The Google Play Store just pulled a dangerous app with 10 million downloads. Is it on your phone? Plus, the mother of all data leaks could put you at risk and a cautionary tale before you fall asleep with earbuds in. Then, the team dives into digital photo storage and a Valentine’s Day gift no one wants.
Tech Refresh: Delete this app, AirPods mishap, photo storage 101
All the secrets your car is collecting - Part 1
Your car is collecting your data. And if you’ve been driving unsafely, cops can steal that data away. Law enforcement leaders are already using your car’s secrets to track down criminals. If you’re ever accused of a crime, your car could be used against you. So, what exactly does your car know about you? And how is this legal? Find out in today’s episode. I’m sitting down with Chelsey Colbert. She works as Policy Counsel at the Future of Privacy Forum, where she leads the portfolio on mobility and location data. You’ll learn all you need to know about the surprising twists and turns of car data.
Tech Refresh: Search scams, Apple's privacy dud, vaccine selfies
Apple’s new app privacy labels are here. So far, they’re not all they’re cracked up to be. Plus, a reason to think twice before posting a certain photo if you got the vaccine. We’ve got details on a big upgrade to Google Maps for Android, and a deep dive into food delivery. And can Ben break his Brand New or Not True losing streak?
Inside Amazon: Data tracking, making money and how you can capitalize
Amazon just had its most profitable year yet. Want to get in on the action? Third-party sellers made up around half of those sales. Find out how you can make money on Amazon, too. Kim takes a look at how the e-commerce giant uses the troves of data on what sells to craft its own product line. All that and more with guest Jason Boyce, author of “The Amazon Jungle: The Truth About Amazon, The Seller’s Survival Guide for Thriving on the World’s Most Perilous E-Commerce Marketplace.” Jason has nearly 20 years of experience as a seller on Amazon and is the founder of Avenue7Media.
Tech Refresh: Facebook hack, goodbye cookies, new Alexa uses
This week, a ruling on whether iPhone’s MagSafe chargers and medical devices mix, Facebook in hot water yet again and Google’s plan to replace internet cookies. In the tech tip, Ben has the answer on just how often you should restart your computer. And can Allie win again in Brand New or Not True?
Tech neck and broken brains: The physical toll tech takes on us
Take a look at your phone. You probably carry it with you everywhere you go. That takes an enormous toll over time. You can get premature neck wrinkles. You could even get a crippled attention span. Today we’re opening your eyes to the little-known impacts our tech takes on our bodies. You won’t believe some of this stuff!
Tech Refresh: Missing stimulus checks, delete these apps, bad tech habits
In this episode, the steps you can take if your stimulus money hasn’t arrived, Android apps spamming phones with ads, and a dangerous charger recall. Then, see if Ben can defeat Mike and Allie in Brand New or Not True. And a deep dive into the bad tech habits the team is trying to break in 2021.
Photos clogging up your phone? How to organize your pictures in a snap
In the age of smartphone cameras, it’s easy to amass a mountain of pictures. But how much do you really need them? And how do you organize thousands of pictures? In this episode, Kim and Mike give you all the secrets to conquer your smartphone’s photo albums. You’ll also learn the surprising ways AI can sort your pictures for you!
Tech Refresh: Parler banned, CES favorites, browser bug
Allie, Ben and Mike dive into the tech news of the week, including the timeline behind the Parler ban, their favorite tech of CES 2021 and a major bug impacting Chrome, Edge and Firefox. Plus, Brand New or Not True, getting your photos off Facebook and the scam of the week.
SEO secrets: How to get more web traffic, more leads and more revenue
There are few words that strike fear into the hearts of digital professionals quite like the term SEO. It stands for “search engine optimization,” and it’s the secret that stands between you and website traffic. In this episode, Kim sits down with SEO expert Steve Wiideman. He’s worked with tons of brands — think Applebee’s, IHOP and Skechers. He knows how to launch a brand online, and he’s got the insider secrets to help you transform your website into a traffic magnet.
