Quick privacy tip: Task Manager on a Windows PC and Activity Monitor on a Mac can give you an overview of everything happening on your machine. On a PC, hit Ctrl + Shift + Esc. Click the Processes tab. On a Mac, hit Cmd + spacebar to open Spotlight Search. Then, type Activity Monitor and press Enter. See anything weird? Google it before you panic.
How the government spies on you
When I shared my tip on opting out of the Transportation Security Administration’s new facial recognition tech at airports the other week, I got a ton of questions. First and foremost, though, a lot of you said, “I didn’t know I could do that.”
You can and you should (steps below). But your face isn’t the only data metric the government collects about you. Here are a few things we know they know.
What you look like and where you are
Many other places use facial recognition, like grocery stores, banks, sports and concert venues. I’m pretty sure you’ve gone to at least one of those in the past year.
Government AI tools add pictures you’ve shared on social media to a facial-recognition database that’s then paired with CCTV cameras everywhere. This tech can pinpoint your location, associations and activities with creepy precision.
Who you’re talking to (and what you’re saying)
After 9/11, Congress enabled warrantless monitoring of foreign communications. The National Security Agency (NSA) exploits a loophole to conduct mass surveillance of Americans, too.
They copy some info directly from fiber-optic cables (crazy, right?) and get other stuff from companies like Google. They also have access to real-time internet activity with a “secret” program called XKeyscore.
What you’re posting and who you’re following
The government monitors Facebook, X, Instagram and all the rest. Even if your account is private, the government can ask companies for access. Remember, friend: What you post on social media is out there forever.
What you’re buying and browsing
Data brokers buy info from your internet service provider, Big Tech companies and even smart appliance manufacturers. Then, they package it up and sell it to advertisers — and the U.S. government. This is another reason to get your personal information out of all these invasive databases.
Shocker: Google is tracking you this secret way
Big Tech makes big money by tracking what you do online. You may have heard of tracking pixels, cookies and scripts. I bet you didn’t know that fonts can track you, too.
Google gives away special fonts for website owners to use. At last count, they’re installed on over 60 million websites.
Wells Fargo fires employees for faking work
Over a dozen workers were caught faking keyboard activity and using mouse jigglers to look busy. Plus, CVS recalls 133 medications, the controversial Windows Recall faces a delay, and a must-know site for those wary of flying Boeing planes.
2 hours of TV
Can decrease your odds of healthy aging by 12%. Researchers studied the activity of 45,000 people age 50 and older for 20 years. The data was striking: Replacing just one hour of TV with light physical activity can increase your chance of aging without chronic illness or impairment. So, get off your butt already!
Security tip: Unlink third-party apps from your Microsoft account
Connecting your Google account to multiple devices gives you access to services like Gmail and Google Maps, no matter where you are. But be careful to check this when selling your phone or giving away your laptop. Here’s how to remove devices from your Google account.
How to clean up junk files on your Android
Unless you’re a professional photographer, there’s not much need to carry a camera. Your smartphone is quite advanced and can be used for anything from point-and-shoot images to full-on photoshoots. That said, the pros can work wonders with a phone camera.
Prison changes a man: About two weeks after his arrest in France, Telegram’s CEO says it’s not fair he was held responsible for others’ criminal activity on his app. Still, he calls it his “personal goal” to fix the problems. Step 1: Telegram’s updated FAQ page says users’ private chats are no longer protected from moderation. Cry me a river. Way too little, way too late.
Sweet dreams are made of cheese, so who am I diss a brie? Imagine being able to watch a video of your dreams. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging scanners, it could happen. We’ve already linked brain activity to visual experiences during sleep. Collect enough data, train an AI to decode the patterns and, boom, dreamy videos.
💬 Add Instagram captions to your story: Click the + (plus) icon on your profile pic, and then tap the Stickers icon and select Captions. FYI: You can also get automatic captions for stories and reels on your feed. Just open Settings and activity > Accessibility > Captions and translations and toggle on Captions.
Your marriage and Apple's new hidden iPhone folder
This fall, Apple is releasing iOS 18 for free. Some believe it will help cheaters hide their activities.
🌎 A Swedish joke? There’s Norway I can Finnish it: Scientists developed an AI-enabled bilingual brain implant. One stroke survivor communicates in Spanish and English. It uses neural network technology, essentially a decoding system that transforms brain activity into sentences in both languages. Amazing.
Don’t live in the past (or, if you do, erase it): You went down the Facebook rabbit hole while snooping on an ex and you want to wipe away the last 20 minutes of your search history. Log into Facebook on your browser and tap your profile picture. Select Settings & Privacy > Activity Log. Click Logged actions and other activity, then Search history. Tap Clear Searches.
Quick privacy tip: Task Manager on a Windows PC and Activity Monitor on a Mac can give you an overview of everything happening on your machine. On a PC, hit Ctrl + Shift + Esc. Click the Processes tab. On a Mac, hit Cmd + spacebar to open Spotlight Search. Then, type Activity Monitor and press Enter. See anything weird? Google it before you panic.
🐽 Memory hogs: Sometimes, your system runs background apps that can tax your device’s CPU and RAM. If you’re on a Mac, check the Activity Monitor and turn off any CPU-sucking apps. On a PC, check Task Manager. Get in-depth steps here. Oh, you’re gonna be glad you did!
Lost the thread: Neuralink says its brain chip has already malfunctioned in its first human patient. Some of the “threads” — hair-thin electrodes meant to monitor his brain activity — stopped working. Neuralink tweaked the chip’s algorithm and now says its performance is “better than ever.” I hope this is true and not PR BS.
IHOP's pancake AI, death vids on YT & Atari is back
Plus, I talk to Doug from Chicago, IL, who manages his own WiFi through a company-supplied laptop. He wonders how much his employer can see of his family’s online activity. The dangers of selling online and three free Photoshop alternatives you should know about.
Cheap and easy-to-use hacking tools put you at more risk than ever
Phishing attacks, ransomware and data breaches have been ramping up over the last few years and threatening our digital lives more than ever before.
You don’t need to be a professional hacker living off the grid in a remote location guzzling energy drinks while you ply your crooked trade. Hacker toolkits are available online for anyone to purchase and they’re shockingly cheap and easy to use.
Posting pics of kids on social media: Do’s and don'ts
What started as a fun way to keep in touch with friends and family has devolved into a hotbed of fake news, scams, data breaches cyberbullying and little to no privacy.
Social media has come a long way from its roots, and most news is bad. But it’s one thing to put yourself out there and another to post information about your children. Social media on its own is harmful to children without your involvement. Don’t make it worse. Consider this your tech etiquette lesson of the day.