Google Maps secret: This one’s perfect for planning sneaky surprises like checking out a vacation spot. In the app, tap your avatar, select Turn on Incognito mode and look for the Incognito icon in the search bar. When you’re done, tap the Incognito icon again and select Turn off Incognito mode.
More creeps are using small hidden cameras – How to spot them
It seems like every week, there’s another disturbing story in the news about hidden cameras. Spying on unsuspecting victims is nothing new, and, thanks to today’s tech, these creeps have taken their creepiness to a whole new level. Unfortunately, it’s easier than ever to get away with these crimes. Here are some recent ones we know about.
In a church bathroom
Will Johnson, a pastor in Michigan, admitted to placing a hidden camera in the church bathroom stall and recording people for the last two years. Johnson confessed everything to police, who are now trying to find where all these recordings ended up. I bet it’s probably some sicko porn site.
In a doctor’s office
In Pennsylvania, a chiropractor was caught using hidden cameras to record patients as they undressed. Police found a hidden camera in his office disguised as a working digital clock.
In a Starbucks bathroom
A Starbucks customer in San Jose, California, noticed something unusual about the bathroom’s baby-changing station. You guessed it — a camera’s tiny lens was strategically placed to record patrons using the bathroom.
In a teen’s bathroom
You’re not going to believe this one. A Kentucky family found a hidden camera in their 13-year-old daughter’s bathroom. A man living in the apartment above them had run a borescope inspection camera through his floor and into the ceiling of the teen’s shower below.
Do a manual sweep for hidden cameras
Today’s cameras are so small, they can be hidden virtually anywhere — lamps, light fixtures, vases, flowerpots, smoke detectors, air filters, vents, decorations, TV remotes and even within water bottles. Here are a few tips for spotting them:
- Inspect your surroundings: Shine a flashlight on mirrors, smoke detectors and alarm clocks. Hidden cameras often have tiny lenses or holes that reflect light.
- Use a hidden camera detector: They detect wireless signals or infrared light emitted by many hidden cameras. Here’s one I like.
- Check Wi‑Fi networks: In hotels, rentals or offices, scan the list of available Wi‑Fi networks nearby. If you see devices you don’t recognize, they could be hidden cameras.
- Cover suspicious devices: Blocking the view is a simple way to ensure some privacy. Any hidden cameras, though, will probably still record audio.
- Report it immediately: If you find a hidden camera, don’t tamper with it. Take photos, document everything and call the police.
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Are your smart devices tracking too much?
Your smartwatch is great for tracking steps, but have you ever thought about where all that personal data actually goes?
From sleep patterns to calorie intake, it’s like a digital diary — and it’s worth billions to insurance companies, marketing outfits, advertisers and, of course, hackers. Don’t panic! I’ll walk you through how to lock down your privacy.
Black Friday data grab
As you hunt for the best deals this weekend, don’t let shopping apps hunt for your personal data. Here’s how to shop smart while protecting your privacy.
Un-bell-ievable: The FCC is slapping Chinese video doorbell maker Eken with a $735,000 fine. Sold by big names like Amazon and Walmart, Eken’s doorbells exposed users’ IP addresses and Wi-Fi network names and gave others unauthorized access to videos.
3 billion-plus
Phone coordinates collected and sold by data brokers. The kicker? They expose U.S. military and intelligence workers, including people who work in places like nuclear weapons facilities. Anything for a buck.
Data brokers are selling your life. Here’s how to stop them.
The data broker industry is worth almost $400 billion. Whether it’s your Google Search history, movies you’ve streamed or a summary of your last doctor’s visit, they’re keeping tabs on your life.
Feel violated? You should. These brokers even sell your data to scammers so they can use it to target you. No wonder most people get overloaded with spam texts and calls every day.
Reset your social media algorithms
Still stuck in election season on your social media feed? Or maybe you bought one bottle of perfume and now Big Tech thinks you’re launching a beauty empire. Algorithms are smart, but they don’t know when you’re ready to get back to your regularly scheduled programming, like cat videos and memes. Here’s how to reset your feed and take control of what you see.
🚨 Windows alert: Microsoft is rolling out its nosy Recall feature for Windows 11 Copilot+ PCs. The tool records almost everything on your screen to help you find files or websites you’ve accessed. After backlash over privacy concerns, the data will be encrypted and snapshots of sensitive info won’t be taken — but I still wouldn’t trust it. Recall is opt-in only, so you can skip it … for now.
Deals without tracking: Download your grocery store’s app for the best possible prices. No one says you have to use your real email address and phone number if you’re not into the data collection. Make a burner account!
Hide-and-seek: You’re shopping online for your kiddo or spouse and they walk in. Quick! Hide your open browser windows. On a PC: Windows key + M. (Use Windows key + Shift + M to reopen.) On a Mac: Cmd + Option + H + M. Phew, no spoilers.
🔒 Privacy, please: On Android, you can automatically lock your Incognito tabs when you switch to another app. Open Chrome, then tap More > Settings > Privacy and security. Turn on “Lock Incognito tabs when you leave Chrome.”
40% of employees
Getting laid off at 23andMe. The DNA company narrowly avoided being delisted from the stock exchange after 7 million people’s data was stolen. If you used 23andMe, delete your info, like, now.
Microsoft Edge can’t take a hint: The browser is importing your Chrome browsing data and tabs without asking. Luckily, you can stop it. When you see the pop-up from Edge to Enhance your browsing experience with Copilot in Microsoft Edge, click the tiny white X in the upper right corner and close it. (It’s tiny — you might have to squint to see it.)
Area codes and numbers that are probably spam
Whew, the election’s over. The onslaught of robocalls and texts is over, too … right? Nope.
There are fewer political calls and messages, sure, but there are always scammers and spammers. It may be easier for these creeps to get a hold of us now that our phones aren’t constantly lighting up with election-related notifications.
🤖 Have a kid who plays Roblox? Keep them safe from creeps. Go to Account Settings, select the Privacy tab and toggle the voice chat selector to Off. The toggle will go from green to gray, indicating voice chat has been disabled.
Channel your inner detective: Every Facebook photo has an ID number that lets you find exactly who posted it. On your computer, right-click on a photo on Facebook, then hit Open in New Tab. In the new tab, look at the address bar, and copy the middle set of numbers in the URL. Then, type https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid= in the address bar and paste in the numbers right after the equal sign. Press Enter and bada-bing.
🔒 Password-protect a document: In Microsoft Office or Google Docs, click the Help button in the menu bar. Click Help again, then type in Encrypt with password, and your program of choice will walk you through the steps. So easy.
Want to lock an app on your iPhone? It’s easy if you’re running iOS 18. Press and hold the app icon > Menu > Require Face ID (or Touch ID or Passcode). That’s it.
🗳️ Did you vote? In many states, that’s public information, but you have to file a request or pay a fee to obtain it. A new website, VoteRef, allows anyone to look up your name, address, age, party affiliation and whether you voted. Not all state info is there … yet. This feels like harassment just waiting to happen.