Tech Refresh: PayPal scam, COVID conspiracy theory, Alexa tips
Ben, Allie and Mike dive into the new year in tech news, including a COVID conspiracy theory too ridiculous not to share, price hikes coming to cable and internet bills, and a highly-convincing PayPal scam. Plus, tips for your new Amazon Echo and the scam of the week courtesy of the FBI. Find out if Ben can fool Allie and Mike in Brand New or Not True.
Tracking down Dark Web criminals
Go past the websites you visit every day, into the depths of the Dark Web. You’ll find marketplaces selling ransomware, kits to start your own phishing campaign and even hackers for hire. In this episode, Kim is joined by top cybersecurity pro John Hammond of Huntress. Find out how he tracks down Dark Web criminals and the real-life consequences.
Mostly Harmless: The internet mystery of a dead man, solved
Two years ago, hikers found a dead man in a tent. A year before that, he had left his tech job, with no phone or identification, to find peace on the Appalachian Trail. We told you the story late last year. In this Best Of episode, Kim dives into the mystery that captivated the internet, with a brand new update on what happened to the man who called himself “Mostly Harmless.”
Hollywood magic meets AI: Robot stars, AI scripts and high-tech SFX
Can robots write movie scripts? Actually, they already are. But how widespread is the use of AI in movie-making? In this episode, Kim breaks open some Hollywood secrets. Sit down with two digital movie professionals who use artificial intelligence every day. In this episode, you’ll learn all about the starring role AI programs play in your favorite films. It goes a lot deeper than you realize.
Hacked accounts and stolen data: What to do when your info is leaked
Get an inside look into Have I Been Pwned? — one of the best tools at your disposal when it comes to protecting yourself online. It’s the world’s largest database of stolen login information. In this Best Of episode, Kim talks to the man behind it, Troy Hunt, to give you a step-by-step guide on what you can do if your info has been compromised. Don’t miss this deep dive into online security, no IT degree required.
Where the jobs are and the skills you need to find one
This year marked a huge shift in the economy, the workforce and the ways we work. Whether you work for someone else or own your own company, you have to know where we’re headed and the skills that will pay the bills in 2021. In this Best Of episode, Kim talks with LinkedIn’s Principal Economist, Dr. Guy Berger. They dive into this changing world to tell you where the jobs are and what you need to know to get one.
Tech Refresh: FTC has questions for Big Tech, goodbye to Flash, top kitchen gadgets
This week, the team from Komando.com breaks down the FTC order to Big Tech companies and what it could reveal about how your data is used. Plus, it’s time to say goodbye to internet icon Adobe Flash, and package and shipping delays are officially here. And Allie pulls out all the stops to fool Mike and Ben in Brand New or Not True.
Inside the Dark Web: Biggest scams to watch for in 2021
Beneath the internet where you spend time working, playing, streaming and browsing is the Dark Web — where you can buy everything from malware to entire dossiers of personal information for much less than you might imagine. In this podcast, Kim explores the Dark Web, the biggest scams of 2020, and scams on the horizon for 2021 with Etay Maor, Chief Security Officer at IntSights. Find out what you must do to keep your system secure and red flags to watch for.
Crazy Facebook conspiracy theory, Apple's $550 headphones, vaccine scams
Allie, Ben and Mike dive into the week in tech news, including a crazy conspiracy theory making the rounds on social media, Apple’s shockingly expensive new headphones and a game-changing app from Google. Can Ben fool Allie and Mike in Brand New or Not True? And the inspiring story of an Amazon driver who saved a man’s life.
How music therapy changes lives to creating the perfect playlist
Think about just how powerful music is. The right song can make you laugh, dance, cry or sing. But did you know music can be deeply healing, too? Music therapy is being used to treat patients with cancer, Parkinson’s, MS and Alzheimer’s. In this podcast, Kim sits down with Joy Allen, chair of Berklee College of Music’s Music Therapy Department. She shares more about the power of song, and you’ll learn to come up with the best playlist for where you are in life.