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5 smart, simple tech changes to make 2024 better
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New year, same you. And that’s OK! You don’t need to makeover your entire life to have a good 2024.
But I can tell you firsthand it’s totally worth it to spend a few minutes cleaning up your tech life. Keep reading for steps to banish junk mail, make your phone less annoying and improve your cybersecurity. You got this!
1. Automate a no-brainer security step
You forget to lock your computer when you get up. Welcome to the club. Be smart and tell your Windows or Mac to do it for you! You can set your computer to auto-lock if you’ve been inactive for a certain amount of time.
On Windows:
- Open Settings and go to Personalization, then Lock Screen.
- Click Screen saver settings and select any option (except None) from the Screen saver dropdown menu.
- Set a time for Windows to wait before locking. Check the box for On resume, display logon screen. Hit OK.
On a Mac:
- Click the Apple menu > System Preferences > Desktop & Screen Save > Screen Saver. Use the slider to choose a time.
- Click Show All to go back to the main System Preferences window.
- Click Security, then Require password to wake this computer from sleep or screen saver.
You can also set up your PC to lock based on where your phone is. Think about it: If your phone’s nearby, so are you, and your computer stays open. You walk away, it locks.
2. Say goodbye to group chats that drive you up the wall
Group chats are fun when you’re happy to be there and awful when you don’t care about the convo. The adult move is to ask whoever added you to remove you …
- … Or do the ol’ Irish exit if you have an iPhone. Tap the thread, then select the group icon at the top. Scroll and tap Leave this Conversation. Save this for when you’re desperate.
- You can also go the subtle route and mute the convo. (This is what I usually do.) Tap the group text message, select the group icon at the top of the thread, then scroll and toggle on Hide Alerts.
Privacy how-to: Remove yourself from people search sites the easy way
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Data brokers and people search sites are more than just a nuisance; they’re a downright menace. I’ve been sounding the alarm on these digital peeping Toms for years.
Imagine a vast web of data brokers lurking in the shadows, all with one goal: To mine and sell your personal info to anyone flashing cash.
Scareware 101: How to spot this dangerous cyberattack and protect yourself
Spam is unavoidable: It clutters your phone call history and chokes your email inbox. Like spam, scareware is another annoyance that seems to go hand-in-hand with internet access. It’s why you should never click pop-ups that say your system is at risk.
4 ways the Dark Web can help you (It's not all bad!)
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Although the Dark Web is most famous for its seedy underworld connections, there are a few advantages. That’s right: Despite the dangers, there are a few unexpected ways it can make your life easier. For example, circumventing censorship is one of the most significant Dark Web upsides.
3 tricks to see if your passwords are being sold on the Dark Web
Hackers can make a ton of money by selling your private information on underground forums. It’s possible that your passwords are being sold on the Dark Web right now. That’s why you should run a cybersecurity check now and then.
This scary malware screenshots your system to see if you're worth hacking
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It turns out that not every target is worth hacking, and cybercriminals are using a new phishing scheme to sift through information to search for a lucrative payday. Their goal, as always, is to rip you off. But if your system doesn’t appear to be cyberattack worthy, they might leave you alone.
Small biz tip: How to set up an authenticator to protect your work accounts
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Your business accounts have tons of private data you don’t want hackers to see. Although two-step verification (2FA) keeps hackers out, you can’t rely on texts to prove your identity. Hackers can intercept your messages.
TikTok cheaters, Nextdoor's top complaints & cinema etiquette downfall
Plus, we have a special guest: cybersecurity guru Ricoh Danielson, who will tell us about his latest cases. Also, how a one-star Google review solved the mystery of a fatal hit-and-run. Tricks to speed up your PC, and reasons why you should start using your tablet.
TikTok cheaters unveiled, Nextdoor's top complaints & cinema etiquette downfall
Plus, we have a special guest: cybersecurity guru Ricoh Danielson, who tells us about his latest cases. Discover how a one-star Google review solved the mystery of a fatal hit-and-run. We’ll also share tricks to speed up your PC, and reasons why you should start using your tablet.
Why does the government sell a $1K jar of peanut butter?
There’s a government warehouse that stores just about everything you could imagine — vitamins, “domestic sludge,” a standard bullet and even a jar of peanut butter that sells for about 200 times the going grocery store rate. It even maintains a cybersecurity database with all known software vulnerabilities. You’ll find all this at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. So, what is going on?
TurboTax $141M settlement, Google I/O surprises & Amazon’s TikTok clone
Plus, are online sports bettors destined to lose money? Finance journalist Randall Smith shares his findings from a Wall Street Journal investigation. Also, save big on rideshares with my Uber vs. Lyft comparison. Discover the top-paying cybersecurity jobs, free finance calculators to manage debt and cloud storage options.
Voice stolen by AI, ChatGPT spam & 60-sec cybersecurity checks
Plus, ChatGPT stereotyped every US state – you won’t believe what it said. Science reveals when aliens could come to Earth, why we’re addicted to selfies and a wedding ring that lets you feel your partner’s heartbeat no matter where they are.
April 29th, 2023
AI spam flooding the web, 60-sec cybersecurity checks. Plus, ChatGPT generated cliches about every state. What’d it say about it? Listen to my chat with a voiceover artist fighting to keep her job as AI grows. Science reveals when aliens could come to Earth, why we’re addicted to selfies and a smart ring that lets you feel your partner’s heartbeat no matter where they are.
Going on vacay? Shut down Wi-Fi to keep hackers out
Do you worry about cybersecurity when you’re away from home? In one minute, here’s a nifty trick that will put your mind at ease.
January 7th, 2023
A suspect was arrested in the Idaho murders — a person found using a controversial DNA method. Plus, a Tesla police chase, the best and worst alarms to wake up to, everyday objects that can threaten your cybersecurity, and all the best tech announced at CES. And a smart way to make money in the new year and clean out your house at the same time.
4 devices that can save you from identity theft in 2023
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Since 2020, fraud cases have risen by an estimated 70%. If you don’t go above and beyond to protect your data, cybercriminals can steal your benefits, tank your credit score or commit crimes in your name. You’ll need strong cybersecurity practices and identity theft protection devices to stay safe.
Pig butchering, scam sweatshops, top security tips
Be careful when an online friend offers financial advice. They might be luring you into a pig butchering scheme. This trending scam has stripped millions of dollars from victims across the world. That’s why Allie Seligman spoke with ProPublica reporter Cezary Podkul, an expert on these vicious scams. Listen to this episode for the full scoop, from how the scam works to essential cybersecurity tips.
Protect these files - hackers want them the most
Your life is on your computer. Want to protect your work, private photos and passwords? In this one-minute podcast, you’ll master a top cybersecurity tip.
Steps before you trade in or sell an old phone
Ready to get rid of an old phone? Listen to this one-minute podcast for three cybersecurity steps you need to take.