If you’ve bought your smartphone through Verizon Wireless, then this may be relevant to you. Verizon is getting rid of their text messaging app, and pushing its users to move to another one. If you are getting notices about this on your phone, do not ignore them. You need to do this! Why is this … Read more
If you shop on the Amazon website, I’m sure you’ve noticed many discounts and “good deals”. But those deals are often not that good. There are lies and manipulation afoot, to convince you you’re getting a bargain. You can dispel some of the illusion if you use an Amazon Price Tracking tool. Amazon Price Tracking … Read more
Microsoft makes a free download that will scan your PC for malware, viruses and other baddies. It’s a one-and-done operation and it won’t conflict with your full-time antivirus. You can download the Microsoft Safety Scanner here. If you’re already protecting your computer with Microsoft Defender Antivirus, this scan tool probably won’t do much for you. … Read more
When 23andMe went public in 2021, it was a big deal. The popularity of its genetic tests carried the company to a valuation of US$6 billion. But in recent times, some dramatic changes have occured with its leadership and finances, and now 23andMe is worth very little. This leads to some worries about the future … Read more
This scam has been around for a long time, and when I blogged about it in 2022, I was able to show you how easy it was to recognize. Not so with the latest edition. The Microsoft 365 Renewal Scam, v2.0 is “new & improved”, and much more likely to fool someone. Here’s what to … Read more
Concerns over the use of Kaspersky Antivirus grew for several years, until our government enacted a full ban on their software in 2024. Here we are, just 4 days from the total shutdown of Kaspersky software on American computers, and there’s one last surprise for Kaspersky users. For anyone still using their antivirus, they may … Read more
If you use Venmo, I want you to stop and take a moment to check its privacy settings. Your payment activity in Venmo may be visible to the world! I wager that many people would not want that, so I’ll describe how to hide your Venmo history: You’ll want to pay attention to two settings … Read more
More and more websites & tech companies are using your info to train their artificial intelligence. And not everyone wants that. So I am frequently asked: What I can do about it? Am I allowed to opt out of AI? It depends on the company: LinkedIn LinkedIn just opted everyone in to their AI program. … Read more
I am frequently asked on Facebook, “How can you tell?“, when I call out a bogus poster. And there’s no short answer. There are many, many different tells. I’ll try to compile them all here, as a “Guide to Spotting Fake Facebook Profiles.” Major Giveaways Does their Facebook URL match their Display Name? A lot … Read more
Is there anything that AI can’t do (badly)? I am a bit fascinated and alarmed to notice that AI-generated books are readily found online, available for purchase. If you’re not sure what a book written by AI looks like, here’s what I’ve learned so far: Amazon, Of Course Where will you find AI-generated books? Your … Read more