What comes to mind when you think of someone getting scammed? A grandma on the phone with some jerk? If so, this will probably surprise you.

The total money lost by teens in online scams grew by nearly 2,500% between 2017 and 2022. Victims under the age of 20 lost a staggering $210 million in 2022 alone.

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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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A new car has over 1,400 microchips and runs on 100 million lines of code. Because it is connected, it can also collect a lot of data about you.

Your car is like your phone, computer or tablet now — always listening. What is your vehicle collecting? Way more than we’d all like to think.

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Picture this: Your phone rings and it’s a familiar number. You answer and an unsettling voice tells you they have your kid. The only way to get your son or daughter back alive is to send money.

It gets worse. Your child gets on the phone and directly pleads with you for help. You see a picture of them in chains. You watch a video of them crying. Now you’re panicking. 

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Health apps track your steps, heart rate, sleep patterns and more. But they’re capable of so much more. You can add your health information to certain apps to keep all your records in one place and share them with your doctors. You can even track your medication.

These health apps are quite helpful if you have someone in your life with medical problems or an elderly family member who needs assistance keeping up with their medications and doctor appointments. Here’s how it works.

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‘Tis the season for eggnog, twinkly lights and a whole lot of scams. Cybercriminals make a killing over the holiday season — just think about how often we pull out our credit cards.

The best way to stay safe is to know their tricks. I’ve got the inside scoop on phone scams tricking people out of money and info right now.

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You might think you have a solid cybersecurity plan. You use strong passwords and defensive measures like VPNs and firewalls. But even the strongest shield gets dented from time to time.

It’s hard to remember all the settings you’ve adjusted and the passwords you’ve made over the years. Let this be your reminder to go in and make a few quick changes to protect yourself.

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You know to wipe your devices before tossing them or giving them away. Your phone and computer contain lots of data that can be used against you. But what if you don’t have a chance to reset them? Here’s how to remotely wipe the data from your phone and computer.

Your router is not just a dumb box that connects you to a network. It stores information to manage the network, and you should take the same precautions as you would with all your connected devices.

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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.

Now, Ring has partnerships with many police departments through its “Neighbors” app. This platform allows users to share video clips and receive local crime updates. But if you’re looking to opt out of Ring’s police partnerships, here’s how you can go about it:

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My brother’s computer was hacked. My sister-in-law got a link to PayPal and opened it. The guy who sent it convinced my brother to give up access to his computer. He cleaned out an IRA account and sold a trading account. That’s $450,000 gone. What can I tell my brother to do?

— Phylis in Florida

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]]> 895940 https://www.komando.com/kims-column/goodbye-makes-passkeys-default/895250/ Sun, 22 Oct 2023 18:13:26 +0000

Passwords might be one of the biggest tech frustrations. Make them too hard, and they’re impossible to remember. Too easy, and your accounts are practically wide open.

Maybe you use a password manager or your browser’s built-in option to remember your logins. Here’s how to find saved passwords in your browser. 

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]]> 895250 https://www.komando.com/kims-column/how-to-spot-ai-fakes/895866/ Sat, 21 Oct 2023 08:00:00 +0000 https://www.komando.com/?p=895866

Tom Hanks isn’t trying to sell you a dental plan. YouTuber MrBeast won’t give you an iPhone 15. CBS News host Gayle King isn’t recommending a weight-loss product.

I knew this stage of AI tomfoolery was coming, but it’s still surprising how fast it’s happening. Let’s take a closer look at how free and cheap tools fuel fraud — and the signs to watch for.

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]]> 895866 https://www.komando.com/tech-tips/computer-malware-defenses/895290/ Fri, 13 Oct 2023 21:00:00 +0000

There’s a program on my desktop that I didn’t install. How do I remove it?

— A reader in Minnesota

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]]> 895290 https://www.komando.com/tech-tips/how-to-handle-spam-emails/894396/ Fri, 29 Sep 2023 21:00:00 +0000

I got an email from a reader asking if hitting the “unsubscribe” button in her inbox is smart. Like many things in tech, it depends. In some cases, reacting to spammers might make your email a hot commodity, leading to more unwanted emails or even a spot on a “for sale” list.

Here’s the lowdown on how to stop getting emails you don’t want — without opening yourself up to more junk.

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]]> 894396 https://www.komando.com/kims-column/time-saving-tech-life-hacks/894111/ Sat, 23 Sep 2023 11:00:00 +0000

Smart tech life hacks to save you time and keep you safe

When you work in tech, the questions never end. One I get over and over again: “Kim, was my computer hacked?” Maybe. There are tell-tale signs someone or something has compromised your system.

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]]> 894111 https://www.komando.com/lifestyle/most-dangerous-cities-in-america/893619/ Tue, 12 Sep 2023 08:00:00 +0000

Hold on to your hat because this list might be more alarming than your worst tech glitches. Security Gauge pulled crime data from 18,000 agencies — including the FBI and local police — to find the most dangerous U.S. cities in 2023. Did yours make the list?

Most dangerous US cities

1. Bessemer, Alabama

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]]> 893619 https://www.komando.com/tech-tips/medical-implant-tech-risks/893473/ Thu, 07 Sep 2023 21:00:00 +0000 https://www.komando.com/?p=893473

Most of us know someone with implanted pacemakers or defibrillators — and I’m willing to bet those people use tech in their everyday lives.

Here’s the scary news: Magnetic fields from everyday tech can cause life-saving devices to malfunction. Yes, iPhones are on the list, but so are iPads, Apple Watches, AirPods, Macs, HomePods and Beats. 

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]]> 893473 https://www.komando.com/kims-column/lifesaving-tech-essentials-for-school-children/893231/ Sat, 02 Sep 2023 11:00:00 +0000 https://www.komando.com/?p=893231

Back-to-school time means loading up on school supplies and taking your kiddo to get new shoes. You still have to do that — but now there’s more than ever to get prepped.

I know it’s a tricky topic, but certainly one you’ve thought about if you have a little one or even a teen at home. You need to consider your child’s safety. Here’s my advice to protect them in an emergency like a school shooting.

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]]> 893231 https://www.komando.com/privacy/dangerous-apps-with-ties-to-china/893282/ Fri, 01 Sep 2023 20:00:00 +0000

Remember when the Chinese spy balloon floated across our country? That was just insane. With apps on our phones, the Chinese government doesn’t need to be so blatant about stealing our secrets. 

If you’ve been around me at all for the last year, you already know that I am no great fan of the data tracking done by TikTok and Temu. Guess what? They’re not the only apps. 

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]]> 893282 https://www.komando.com/safety-security-reviews/family-safety-using-emojis/893166/ Thu, 31 Aug 2023 20:00:00 +0000

When my son Ian was 3, I bought him a cellphone. It had three buttons: Call Mom, call Dad and call Grandma. He was young, but it helped us all feel better that he could reach us.

There may be situations where your child, partner or parent can’t make a phone call … or worse. They could have someone looking over their shoulder when they text. That’s when a secret emoji could save the day.

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