Find your family tree without compromising your data

Seven million 23andMe customers thought they were just getting insights into their family history — instead, they got their data hacked

It went beyond names and addresses. Hackers got their hands on DNA genotypes, predispositions to certain conditions and carrier status. And they were able to hunt down genetic relatives for millions of 23andMe customers. So scary.

Here’s the good news. You can research your family history without handing over your DNA. I found ancestry resources, and none are paid family tree research sites collecting a ton of personal data. 

Start with a free site

Get started with these research tools, and remember — you’re in control of what info you hand over. 

  • AccessGenealogy: An online directory of digital genealogy resources. They specialize in Native American genealogy research and have helpful links for pre-Civil War African-American genealogy research. Some of the sites they link to are paid — but they indicate it with a dollar sign. Otherwise, it’s all free and doesn’t require registration (links to other sites might!)
  • The Statue of Liberty — Ellis Island Foundation: Know your family came through Ellis Island? Use the site’s passenger search function to find the tens of millions of Americans who had at least one ancestor pass through the port. 
  • FamilySearch: From the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, this platform includes a collaborative family tree tool and is free for anyone (regardless of religious affiliation). Note: You choose what data you share — just keep in mind it could be shared with third parties or the Mormon churches near you. 

Then, head to these libraries

They’re for more than your next book club read. Local and statewide libraries and historical and genealogical societies host a wealth of knowledge resources. 

  • HeritageQuest: This tool is offered for free by thousands of public and state libraries. It’s an online database, but you must visit a physical library and use your library card to access it!
  • Digital Public Library of America: This one is technically a library, but it’s free to access online, no library card necessary! You can search for family names or ask cool questions like “What did downtown Memphis look like in the 1910s when my family lived there?”

Go deeper with public records and community archives

  • The National Archives: These archives include Census, military service, immigration and naturalization records. You might hit gold at county courthouses, which have even more records, such as deeds, wills and land. Some statewide archives have county-level records, too.
  • Find A Grave: A subset of Ancestry, browse this free community record of cemeteries and pay your virtual respects. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs also hosts a Gravesite Locator for veterans. 

So … what about DNA testing?

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Best ways to block scam calls - And an easier way to stop scammers

When it comes to telemarketing and scam calls, the best thing to do is not pick up the phone. But it’s not always easy to tell whether an incoming call is legitimate — especially if your phone doesn’t show that scam or spam warning.

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Ship smarter: This website compares rates for all available carriers, including UPS, FedEx and DHL, so you know the best price. They include current discount codes, too. Score.

This doesn’t make cents: Jeff Drobman got a slew of urgent-sounding Bank of America text messages. The Los Angeles man tried to call the bank but had no signal. He’d been SIM swapped, and hackers stole $21,000 from his BofA account. PSA: Choose facial recognition over 2FA in your banking app, and contact your carrier immediately if your signal suddenly drops.

Find out who's calling you from an unknown or blocked number

Scam and spam calls are getting more common. And they’re hard not to answer because the number comes up as “unknown.” When there’s no caller ID number, you can’t be sure if it’s a spam caller or an important call you’ve been waiting for.

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Money tight? 14 great things you can get for free

There’s always something new to spend money on regarding tech. Here’s a secret some companies don’t want you to know: You can get a lot without spending a dime.

Speaking of money, I hear from people all the time who want to cut Netflix, Hulu, and other expensive streaming services. Did you know that mobile carriers offer free streaming service subscriptions as part of their plans? Here’s what T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T are offering.

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🧱 Don’t buy a brick: Before you buy a used phone, check its International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number. Here’s how: Just dial *#06# on the phone to display its IMEI. Now, pop that number into the Stolen Phone Checker to see if the phone has been reported lost, stolen or blocked by a carrier.

Rich Communication Services: RCS is the new texting standard replacing plain ol’ SMS. It’s built into Apple’s iOS 18 and makes texting your Android pals a lot better. Go to Settings > Apps > Messages. Scroll down, and if you don’t see the RCS option, it means your carrier likely isn’t supporting it yet.

