🪞 Got a smart mirror? I do, and this really doesn’t shock me, but it might you. That mirror might not just be giving you the latest cable news and weather. Turns out it’s probably logging your voice, analyzing your face and selling your data. If yours has a mic or camera, congrats! You might’ve installed a surveillance device over your sink. I’m actually glad the mirror’s watching, someone should see all this emotional growth.
4 years
That’s how much prison time one disgruntled developer is getting for building an IT doomsday device. 55-year-old Davis Lu planted a self-destruct code at Eaton Corp. that locked out thousands of users the moment his name was deleted from the employee directory. There’s quiet quitting, and then there’s quiet ctrl + alt + deleting.
📸 Pixelate photos on iPhone: If your device has Apple Intelligence, you can hide someone’s face in the background or info on a receipt. Open the Photos app, choose an image, and select Edit > Clean Up. Zoom in, circle the area you want hidden, and your iPhone will do the rest. Tap Done to save.
See where your Google account’s signed in: Google shows a list of devices you’ve used in the last 28 days, along with their locations. Notice something suspicious? Sign it out and change your password ASAP. Remember, you might see multiple sessions from the same device, so don’t panic too fast.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Your TV’s USB ports can charge your phone, tablet and other mobile gadgets. If a pop-up asks to access the device, just ignore it. It’ll keep charging anyway. Genius.
Add Bluetooth devices to your PC: If your Windows computer has Bluetooth, you can connect a wireless mouse or headset. Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Devices and make sure Bluetooth is toggled On. Click Add device and choose Bluetooth. Put your gadget in pairing mode, select it when it shows up and hit Done.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
🔋 A secret Android battery drainer: Scan for nearby devices constantly uses your Bluetooth. Turn it off in Settings > Google > All services > Devices. Check your phone’s version under Settings > Connections > More connection settings, and switch off Nearby device scanning, too.
📺 Just what we need, more streaming services: First up is Howdy, an ad-free Roku channel for $2.99/month with old shows and movies from Warner Bros., Discovery, Lionsgate and more. The catch? You’ll need a Roku device (25% off). Then on Aug. 21, Fox One drops for $19.99/month with live NFL, MLB and news.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
📱 Check if your device is still supported: Not sure if your phone, tablet or e-reader is past its prime? Go to endoflife.date. Search for your gadget to see if it’s been discontinued or if the manufacturer has ended support. That usually means no more security updates, and it might be time to stop using it.
💸 Trade in your old tech: Amazon takes your old phones, tablets, smart speakers and more. Tell them what you’re trading in and its condition, and they’ll offer a gift card based on its value. Bonus: If you trade in Amazon gear like an Echo, you’ll also get 20% off a new qualifying device.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
AI told him what to buy: Several homemade bombs were found, all courtesy of a 55-year-old New Yorker who allegedly used AI to turn common chemicals into explosive cocktails. He ditched some bombs into rivers and stashed five on a SoHo rooftop. Talk about vibe coding your way to a federal indictment.
Texts from the sky: T-Mobile just launched T-Satellite, a Starlink-powered service that lets you text (and alert 911) when you’re somewhere too remote for regular bars. It costs $10/month, works with over 60 phones and covers most of the U.S. You’ll need clear skies and an eSIM-enabled device. It’s not fast, but neither are rescue helicopters.
245.76 TB
The size of Kioxia’s new SSD. And it fits in one device. It’s made for AI and data center workloads where raw capacity beats flashy speed. Think: massive training datasets, not movie marathons. It sacrifices performance to keep signal integrity in check, but it’s perfect if your job is “store the internet.”
Lock down your Fire Stick: Improve performance and protect your privacy by cutting down on the data your Fire Stick sends to Amazon. Go to Settings > Preferences > Privacy Settings > Manage Sharing from Apps and turn it Off. Then go back and also switch off Device Usage Data, Collect App Usage Data and Interest-based Ads.
🕵️♀️ Tracked and terrified: A Nebraska woman thought she dropped her AirPods. Instead, she pulled a tracking device from her car, then found four more. The kicker? That’s not illegal in her state. No consent laws, no tracking rules. She installed cameras, caught her ex, and is now pushing to change the law. Here’s what to do if you find one.
📦 Trade in old tech: Amazon accepts phones, tablets, smart speakers and just about anything. Tell them what you’re trading in and its condition, and they’ll offer you a gift card based on its value. Bonus: If you trade in Amazon gear like a Kindle, you also get 20% off a new qualifying device.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Custom Chromebook keys: Change how your touchpad and keyboard behave. Go to Settings > Device > Touchpad or Keyboard. Some cool options: Turn on tap-to-click, change what a right-click does or set the top row to function keys.
👻 Robbed by a ghost: You gotta be on your toes. A new ransomware strain called Mamona arrives via sketchy emails, fake apps or phony software. Once it’s on your device or computer, it encrypts everything and vanishes without sending a single byte. No clues, no traffic, no alarms. Finally, malware for introverts: no talking, no signals, just silent ruin.
📚 Lock your Kindle: Want to keep your reading private? From the Home screen, tap the three dots in the top right > Settings > Device Options > Device Passcode. Because hey, some books are strictly for after dark.
🍏 Apple owes you? Hurry up, sweet cakes. You’ve got until July 2 to claim your share of a $95 million settlement over Siri snooping accusations. If you owned a Siri device between 9/17/2014 and 12/31/2024, you could get up to $20 per device (max five). Look for an email titled “Lopez Voice Assistant Class Action Settlement” to submit a claim. Didn’t get one? Click New Claim. I’m getting $100.