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  • Is someone spying on your cellphone

    Your phone can hold years of text messages and emails with personal information, saved voicemails, pictures of your family, GPS location data, browsing history, notes, and more. It is a record of your whole life wrapped in a single piece of metal, plastic and glass. Imagine how terrifying it would be for someone to have their hands on that information.

    That’s why you have to set a passcode to avoid accidental spying and install a tracking app to recover or erase the phone if it falls into the wrong hands. Learn how to do this and other ways to secure your smartphone or tablet against snoops. But what if the thief is a little more dedicated? Can they spy on your phone without your knowledge?

    Unfortunately, the answer is “yes”. There are many spy apps that can hide your phone and record everything you do. Snoop can see every detail of your life and you will never know.

    We’re going to take a look at what spy apps are out there on the market and how they work so you know how to stay safe. However, first, we’re going to look at situations where spying apps are legal and can even be a good thing.

    Good Uses for Spying Apps
    We hear regularly from parents about what their kids are doing on their smartphones. While our first recommendation is always to have open lines of communication with kids, sometimes it pays to keep an eye on them directly. Employers also sometimes like to keep tabs on employees using company equipment. But is it legal?

    Legally a person or company is only allowed to install spy software on their phone, tablet or computer. So, the employer providing the company phone and the parent giving the phone to your children are covered. They only need to make it clear to the users of the phone that they are being watched and for commercial purposes, also require written consent.

    However, breaking into a password-protected phone is a no-no. And even if someone else owns your gadget, they aren’t allowed to break into your password-protected services like email or Facebook. Federal law prohibits unauthorized access to such things.

    In addition, some spying software, such as FlexiSPY, has the option to listen to real-time phone calls, which may break wiretapping laws. In some states, at least one person involved in the conversation is required to know that they are being recorded. For some states, all parties need to know. And this can change if someone in one state calls in from another state.

    If you find that someone is spying on you, go to the police. As for the gray areas where someone else has the phone, you’ll probably need to get a lawyer involved.

    Well, with that out of the way, let’s talk about spy apps and other tricks of the spy business.

    spy apps on the market
    As we said earlier, there are many spy apps in the market. Mspy is one of the most recognizable, but others you might see are FlexiSPY, WebWatcher, and SpyToMobile.

    They record all text messages and phone calls. Some include a keylogger to record everything you type, store GPS information, take pictures and even data from popular free messaging apps like WhatsApp, Skype, and Viber pulls. A spy can see everything happening with the phone through a web-based control panel.

    There is some good news. In December 2014, the Justice Department took the man behind StealthGenie, a major app, to court for making and advertising spyware. He pleaded guilty and received a $500,000 fine, plus he had to hand over the source code for the product. So, you won’t be able to see it around.

    On the other hand, the rest have become somewhat more sophisticated. Therefore, snoopers do not need full access to your gadget and a short time, plus the range of phones that can be attacked by them has increased.

  • Email spam is surging – here’s how to protect yourself

    By now, even the least tech-savvy email users are aware of the common characteristics of email spam. After dealing with spam for decades, we’ve all seen our fair share, and are likely embarrassed to admit how many times we’ve fallen for it.

    That infamous Nigerian prince’s email certainly fooled people when they first rolled out, regardless of how obvious it is now that such an email is clearly spam. Now we don’t have to worry about emails coming from big companies like Amazon, FedEx, Apple and PayPal, which are the most fake brands in spam email.

    Advances in anti-malware software have prompted cybercriminals to shift their focus back to email spam. Although it is considered one of the least effective infection methods, other methods that worked well only a few years ago are now being thwarted by anti-malware software.

    Aren’t spam filters meant for this?
    As email clients become more sophisticated in their spam filtering efforts, these criminals still manage to get in their way. Platforms like Gmail and Outlook have worked hard to step up their game in detecting and filtering email spam, and have made significant improvements, but email users need to do much more than just rely on filters. is required.

    Just because an email arrives in your inbox instead of your spam folder, doesn’t mean it’s safe. In fact, some have even reported finding spam emails in their sent folders, some that many users may not even consider. Like any type of cyber attack, criminals continue to veer their way and find new ways around common security methods.

    One way that spammers find their way around the filter is through the use of multiple redirects. As email users are redirected from one page to another, they eventually land on a malicious file download. Because of multiple redirects, spam is more difficult to detect, as detection tools cannot directly access the malicious file. If researchers do get caught, spammers only need to remove one page from a long list of redirects to break the link, making it much harder to investigate.