Block spam texts on your iPhone once and for all

Is your phone full of blocked numbers as a result of spam calls? These types of calls can range from nuisances to dangerous scams.

Being more discrete with your phone number can help reduce the number of unwanted calls. Tap or click here for tips on keeping your number private.

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You could be getting $360 in free stuff each year from your cell provider

Your mobile carrier does more than provide you with service. Some include tools to help you avoid spam and scams by blocking unwanted calls and texts. Tap or click here for more ways to avoid scams and spam.

But wait, there’s more! Major carriers are throwing in free limited-time or permanent subscriptions to streaming services as long as you keep your unlimited plan active.

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How to block annoying scam calls so you don't lose money

The phone rings, and as soon as you say hello, the person on the other end starts babbling about saving money on car insurance. Don’t say anything! They could be recording your voice, which they’ll use to impersonate you. If you do speak up, avoid saying this one word.

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The one word you should never say to a telemarketer or scam caller

You might get dozens of spam calls weekly, but you might not know where the companies got your number. Thousands of data brokers peddle information, and it could be the source of your annoyance. That’s why we started our Opt-Out Tuesday series with instructions on removing data from sites like FreePhoneTracer. Tap or click here for details.

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New spam text can't be blocked - Here's how to protect yourself

Paying your bills on time is something that most of us do without even thinking about it. It is so part of our everyday life that we don’t expect to be rewarded for it. Sure, there could be some occasions where companies might incentivize you for paying early, but that doesn’t happen often.

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Trading in your Android phone? How to get the most value for it

With the constant churn of technology, it’s rational to want a new phone every year, so you don’t miss out on the latest features with each new model. But if you upgrade to a new phone every year, what do you do with the old one?

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Secret text codes you can use with your carrier

Your smartphone is capable of more than you think, and your carrier knows how to unlock all of its secrets by pressing just a few buttons. These codes, called Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD), can be used to scan networks and activate service right from your phone’s dialer.

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If you get this 'wrong number' text, delete it right away

Robocalls have become so common that they have entered pop culture. You’ll find memes and jokes focusing on car warranty calls all over social media. They’re good for a laugh, but the situation is becoming severe.

This past summer, the Federal Trade Commission forced the nation’s largest wireless carriers to employ technology to combat robocalls. Here we are approaching the end of the year, and it doesn’t seem like anything’s changed. What happened? Tap or click here to find out.

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5 ways to stop bots and spammers from calling you all day long

If you answer the phone when an unknown number calls, robots probably love you. Nowadays, when you answer the phone, it’s likely a robocall spammer. They have a ton of nasty tricks up their sleeve, from posing as a member of the IRS to lying about your car’s warranty.

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5 ways to block or hide your number when making calls

Robocalls have been an annoyance for years, and with technology constantly advancing, it’s only going to get worse. And they’re not just interruptions these days. Many are calls from scammers looking to rip you off.

That’s why it’s important to be proactive and stop these calls dead in their tracks. You have several clever ways to keep scams and robocalls at bay. Tap or click here to stop robocalls for good. How are these callers getting ahold of your number in the first place?

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How to stop annoying robocalls and scam calls for good

Some robocalls are easy to spot. When a robotic voice warns your car’s warranty is out of date or that a credit card you don’t have has been compromised, it’s obvious you should just hang up.

But what if you got a call from a real person at a hospital, saying there’s been an emergency? That happened to Kim recently. She didn’t fall for it, but it would have been all too easy to let emotion win out over logic.

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Android warning: Update now to avoid a serious security flaw

There are tons of reasons to use Android devices. Any Android fan can tell you that having an open-source operating system is a better choice for them over the other, more restrictive options.

That open-source platform means you not only have more app options, but you can also play amateur developer with your device. There are tons of third-party apps available for Android that aren’t available for iOS devices due to the security restrictions — and many more options for customizing your device. Tap or click here to see Android 11 features we’re most excited about.

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