“Kim, I’m concerned that my phone is going to give me cancer. My wife tells me I’m paranoid. What do you think? Thank you for your newsletters and shows. It helps me keep up with our two teens.” — Robert in San Antonio, Texas

I understand your concerns, Robert. The FCC says the radiation coming from your cellphone is no big deal. A cancer surgeon friend told me he begs to differ. I play it safe and keep my phone away from my body and head as much as possible. (Yes, I’m that person taking calls on my AirPods or speakerphone.)

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If you don’t have antivirus software, you’re putting every internet-connected gadget you own at risk. Something as simple as an unchanged router password can be an entry point for an invader to shut down your phone or even taunt your children through a security camera or smart speaker.

All your devices probably tell a detailed story about your life. Our computers and phones are critically important, from work emails and important documents to family photos. Are your devices truly protected? If you don’t have antivirus software installed, the answer is no.

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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.

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I’m always astounded by the number of people who go to the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. This year, over 130,000 attendees and 4,000 exhibitors are descending upon the city. CES used to be the least profitable week in Vegas for casinos since no one was gambling … but it was still the biggest week for prostitution. Go figure.

Here are a few items that have caught my attention at this year’s CES — for better or worse.

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I’ve been in tech forever, and can honestly say this was one of the biggest years for technological advancements. Generative AI took center stage, and ChatGPT became a household name. Heck, I use it almost every day.

But this year also had its fair share of bloopers. From a missing submarine full of millionaires to lab-grown meat, let’s look back.

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Raise your hand if you scooped up some tech for yourself during the holiday sales madness. It’s a great time to score a deal, but I bet you’re also slammed with work and family obligations.

Don’t just set it and forget it with your new gear. (Hackers and scammers are hoping you do, of course.) Take a few minutes to secure it. You’ll be glad you did.

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It’s a cozy evening, and you just started streaming your favorite show. But, as the plot thickens, your Wi-Fi takes an unexpected hiatus. Annoying, right?

Before you unplug your router, look at your smartphone. The culprit could be apps chowing down on precious bandwidth.

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Forget getting everyone together at Christmas for a photo opp and having them all say, “Cheese!” Instead, use words that end in “ah.” These sounds put the muscles around the mouth to work, creating a genuine smile. Try “yoga,” “mocha” or “banana.”

Now, I’ve got more great tips you can use for your perfect Christmas pics!

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Ever replied to a spam message with STOP or UNSUBSCRIBE? If so, you’re setting yourself up for even more annoyance. You rightfully think that you’re ending the noise, but you’ll make it worse.

Why? Spammers are hitting up as many people as possible, searching for working contact information. When you interact, you’re saying, “Yes, this phone number belongs to someone!” That’s great news for them. It lets them know you’re a real person they should target more often.

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Our devices are significant investments. You need to treat your tech well to get your money’s worth. Regular maintenance is one way to stay ahead of the game. Tap or click for six checkups to avoid a hefty repair bill.

Based on calls to my show, emails and questions posted on my website’s tech support forum, here are five common mistakes that could cost you.

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You leave your phone charging, then wake up — late — because, whoops, it’s dead and the alarm did not go off. That cord gave out on you. That’s the best-case scenario. Worst case: A phone charger starts a fire while you’re sleeping.

Don’t you dare roll your eyes at me and think, “Kim, you’re so dramatic.” It happened to a girl who went to bed with her iPhone next to her. She woke up to flames and was severely burned after the charger caught fire and ignited the blanket. Cheap knock-off accessories were to blame.

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Fun fact: When you set up your iPhone, invisible dots create a detailed map of your face so you can open your phone by looking at it. How many dots are used to map a face? Quiz your friends and family over the holidays. The answer is 30,000. Whoa.

I’m giving away an iPhone. Yep, you can win a new iPhone 15 (valued at $799). To enter, try one issue of my free daily tech newsletter. That’s it. It’s easy to cancel the newsletter if it’s not for you, but I bet it will be.

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Ever had one of those “oops” moments taking pictures? Your hand wobbles and the photo is as elusive as a Bigfoot sighting. (Or, in my case, my dog Abby doing something super cute.)

Before you rush to hit delete, hang tight! I’ve got a few helpful tricks to fix blurry photos. 

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It was a little anticlimactic when I went from the iPhone 14 Pro Max to the 15 Pro Max. Side-by-side, they look an awful lot like the same phone. The one thing that stood out was how shiny and clean the 15 looked.

You don’t have to shell out a lot of money — jump into the settings and use a little elbow grease to make your current phone sparkle.

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We all love a deal. But what if the 2TB hard drive you just bought only holds 50GB? It happens, folks. There’s a free tool you can use to check if what you bought is what you got. Do this with every drive you buy!

This is a game-changing application designed for Windows users. In an era where purchasing memory cards and external drives online carries the risk of receiving counterfeit products that don’t match their advertised specifications, ValiDrive steps in as a safeguard.

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You’re browsing photos, your finger slips and poof! A cherished image is gone forever. Before you panic, know there might be a way to bring it back. The best part is it works even if you accidentally deleted something days ago.

Google Photos 

Google Photos is one of the most forgiving apps when it comes to accidental deletion. There’s usually an “undo” button that flashes on your screen for a few seconds after the deed. 

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I know — it’s a grim topic. But we have to think about what happens to all our online accounts, data, notes, photos, videos, websites, playlists, blogs and subscriptions once we’re gone.

Do your loved ones a favor and get this sorted out beforehand.

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I love a good fall cleanout. And trust me, I need it. We’re unpacking into a new home, and I keep finding boxes of junk I haven’t seen for two years. 

It’s not just physical junk. I might be the Digital Goddess, but my phone camera roll gets cluttered and my inbox can be a mess, too. It’s time for a cleanup, and if there’s one cleaning master we can turn to, it’s Marie Kondo.

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Your phone has an expiration date. Here’s how to find it.

Trying to squeeze every last drop of life out of your smartphone? It’s one thing to deal with a battery that doesn’t last a day and crashing apps to avoid spending a big chunk of change.

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I’m a fashion photographer and I’ve taken tasteful intimate photos of my gorgeous wife that we don’t want anyone else to see. I know I can’t just save them on my Windows computer or iCloud. What should I do?

— Listener in Miami, FL

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