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ExpressVPN amps up security with game-changing features

The VPN game has been seriously upgraded! My sponsor, ExpressVPN, recently rolled out a slew of feature-packed updates. ExpressVPN pushes the envelope to keep your digital life locked down, from ad-blockers to a beefed-up server network.

These tools are available across ExpressVPN’s Windows, iOS and Android apps, Linux and Mac. And get this: All these perks come at no extra charge.

A quick dive into ExpressVPN’s toolkit

  • Ad blocker: Sick of ads cramping your browsing style? Flip on ExpressVPN’s ad-blocker and surf ad-free.
  • Adult site blocker: Parents, this one’s for you. Take charge and filter out content you don’t want the kiddos to stumble upon.
  • Expanded server network: ExpressVPN now serves up IPs from 105 countries — 11 more than before!
  • More devices, one subscription: You can now have up to eight simultaneous connections, up from five. This means more devices under one roof are covered.
  • Auto-update: For the desktop crowd, no more manual updates. The latest security features will come to you.

How to get rolling

To tap into these layers of protection, head to the advanced settings tab.

Auto-update is a lifesaver

ExpressVPN points out that the auto-update feature is especially useful for folks who face internet restrictions and may struggle with manual updates.

So there it is, folks. ExpressVPN is not just raising the bar; it is the bar. Ready to secure your digital footprint like never before? Get on this express train to a safer, more private online world.

Use my link to get an extra three months free. Just go to expressvpn.com/kim.

Privacy

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Worst things to ask Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant

I use Siri to send texts, put my phone on Do Not Disturb before I record, set meetings and lots more. One time I don’t use it? In an emergency. Luckily, emergencies are few and far between in my life (knock on wood), but I wouldn’t risk it.

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Instagram, chill out

Instagram recently got some privacy tech Facebook’s had for years. You can now block the platforms’ parent company, Meta, from watching what you do once you close Instagram and move on to other apps and sites.

  • Open Instagram, then tap the silhouette (profile icon) in the bottom right corner.
  • Select the three-line More menu > Settings and privacy > Accounts Center.
  • Select Your information and permissions. 
  • Tap Your activity off Meta technologies. Here, you can see what info IG is getting.
  • For each one, you need to choose Disconnect specific activity.
  • You should also remove your history. Tap the Clear previous activity button to do that.

“Kim, I feel like they could’ve made it easier.” Yes, you’re right. It’s almost like they don’t want you to go through all those steps. 

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Secure email account sharing without compromising privacy

When you live with someone, you make a heck of a lot of choices together — big choices, like, “Should we sell our house and move to Thailand?” and small choices, like, “Should we buy this new recycling bin?”

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Is your car revealing your location?

Remember when AirTags first came out? It didn’t take long before creeps started using them to track people. Victims were finding them in their bags, jackets and on their cars, you name it.

Apple finally made changes so that you’ll get an alert if someone is tracking you without your knowledge. Tracking cuts both ways. Yes, the tech got safer — but more people realized how easy it is to follow someone secretly. 

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👀 For your eyes only

If you have sensitive 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. 

Note: Anything stored there isn’t backed up to the cloud. Wouldn’t be very private that way.

Have an iPhone? You can store secret pics in the Notes app. Open the pic in the Photos app, tap the share icon and select Notes. Go into the note you want to protect, tap the three-dot icon in the upper right corner, then choose Lock.

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Privacy how-to: Remove yourself from people search sites the easy way

Data brokers and people search sites are more than just a nuisance; they’re a downright menace. I’ve been sounding the alarm on these digital peeping Toms for years.

Imagine a vast web of data brokers lurking in the shadows, all with one goal: To mine and sell your personal info to anyone flashing cash. 

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A deleted blog post proves it: Advertisers are listening to you

Nope, you’re not paranoid. If you feel like your smartphone and speakers are listening to your private chats, it’s because they are. 

