Tag: devices

You bought it. They can still switch it off.

Companies are quietly bricking gadgets you already paid for or locking the features behind a subscription. Here’s how to spot the problem and how to buy around it.

How to sweep your car and bags for hidden trackers

If you keep “running into” the same person or your gut says you’re being followed, you might be carrying a $30 tracker without knowing it. Here’s how to find it, what your phone misses and what to do before you touch it.

Your GPS has been receiving secret military messages for 20 years

A security researcher proved every GPS satellite doubles as a Cold War-style “numbers station,” beaming encrypted Pentagon code to every phone, car and smartwatch on Earth.

Medical devices in your home are quietly reporting on you to your insurer, which can cost you more.

That CPAP machine? It tells your insurance company whether you used it enough. And it’s not the only device in your house keeping score. Here’s what’s phoning home while you sleep and what you can do about it.

A private company has 80,000 cameras logging where your car goes. Now it’s adding drones.

Those little cameras on the poles in your neighborhood quietly record every car that passes, then feed one giant searchable map. You never agreed to it, and the company behind them started flying drones that read your plate from 2,000 feet. Here’s what’s really happening.

You deleted it. Now it’s gone everywhere.

Two listeners thought they had backups. They didn’t. Here’s the difference that could save your photos, files and five years of memories.

Amazon’s secret bargain store has over a million items under $20

Most people don’t know Amazon built its own Temu. It’s called Amazon Haul. The hidden gems of $5-$10 are legit, backed by real Amazon protection.

You’re paying for internet you’re not getting. Here’s the proof.

You pay for 100 Mbps internet but only get 23 Mbps. Your bill includes “premium Wi-Fi” that’s just a rental fee for equipment you could own. Internet companies bank on you never checking.

The FBI confirmed Russian hackers are inside thousands of home routers 

It’s not theoretical. The DOJ went to court over it. Your router may be redirecting you to fake bank login pages. Here’s what to do.

Slash your power bill: Gadgets pay for themselves

Inside: Smart bulbs, plugs, energy monitors and easy tools that keep temps steady. Up to 55% off

Three spring gadgets worth every penny (and one privacy tip nobody mentions)

A wire-free robotic mower, a sprinkler that skips rain days automatically and a bird feeder with a camera that knows its birds. Spring just got smarter.

That store camera isn’t just watching for shoplifters. It’s watching you.

Every time you walk into a grocery store, a big box retailer or a pharmacy, AI-powered cameras track how you move, where you linger and what you almost bought. Here’s what they know.

U.S. Customs searched 55,318 devices last year. No warrant needed. Here’s the one thing that protects you.

You land at JFK after a fabulous two-week trip seeing all of the crowned heads of Europe. You’re tired, jet-lagged and happy to be home. A customs officer pulls you aside, asks for your phone and starts scrolling through your photos, your texts, your emails. No warrant. No stated reason. No suspicion of any crime. […]

Your internet provider can see every show you watch. And they’re using it against you.

You’re paying $80 a month for internet. Your provider is watching exactly what you do with it and quietly punishing you for it. Here’s what’s happening inside your connection.

Spring cleaning tools that just work: Save up to 41%

Inside: Smart gadgets like a robot vacuum, a handheld steamer and clever organizers that tidy up your spaces fast.

Your phone has an expiration date. Here’s how to find yours.

Right now, over a billion phones are running without security updates, and hackers know it. Your phone is probably fine. But you should check. Takes 30 seconds.

Your iCloud is not a backup (and Janet learned that the hard way)

Seven years of photos. Her son’s first steps. His first day of kindergarten. Gone. Here’s the difference between sync and backup, and why it matters more than you think.

5 genius ways to put your old tech back to work in 2026

Everyone’s curious about DeepSeek but afraid to install Chinese AI on their good computer. That old laptop is your answer. Plus four more ways your “dead” devices earn their keep.

Your password habit is an open door for hackers. Here’s the fix that takes 5 minutes

84% of Americans don’t use a unique password for every account, and hackers are counting on it. Here’s what credential stuffing is, why most password managers are junk and the one I trust with my own logins.

Your Ring doorbell is doing way more than watching for packages

Ring’s big game ad about finding lost dogs tugged at your heartstrings. But the same network behind that feature also does facial recognition and partners with law enforcement. Here’s the good, the bad and what you should do about it.