A lot of people think once their Airtag dies, they have to throw it away. I am here to bust that myth with 3 simple steps to change your Airtag battery. *No tools required
True or false: You need antivirus protection for your phone
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I wrote about tech myths recently and missed a big one: “Phones can’t get viruses.”
Of course they can! Your phone is basically a mini-computer and a prime target for hackers. Let’s break down how these threats work and where they come from.
Red flags your phone is infected
The signs vary depending on what your device is infected with, of course. But these symptoms spell trouble:
- Data spike? Malware could be eating up your bandwidth.
- Sluggish phone, crashing apps? Not a good sign.
- Random pop-ups? That’s classic malware behavior.
- Battery draining fast? Something shady could be running in the background.
- Phone overheating? Malware might be overworking it.
- Weird charges on your bill? You may be signed up for something you never agreed to.
- New apps you didn’t install? Hackers may have added them.
- Homepage or search engine changed? That’s a red flag.
- Friends getting odd messages from you? Your phone could be compromised.
- Random restarts or shutdowns? Malware loves to mess with your system.
OK, how’d that happen?
Malware, adware, spyware and all the other types of malicious software generally come from a few places.
🔗 You clicked on a malicious link that arrived through a phishing email, text, messaging or social media app, or spoofed website. Security 101: Never click on links or open attachments in unsolicited messages.
📲 You downloaded a bad app. Scammers are good at creating fraudulent apps that look like the real thing. While these can end up in the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, they’re most often distributed through third-party app sites. Only download apps from official app stores, please and thank you!
📶 You connected to public Wi-Fi. Cybercriminals can use public Wi-Fi to spy on unsuspecting users. They could steal your bank password, credit card details or Social Security number and infect your device with malware.
So, do you need antivirus software?
The answer is clear: Yes! While your phone has some built-in safeguards to protect you, the more help you can get, the better.
Wait, are public phone chargers dangerous?
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Those charging kiosks in airports, hotels and malls are so tempting when you’re out and about with a dying phone. Their owners promise they’re safe. The government disagrees, and so do I. Groan, I know.
Welcome to the newest phase of juice jacking. The phenomenon has been around for more than 10 years. Hackers use public phone-charging stations to upload malware to your devices. Then, they ransom your device or steal your passwords. Super-duper.
Blackout prep
⚡ The outage in Europe shows how it’s key to stay ready.
- Stay updated on emergency alerts with a hand-crank radio (11% off).
- Use a solar power charger power bank (36% off) to juice up with the sun.
- These emergency LEDs ($22) automatically light up when the power fails.
- Get a four-pack of rechargeable bulbs (20% off) that self-charge.
- Crack, shake and go for 12 hours with a 12-pack of glow sticks (13% off).
- No AC? This rechargeable portable fan (8% off) keeps the air moving.
- Keep warm with a 45-pack of hand and body warmers (40% off).
🪫 Don’t run on empty: Stock up on AA and AAA batteries from Duracell (19% off) or Energizer (23% off).
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
3 ways to charge your phone faster
Did you forget to power up your phone overnight? Here are some quick tips to help speed up your charging time so you can get back to full battery.
🍏 iPhone 16 details revealed: Apple announced the iPhone 16 lineup yesterday — bigger screens, improved camera specs and the “best battery life ever.” All models come with Apple Intelligence thanks to the A18 chip, plus studio-quality mics. Pro models get a 48MP ultrawide lens for pics (up from 12MP on the iPhone 15 Pro) and support 4K 120fps recording (pro quality). Preorders start this Friday, Sept. 13, and they’ll ship beginning on Sept. 20. Oh, and expect to spend $799 to $1,199.
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Tech on a budget: You don’t have to spend $200 or more for high-quality earbuds. Raycons have studio-quality sound and a whopping 32 hours of battery life, and they fit comfortably in every ear with precise fittings. Grab ‘em for 20% off (and free shipping!) at BuyRaycon.com/kim.
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