Smartphone shortcut: On a Samsung, go to your Contacts and choose a person you want to talk to. Swipe left to text message then or swipe right to call — no extra tapping around required. Cool.
Tech trick: How to tell who's calling when you don't recognize the phone number
Ever received a text message from a number you don’t recognize? I get a lot of texts from numbers that I have no idea who that person is. Instead of replying with “Ahem, who dis?” there’s a hack you’re going to use time and time again.
If you get a text from an unknown number, mobile payment apps like Venmo, CashApp, Zelle or PayPal can help you put a name to that number.
Copy and paste the number into the app and the mystery sender’s name might just be unveiled.
I tested this on a phone number belonging to someone I knew had a Venmo account. Their name popped right up.
FYI, this hack only works if you have an account with one of those mobile payment apps. The sender also has to use their real name and number in the app. But hey, it’s better than shooting in the dark.
There’s the flip side: Be sure to disable your mobile payment app from sharing your name and phone number with other people. The steps vary per app. In Venmo, open Settings, Friends and Social and toggle off Phone contacts.
What about blocked numbers?
Dialing *67 conceals your number from someone you call. There are similar numbers you can dial to respond to mystery callers.
The first is *69, which traces the number of the last person who called you. It works even for anonymous or hidden calls, so you can get the phone number and exact time they called. Once you have that number, you can block it on your phone so they can’t call you anymore.
There are more codes and secrets you can use to hunt down who called. Tap or click here to check them out.
💀 My favorite way to answer spam calls? “Maricopa County morgue, you kill ’em, we chill ’em.” I’m terrible ….
New spam text can't be blocked - Here's how to protect yourself
Paying your bills on time is something that most of us do without even thinking about it. It is so part of our everyday life that we don’t expect to be rewarded for it. Sure, there could be some occasions where companies might incentivize you for paying early, but that doesn’t happen often.
When a deleted text message isn't
Think your deleted text messages are gone for good? One husband found out the hard way and is now suing Apple for over $6 million. Also, rough times ahead for discount travel sites, the best weather apps to keep you updated, and apps that make grocery list-making a breeze.
Have a Windows PC? Don't fall for this bogus Windows Defender charge
Online scams come in all forms, including phony links, apps, files, phone numbers and websites. Scammers reach out to victims via phone, email and text message. It’s not always easy to spot a scam, but there are signs you can look out for.
This text from Apple promising a free iPhone is a scam - don't fall for it
Winning a contest can feel incredible — especially if there’s a fabulous prize attached. And what could be better than winning something as nice as a new Apple gadget like an iPhone or Mac?
Unfortunately, most of the contests you see offering free iPhones, iPads and Macs are scams. The prizes are bait used to hook unsuspecting victims into sharing financial information and personal data. Tap or click here to see the best ways to actually win contests and sweepstakes safely.
Viral trick to know who's behind an unknown number
Ever received a text message from a number you don’t recognize? I’ve got a trick you need to use, in one minute.
Shocking texts from Chinese hackers fooling people out of their money
Android users are no strangers to malware. In fact, malicious apps are common enough on the Google Play store that browsing for new software can feel like walking through a minefield.
Of course, there are a few ways you can tell which programs are safe to download. A low amount of perfect reviews with very few comments, for example, can indicate a fraudulent app. Tap or click here to see how to spot the latest batch of Google Play malware.
Did you receive a strange alert on your smartphone overnight? Here's why
Your phone isn’t just an accessory used to play Candy Crush. It has more important functions too, like receiving emergency alerts.
You might remember receiving a text message from President Trump a while back. That’s because the U.S. government started a text message alert system for all Americans in the event of a national emergency. Tap or click here for details.
Two-factor authentication is vulnerable to this new type of attack
Two-factor authentication has long been touted as one of the best ways to make sure you are staying secure online. But recently it seems that this tried-and-true way to stay safe has been beaten by hackers. They are using this knowledge to break into people’s accounts and steal their information. Here’s how to make sure you are safe from this hack.