Vacation mode

March 27, 2025

Vacation mode: If you’re on vacation for a week or more, hold your mail, so it doesn’t pile up. Log in or create a USPS account and verify your identity. On Amazon, go to Your Orders, find anything pending and click Reschedule. Choose a new date on the calendar and hit Confirm.

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

Tags: Amazon, identity, Mail, USPS, vacation

Printer friendly

Tech how-to: Delete apps the right way

ID 342080453 | Ai © Andrei Dzemidzenka | Dreamstime.com

I just swiped through my apps and found, uh, six I’ve never used or haven’t opened in months. Yep, it even happens to me. You have grand plans to meditate, organize your to-dos, fix your pics, whatever, and you download an app for the job. But then, the romance ends.

Continue reading →

The secret meanings behind emojis

ID 346749041 © Frenta | Dreamstime.com

Emojis are your digital body language, and just like in real life, one wrong move can send the totally wrong message. 😬 The right emoji adds personality, sarcasm or a playful tone. But some of these tiny icons carry hidden meanings you might not realize.

Continue reading →

⚠️ Your browser is a big honkin’ target: Reading this on Chrome? Hackers are sending phishing links via email that infect your system with malware as soon as you click. A fix is coming soon, so restart your browser when you see the update icon near the URL bar. Sigh, just one more reason you need solid antivirus protection.

The truth about Zillow’s Zestimate

ID 87755744 © Sandra Foyt | Dreamstime.com

🙋‍♀️Raising my hand … Hello, everyone. My name is Kim, and I am a Zillow junkie.

I have saved every home I owned, own now and would like to own. It’s fun to track what Zillow thinks the places are worth in what they call a “Zestimate.”

Continue reading →

Why you need a second phone number

ID 253338840 © Rosshelen | Dreamstime.com

I have a second number on my phone. You should, too.

Your main number? Keep that locked down for the important stuff — your bank, doctor’s office and family. But when you’re ordering takeout, signing up for a one-time deal or making an online purchase, why give out your real number?

Continue reading →

🫨 Gone phishing: If you use Gmail or Outlook, watch out for deceptive emails asking for sensitive info or trying to trick you into clicking a malicious link that takes over your computer. Make a mistake and the hackers will hold your PC or data hostage until you pay a ransom. This one’s spreading, so watch out!

Insurance rates rising, here’s what you can do

My car insurance just jumped 32%. No, I didn’t get into an accident or rack up a few speeding tickets. Since 2020, car insurance rates have skyrocketed by 37%, and in 2024 alone, they climbed another 16.5%. Some states saw hikes of over 50%!

Continue reading →

Google Shopping changes: Vision Match lets you create what you can’t find — just enter a prompt like “colorful dress with daisies,” and AI will match it to real items. Virtual try-on now works for skirts and pants, and the See this look on you lets you try on beauty products with AR tech.

Don’t fall for this! Fake CAPTCHA tests are popping up. They’ll ask you to do three things: Press Windows Key + R (opens the Run command box), then Ctrl + V (pastes “I am not a robot – reCAPTCHA Verification ID: XXXX”) and hit Enter. You’ve just executed a hidden prompt that downloads malware onto your computer. Snap.

Flying or cruising? They’re watching you.

You might not realize it, but airlines and cruise lines collect a lot of data, from your seat choice to the websites you browse on their Wi-Fi.

When you book a flight or cruise, they collect the usual stuff, including your name, email, phone number, passport info and payment details. But it doesn’t stop there. They also track:

Continue reading →