📚 Turn “da-da” into data: Get your kiddo ready for the future (and AI) with these 30 free STEM resources. The list includes apps, games and classes to teach youngsters stuff like coding, aeronautics, mathematics and, yes, data science. You could have the next little Elon.
This hidden setting stops fraud in its tracks
ChatGPT
Here’s something you probably don’t know. Your banking app is packed with credit card tools that can help you fight fraud, track every dollar and even shop safer online.
Yep, your boring old banking app is secretly a money-smart ninja. You just haven’t poked around enough.
Let’s activate some life-upgrade-level settings right now.
Figure out where all your money’s going
Most major banking apps (Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Wells Fargo, you name it) have a built-in spending breakdown feature. No more wondering where your money went. You can literally see that $73 you spent on food delivery last week in one sad, colorful chart.
For example, I didn’t realize I was personally funding Nordstrom’s entire Q1 earnings. Here’s how to find it:
- Open your app and go to your credit card.
- Look for words like “Spending Summary,” “Insights,” or “Trends.”
- Boom, there’s your pie chart. (Mine always looks like a pizza with “Tech Gadgets” and “Clothes” as toppings.)
Try changing the date range to see your habits over time. Want to get really scared? Look at a full year.
Next, set up alerts
This one’s a no-brainer. You can set up alerts for every time your card is used. Whether it’s $5 at a gas station or $500 on mystery electronics in a country you’ve never visited.
Here’s how to turn them on in banks’ mobile apps. I gave you steps, but if you need extra help, hit the links:
- Bank of America: Press Inbox > Bank of America inbox > Quick Setup or Custom Setup > Allow > Account Activity.
- Capital One: Tap your card > Instant Purchase Notification.
- Chase: Select the person icon > Manage alerts.
- Wells Fargo: Go to your card > Manage > Manage alerts.
Food companies hate this app
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Healthy eating isn’t just trending, it’s something I’ve lived my whole life. I read every label, choose organic whenever I can and try to never eat processed foods. Knowing what’s going into your body matters, and I’ve always believed that.
How to find 'the one' on dating apps
Tricks that increase your chance of finding the right person by a whopping 40%.
A grave situation: People are turning to grief apps like Untangle to cope with the loss of loved ones. These apps let you connect with other mourners, share stories and get advice from AI chatbots. But what about data collection? Many of the apps’ developers sell your info to third parties, who could exploit your mental state.
Tech how-to: Check your phone for signs someone is watching
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I get so many calls during my national radio show and DMs from folks who think they’re being stalked. Sometimes, the person is seeing signs that aren’t there. Other times, it’s clear there’s something going on. It’s not surprising, given how easy it is for tech to watch someone’s movements.
Delete location sharing apps – How to share in the ones you use
Support.Google.com, Apple.com
Location sharing helps you worry less. Whether your friend’s late for dinner, your kid’s almost home or your partner’s on the way from the airport, it sure beats sending a bunch of texts back and forth.
The bad news is more and more location-sharing apps have been caught selling your data to third parties. You don’t need a separate app for location sharing; it’s baked right into the apps you already use.
📸 Snap and convert: Apple’s HEIC photo format saves space but is a headache to open on a Windows PC. Switch your iPhone camera settings to JPG to fix it. Go to Settings > Camera > Formats and pick Most Compatible. Then, head back to Settings > Apps > Photos and choose Automatic (under Transfer to Mac or PC) so it’s always compatible.
Tip tap: Navigate with just your keyboard. On a PC, hit the Windows key + T to highlight the first icon on your taskbar, then use the arrow keys to move through the bar. Press Enter to open an app. On Mac, hold down Cmd + Tab for a list of open apps. Use the arrows to navigate, and release the keys when you reach the one you want.
Most accurate weather apps depending on where you live
© Irina Igumnova | Dreamstime.com, play.google.com, weather.com
I was talking to my brother, who got 7 inches of snow in Florida the other day. Wow!
We’re on the edge of a weather forecasting revolution. Google’s AI weather forecasting system, GenCast, can predict as far out as 15 days with up to 97% accuracy. We’re entering the age where severe weather will no longer surprise anyone.
Nosy, nosy: On your iPhone, bring up a list of all the apps with access to your contacts. Open Settings > Privacy & Security > Contacts. Tap Limited Access for any that shouldn’t get every little detail.
Quick tech cleanup: Do this every 3 months
© Iakov Filimonov | Dreamstime.com
When was the last time you cleaned up your digital life? It’s not fun, but just a few minutes of physical and digital decluttering can work wonders. It boosts productivity, clears mental clutter and leaves you feeling like you’ve done something great. Ready? Let’s do this!
Clear your iPhone’s browsing data: It’s a quick and easy way to improve performance and privacy in one swoop. Open Settings > Apps > Safari > Clear History and Website Data. Then, choose the timeframe and tap Clear History to confirm. Surf on, dude.
Steer clear: Willow, a company that fronts bill money to customers, left over 240,000 private records in a non-password-protected database. It included customers’ names, numbers, transaction amounts, bank account details and partial credit card numbers. This is why I never recommend hot, new finance apps.
Delete programs you don’t use: On a Windows PC, click the Start menu button and look for the app or program. Press and hold (or right-click) on it and select Uninstall. On a Mac, click the Finder icon in your dock, then Applications. Drag the program you’re done with to the Trash.
🔋 Battery-saving tip: Background App Refresh lets apps update in the background so they’re always ready when you open them. Handy, right? But it drains your battery and data. If your older phone is chugging, try turning off this feature. On iPhone, go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and switch it off for some apps or completely. On Android, head to Settings > Apps > [app name] > Battery > Background Activity and turn it off for specific apps.
Talk about great coverage: The state of Texas sued Allstate. They say the insurance company paid app developers millions of dollars to sneak in their code, then tracked 45 million folks’ locations. The apps the lawsuit names include Fuel Rewards, GasBuddy, Life360 and Allstate-owned Routely. I’m sure this happened in all states, not just Texas.
🤢 This is gross: Creepy AI apps are allowing folks to create videos of real people making out without their consent, like this one, which uses a picture of a young girl and her older male crush. These videos can be generated in seconds. The worst part? Most of these apps are listed as safe for teens in the app stores. YouCam, Fotorama and Mova AI are just a few examples.
How to protect your teen from scammers
Got a teen at home? Scammers have them in their sights! From shady AI apps to influencer scams, here’s how to keep your kids safe.
⭐ Gold star: You take a picture, thinking, “Wow, this is a winner,” and you never see it again. In your photo app, look for the heart or star icon. This adds an image to your favorites. It works with your music apps, too.