Your devices might be “off,” but they’re still burning energy. Here’s a cheap fix to cut your bill.
Who’s watching your phone?
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I’ve been hearing lately from more and more people who believe they’re being watched or listened to through their phones. Whether it’s an ex, a snooping spouse or someone with too much time and too little ethics, digital stalking is real and it’s sneaky.
If your gut is telling you something’s off, don’t brush it off. Here are a few simple checks you can do right now to take back control.
🔁 Check for text message forwarding
This is a hotbed for creep behavior. Someone could be reading your texts, and you wouldn’t even know.
- On iPhone: Go to Settings > Apps > Messages > Text Message Forwarding
If you see a device you don’t recognize, that’s a red flag. Turn it off and change your Apple ID password ASAP. - On Android: Open Messages > More (three dots) > Settings > Permissions > SMS
If there’s an app listed you don’t know, it could be intercepting your texts. Contact your carrier right away.
📍 Who’s tracking your location?
Built-in location sharing is helpful, but only if you control it.
- iPhone: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > Share My Location
Tap Find My and check who can see you. Remove anyone suspicious. - Android: Open Settings > Location > Location services > Google Location Sharing
Look at who has access. If you don’t recognize them, cut them off.
🎤 Check your camera and mic access
Apps don’t need to be spying tools unless you let them.
- iPhone: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera and Microphone
Turn off access for apps that don’t absolutely need it. - Android: Settings > Security and privacy > Permission Manager, then check Camera and Microphone permissions.
Be ruthless. You’re the boss of your phone, not some creepy app.
👤 Review your account access
Get paid to prove you’re human (don’t)
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Would you let someone scan your eyeball in exchange for some free cryptocurrency?
Yes, your actual eyeball. This isn’t an audition for Season 4 of Black Mirror. It’s the premise behind OpenAI founder Sam Altman’s new project called World.
🖥️ Windows is getting AI agents: This is great. Microsoft just announced a new feature that lets you change computer settings just by asking. In Settings, you can type stuff like “my text is too small” or “control my PC with voice,” and the AI will handle it. No more digging through menus. It’s coming to Copilot+ PCs first, with more devices to follow.
🚨 A sneaky virus could be to blame. I always say it’s better to be safe than sorry, which is why I trust TotalAV. For just $19 for the first year, you get rock-solid antivirus protection on up to five devices. It’s smart, simple and keeps your tech safe without breaking the bank.
How to spot hidden spyware, and kick it out for good
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Ever get the feeling someone knows too much about what you’re doing online? I’m not talking about the sarcastic “My FBI agent is amused” way, but in the “Why did my phone just text my ex and order dog food at 2 a.m.?” kind of way.
You didn’t search it, but the ad still found you
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Mention taking a trip to Antarctica near your phone, and suddenly every screen you own starts pushing parkas. You didn’t search it. Didn’t type it. Definitely didn’t ask your smart speaker to recommend thermal underwear. But the “Visit Antarctica” ads found you anyway. So how did they know?
🔎 I spy a virus: If your connection’s dragging, a virus might be the culprit. I trust and recommend TotalAV. It’s just $19 a year to protect up to five devices on Windows, Mac, Android and more. That’s total peace of mind for your phone, laptop and tablet.
I spy a virus: If your connection’s dragging, a virus might be the culprit. I trust and recommend TotalAV. It’s just $19 a year to protect up to five devices on Windows, Mac, Android and more. That’s total peace of mind for your phone, laptop and tablet.
Apple owes you money: Owned an iPhone or iPad between Sept. 17, 2014, and Dec. 31, 2024? You might be eligible for part of a $95 million settlement. Why? A lawsuit says Siri recorded private convos by accident. Oopsie. If you got an email or think it happened to you, submit your claim by July 2. You can file for up to five devices and get up to $20 each.
AirPlay or MalwarePlay: Apple patched its side of the AirPlay saga (paywall link), but tens of millions of third-party speakers, TVs and, yes, cars are still left wide-open thanks to bugs in Apple’s developer tools. A hacker might just need Wi-Fi access to hijack everything from the Bose speaker to the family sedan. Check your devices for any updates.
⚠️ Hackers are changing tactics: Talk to your IT department about this. And if you are the IT department, pay attention. New research shows 30% of cyberattacks are suddenly now coming through network edge devices. That means instead of using flashy malware or phishing email, they’re slipping in through VPNs, firewalls and routers. How? People keep using outdated gear and weak passwords and skipping security updates. Stop that now.
📺 Cast away: Got an Android and a Roku? Share your phone right to your TV without extra gadgets. On your Roku, go to Settings > System > Screen Mirroring and toggle it on. Then, grab your phone, head to Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences > Cast. This won’t work for Apple folks, so fire up AirPlay. Now your screen can be blurry in 60 glorious inches.
🔎 I spy a virus: If your connection’s dragging, a virus might be the culprit. I trust and recommend TotalAV. It’s just $19 a year to protect up to five devices on Windows, Mac, Android and more. That’s total peace of mind for your phone, laptop and tablet.
☠️ Windows update gone wild: Microsoft confirmed this week that updates since March have been crashing some Windows 11 devices with a terrifying 0x18B SECURE_KERNEL_ERROR. For those not versed in digital Hogwarts spells, that’s a full stop blue screen of death. And yes, it kicks in right after the update + restart combo. Oof.
🛡️ 1 smart move for 1 billion malware threats: Don’t wait for a virus to wreck your files or freeze your screen. A good antivirus zaps ransomware, spyware and other digital creeps before they can do harm. Lock down five devices for just $19. Yep, cheaper than your last late-night Uber Eats run.
Do you see what AI sees? If you like Microsoft’s Copilot Vision for exploring the web, get ready. Microsoft Insiders are testing it this week for Windows computers and mobile devices. You’ll be able to use it with Windows apps and your camera. Need tips for decorating your house? Just fire up Copilot Vision. Watch out, Google Lens. Soon it’ll just whisper “beige” every time you try to decorate.
🛡️ 1 billion malware programs, 1 easy fix: Antivirus software scans your system for viruses, ransomware and other threats and removes them before they cause damage. Protect five devices for only $19 — cheaper than your last impulse DoorDash.
📱 Does your kid have a burner phone? We’ve reached the era of middle schoolers running black market tech ops. A dad posted to Reddit after he found out his 12-year-old son was hiding one in a pillow to access apps he wasn’t supposed to be on. Signs to watch for: They’re ignoring the phone you know about, there are sudden dips in data usage, or you notice new devices using the Wi-Fi.
Easy ways to tidy up your tech
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We all love a clean house, but what about your digital life? Clutter builds up fast: old contacts, forgotten files, 127 versions of the same photo and a desktop that’s basically an overflowing junk drawer.
That doesn’t just hog storage, it slows down your tech and drains your focus.