How to get your memories off VHS tapes and on your computer or DVDs
I cleaned out a cabinet a few years ago and found a stack of old Super 8 tapes. I’ll never forget the way Mom’s face lit up after I digitized videos of her late brother Harold Jr.’s wedding. Tragically, he died in a car accident not long after his wedding day.
Smart TVs: More loaded with ads than ever
Feeling bombarded with ads every time you turn on the tube? Well, you are. TV manufacturers figured out they could make more money from ad sales and tracking than actually selling TVs.
It used to just be commercials, but now we’ve got pop-ups, home screen ads, interactive ads — you name it. I’ve got the scoop on what’s next, plus some actionable tips to survive the ad avalanche.
You're being recorded in public
You can’t prevent people from recording you, but you can stay aware of your surroundings to identify potential cameras.
Big, bad reminder to keep your Mac updated: Security flaws in Microsoft apps like Word can let hackers in based on your existing app permissions — no extra verification needed. Stay safe: Keep your computer on the latest version of macOS and only download apps from the official Apple App Store.
8:36 a.m.
Time by when the average person knows whether or not they’re in for a bad day. The top morning mishaps? Waking up sick, sleeping poorly, having a headache, losing your keys or forgetting your phone at home. Maybe we need mood rings.
World Photography Day: 8 tips and tricks + a security must
August 19 is World Photography Day! It’s also National Potato Day and International Orangutan Day, but let’s focus on photos. (See what I did there?)
Below are some of my favorite tips and tricks for better smartphone pictures, along with a privacy tip at the end that always gets at least one major “thank you.”
Fraud and identity warning: Protect your info in one simple step
What do these things have in common: A data breach, a credit card offer in the mail, a form at the doctor’s office and a Dark Web marketplace?
If you guessed anything to do with your identity, you nailed it. All are ways someone can get their hands on your Social Security number. With just a handful of digits, they can do a lot of harm.
Scammer says there's oil on the moon!
Kitboga, one of the most famous scammer baiters on YouTube, hopped on Kim Komando Today and shared with us some of his favorite memories tricking scammers.
$2 loss
For every $1 put toward sports betting. As federal and state guidelines have loosened, fewer Americans are investing in stocks and other safer assets. This past January, folks put $14 billion into online sports betting — compare that to $1.1 billion in January 2019.
3 ways to protect your privacy and swerve surveillance
Not long ago, I heard a familiar buzz while swimming in my backyard pool. Sure enough, a drone hovered overhead and quickly vanished when I shooed it away with my hand. That’s how I got the idea for this post.
The legality of drone surveillance varies by country and state, but if the drone is flying on your private property and recording you without your consent, call the police. It’s a violation of your privacy.