your eyes checked regularly.

But, going to an eye doctor doesn’t sound like the best idea these days. Instead, why not take an eye test right from the comfort of home? Tap or click here to find out how.

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Tech tip: The best ways to back up your Mac

It might feel like we all have our heads in the cloud when it comes to backing up and sharing data. Mac users store their files in iCloud or Dropbox or through other cloud backup services. But there’s still a need for actual physical backup drives, and you will want one that’s a good match for your Mac.

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