We talk to Darius from Incogni, who tells us how you can remove your personal data from the internet. Plus, a family claims an Amazon driver stole their cat, people are yelling a lot at Siri, and there’s a new sober dating app.
4 suspicious behaviors to avoid at the self-checkout line
Self-checkout stations are convenient and often less stressful than waiting for a clerk. Is it worth the risk of being taken aside and questioned? We have an easy way to make your dollar stretch on groceries. But today, we’re here to talk about self-checkout safety precautions you should be utilizing.
Below are mistakes you might already make at the self-checkout in any of your favorite stores.
1. Scanning things too quickly
Yes, you’re in a hurry. Why else would you be checking out on your own? Going too quickly, however, might get you stopped while checking out or walking back to your car.
Legal professionals urge innocent patrons to take as much time as possible during self-checkout to avoid raising suspicion. This good habit can also help you prevent accidentally skipping small items and other potentially costly mistakes, such as improperly weighing produce.
2. Using your cell phone at the kiosk
There are so many distractions in any store. Your kids, other people and your smartphone are all vying for attention as you try to leave.
Chatting or texting while checking out is dangerous for the reasons described above. Small mistakes may lead to more considerable misunderstandings, so it pays to keep yourself focused and on-task.
3. Covering the camera
Most places like Walmart have a small camera trained on shoppers using self-checkout. Bags, bulky clothing and the stuff you’re buying might not always obscure its view, but it’s something to watch out for.
A clean, clear video of you checking out is the ultimate defense against allegations that may or may not arise later. Why block your ticket to vindication?
4. Buying too many things at once
How to use your iPhone to send your exact location to someone
Remember the days of printing directions from MapQuest? Thankfully, technology has evolved. Tap or click here for map apps better than Google if you have multiple stops. If you have a cell phone, getting lost should be a thing of the past. Just activate Apple or Google Maps, and you are on your way.
Big Tech is listening and tracking your voice recordings. How to make it stop!
Most of what you type, say, search and buy is being tracked in one way or another. Big Tech gives us great free products, and the price is our privacy. Even your TV habits are packaged up and sold to advertisers. Here’s how to stop your TV from spying on you.
Paying too much for your cell phone every month? Do this
Think about just how much you rely on your phone this time of year. You call and text loved ones, you look up gift ideas and shop online, and your favorite map app gets you where you need to go.
That’s why I love T-Mobile and am proud to say they’re a sponsor of my national radio show. T-Mobile has America’s largest, fastest and most reliable 5G network.
AI can tell your politics from your face
An AI algorithm called VGGFace2 can accurately guess if you’re conservative or liberal with just a single pic. Smartphones in school? Teachers are pushing back with cell phone bans. Plus, Dawn from Atlanta thinks she’s being cyberstalked, and I help her look for clues.
The truth about cell phone radiation
The cell phone industry says phone radiation is harmless, but I prefer to play it safe. Here’s how.
Tricks to get a better signal
Having trouble making calls? Here’s how to get your cell phone back in action.
5 cell phone myth busters
Want to know the truth about your phone? I’m here to help you sort through fact and fiction.
iPhone potty cam shocker, missing F-35 jet & Yelp's fake reviews
Plus, Caller Matt Wood’s teen daughter wants a cell phone, but he doesn’t want it to have access to the internet. What should he do? I give him my expert advice. New scam at the pump, scientists decode chicken emotions with AI, and the safest airplane seat.
Quick tech fix: Stop annoying notifications for good
Remember the days before our gadgets were buzzing and beeping at us all day long? Yeah, me neither. Maybe your issue is email.
If your inbox is a mess, give yourself the gift of clearing it out. No, you don’t have to go through email by email. Tap or click for steps on archiving your inbox.
Condition called 'smartphone pinky' goes viral, but is it real?
Don’t sit so close to the TV. You’ll ruin your eyesight! Don’t turn up the volume on your headphones. You’ll damage your hearing! Don’t stand next to the speaker at a concert. You’ll blow your eardrums!
People have always worried about how technology would affect their health. A few decades ago, the concern was old tube TVs would affect our vision or loud music from Walkmans would damage our hearing. These days, the concern has shifted to what smartphones and other devices are doing to our bodies.
5G: What it means for you
The topic of 5G has been a hot one lately — and for good reason. Who doesn’t want lightning speed data?
But with the excitement also comes questions that you need answers to. After all, smartphones are the primary way most of us communicate, and this 5G rollout will change the way we use data, download apps and make calls.
Alexa can now make and receive calls using your cell phone carrier
The Amazon Echo is many things, but a phone isn’t one of them. Despite being one of the most robust smart speakers on the market, there are currently no official ways to make calls on the system outside of discontinued products and third-party Alexa skills.
5 ways to make your phone last as long as possible
There was a point in time when it was common to upgrade your smartphone every year or two. This was made simple by cell phone providers, which regularly offered the rolling upgrade option to customers. Those deals are more difficult to come by now.