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.
Wipe it out
No kidding, one IT genius at Komando HQ wipes his phone once a year. It seems like a pain (and it is a bit), but it can keep yours running fast and smooth. Think about it — there’s so much less junk piled up if you clear it all out regularly.
Be sure to back your phone up first, then a factory reset makes it easy to on-board all your important info.
On iPhone:
- Open Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset.
- Select Erase All Content and Settings.
On Samsung:
- Open Settings > General management.
- Swipe to and tap Reset, then Factory data reset > Reset.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to confirm, then tap Delete all.
On Google Pixel:
- Open Settings > System > Reset options > Erase all data (factory reset).
- To erase all data from your phone’s internal storage, tap Erase all data.
Your texts are an inbox, too
Protect your files! Signs your hard drive is on its last legs and what to do about it
You’re cruising along when, suddenly, your computer starts misbehaving. Webpages are lagging, programs are slow to open, and then (uh oh), the blue screen of death or a spinning wheel.
It could be any number of things, but there’s a chance your trusty hard drive is giving out. “Kim! My files!” Yes, I know that’s what’s on your mind. But stay calm. There are ways to make sure your data remains safe and sound.
Meduza: Scary name, scarier malware
Use Chrome, Edge, Brave, Sidekick, Opera or Firefox to browse the web? What about Discord, Steam, a password manager or a crypto wallet?
You’re a prime target for the Meduza Stealer — a type of malware that poses a serious personal and digital security risk. Its primary purpose is to steal valuable data from your computer. We’re talking login credentials, credit card details and cryptocurrency wallet data.
Want a TV that lasts? This brand promises 4 more years of updates (even for older models)
Technology from companies like Amazon, Microsoft and Google has spoiled many of us into demanding faster, better, and more powerful gadgets. Sometimes features can be added through firmware or operating system updates.
Update your phone now! Bug lets hackers take over
Kim tells you all the time to keep your internet-enabled devices updated — and for good reason. Updates help preserve your system’s integrity and protect the sensitive data within.
It’s easy to ignore update notifications, but the inconvenience of updating can be the difference between a phone that is safe, secure and works properly, and one that is vulnerable to outside threats or malfunctions. Tap or click to discover the five things you must do to protect your phone from hackers.