If you haven’t upgraded to a new Apple device in a while, pay attention. Apple is warning customers older iPhones and iPads could break if you don’t take this essential step. And we’re talking fast — as in this weekend.
How to freeze your credit for free - and why you should
Good credit equals financial freedom. It allows you to purchase assets like a car or home. What does a poor credit rating get you? A borrowed vehicle and a sleeping area in mom and dad’s basement.
One way to avoid bad credit is to be financially responsible and watch your credit reports. When you review your reports, pay attention to late payments, accounts in collections and defaults on loans that can wreak havoc on your credit score. Other detrimental entries include bankruptcy or a data breach.
Unfortunately, data breaches strike often and can destroy your credit. Tap or click to see how bad these breaches can be. One way to prevent damage from this type of exploit is to freeze your credit.
Data breach 101
So, what exactly is a data breach? A data breach occurs when information is accessed, taken or used by an individual, application or service without authorization.
Hackers gain access to a trove of data, and companies are left to clean up the damage. The 3 billion-plus Yahoo records compromised between 2012-2016 earned the company the top spot on the top 10 worst data breaches of all time. Tap or click here to learn more about that awful situation.
The most sought-after information includes Social Security numbers, bank information, credit card numbers, driver’s license numbers, medical records, passwords and other sensitive data.
According to Risk Based Security, 2019 is slated to be the worst year on record for breach activity. Its 2019 MidYear Data Breach QuickView Report for the first half of 2019 indicates more than 3,800 breaches took place through June 30. These breaches exposed 4.1 billion-plus records.
The number of breaches increased by 54% since 2018. The report further notes three of the 2019 breaches made the list of largest breaches of all time.
What is a credit freeze? Does it impact your credit score?
This free tool, commonly referred to as a security freeze, restricts access to your credit report and makes it harder for identity thieves to open new accounts in your name. You need to freeze your credit with each of the three major credit reporting agencies: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.
And no, a credit freeze doesn’t affect your credit score. Here’s what else you need to know:
How to stop robocalls with free solutions from AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint
Robocalls have tormented us for years. They’ve interrupted our conversations, dominated our work lines and spread erroneous information across the country. The nation’s Do Not Call registry is pretty worthless at stopping them.
Kim Komando on how to find out who’s blocking you, check for iPad malware, call anonymously and more: Tech Q&A
Each week, I receive tons of questions from my listeners about tech concerns, new products and all things digital.
Sometimes, choosing the most interesting questions to highlight is the best part of my job.
Kim recommends: Dash cams and dash cam apps
On the July 13, 2019, episode of The Kim Komando Show, a caller asked about dash cam technology to install on his vehicles to help with some family issues.
Kim recommended that you can find dash cams for over $100, but you don’t need to spend that much. She also recommended to the caller that he and his wife try dash cam apps for their smartphones or smart devices.
Apple's new iPhone 11, online safety tips from a hacker, 20 ways to make money online
Apple unveiled its new fall product lineup, including the iPhone 11, and Kim answers your top 5 questions. Amazon’s relationship with local police forces is growing through the Ring doorbell video network, and it could impact your privacy. Meet a white-hat hacker who shows Kim just how easy it is to fall victim to a phishing scam — and she’s got the pro tips on how to stay safe. Plus, a startup CEO fighting crime in neighborhoods across the country. And 20 ways to make extra cash online, on your schedu
Don't buy a new iPhone ... yet
In the market for a new phone, laptop, or TV? Not so fast. Now might not be the best time to pull the trigger. I’ll tell you how to time your purchases so you’re always on the cutting edge.
A faulty iPhone battery leads to a scary situation
All phone batteries and accessories aren’t created equal. An Oklahoma City mom learned that the hard way when the inside of her SUV was severely damaged after her iPhone went up in flames. I’ll tell you how to avoid accidents like this one.
Watch out for 'Air Dropping'!
Say you’re sitting at a coffee shop, minding your own business and scrolling through your iPhone. Suddenly you start getting funny memes, selfies and other crazy stuff. You look up to see a group of teens laughing at you. Yep, you’ve been “Air Dropped.” The kids can troll you any place within Bluetooth and Wi-Fi range. Here’s how you can get the last laugh!
Grab millions of free e-books for your summer reading
What’s on your summer reading list? OpenLibrary.org is the largest online library with millions of books available for free download. It’s part of the Internet Archive, creators of the Wayback Machine, which crawls and indexes billions of web pages.
Former FBI, CIA director takes on a phone scammer
Robocalls and phone scammers are getting worse. Most are merely annoying, but some can be terrifying, like the scammer who threatened to kill Lynda and William Webster. Webster’s name may sound familiar: He’s the former head of the FBI and CIA. Everyone is a target for scammers, from the average person to the powerful.
Urgent! Update to iOS 12.2 now – It has 50-plus critical security patches
If you’re an Apple fan, it’s an exciting time. Earlier this week, the company held another reveal event. But this time, it didn’t focus on all of its new shiny gadgets.
Instead, we learned about a bunch of new services. AppleTV+, Apple News, Apple Arcade, and there’s even a new Apple credit card in the works.
Smart home tips from a guy who did it and lived to tell
You’ve decided to upgrade your home to a smart home but, where do you start? Maybe some smart lightbulbs or a smart thermostat? Should you use an Amazon Alexa, Google Home or Apple Home Pod to connect your devices?
Apple's ad is a big fat lie
Apple does not attend the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas as and exhibitor, but they do have a presence. The problem is, it’s a big fat lie. In this episode of Consumer Tech Update, Kim compares what Apple’s ad is saying to the reality of how secure a person’s data is on an iPhone.
Need to stop a carjacker? There's an app for that.
If you have an iPhone, you’re probably familiar with the “Find My iPhone” app. Turns out, it can do more than just find your missing phone. In this episode of Consumer Tech Update, Kim looks at the story of a man who used the “Find My iPhone” app to find his stolen car.
Siri tips, tricks, and shortcuts
Siri has been a part of the iPhone since 2011 and has come a long way in the past 7 years. Starting as a voice recognition program, Siri has advanced to new levels and functionality. In this episode of Consumer Tech Update, Kim gives some tips and tricks to show how helpful Siri can really be.
You will be shocked by the true cost of an iPhone
Smartphones are expensive and everyone always wants to get the latest and greatest. But would you get a new smartphone knowing it would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars? In this episode of Consumer Tech Update, Kim looks at the true cost of owning the latest smartphone and the dollar amount is shocking.
Apple iOS 12 and what you need to know about Apple's latest operating system
Whether you are buying a new iPhone XS, XR, or XS Max or you are upgrading the system on your current iPhone, there are a lot of new features to Apple iOS 12. In this episode of Komando on Demand, Kim looks at the iOS 12 operating system’s features and enhancements that differentiate it from previous iOS versions. Kim also talks to Rob Walch from the “Today in iOS” podcast about some hidden tips and tricks of iOS 12 you might not know about.
The iPhone body cam
Apple wants Siri to be your ultimate personal assistant and has added a new feature that can allow it to follow a bunch of different commands… even when you get pulled over by the police. In this episode of Consumer Tech Update, Kim looks at how Siri can be set up to perform a series of commands for any situation.
Are new iPhones worth the money?
Apple unveiled its new iPhone models a little over a week ago and while having a few improvements, it might not be the best time to upgrade. In this episode of Consumer Tech Update, Kim compares the new iPhone X to its predecessors in order to see if it’s worth it to upgrade.