In a now-deleted blog post, Cox Media Group revealed it can (and does) gather information from conversations and use it for targeted ads. They thought they were slick by removing the evidence, but we caught all the details. Don’t they know the internet is forever? 

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Shortcut to reading annoying privacy policies

Privacy policies are no joke when it comes to how lengthy they are. Most people ignore them altogether because they’re too long. Get this: It would take about nine hours to read the privacy policies of the top 20 most visited websites in the U.S.

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Privacy: Is it wise to hand over your email and number for discounts?

It’s a savvy shopper’s favorite time of year: Discounts and deals as far as the eye can see.

You’re probably like me — I don’t like paying full price. But is handing over your email address, phone number or even more worth it for a coupon code? Like most things tech, it depends.

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Quick privacy upgrade: Turn your phone to safe mode

All I want for Christmas is to help keep your data safe. The bad news is there are a ton of cybercriminals out there doing their best to stop me.

Apple recently shared the results of a study from MIT on the growing threat of cyberattacks around the globe. A mindblowing 2.6 billion personal records were breached in 2021 and 2022. I’d say it’s time to act if you haven’t already.

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Take back control of your online privacy

Newsflash: Your data is constantly being collected and sold. “Gee, thanks, Kim. I know,” you might be thinking. “What do I do about it?” Lucky for you, I spend a lot of time trying to answer that exact question.

If you’re tired of spam calls, unwanted emails and that nasty feeling of always being tracked, keep reading. I’ve got a simple way to take a massive chunk out of this data collection mess, thanks to our sponsor, Incogni.

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Simple digital privacy step everyone should know about

Data brokers, people search sites and online background check services, oh my. At the end of the day, they all do the same thing — scoop up your personal info and sell it to anyone interested. Marketers are at the top of the list, but scammers can also find your information this way.

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Your car is collecting your personal data, even your sex life

When I read this report, I knew it would be important for you to know even though you do all the right things. You remove the shady apps from your phone and adjust privacy settings on your kid’s smart toys. Heck, you even stop Alexa from saving recorded conversations. You’re all set, right? Just wait until you get into your car.

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Revealed: Shopping apps that collect and sell the most data

Spoiler: They are all super data-hungry. New research dove deep into shopping apps that collect sensitive consumer data. It found that 75% of the apps in the study share user data with third parties. Some even share this data with outsiders without informing you. Lovely. 

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How to dig up dirt about yourself online

You know by now you should keep the private things in life off the internet. Your middle name, job, city, pet’s name, the school you went to, your spouse’s name, the ages of your kids, your shoe size — the details a scammer or hacker would love to have.

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Before you buy holiday gifts, check this list for tech snoops

Once Christmas music starts playing, the trees go up and the wish lists are compiled, I know an email I’ll get: Mozilla’s latest warning about popular tech gifts that are just awful when it comes to privacy.

This year’s *Privacy Not Included guide ranks over 150 gadgets across different categories by what data they collect and what they do with it. Mozilla does a great job at these lists, for sure.

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The worst money apps for your data revealed

I can’t remember the last time I went into a bank. No reason to now that I do it all from my phone. We trust banking apps to keep our financial info safe and secure — but what about privacy? Oh yeah, that.

Merchant Machine reviewed the privacy policies of today’s top banking and finance apps. Researchers found that the 20 worst offenders take an average of 20 unique types of data. Major yikes.

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Your smart assistant is listening, but does that impact the ads you see?

Think of everything you do online and in real life that says something about who you are. Your likes, clicks, hobbies and activities all add to the wealth of data points companies already have on you.

What about your conversations with Alexa or Siri? How is that data used? Let’s take a deep look at how they use your conversations to create profiles.

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Use a Ring doorbell cam? You can opt out of sending videos straight to police

Concerned about privacy? You’re not alone. More people are raising eyebrows about who has access to their data, especially when it comes to surveillance cameras like Ring doorbells. The idea of your Ring videos being shared with law enforcement can be unsettling for some.

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