iOS18 has a lot of cool features, including Reader Mode, Safari’s own personal ad blocker.
How the government spies on you
When I shared my tip on opting out of the Transportation Security Administration’s new facial recognition tech at airports the other week, I got a ton of questions. First and foremost, though, a lot of you said, “I didn’t know I could do that.”
You can and you should (steps below). But your face isn’t the only data metric the government collects about you. Here are a few things we know they know.
What you look like and where you are
Many other places use facial recognition, like grocery stores, banks, sports and concert venues. I’m pretty sure you’ve gone to at least one of those in the past year.
Government AI tools add pictures you’ve shared on social media to a facial-recognition database that’s then paired with CCTV cameras everywhere. This tech can pinpoint your location, associations and activities with creepy precision.
Who you’re talking to (and what you’re saying)
After 9/11, Congress enabled warrantless monitoring of foreign communications. The National Security Agency (NSA) exploits a loophole to conduct mass surveillance of Americans, too.
They copy some info directly from fiber-optic cables (crazy, right?) and get other stuff from companies like Google. They also have access to real-time internet activity with a “secret” program called XKeyscore.
What you’re posting and who you’re following
The government monitors Facebook, X, Instagram and all the rest. Even if your account is private, the government can ask companies for access. Remember, friend: What you post on social media is out there forever.
What you’re buying and browsing
Data brokers buy info from your internet service provider, Big Tech companies and even smart appliance manufacturers. Then, they package it up and sell it to advertisers — and the U.S. government. This is another reason to get your personal information out of all these invasive databases.
These shady tech loopholes let stalkers track you
Wonder why Apple and Google suddenly started rolling out anti-stalking alerts for their Bluetooth trackers? Apple’s dealing with a class-action lawsuit from victims who say abusers used AirTags to track and harass them.
🔊 Low volume on iPhone calls? The culprit could be the noise-cancellation feature. Disable it: Go to Settings > Accessibility > Audio/Visual and toggle off Phone Noise Cancellation (green means it’s on). FYI: This only works with iPhone 12 models and older.
🦟 Mosquitoes suck: Try the Weather Channel app’s new mosquito forecast that analyzes weather info and real-world mosquito data to predict activity by ZIP code. Download the app (iPhone and Android) > add a ZIP code > tap Daily at the bottom of the screen > and scroll down. OK, now I’m itchy.
100% brightness
Cranking up randomly on Philips Hue smart bulbs. Philips recently made their bulbs compatible with Matter. A bug is making lights flicker without warning. Until they fix it, disconnect your Hue Bridge from Matter on your iPhone.
Using end-of-life tech? You’re at risk of attack
Not one of those “new phone every year” kind of folks? Hey, I don’t blame you! We’re all trying to save a buck or two.
But there’s a line. Using end-of-life (EOL) tech (aka hardware or software that’s no longer updated by the manufacturer) can leave you vulnerable to cyberattacks. Let’s run through what that includes.
Hackers just stole 10 billion unique passwords
You might want to sit down for this one. Hackers posted a file named RockYou2024[.]txt to a dark web forum on July 4. The file includes a mind-numbing 9,948,575,739 passwords.
Wondering if this attack puts you at risk? Yup, it does. The RockYou2024 leak is made up of passwords from both old and new data breaches.
📸 iPhone editing trick: Use this next time a pic is almost perfect. Select an image and zoom in using two fingers. The option to crop your photo will appear on the top right of your device. Tap it, crop or adjust your pic using the editing tools, then tap Done.
App intrusion: Stop apps from listening by turning off access to the mic. On iPhone, open Settings > Privacy & Security. Locate the menu labeled Microphone and tap it. Find the app you want to turn off the mic for and toggle off its switch. Steps for Android here.
Print text messages for court (or anything else): For iPhone, iExplorer lets you access, view and transfer music, messages, photos and files from any iOS device to Mac or PC. On Android, you can use SMS Backup & Restore.
Taylor Swift’s password is Iknewyouweretroublewhenyouloggedin: Swift Alert (iPhone and Android) is a Swiftie’s favorite app. It calculates when a concert starts in your timezone so you know when to tune into the livestream. It also notifies you when Taylor’s biggest hits are about to play, along with any surprises on stage.
🚨 Have an iPhone or Mac? Apple is warning about a big uptick in phishing scams. Crooks are using sly tactics to get your personal details, most commonly with phony texts, pop-up ads and convincing calls. Protect yourself: Make sure URLs match the company site (apple.com), never give out your password, and enable two-factor authentification (2FA).
🤖 “So, uh, where do I find ChatGPT?” Use it on the web or download it for iPhone or Android. You’ll need to create an account. The free tier works for most people. Give it a whirl if you’ve never tried it.
🤳 Unlock apps with your face: You can use Face ID to unlock apps on your iPhone. Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Enter Passcode > Other Apps, and toggle on the apps you want. Not every app is compatible, but this is handy for those that are.
🚨 Heads-up, iPhone users: There’s a malicious text going around trying to steal your Apple ID info. It reads, “Apple important request iCloud: Visit signin[.]authen-connexion … to continue using your services.” The URL is fake, and I left part out so you don’t accidentally click it!
🏈 Huddle up: Clear space on your phone screen by putting apps into folders by category or how often you use them. To make a folder on iPhone or Android, long press and drag an app icon on top of another. Pro tip: Put all your distracting apps in one folder. Out of sight, out of mind!
How to take family pics good enough to print
It’s happened to me, and this holiday weekend, it might happen to you: You finally get everyone together and it’s the perfect time for a pic. Before you snap that first shot, I want to pass along insider tricks you’re going to want to remember.