    Evolution of Email Spam
    Chances are if you received an email today asking you to send a money order to someone you’ve never met, you’d delete it before you even read the first sentence. Unfortunately, email spam isn’t quite as obvious anymore. If one of these highly evolved bad boys arrives in your inbox, you’d be surprised how hard it can be to locate them.

    Spammers have begun to personalize these emails, leading users to believe that the email is coming from someone they know or a trusted business. These emails are more likely to be opened, or the user has clicked on a link or attachment that is included.

    Spam email subject lines are often more convincing, even in this new breed of attacks. Instead of an ambiguous or ambiguous subject line with many grammatical errors, many of these email subjects seem completely generic and often intriguing, resulting in more clicks.

    protect yourself from spam messages
    No matter how many security features and filters you have, nothing is more important than common sense. If you receive email from someone you don’t know, or if it looks like it could be someone you know but you don’t recognize their email address, be wary. Do not open anything that you are unsure about.

     

    When you open an email, keep an eye on the link. Usually, it’s best to access the link directly from the source rather than clicking it in the email, but if you choose to follow the link within the email text, first hover over it to make sure it’s where you want it. will take you where you intend to go. In most browsers, when you hover over the link URL, you’ll see the link URL in the lower left corner. If something seems off, don’t click on it.

    If you need to share attachments, you’re better off sharing the file through a cloud storage service, or getting the shared file from someone else. This eliminates the need for you to download attachments directly from an email that could pose a potential threat.

    it’s not worth the risk
    When in doubt, contact the sender by other means. Call or text your friend or co-worker if you see a suspicious email that looks like it’s from them. Write to a company’s help desk if you receive an unusual email from them strangely asking for personal information. If you’re on your company’s email account, send any activity that is red flagged to your IT team for review. It may sound like a pain, but ignoring these precautions is not worth the risk.

  • 7 ways to hack-proof your smartphone to keep your data safe

    We always warn you about the latest cyber crimes. Data breaches, ransomware and phishing attacks are constantly in the news.

    It is not just criminals who are trying to break into our gadgets. We learned in 2017 that the CIA had been hacking smartphones, TVs and other items to spy on us for years. Knowing that everyone is behind our personal information, it is a good idea to take security precautions.

    That’s why it’s important for you to know these seven ways to hack-proof your smartphone to keep your data secure.

    1. Update Your Software
    One of the most important security precautions as a smartphone user is to keep your operating system (OS) up to date. This is important because, when OS vulnerabilities are discovered, updates are sent that contain patches for those flaws.

    This makes it important to install OS updates ASAP. Here are the steps to update both Apple iOS and Android OS:

    Apple

    Go into your “Settings” app and select “General”. From there, select “Software Update” and your iPhone will start checking for updates. Then, if an update is available, select “Download and Install”.

    Android

    Open Settings >> Tap About phone >> Tap System update >> If there is an available update then Restart and tap Install.

    2. Keep criminals off your phone
    If your phone is stolen, the thief can gain access to all the sensitive data stored in it. This means it is important for them to make it as difficult as possible.

    Apple

    iPhones used to only allow you to create a four-digit passcode for security.

    Do the math on that and you’ll find out that only 10,000 passcode combinations are allowed. Now consider that someone watching you can see the simple combination you use to enter your passcode. Or, someone who knows you well may guess your four-digit passcode based on your birthday, street address, or any other PIN you use.

    Now, Apple gives you a chance to make stronger choices. You can choose between a four-digit numeric code, a six-digit numeric code, a custom numeric code, or a custom alphanumeric code, and the iPhone X offers facial recognition. These options are more secure than the basic four digit option.

    Go to Settings >> Touch ID & Passcode (Note: iPhone X will be Face ID & Passcode) >> Tap on Turn on Passcode >> Enter Six Digit Passcode or Tap on Passcode option and choose from the options we have Listed above >> Enter your passcode again to confirm and activate it.

    3. Use phone locating apps
    Losing your phone or getting it stolen is scary. There’s so much personal data stored in it that you don’t want it to fall into the wrong hands. If this unfortunate situation happens to you, there are apps that will help you track down your gadget.

    Apple

    Find My iPhone: This is a free app that you can download from the App Store. If you lose your phone, you can log into your Apple ID account from another device and see a map of where it is. Getting the phone back is great, but the real saving grace is being able to clean the phone; This app allows you to erase all the content and settings of your phone.

