🤹♀️ Free audio editing software: Get the one we use at the ol’ Komando Radio Ranch right here. It works great if you’re digitizing music on cassettes and LPs, podcasting or just editing audio for whatever reason.
Why I used Incogni to wipe my info off the internet
I got this note the other day from Mike S. (Hi, Mike! 👋): “Next time you talk about Incogni, maybe you can do a deep dive?”
Mike, you’re not the only reader who’s asked for a more in-depth look at how Incogni works and why I chose it to wipe my info from data broker sites. I picked this service before they became a sponsor. So, without further ado …
It all started with a conversation
My son, Ian, asked me where I used to live in Los Angeles. A few minutes later, he found the address — available free for anyone and everyone on a people-search site. I was shocked to see my date of birth listed, too, along with links to all my relatives, my mother’s landline number, her cellphone number and my own cellphone number.
An estimated 4,000 companies and sites collect personal info, and they make it extremely hard to get your data removed. Why? Because they make a big profit by selling it.
It’s more than your name, address and phone number
Data brokers track and sell details to marketing companies, scammers, thieves and insurance companies. This includes your email addresses, social media accounts, employment history, education, car ownership, court records, shopping habits, political affiliations and even medical conditions. They paint a frighteningly complete picture of your life — and it’s one you never agreed to share.
Data breaches and leaks put everything from your banking info to your Social Security number on the internet and the Dark Web. Search for your name online, and you’ll find yourself listed all over the place.
I went on a mission to delete as much as I could
My first stop: Data broker sites. Here’s a quick look at how to remove yourself:
- Scour the internet for your data. You’ll need to dig through countless people-search sites that bury your personal information on hard-to-find pages.
- Navigate the tedious removal process for each site. Every data broker and people-search site has its own convoluted removal process. Some require proof of identity, notarized documents or snail-mailing forms. Others outright ignore your requests, forcing you to start all over again.
- Meticulously track your removal efforts. Keep a log of every site, submission date and response (or lack thereof). Miss a step, and your data might stay visible or reappear without warning.
- Constantly monitor your online presence. You’ll need to regularly revisit every site you’ve requested your info be removed from, because your data often reappears.
Now, I spent 36 hours trying to do all this myself, and I finally gave up when I realized I wasn’t making any real progress. That’s when I researched services to do this for me.
5 clever tricks holiday scammers use
© Oleksandr Voloshyn | Dreamstime.com
JD in Dallas emailed me with a story. He and his wife were at the mall and stopped for a Christmas selfie. Two young men walking by offered to take the pic for them — and one kept wiping the phone’s lens inside his jacket.
Shopping scams are getting nastier: One victim in Maryland was tricked into paying a fake $0.99 “redelivery fee” and ended up losing $400. USPS and other shipping companies won’t add a shipping charge after the fact. These scams usually come via text, so watch out.
Set up your Wi-Fi for easy sharing with guests
© Darya Petrenko | Dreamstime.com
You’ve got a turkey in the oven, presents need to be wrapped, and your cousin’s kid screams (again), “What’s the Wi-Fi password?” You’re juggling a hundred things at once, and the last thing you want to do is to spell out your password.
The truth behind smart driving programs and what they track
r/GEICO via Reddit.com, © Justlight | Dreamstime.com, © Alexskopje | Dreamstime.com
I’ll bet your insurance company has sent this one your way: “Drive safely, get rewarded. Sign up for our smart driving program today!” You’ve got a squeaky clean driving record, so what’s the harm?
Smart driving programs track your driving habits and give you discounts for being a good driver. But there’s more to it than just saving a few bucks. Buckle up — I’ll break it down for you.
$40 to Sharon for cocktails: Unless you change your settings, anyone with the Venmo app can see all your contacts. Go to Privacy settings > Friends list > Private. While you’re there, turn off “Appear in other users’ friends’ lists.” This is important!
🏈 What’s the score? In the Alexa app, open Settings > Sports Update. Add your teams (you’ll find all major American sports leagues). Now, say, “Alexa, give me my sports update” for scores and schedule info.
🔒 Friendly reminder: Browser extensions lose support and change developers. Take a minute to review what’s installed and ditch anything you don’t use. On Chrome, tap the three dots near your profile icon, hover over Extensions, then select Manage Extensions. On Safari, go to Preferences > Extensions.
Stop losing your car at the mall: Open the Google Maps app, tap the blue dot that shows your location, then select Save parking.
🤖 Team Android: If you have pics like your driver’s license on your phone, set up a locked folder in Google Photos. Open the Google Photos app > Utilities > Set up Locked Folder. Follow the on-screen directions to finish up.
Ship happens: Google’s shiny new AI assistant, Mariner, will take over Chrome to do stuff like book flights, fill out forms and do your shopping without you doing a thing. It can’t fill out credit card or billing info “for privacy reasons.” (Google actually had the gall to say that!) Watch the prototype in action here.
You’ve got mail: Psychologists say those who aim for “Inbox Zero,” aka no unread email, might be perfectionists craving control. If you let unread emails pile up, you might be more laid-back and focused on priorities over organization. Some people even get more stressed trying to keep a clear inbox. Try as I might, I’m not an “Inbox Zero” gal.
🍎 Secret spot to hide pics: On an iPhone, use the Notes app. Open the pic in your Photos app, tap the share icon and select Add to Quick Note. Then, go into the note you want to protect, tap the three-dot icon in the upper-right corner, and choose Lock.
RIP, Do Not Track: Mozilla axed the 13-year-old privacy option in its latest Firefox browser update. The idea was you could hit a button to tell websites not to opt you into browsing cookies you encountered online. Spoiler: It never really worked, since most advertisers just ignored it. Chrome and Microsoft Edge still include the useless option.
That’s rich: Spend Bill Gates’ Money is a funny browser game that shows you just how much $100,000,000,000 can buy. Oof, 109 Super Bowl ads, a couple of yachts and 250 McDonald’s franchises didn’t even make a dent.
📺 For your weekend binge: Check the time commitment before you let someone lure you into the extended-cut “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. Bingeclock is great for movies. Tiii.me has TV show times. Btw, 11 hours and 22 minutes for LOTR.
📱 Update your iPhone now: Apple iOS 18.2, the update that superpowers Siri with AI, also fixes 21 security issues. That includes a major flaw in Apple’s Passwords app. Still on iOS 17? There’s a fix for you, too. Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
👀 For your eyes only: The holidays mean a house full of family, friends and curious little ones. With all the hustle and bustle, get into the habit of locking your computer every time you get up. On Windows, press the Windows key + L. On Mac, hit Ctrl + Cmd + Q.