🌞 Hello, sunshine: It’s finally cooling down in Phoenix, which means more time spent exercising outside! The built-in step counter on your phone is just OK. The Map My Walk app is way more accurate. Try it for iPhone or Android.
Security tip: Next time you stay at a hotel, turn on your VPN

Did you know the average American spends more than 24 hours each week online? That is a considerable chunk of time.
If you’re one of many with multiple devices regularly accessing the internet, you probably know you need a secure connection to protect sensitive data. A virtual private network or VPN is the best way to do this.
But VPNs aren’t just crucial for protecting your home IP address. Here’s why Kim won’t ever leave home without our sponsor, ExpressVPN.
No more sketchy public Wi-Fi hotspots
Using public Wi-Fi hotspots is risky no matter where you go, and the potential consequences can be devastating. It doesn’t make a difference if you stay at a 5-star luxury hotel or have lunch at your neighborhood retro diner. You’re risking being victimized by cybercriminals.
Cybercriminals can intercept your connection and access your most important credentials and private data by setting up a fake Wi-Fi access point or just sitting nearby. You can feel secure logging into your banking websites and everything else with ExpressVPN. Your data stays private and secure.
Keep data private on all of your devices
An ExpressVPN subscription comes with easy-to-install apps for all of your devices. You can protect your PC, Mac, iPhone, Android and more.
You can install the app on unlimited devices and have up to five gadgets connected to one account simultaneously. That means you can protect your whole family while on the go.
It’s quick and easy to switch between gadgets. Simply disconnect one device to connect another.
Unrestricted access to all of your favorite content
After a long day of sightseeing, sometimes all you want to do is head back to your hotel room, pull up YouTube on your laptop and watch the latest video from your favorite cooking channel.
Small-biz tip: Don't overlook this digital danger

Are you the type of business owner who forgets about ex-employees as soon as they’re gone? Failing to remove former employees’ access to your systems and data could lead to security breaches. Don’t let poor offboarding practices be the weak link in your cybersecurity chain.
Stuck at the airport? Use this tech to take control
Fort Lauderdale and Miami led in holiday delays last year. Don’t let travel chaos ruin your plans — airline apps and knowing your rights can keep you in control.
🛑 Help during a bus driver shortage: School districts around the country are cutting bus routes big time. About 36% of students took a bus in 2017, but now, it’s only 28%. If you’re having trouble getting the kids to school, check out ride-hailing apps like the PiggyBack Network and HopSkipDrive.
8 ways your phone is tracking you - That you can stop now

You understand that your phone knows where you’re located. This is how GPS works, how Find My sees your location and why you get local ads on Facebook and Google. Like other data on your phone, that location data is a hot commodity for internet marketers.
Hiring or looking for a job? Upgrade your LinkedIn profile to stand out

When most people find themselves unemployed or are looking for a career change, they head to a job board. But have you heard of LinkedIn? It’s a social media platform with a twist.
LinkedIn also offers excellent options for those looking to hire employees who don’t want to wait for a sea of faceless applications to pour in. It provides prospective employees unique ways to stand out and gives companies a fresh way to look for new talent. Tap or click for smart things you should be doing with your LinkedIn profile.
Black Friday data grab
As you hunt for the best deals this weekend, don’t let shopping apps hunt for your personal data. Here’s how to shop smart while protecting your privacy.
Antivirus isn't just for your computer - Here's why you should protect your smartphone, too

You probably know that antivirus software is essential for your computer. Without it, you’re browsing without protection, exposing yourself to ransomware, viruses, Trojans, spyware and countless other threats. But your computer isn’t the only gadget that needs antivirus protection.
Speaking of Black Friday: Shopping apps offering exclusive deals ask for a whole lot of permissions tied to your data. Key permissions to watch: Location, camera, files, contacts and microphone. As a rule of thumb, reject unnecessary permissions; you can always grant them later if you actually need a specific feature in an app.
Out the door, dinosaur: Microsoft is ending support for its Windows Mail, Calendar and People apps. Starting Dec. 31, 2024, you’ll lose the ability to send and receive emails through Mail. Microsoft wants everyone on its new Outlook app. Here’s the official exporting guide for your Mail emails and contacts. FYI: The Outlook app is slow, so you might want to switch to a different email client altogether. Thunderbird is a good free option.
15 out-of-the-box ways to make extra cash from anywhere
By now, you probably know that you don’t have to leave home to make money. After all, many companies sent employees home to work during the pandemic. But even if you aren’t a salaried employee, you can still make a living from the comfort of your own home.
6 ways tech can solve life's little annoyances
Minor tech annoyances can seem small at the moment. But in the grand scheme of things, they can cause stress and wasted time. If you don’t want tech issues to have a significant impact, cut them off with these tech life hacks.
QR codes used in warfare
You won’t believe how powerful scanning one of these malicious QR codes is. Plus, the app that turned into a marketing nightmare, three must-have downloads and OpenAI’s duet shows just how far language models are coming.
5 free resources to grow your business

Entrepreneurs and small business owners need all the help they can get. When you’re a self-starter, you’re constantly on the go, multitasking and doing all you can to grow your company quickly. Luckily, there are a ton of free small business resources that can help you along the way.
National Cheeseburger Day 2024: Best apps for burger deals
Whether you prefer your burgers stacked high, smashed flat, or dripping with cheese, today is all about celebrating the king of fast food with some great deals.
Why you need a VPN (even if you're not tech-savvy)
When surfing the web, you might encounter a few confusing acronyms. Take VPN, for example. You might shrug and scroll past it if you don’t know what it means. Just like that, you could miss out on the best internet privacy tool.
How I avoided a $40K scam
Paul emailed me about a $39,500 invoice, demanding I pay up ASAP. The problem? I didn’t owe him a cent. Plus, AI is eyeing 60 million jobs, Gen Z is trauma dumping on TikTok, and a woman was rescued after falling 60 feet off a mountain thanks to her navigation app.
Heads-up, Gmail user: Starting Sept. 30, you won’t be able to use your Google Workspace account to log into third-party apps or devices that require only a username and password to sign up. If you see errors like “Invalid username,” “Invalid password” or “Unable to log in,” create a new account with the site instead of trying to log in with Google.
🤩 I’m a Barbie girl: For $129, you can have your very own hot pink flip phone that looks just like Barbie’s. Manufacturer HMD (the folks who own Nokia) call it a vacation, as in no social media apps — just calls, texts and a 5MP camera. Accessories include stick-on charms, vintage Barbie stickers and a beaded strap. Preorders open Sept. 23. People want it so badly that they’re lining up in a Barbie queue.