    Android

    Android Device Manager: This is a free app that you can download from the Google Play Store. If you lose your phone, you can log into your Google Account from another device and see a map of where it is. This app also allows you to wipe the phone, erase all your phone data and reset your lock screen passcode.

    4. Download Only Trusted Apps

    Whenever you want to download an app, make sure it is from a trusted source. Third-party apps don’t go through the rigorous security checks that apps found in Google’s Play Store and Apple’s App Store do. This means that third-party apps can be malicious and infect your phone with malware.

    App Store – Stay away from third party app stores. There are a few examples of malicious apps in the Google Play Store and Apple’s App Store, but they are very rare. Third-party app stores rarely check apps, making it easy for scammers to spread malware there.

    Check App Developer – It is important to verify the name of the app developer. Copycat apps will have a different developer name than the actual developer. Before you download the app, do a Google search to find the original developer.

    Reviews – Most of the popular apps will be reviewed by other users in the App Store. You can sometimes find reviews by experts online. These are helpful in pinpointing malicious or faulty apps. If you get a review warning that the app is malicious, don’t download it.

  • 3 easy ways to keep your home safe

    The facts are cool! On average, thieves break into homes every 15 seconds, according to an explosive report by Fairfax News.

    These crimes are not isolated or rare. They don’t just happen in “bad” neighborhoods or in the middle of the night.

    In fact, about two-thirds of home thefts happen during the day, when your children and grandchildren are at school and you are at work. That’s when the house is sitting unsecured and your neighbors won’t blink when they see someone near your house – after all, we all get deliveries almost every day.

    Peace of mind is something you should just resolve to have this year for your family and yourself. It’s easier and more economical than you think to protect your home. (Keep reading for tips from our sponsor SimplySafe.)

    Bonus: Don’t miss Tip No. 3 from our sponsor SimplySafe. Homes without security systems are burglarized three times more often than secure homes.

    3 tips to protect your home

    1. Close Your Blinds
    Home security experts agree that there are some simple steps you can take to convince burglars to move on to an easy target. For starters, turn off your window blinds and shades.

    Most thieves are not at risk of being injured or arrested. You can make them think you are at home by closing your windows and closing your blinds and curtains.

    Note: Criminals run away with an average of $1,600 worth of goods when they break into a home.

    2. Lock Your Garage
    Lock your garage door every time you leave your house. It’s so easy to forget to do this, isn’t it?

    There are days when your whole family seems to be in and out of the garage. It’s nonstop.

    You can have a keypad so your kids can enter the house after school. Do they always close it behind them?

    You can have the garage door opener in two cars while your spouse uses a smartphone app to open and close it. Maybe you have a voice-activated smart speaker at home that opens it on command.

    Of course, an open garage door is an invitation for thieves to go straight in. Did you know that 30 percent of burglaries happen without forced entry, usually through an open door or window?

    3. Simply Install a Home Security System
    The facts are clear. Homes with security systems are three times less likely to break down than unsecured homes – causing injury and even worse harsh realities.

    The good news is that, thanks to technology, home security is easy to set up. It is economical for almost everyone’s budget and you are not locked into a long term contract.

    Note: SimplySafe costs a few dollars a month. Courtesy of Komando.com Click Here for an Exclusive SimplySafe Deal!

    Step-by-Step Setup in Minutes

    Your SimplySafe Home Security System will be delivered to your front door. There are a handful of components inside, including a keychain remote control, sensors, and a base station.

    You will hear the base station talking to you. “Welcome to SimpliSafe” etc.

    Once you’ve plugged in your base station, you’re ready to set up the SimplySafe system. do you have five minutes?

    multilevel home security
    SimpliSafe covers your base, starting with a super-loud 85db and 105db siren. There are door and window sensors.

    There are devices to alert you to fire, carbon monoxide, freezing pipes, floods and more. SimplySafe’s sensors will alert you to broken windows or broken keypads.

    There is a panic button that you can place near the most vulnerable member of your family. SimplySafe alerts you almost immediately when your system is on.

    Think about your own peace of mind knowing that you are protecting your family. Now, you can get a 60 day guarantee! As a showrunner for The Kim Komando Show, you get free shipping and free returns! To protect your home with SimplySafe, visit SimplySafe.com/kim today.

