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How to run a 5-minute privacy check on your phone

We’ve all got a lot of sensitive info on our phones — texts with loved ones, banking details, passwords and family photos. You don’t want anyone snooping around, whether it’s an app maker on the other side of the world or the guy sitting behind you at the coffee shop.

Take five minutes to run this privacy audit, then pat yourself on the back for a job well done.

Check your permissions

Apps request permissions, and the most important are your phone’s location, camera and microphone. Any apps you allow to access these had better be ones you trust. To check:

Apple iPhone: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security, and scroll down to Microphone. Then, tap Location Services for Camera.
Google Pixel: Open Settings > Security and privacy > Privacy > Permission manager.
Samsung Galaxy: Head to Settings > Security and privacy > Permission manager.

Lock down everything

Your lock screen is an effective barrier to keep out others, and everyone should use one. Whether it’s your PIN, fingerprint or face, anything is better than nothing.

Apple iPhone: Set this up via Face ID & Passcode.
Google Pixel: Head to Settings > Security and privacy > Device unlock.
Samsung Galaxy: Under Settings, look for Lock screen and AOD.

You’ll also want your phone to lock as soon as possible when you’re not using it.

Apple iPhone: Under Settings, choose Display & Brightness > Auto-Lock.
Google Pixel: Head to Settings > Display > Screen timeout.
Samsung Galaxy: From your settings, tap Display > Screen timeout.

Keep out strangers

The short-range transfer tech built into iOS and Android is super handy when you need to share something with a friend or relative. But what if you don’t want strangers pinging you with unwanted photos, videos and other files?

Continue reading →

Fun kitchen gadgets

🍝 Because you guys and gals freakin’ loved the Fasta Pasta …

Transform your boring work sammy with a microwave panini maker (18% off). Did you know a microwave cake maker is a thing, too?
Get rid of the random jar of bacon grease. This grease strainer and collector ($17) is dishwasher-safe and won’t melt.
If you also hate throwing away half-full cans, soda can lids (25% off) to the rescue. I’m totally bringing these to the beach for my seltzers.
Slicing a banana is easy. What’d make it even easier? A banana slicer (39% off, $7). Good for kiddos!
I found this pancake batter dispenser because I’m not ready to say au revoir to crepes after a week in Paris. If anyone has a good recipe, let me know.

🏃💸 Don’t forget about Amazon’s Winter Sale! This sweet dashcam is 40% off, plus another $20 off if you click the coupon.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

🥳 Plan less, party more: Here’s an AI prompt for the next time you’re planning a party: “Create a party checklist that includes invitations, decorations, food and entertainment for a [type of party] with [number of guests], along with [special requests].” Have fun.

I bet you’re in this database: A Russian hacker who stole the location data of millions of people from Gravy Analytics is bragging on a hacker forum. Forensics specialists who’ve seen the 1.4 gigabytes of leaked info say it seems like the real thing, not just boasting or threats. I’ll keep you updated.

✈️ “Delayed Even Longer Than American”: Yup, I’m talking about Delta. Coming in 2026, all Delta cabins (even economy) will get Bluetooth and 4K seatback screens. The airline’s Delta Concierge AI bot will help you navigate airports, remind you when your passport expires and give packing tips. Great, just what we need … one more Delta acronym meaning: Delivering Everyone Late To Atlanta!

The email trick that keeps Nvidia’s CEO on top

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Jensen Huang uses a “top five emails” system to manage 60+ direct reports, stay informed, and get results. Here’s how it works — and why it’s a game-changer.

10,000 hours

Saved by Chick-fil-A’s lemon-squeezing robots. Their giant California factory churns through 1.6 million pounds of lemons a day in just 45 minutes. Talk about poultry in motion.

I’d be scared if I owned Evite: Invites was spotted in Apple’s iOS 18.3 beta code. It looks to be specifically for organizing meetings and tracking RSVPs for in-person events, not just another Calendar app.

🚀 Growing your team in 2025? Post your next job for free on LinkedIn and use their tools that make sorting through the pile of resumes that come in so easy.

Own a Kindle? Amazon’s Send to Kindle page rocks. Use it to upload a file from your computer to your e-reader, or use the tabs on the right for instructions to email or send just about any other way you can think of.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

If you always have to help your robo-vac find its home: Your base station is probably in the wrong spot. For the best results, put it against a wall on flat ground with two to three feet of clearance to either side and about five feet of clearance in front. Those little vacs need space!

She poses as a teen girl to stop sexual predators

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Roo Powell leads SOSA (Safe from Online Sex Abuse) and goes undercover as a teen with wigs, fake braces, and a staged bedroom. She works with police to catch men targeting kids online. Her work has led to over 70 arrests — every parent should know about this.

💬 Netflix search is smart: You don’t have to know the name of the show or movie to find it. You can type in an actor, genre or term, too — or go total spy mode and check out the secret Netflix category codes.

⚠️ “Evil twin” attacks: That’s when scammers set up a public Wi‑Fi network where folks are already logging on, like an airport or coffee shop. The goal is to get you to connect so they can intercept everything you type — social media logins, credit card numbers and personal data. Always ask staff for the exact Wi‑Fi network, and use a VPN to encrypt your internet traffic. My pick is ExpressVPN.

$200 reward

For reporting traffic offenders. In Vietnam, chaotic roads caused 30 deaths per day last year, so authorities got creative. Anyone who turns in a rulebreaker gets 5 million dong (about $200), or 10% of the offender’s fine. No one’s cashed in yet because the fear of being reported actually has drivers following the rules. Snitches get riches.

🤑 The art of the deal: Amazon just dropped $40 million for a behind-the-scenes documentary about Melania Trump that will debut in theaters, then stream on Prime Video. Her story is incredible. Now, this is the weird part: The film’s director is Brett Ratner, who’s been MIA since 2017, when he was hit with numerous sexual misconduct allegations that forced Warner Bros. to cancel his $450 million contract.

Free templates: The ones built into Google aren’t lame anymore. Really! Start a new Google Doc. (Shortcut: In your browser’s address bar, type doc.new and hit Enter.) Then, click Templates, Meeting Notes or Email Draft to browse the options. Once you choose one, hit the menu in the upper left to see all the pages and options.

More like Cost of Duty: How much money does it take to make a video game? Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (2020) had a $700 million budget, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) cost over $640 million. For perspective, the “Avengers: Endgame” movie only cost $356 million to make. If they’re spending that kind of money, they’re making three times that at least.

Look to Japan: There’s a global nursing shortage, and in Japan, they’ve come up with a solution. Nursing homes there are using robots for tasks like moving patients and monitoring vitals. So far, it’s a win for everyone.

Crypto job scam: It starts with a random message on Telegram or LinkedIn offering you a few hundred bucks a week to be a beta tester, chat moderator or NFT artist. Click the links and you’re infected with malware that looks for crypto on your computer. Don’t even think about replying.