Plus, Will Kemper is a third-gen farmer from Indiana. He’s looking to automate some of his farm work, and I’ve got some tips. What should you do if your EV catches fire? It’s not what you’d expect. How to sell the stuff in your closet, and the trick to wiping location data from pics.
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.
You’re being tracked secretly by 3 settings on your phone
When mobile apps first hit the scene, many were designed to make our phones more useful. This included new tools for productivity, as well as apps for entertainment. Many of today’s apps, though, are packed with sneaky permission requests and hidden trackers.
Zillow’s Zestimate guesses how much your house (or any other house) is worth. How many data points does Zillow factor in? Is it close to … A.) 100, B.) 500, C.) 7.5 million or D.) 20 million?
Free privacy tool: See what your CAR collects about you
A new car has over 1,400 microchips and runs on 100 million lines of code. Because it is connected, it can also collect a lot of data about you.
Your car is like your phone, computer or tablet now — always listening. What is your vehicle collecting? Way more than we’d all like to think.
Privacy tip: Make sure you're not accidentally sharing your location with apps or people
Ever text a picture to an acquaintance or someone you just met? Depending on your phone and camera’s settings, you may have inadvertently sent where you live, too. This is what someone can see from just a photo.
One good thing about social media is that most platforms wipe out this data. Still, they’re exposing you in other ways. Here’s how to check everything Facebook collects.
Is your car tracking you? Here's how to find out and put a stop to it
Whether you drive a classic or a 10-year-old car, safety should still be your chief concern. Here are five ways tech can modernize your old car.
New cars are computers on wheels. Don’t believe me? The average vehicle nowadays has over 1,400 microchips in it. Because your car is connected, it can also collect a lot of data about you. Your car is like your phone, computer or tablet now — always listening.
Apple and Google are working together to solve this major security issue
Apple and Google are teaming up to inform you of unwanted AirTags and other Bluetooth tracking devices nearby. What took them so long?
The tech rivals want to make unwanted tracking detection an industry standard. This way, all Bluetooth trackers will be compatible with tracking detection and alerts on iOS and Android devices.
Check this list before you buy a Chromebook
There are plenty of laptop models to choose from, so deciding which one is right for you can be challenging. But if you prefer a system that requires minimal maintenance and gets automatic updates, you should consider a Chromebook.
Hidden map on your phone shows everywhere you’ve been and the photos you took there
Google Maps makes navigating unfamiliar cities frustration-free and straightforward. It has an innovative feature that you’re probably not taking full advantage of, Street View. Sure it’s great for looking at your childhood home. But, you can use it for things like creating your own stories and even going indoors.
Unwrapped new gadgets? 10 ways to lock them down
Ah, a shiny new tech toy. In the eyes of a hacker, that’s a great way into your home’s network.
Most people don’t realize how important it is to properly secure your internet connection and router from snoops, hackers, and moochers. Tap or click for five smart steps to keep hackers out of your home network and sensitive files.
Popular app parents use to keep an eye on the kids reportedly selling kids' and parents' locations
Technology can play an essential role in keeping your family safe. Your smartphone comes with built-in features like emergency contact lists, emergency SOS and the option to display vital medical information on your lock screen.
Goodbye, Facebook. The company's new name is Meta
Facebook is turning over a new leaf. After a slew of recent controversies, Mark Zuckerberg announced the company would rename itself. First, former employee Frances Haugen leaked internal documents that revealed Facebook knew about its negative impact on users.
5 new Google changes to watch out for
Google’s suite of apps is among the most widely used in the world. They are easy to navigate, free, and are constantly updated and patched. It’s no wonder that Gmail, Google Maps and Chrome are so popular.
Despite its universal acceptance, Google has a poor track record when it comes to data privacy. The tech giant has taken steps to reassure user confidence, such as announcing self-destructing emails. How much truth is there to this claim? Tap or click here to find out.
Update your browser now to keep your computer from being hijacked
There are tons of security issues circulating for many big tech companies right now. Microsoft has released a critical patch for Windows Defender, and Samsung phones have been plagued with a new privacy bug.
Now, there are new reports that internet browsers like Chrome, Edge and Firefox have several vulnerability issues. Tap or click here to read about a hacker who exposed 99% of all Parler messages and posts, including location data.
The Secret Service reportedly bought location data from apps you're probably using
By now you know that you’re being tracked. Companies like Facebook and Google use this information to provide you with targeted ads so they have a better chance of selling you products that you’re interested in.
Obviously, not everyone likes the idea of being stalked online and that’s why it’s a good idea to opt-out. But shockingly, some phones may till collect your location data even when you tell it not to. Tap or click here to find out how they get away with it.
The NSA warns against a smartphone setting you probably have enabled
Location services are commonplace on most smartphones today. This location data, which can be tracked and shared with app servers, allows users to do things like navigate through traffic or monitor their exercise. But if precautions aren’t taken, it can reveal sensitive information about where you live, work and travel.
This company sells phone location data to the FBI - see what's tracking you
The fact that analytics firms buy and sell data is nothing new, but what happens when the entity buying the data happens to be federal law enforcement?
This isn’t the first time something like this has happened. Last year, a DNA testing platform gave the FBI full access to its database of millions of users. Tap or click here to see how this data was used to solve a cold murder case.
Google’s tracking gets man accused of crime he did not commit
Many of us are naturally suspicious about the data collection habits of major tech companies. We already know several big names have been caught using customer data inappropriately, and each new incident is enough to make you wonder just how far these companies are willing to go.
Google is making big changes to the way your private data is shared
Our digital privacy is a precious commodity that’s becoming increasingly scarce. There’s money to be made in data, after all, so the biggest tech companies on earth don’t have too much incentive to help you lay low.
It’s not as if these companies do this without your permission, though. Most apps request access to your data the first time you boot them up, but not all of them. Some developers just leave their privacy “gotchas” buried deep in the terms and conditions. Tap or click for an app that can read the Terms and Conditions for you.