Work time-saver: Stop filing emails into endless folders and master your inbox searches. Advanced options let you filter by an email’s sender, subject, keywords or date range. In Gmail and Outlook, hit the three-line icon at the right side of the search bar. Combine keywords with operators like “from:boss” or “has:attachment” for even better results.
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.
5 things you should never put on a resume
In life, few rewards come without risk. Take your dream job, for instance. If you want to land that position you’ve been dreaming about, you’ll need to make a great first impression.
When you’re applying for jobs, that all comes down to your resume. Every little detail makes a big difference. For example, a small mistake could take you out of the running for a job you’re qualified for.
🖤 “You’ve got mail!” The voice behind the famous AOL message, Elwood Edwards, passed away this week at 74. He recorded it back in 1989 for just $200. He definitely should’ve asked for more. Here he is with Jimmy Fallon in 2015, reading those famous lines. Ahh, I miss the ‘90s.
Scam watch: 3 scams spreading like fire across the U.S.
Scammers are clever, but they’re not very creative. Most of their tricks are recycled versions of tricks that worked in the past. There are a few I’ve seen cropping up again because criminals know they work every time.
Big Tech is tracking your emails
I have three different work email addresses — and a Gmail address I set up when it launched in 2004. I could never score the handle again today, but after 20 years, that inbox is a mess.
It’s become my disposable email address for coupon codes, free signups and newsletters — pretty much, the nonessential things in my digital life.
🐽 Can the spam: You can set up rules in your inbox so your uncle’s rants or high school friend’s pyramid scheme emails are automatically filed away in a folder of your choosing. In Outlook, Gmail or Apple Mail, go to your filters and look for an option like “Skip the inbox.”
📧 Use Gmail on your Android? If you pay for the Google Workspace plan (or your work does), you can now chat with Google’s AI, Gemini, about your emails. The bot has access to your entire inbox, so it can summarize your emails (“What did Mary want?”) or find specific info for you (“When’s the app design deadline?”). To use it, tap the black star logo in the top-right corner of the app. Coming soon to iPhone, I hope!
Stop letting Big Tech decide what emails you see: StartMailis my pick for privacy-first email. It’s super easy to switch over your contacts and mail, or you can treat it as a fresh inbox for only your VIPs. Save 60% now with my special link. Btw, I get no residuals if you buy.
Add to cart: If you’re buying something online, try my go-to trick to save money. Add it to your cart, start the checkout process (including putting in your email address), then close the site. Give it a day or two, and you’ll probably get a coupon sent to your inbox.
Stop letting Big Tech decide what emails you see: StartMailis my pick for privacy-first email. It’s easy to switch over your contacts and mail, or you can treat it as a fresh inbox for only your VIPs. Save 50% now with my special link. Btw, I get no residuals if you buy.
“Hi, sorry to bother. Do you shop through Amazon?” It’s a scam email, and it keeps ending up in Content Queen Allie’s inbox. If you respond, some jerk will try to convince you they have Amazon gift cards they’ll trade for cash. Hit “spam” and move on.
Check your inbox: If you’ve ever used the mental health platform BetterHelp, you may be one of the 800,000 folks now eligible for part of a $7.8 million settlement. To check, search for an email from “Ankura Consulting Group.” The FTC says BetterHelp shared consumer health data with third parties for advertising. Questions? Email info@betterhelprefundprogram.com.
Run like your phone’s at 1%: Use Verizon between Jan. 1, 2016, and Nov. 8, 2023? You might get up to $100 from a class-action settlement. Check your mail or inbox for a claim form, then mail it back or head to the settlement website to submit a claim by April 15.
Watch out for these 6 scammy email subject lines
Last week, my calendar went crazy with event invites. These weren’t real meetings or even something fun like brunch plans — they were sketchy “appointments” from strangers. It’s just one common phishing technique you need to look out for.
Pay-per-prescription: Hitting up your doctor for a sick note or refill? Prepare to pony up. Once-free admin tasks could soon carry a price tag. Blame pandemic burnout and the telehealth boom for turning your doc’s inbox into a no-freebie zone.
Don’t want to drop $1K on a new phone? Do this instead
It was a little anticlimactic when I went from the iPhone 14 Pro Max to the 15 Pro Max. Side-by-side, they look an awful lot like the same phone. The one thing that stood out was how shiny and clean the 15 looked.
You don’t have to shell out a lot of money — jump into the settings and use a little elbow grease to make your current phone sparkle.
Reader question: Is it safe to hit the ‘unsubscribe’ button on spam?
I got an email from a reader asking if hitting the “unsubscribe” button in her inbox is smart. Like many things in tech, it depends. In some cases, reacting to spammers might make your email a hot commodity, leading to more unwanted emails or even a spot on a “for sale” list.