Google isn’t going to hand your location to the police anymore: Location History (aka Timeline) tracks your every move, and cops were able to pull your data from Google’s servers if you were near a crime scene at the wrong time. Now it’s being stored on-device only, so police will have to come to you directly with a warrant.
Tags: Google, personal data, Police, warrants
There’s a question I find myself asking a lot with tech products and services: “Is it worth it?” I’m not just talking about money, though, yes, I’m hoping my new $1,200 iPhone will be worth it (eesh).
Privacy is a cost, too. With every “free” service you get, you’re handing over something in return.
You don’t leave your front door unlocked. So why would you use public Wi-Fi networks without protection? Defend your private data from cybercriminals in public places with these five tips.
If you listen to The Kim Komando Show and Kim’s podcasts, you know about digital dangers. Accessing the internet via public Wi-Fi networks can heighten these risks even more.
🔎 Real deal or cheap knockoff? You find a great dress, pair of shoes, wallet or whatever online. Is it a nicely made piece or something you could buy in bulk on Alibaba? One easy way to check: Do a reverse image search. Upload a saved pic here on Google Images and see if you can spot the exact product elsewhere.
What percentage of Americans admit to routinely spying on their partner’s phone and checking their text messages?
Exercise time found to lower your risk of diabetes, sleep apnea, hypertension and 250-plus other diseases. You don’t need to work out daily to hit that goal, either. A new study shows weekend warriors who go on long hikes, bike rides — whatever — instead of exercising a bit each day experience the same benefits. I hear you: “Exercise? I thought you said extra fries.”
🐲 Time keeps on tickin’: 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, it’s 11 hours and 22 minutes for LOTR.)
So fresh and so clean: Windows allows you to create multiple virtual desktops for better organization. Hold down the Windows key + Tab to open Task View, then click New Desktop at the top left. You can switch between your desktops using the Windows key + Ctrl + ← or →.
Like a personal assistant in your browser: ChatGPT’s MyGPTs and Claude’s Personal Projects let you tailor a bot to your needs. It’ll remember what you’ve said so you’re not starting from scratch each time. You can make one for work, scheduling, workouts, recipe ideas — whatever floats your boat!
🌇 Riding off into the sunset: Verizon’s Message+ is shutting down in November. The suggested replacement is Google Messages, which really is your best bet. It supports RCS texting, the new standard that makes it easier to send pics and videos.
