Every week I get tons of questions from listeners about tech concerns, new products, and all things digital.
Sometimes, selecting and featuring the most interesting questions is the most enjoyable part of my job.
This week we received questions about tech freebies, Facebook tracking, secure gadgets and more.
Do you have any questions you’d like to ask me?
Tap or click here to email us directly.
Facebook Tracking
Q: I heard that Facebook tracks me when I shop at retail stores. How can I stop this? It’s annoying and intrusive.
A: Facebook partners with physical stores to collect real-life activity, not just from your browser. This practice is called “off-Facebook activity,” and is already used by retail chains like Macy’s and Dick’s Sporting Goods.
Luckily, you can opt out by changing your settings. Tap or click here to stop Facebook from monitoring you.
Data Breach Alert
Q: By the time I found out about a data breach, it was too late to do anything about it. Can I be proactive?
A: If you don’t know that a data breach has occurred, you have a hard time keeping up with updates, patches, new security measures, and damage control. That’s one of the reasons I give away an exclusive free newsletter on scams and security alerts. Subscribers get a message via email as soon as I learn about a breach.
You can sign up for my other newsletters, but I only send you scam and security alerts when major issues arise. Stay ahead of hacks, viruses, and phishing scams, no matter when or where they happen. Tap or click here to sign up for my free security and data breach alerts.
Get Disney+ and Apple TV+ for free
Q: There are so many streaming services out there and it’s confusing. I just want to watch great shows and not crappy ones. How can I try these services for free, especially Disney+ and Apple TV+?
A: Technology companies are fighting for customer loyalty, and they use a proven strategy to draw new customers in: free stuff. Sure, there are almost always pitfalls, but when it comes to these free services, the reward is worth it if you meet the conditions.
For example, if you’re a Verizon subscriber, you can get a year of Disney+ for free. Here’s how you can get the hottest streaming services, smart speakers, and even smart home tech for free. But you’ll have to hurry; these offers won’t last long. Tap or click here for 7 tech freebies you can get now, before it’s too late.
Making technology safe
Q: With so many technology-related gifts this year, I’m worried about hackers and scammers. How can I make sure my new technology is properly secured? Or am I just worrying too much?
A: This holiday season, millions of people will be rushing to set up devices, create accounts, and register new gifts. In the excitement of firing up their tablets, smartphones, streaming gadgets, and virtual assistants, it’s easy to forget to check your security settings altogether.
Certain apps and devices, like smart TVs, are notoriously insecure. Other devices, like smart speakers, can create large archives of voice recordings without users realizing it. Tap or click here for 10 important steps to secure your new device.
Recovering lost text
Q: I made a big mistake and deleted a bunch of text messages and I need them back. Is it possible to get these text messages back?
A: If you are an iPhone user, you can look in iCloud to find the lost data or reset your phone to an earlier date by restoring it to factory settings. This may take some time and you will have to estimate when these messages were deleted.
You may also lose your most recent data, so you’ll need to decide how valuable those messages are to you. However, whether you have an iPhone or Android, you can use certain apps to save your messages even after they’ve been deleted. Tap or click here to recover deleted text messages.
Have a question about your digital lifestyle? Call Kim’s national radio show or tap or click here to find it on a radio station near you. Listen to The Kim Commando Show on your phone, tablet, TV, or computer. Or tap or click here to listen to Kim’s free podcast.
Tags: Facebook Tracking, Technology