  • Get your medical history on your iPhone

    iPhone users have become accustomed to finding everything they need on their phone. You can check your email, download apps for almost anything, pay your bills, and even pay for in-store purchases.

    With the addition of the Apple Health app, you were finally able to combine your various health-related apps into one, making health management easier than ever.

    Thanks to the new beta feature in the Apple Health app, you can now access your medical records from multiple institutions anywhere, anytime.

    Prior to this new feature, the Health app included patient-generated data (that’s you) about activity, sleep, mindfulness and nutrition, as well as the ability to add your own health records such as lab results and vital information . You can integrate third-party apps to help you track this data and get a holistic view of your health. Adding formal medical records to the Health app is the last piece of the puzzle.

    apple intention
    Over the years, health care institutions have tried to keep up with technology by giving patients access to their medical records through online portals. Unfortunately, due to a less pleasant user experience and lack of convenience, many patients don’t bother trying to log in and access their records. This not only limits knowledge about patients’ health but also creates challenges for health care providers when trying to manage coordination among other providers.

    Adding health records to a tool that many of us use every day is Apple’s way of letting you take control of your health. By adding this missing ingredient to the already stellar Health app, Apple now makes it possible for you to see a complete picture of your overall health and track the actions you are taking to maintain or improve it.

    how it works
    The Health app easily consolidates all your health records into one timeline, regardless of how many institutions the records come from. You can view your lab results, vaccinations, prescriptions, important information, procedures, conditions and allergies at a glance from that little computer in your pocket. And what happens when new records become available? You will be notified directly on your iPhone. Of course, as expected, all this sensitive information is encrypted and protected with your iPhone passcode.

    For people with ongoing health conditions and multiple providers, the ability to manage all this information in one place can have a big impact on quality of life. This not only allows you to stay on top of your health, but also allows you to share information with your provider. In minutes, you can pull out your phone and show your provider what prescription your other provider has ordered, or have your lab get results from a different clinic.

    Apple has already added hundreds of hospitals and health systems to the list of participating health institutions, and the list continues to grow. Click here to see the full list and find out if your health care institution offers this new benefit. The first participants include Cedars-Sinai, Penn Medicine and Johns Hopkins Medicine.

    the gain

    Apple’s innovation isn’t just benefiting patients. Participating institutions are anticipating increased awareness and understanding of their patients to their patients, thereby creating a better patient experience.

    Along with health care concerns, doctors are looking for ways to help their patients change unhealthy behavior before it leads to chronic conditions. Apple’s Health app has finally managed to provide patients with the all-in-one platform they need to manage their health. It may not be the solution to all the health problems of our country, but it is definitely a step in the right direction.

  • 5 ways to save money on Amazon.com

    Online shopping is one of the best innovations that has come from the Internet. You can buy anything you want without leaving the house or facing the crowd. Even better, you can get your purchases done at your doorstep in just a few days or in some cases the same day.

    A good bet is that you shop a lot on Amazon too. After all, it is by far the largest online store and carries almost everything. As a knowledgeable online buyer, you probably know that you can set up alerts so that you know when the price of an item drops.

    However, there are some other fun little tricks you might not know about that could make your online shopping easier or save you money. Here are five tips any Amazon user can appreciate. We will also offer a bonus for Amazon Prime customers.

    1. Availability Alerts
    Knowing when the price of an item drops is great, but what if the item you want to buy isn’t even in stock? You don’t want to check back to see when it’s available. Who has time?

    Luckily, if you look right next to the product’s title you’ll see a button that says, “Email me.” Click on it and Amazon will let you know when the item is back in stock. If you want to manage your alerts later, log in to your account and go to the Availability Alerts area.

    2. Text Shipment Alerts
    The Internet has made it possible not only to order something, but to watch its entire progress from the warehouse to your doorstep. Of course, this includes going to your computer and viewing it.

    If you want to send regular updates to your phone, you can sign up for shipment updates via text. Amazon will send you regular updates on your package. Don’t worry, it is active only between 10 AM to 11 PM. Eastern so it won’t wake you up in the middle of the night.

    3. Email Subscription
    It’s fun browsing online stores for products and seeing new and exciting things. In fact, it’s more fun than going to the regular store because you can be on the couch in your PJs. Plus, you get to read hilarious reviews.

    On the other hand, random browsing means that you often miss out on new products or great deals. You must have seen the right place at the right time. Instead, send the deals you want to know about, straight to your inbox.

