Don’t let your digital life vanish! Many tech companies are deleting profiles, and you could lose everything. Here’s why.
Streaming costs inching up? Cheapskate secrets you need to know
The top-tier Netflix plan is now a jaw-dropping $22.99 a month. I remember being shocked when it hit $19.99, and here we are again. And Netflix isn’t alone; Disney+ and Hulu have raised their prices, and you can bet every other streaming service will soon follow suit.
It’s the perfect time to take a step back and really examine what you’re paying for. Here are tips to help you trim down those monthly charges.
Audit your subscriptions
Streaming services thrive on autopilot subscriptions — you know, those monthly charges you barely notice till they all add up. My golden rule? If I’m actively watching a show, I keep the service, and if I’m not, I’ll cancel and only resubscribe when there’s something new I want to watch.
Set a reminder a few days on your calendar before each subscription payment to review whether you still need the service. This simple habit can save you from unexpected charges.
Canceling on mobile?
Streaming companies make canceling tricky. They know most of us are too busy or frustrated to follow through. The process can be especially confusing if you’re using a smartphone, so cancel from a desktop or laptop computer, where it’s much easier to navigate.
Don’t miss out on freebies
You might already have access to free movies and TV shows and not even know it! For example:
- Max (formerly HBO Max): Included with some AT&T phone and internet plans.
- Apple TV+: Free for three months with the purchase of a new Apple device or for T‑Mobile customers with specific plans.
- Paramount+: Some Walmart+ members get a free Paramount+ subscription included with their membership.
- Peacock: Free access to limited content for Comcast Xfinity internet and TV customers.
- Spotify Premium with Hulu: If you’re a Spotify Premium student subscriber, you get Hulu (ad-supported) and Showtime included.
- T-Mobile: Free Netflix with certain plans.
- Verizon: Offers the Disney+ bundle (Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+) free with some unlimited plans.
- Amex Platinum: Includes monthly statement credits for services like Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN+ as part of its Entertainment Credit (check the terms!).
- Chase Sapphire Reserve: Offers subscription credits for select services like DoorDash, which sometimes bundles free streaming perks.
- Capital One Rewards: Occasionally offers free trials for streaming platforms via their rewards marketplace.
It’s worth checking if your cellphone provider, credit card company or internet provider includes streaming perks. I bet they do!
There are also great free streaming services, like Pluto TV, Tubi and Crackle, each offering a surprising variety of shows and movies without a subscription. Here are seven ways to stream TV and movies for free.
A deleted blog post proves it: Advertisers are listening to you
Nope, you’re not paranoid. If you feel like your smartphone and speakers are listening to your private chats, it’s because they are.
In a now-deleted blog post, Cox Media Group revealed it can (and does) gather information from conversations and use it for targeted ads. They thought they were slick by removing the evidence, but we caught all the details. Don’t they know the internet is forever?
TikTok takeover? U.S. billionaire Frank McCourt made his fortune in real estate and wants to buy TikTok before it gets banned. He says he’s trying to keep it out of the hands of Big Tech companies that are destroying society and endangering kids. I’m sure that’s some part of his reasoning.
Which tech entrepreneur sold a game to Atari at the age of 12 and later became a co-founder of one of the most successful tech companies ever? Was it … A.) Jeff Bezos, B.) Bill Gates, C.) Steve Jobs or D.) Elon Musk?
Tech true stories: Movies about the rise (and fall) of startups and tech companies
Let me tell you, I’m so over losing all my time getting sucked into watching long TV series. I’m on a movie kick right now, and of course, I really like watching the back story about tech products and the company’s founders. Here are some I thought you might want to watch, too.
10 tech company customer service phone numbers plus a secret way to know wait times
If the long wait times and hard-to-find numbers don’t make it clear enough, I’ll say it: Tech companies don’t want to talk to you.
Here’s a secret I bet you didn’t know. You can have Amazon call you if you have a problem with an order or anything else. Tap or click here for the secret spot on Amazon’s website.
The average startup founder’s age is 42. But for the most successful tech companies — we’re talking the top 0.1% of revenue — the average age is a little different. Are the most successful tech companies founded by someone older or younger than 42? (Hey, you have 50-50 odds today!)
Do you use these popular apps with ties to China?
While the U.S. government is busy contemplating a ban on TikTok, another popular app has flown under the radar. Turbo VPN has been downloaded over 100 million times — and has had multiple Chinese nationals as directors.
7 things to never search for on Google
You might consider yourself a tech-savvy individual who would never fall for an online scam. You regularly mark suspicious email messages as spam, and you never click anything that doesn’t seem legitimate.
Who do you think is the most vulnerable to online scams? Tap or click here to find out which age group keeps falling for them.
Update your PC! Microsoft patch fixes 3 zero-days, 71 other flaws
When you purchase an app or virtually any modern software, you are not getting the final product. Developers release patches, fixes and new features to secure their work, protect users and stay competitive.
Whan was the last time you updated your browser? It’s important to keep it up to date to protect against malware, phishing attacks, viruses and more. Google recently updated Chrome to patch a zero-day flaw used to launch cyberattacks. Tap or click for details and instructions for updating Chrome.
iOS update: Apple will notify kids (but not their parents) if they receive nude photos
Some tech companies take a hard stance on protecting children from online dangers. But for the most part, it’s up to parents to protect their kids. Tap or click here for five ways to protect your child online.
Apple’s iOS 15.2 is almost ready for full release. It adds a handful of functions, but one, in particular, has garnered equal praise and dissatisfaction.
Big Tech companies have profiles on you - Here's how to see them
It should be no surprise to anybody that social media and tech companies gather a lot of information about you. In most cases, you supply the data willingly (or sometimes begrudgingly) so that you can access their services. Tap or click here for 10 Facebook privacy and security settings you need to change right now.
How to limit ad tracking on your iPhone and iPad
User privacy has been a big topic over the last few months, and for a good reason. Mobile users are not fond of their online behavior and habits being tracked, analyzed and disseminated by tech companies for financial gain.
Congress vs. Big Tech: who will win?
In May, I asked my listeners and readers to share their thoughts on powerful tech companies. Of over 6,000 respondents, 86% said they’re fed up with Big Tech. So is Congress.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How to build a smart home at any budget
Smart homes feel pretty magical. Walk into a room, say the word and a light turns on or a lock slides into place. They’re also great for security: Out goes an SOS or medical emergency alert with a touch of the button.
Windows 10: Latest security patch fixes a zero-day vulnerability
Microsoft and other tech companies regularly release updates and security patches for their software. This not only ensures that you get the latest features but also keeps your devices protected.
Vulnerabilities in software can be exploited by hackers, leading to personal information being stolen. In severe cases, your device and all its files can be held for ransom. Tap or click here for the secret behind ransomware attacks that hackers don’t want you to know.
CES 2021: 5 show-stopping smart home tech innovations
One of the most exciting times of the year for tech geeks is when the Consumer Electronics Show rolls around. This annual event, which is held in Las Vegas, has been showcasing the newest gadgets from innovators’ minds since the late 1960s — and it’s still going strong. Unlike previous years, though, this year’s show is completely virtual, making it the first digital CES ever.
Hackers exploiting new Windows vulnerability - Is your system at risk?
The biggest tech companies may be rivals, but that doesn’t mean they won’t help each other out once in a while. Project Zero, a group of bug-hunters working for Google, find dangerous security flaws for other companies all the time.