Don’t let your digital life vanish! Many tech companies are deleting profiles, and you could lose everything. Here’s why.
How to know if you’re being stalked or are just paranoid
I’ve heard it all on my national radio show. There was the guy totally freaked out because too many strangers in public knew his name for it to be a coincidence. (His name was Buddy.)
There was a woman who swore one of Metallica’s band members hacked her iPhone to stalk her after she rejected him online. And another who bought and sold three cars because she thought they all had hidden trackers.
They all ask the same question: “Is it me or is someone/something tracking everything I do on my device?”
Tracking happens, no doubt, and it’s getting worse, given how easy these tools are for anyone to use. But I also know sometimes, it’s paranoia at work. Before you panic, let’s talk through a few scenarios.
‘I see ads for things I talked about’
I was talking to my husband about taking a hiking trip in Patagonia. I walked upstairs, sat at my laptop, and travel ads for a Patagonian getaway were on my screen. Tech companies insist this is a coincidence.
If you don’t want to believe Big Tech (I don’t blame you), take privacy into your own hands. Skip the smart speaker or turn off its microphone when it’s not in use. On your phone or computer, pop into your settings to turn off your mic for specific apps and sites, or force your device to ask you each time before enabling it.
‘They know where I am’
Dana called my show with a frightening story. Her daughter is a college student who was afraid to leave the house because unknown numbers sent her threatening texts no matter where she went. “They know what time we eat dinner, our workplaces and our schedules,” Dana told me.
This case was true harassment. I called Ricoh Danielson, a friend of the show and digital forensics expert, who helped track down the guy. Turns out, it was someone Dana’s daughter had talked to on a dating app. Here are Danielson’s tips for if something like this happens to your family.
‘Is Google stalking me?’
I once had a caller concerned Google knew his schedule too well. A few weekends in a row, he drove to his son’s house to mow his lawn while his son was out of town. The following Saturday, a pop-up from Google Maps told him how long it’d take to get to his son’s home in current traffic.
How to deal with a cyberstalker
Let me tell you, more and more victims of cyberstalking are reaching out to me for advice using my Ask Kim page. Here’s one note I received recently from P.W. in Oklahoma:
“I’ve been cyberstalked for three years. I recently discovered it was my roommate. I moved out and he launched another attack. He’s on my and my fiance’s phones, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth — everything. He has stolen financial data, pictures, erased accounts, taken over emails and harassed me through VOIP. … He admitted to sitting outside our house all night. I thought he was spying on me. Now I know he was also gaining access to my Wi-Fi. I can’t do this anymore and need expert advice/help terribly.”
🤝 I want to be your secret helper and mentor: If you have an issue, problem or question about your tech, digital life or business, I would love to help you. Ask me your questions here on my site. I read every single note.
7 default settings tech companies don't ever want you to change
Our devices are packed full of settings that keep us safe and secure. You just need to know which ones to adjust. Tap or click for Windows and Mac security settings to check now.
The same goes for the software and apps we use day in and day out. Google Chrome is safe, but you can make it even safer. Tap or click for five steps you can take.
Every iPhone and Android user should know these genius commands
Look up next time you’re outside and guess where the airplane above you is headed. Los Angeles? New York? Paris? Ask Siri this phrase, “What flights are overhead?” You’ll see the carrier, flight number and altitude in seconds. I love sharing simple digital life tips that make things easier.
Here's what your digital life is worth
What could your credentials fetch on the dark web? Here’s why they’re worth a lot.
6 ways to stop digital stalkers from harassing you
The more time you spend online, your risk of online harassment grows. Being proactive can stop digital stalkers before they track your every move, change your passwords and shatter your sense of security. I’ve heard from people who have been fending off hackers for years — and they describe scary situations.
Smart trick to clean out your cluttered camera roll once and for all
Is your camera roll out of control? You might be able to keep yourself ahead of the game by taking things one day at a time. This simple trick can help clear out extra space on your device and improve its performance, all without wasting too much time or energy.
Hidden features to try now on your Windows PC or Mac
I’m often asked if the latest Mac or Windows update is ready for prime time. Unfortunately, most of us have dealt with enough buggy software that we’re hesitant to hit “install” on a significant upgrade.
If you haven’t jumped up to macOS Monterey or Windows 11, I can safely say it’s time. Before you update, take one important step and make sure you have enough space for it. Tap or click here to see how much storage is available on your computer.
One tech change that can improve your health and wellness this year
If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to take charge of your health, there are a few ways to kick-start your journey. One of them is organizing your health records with this built-in smartphone feature.
However, your health shouldn’t just be your physical well-being. It should also extend to your digital life. It’s easy to assume those two are separate, but plenty of studies correlate digital lifestyle with physical and mental wellness.
5 common mistakes that are slowing down your Wi-Fi
If only the calendar flipping over to a new year erased our tech problems. You can do a lot to make your digital life easier in 2023. Start with clearing your inbox. You deserve to hit zero at least once. Tap or click for the quick way I do it.
Happy New Year from Kim! How to live your best digital life in 2023
Let me be among the first to wish you a blessed, healthy, and prosperous New Year! We make resolutions this time of year more than any other time.
The average American makes three resolutions, and the theme is pretty much summarized by one word — better. We want to look better. We want to act better. We want to be better. We just want to be better at something.
Start 2023 right: How to give your inbox a fresh makeover
We’re at the threshold of the new year, and it’s not too early to get a head start on getting your home in order. We’re not talking about scrubbing your floors and dusting the blinds. Tap or click here for seven tools to get your digital life in shape.
Four digital resolutions for 2023
Want a better digital life in 2023? Listen to this one-minute podcast for digital resolutions that will make your new year better.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Hackers are after Google and Facebook accounts - Give yours this quick check now
There’s a new hack or scam around every corner. The sad thing is, you likely won’t realize someone has wormed their way into your digital life until it’s too late.
If a virus is to blame, there are red flags. Tap or click for eight signs your computer has been hacked, starting with a big giveaway: It’s running hot.
How to add emojis using your voice with Siri and Google Assistant
Although voice dictation technology lets you send hands-free text messages, it has glaring shortcomings. For example, smart assistants often have trouble understanding you.
That means you’ll have to constantly repeat yourself when the AI doesn’t get what you’re saying. Here are five ways to make your smart assistant understand you better. Here’s another pain point: Smart assistants not sending emojis when you tell them to.
10 incredibly useful iPhone and Android tricks that make your life easier
Remember back when we used phones for only calls? Today, our smartphones hold our entire digital life.
That includes, of course, your precious photos and videos. Tap or click for nine photos you should always have handy, like your medical and dental insurance cards.
Free programs to keep your computer software up to date
Developers are always working hard to improve the software on your computer. That’s because hackers are constantly analyzing popular programs for bugs and hidden backdoors. When they find an opening, the news spreads like wildfire — and then it’s open season on your digital life.
5 genius tech hacks to do before it’s February
It’s a new year, and we’re busy setting goals and making resolutions. One of mine is to spend at least an hour outside every day.
Of course, I still have work to do, and much of that happens via email. I started 2022 by cleaning up my inbox. Tap or click for the steps I take every year to clear out old emails and start fresh.