    Go to Amazon’s e-mail subscription page and select the categories you want to watch, such as Amazon Video, Books, DVDs, Deals and more. You’ll receive email alerts when new products are added, products become bestsellers or great new deals. If you receive too many emails, you can always unsubscribe from the ones you don’t want.

    4. Turn Off Personalized Ads
    You know those personalized ads that pop up on Amazon and then follow you across the rest of the Internet by showing you items you’ve already seen? We’ve told you how to stop them on Facebook and Google, and now we’re going to tell you for Amazon.

    Click this link and select “Do not personalize ads from Amazon for this Internet browser” and then click Submit. That’s all there is to it, but now you’ll only see generic ads, not ads that are following you online.

    Oh, by the way, while you’re in your Amazon settings, be sure to check your public profile. Whenever you create an account, Amazon automatically creates it for you. It’s only going to show reviews and public wish lists, but double check to make sure it’s not sharing something you don’t want people to see.

    5. Earn Extra Money
    When you’re browsing Amazon, you may come across things you already have and don’t really want anymore. Check just below the “Add to Cart” button on the product page and you might see a “Sell on Amazon” button.

    This allows you to list your item for sale and earn some money back. You can then use that money to buy something else. Plus, you can sign up for Amazon Flex, a program that lets you earn money by delivering Amazon packages.

    Are old phones, tablets, and other gear just sitting there? Amazon has one way to sell them, but click here to learn more about trading in your goods for Amazon credit.

    Bonus: Amazon Prime Share Shipping
    If you have Amazon Prime, you know the joy of free two-day shipping. Why not share that happiness with your friends and family? It is better to give than to give.

    Go to the Manage Prime Membership page and scroll down to the “Share Your Prime Benefits” section. You can create an Amazon household and share Prime benefits with other adults and up to four children, like two-day shipping, Amazon Video, and more.

  • How to delete your Facebook account

    When it comes to Facebook, which has over 2 billion users worldwide, just about anything on the social media site can make a difference in your life. Like, for example, nowadays he is under criticism for what happened between him and Cambridge Analytica.

    There is even a fast growing and trending #deletefacebook campaign that is encouraging people to delete their Facebook accounts outright.

    Of course, not everyone likes Facebook. Too many people reluctantly joined, and they hate exposing so much personal information. No matter how secure their privacy setting, they are still concerned about the threat of predatory scams, cyber-bullying and identity theft.

    As crazy as it sounds, you can turn off Facebook. You can delete your account, dust off your hands, and never go back. Or you can rebuild your account from scratch.

    The first thing to know is the difference between deactivating your account and deleting your account. If you deactivate, your account will be invisible to everyone.

    No one can friend or unfriend you, your wall and personal data is invisible, and all activity comes to a halt. But you can turn it back on whenever you want, and you’ll be right where you left off.

    Deleting your account means permanently erasing everything you put on Facebook. Your account will cease to exist. If that’s your goal, here’s how to do it.

    Step 1: Download your data
    Simply put, Facebook doesn’t want you to leave. The company’s global reach is all-out and deep, and the last thing they want is to lose a friend.

    As a parting gift, Facebook allows you to download all your personal data. It’s a very easy process: you just go to Settings >> General Account Settings >> Download a copy of your Facebook data >> Start My Archive.

    If you ever decide to change your mind, Facebook will be more than happy to help you recreate a new account with all your old digital stuff.

    Step 2: Request to delete account
    Unfortunately, you can’t just flip a switch and be done with it. You will need to ask Facebook to delete your account.

    You will find a sad and lonely looking page here. The rest of the process is very simple: just follow the steps mentioned.

    Step 3: Wait
    This is the weirdest part about deleting your Facebook account: it doesn’t happen right away. Your friends can’t see your page. Your feed will stop interacting with others. But your account is still there, hopefully you will come back and show it some love.

    If you try to log in, the removal process will stop immediately, and you’ll have to start all over.

    Incredibly, the entire process of deleting your account will take up to 90 days. But once those three months are over, Facebook should have removed all your information: every status, picture, anniversary, and relationship would disappear from the Internet, as if it never existed.

    Step 4: Cleaning After
    Just because your account is closed doesn’t mean that traces of your activity will remain. Your messages will remain in other people’s inboxes. Photos copied from your album may appear in other people’s feeds.

    There’s nothing you can do about these leftover pieces except ask people to remove them or just pray that they don’t become embarrassing. If you request the deletion of these messages and photos, your old network should be able to do it easily. This way you will know who your real friends are.

  • You’re missing out on what Google can really do

    What does Google mean to you? Perhaps you search the Internet in a similar way, or maybe Google Docs is your main word processing program. It’s only your email provider? As far as many people go with Google, but the tech giant offers much more than that.

    Google fans looking to get the most out of their online experience will know that there are so many new worlds to discover, especially when it comes to Docs, Google’s online office suite.

    Let’s dive into some of Google’s unseen capabilities. We’ll take a look at what you can do with Google Docs, but also check out some fun extras from elsewhere in the Google universe.

    go beyond text documents
    Google Docs is much more than just a word processor, it’s a whole suite of programs that have steadily become more powerful over the years of development. Expand your horizons the next time you need to start a spreadsheet, create a presentation, create a form, or create a digital drawing. All of these options are open to you when you start a new project in Docs.

    You can use Google’s easy-to-use templates for everything from resumes to brochures to book reports. You can find these on your main Google Docs page. These tools are especially useful for people who have a budget that doesn’t have access to a suite like Microsoft Office.

    Concerned about privacy? Here’s how to erase everything you searched for on Google.

    direct google docs
    Why type when you can just speak your mind instead? Google Docs will take dictation as long as you have a microphone connected to your computer and you are using the Chrome browser. Go to the Tools menu and select “Voice Typing” to get started. Your browser may ask for permission to use your mic.

    Dictation works surprisingly well if you take the time to speak clearly and don’t rush. You can add basic punctuation by saying “period,” “comma,” “exclamation point,” “question mark,” “new line,” or “new paragraph.” If you want to use voice typing a lot, it’s wise to brush up on some of its more advanced capabilities with Google’s voice-command guide.

    collaborate with others
    Working in Google Docs doesn’t mean you have to fly alone. It offers some powerful collaboration options that let you share documents. Check out the “Share” option and you can either invite people directly or get a shareable link for your document. You can specify whether collaborators can only read a document, just comment on it, or if they can even edit it.

    To help keep track of changes, you can go to the File menu and select “Version History.” From here, you can choose the name of the version you’re working on or view the history to see who did what and when. Collaboration is great for working teams, but you can also use it in your personal life. You can bring the whole family together to plan a birthday party or work on a holiday dinner menu via Google Docs.

    translate entire document
    You just wrote a Google Docs report in English, but you need to share it with someone who speaks Spanish. Go to Tools menu, select “Translate document” and choose which language you want. Google will create the translation in a separate document. Just keep in mind that machine translation isn’t perfect, but it can usually fill the idea.

    translate by drawing
    In addition to Docs, Google offers a different way to translate a foreign language. Go to Google Translate in your browser or open the Google Translate app on your mobile device. In your browser, look for a drop-down menu below the translation box that lets you select handwriting as the input tool. In the app, it looks like a little pen icon. Now you can type any word or symbol in another language and get the translation.

    Learn about Google Lens
    Lens is one of the new tools from Google. It first came to Android, but more recently it has been rolled out for iOS devices as well. The main way to access Lens is through the Google Photos app, although you can also find it tied to Google Assistant on some major phones.

    To use Lens, open your Photos app, select an image, and select the icon that looks like an unfinished square with a dot in the middle and a smaller dot in the lower right corner. Lens will analyze the picture and offer the relevant search results.

    Lens has some nifty capabilities beyond just the search function. It can recognize cat and dog breeds, identify flowers, scan business cards to add to your contacts (for Android phones), tell you more about landmarks, and even That also helps you add events to your calendar when you photograph a flyer.

  • 5 annoying iPhone problems and how to fix them

    You love your Apple iPhone. This is your constant companion. It wakes you up in the morning, keeps you in touch with your loved ones throughout the day, and keeps you entertained when you have downtime.

    It has become an essential item that goes with you everywhere and gives you a sense of security. Think about a time you forgot your phone – you were probably terrified! How many people do you know who have gone for a walk halfway to their destination because they somehow left their iPhone at home?

    We get it, it’s a great gadget. But all that goodwill can go out the window when you hit one of the iPhone’s annoyances. Here are some of the major complaints and how to fix them.

    1. Difficult to use with one hand
    Problem: The great big screens on the iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X are wonderful for watching videos, playing games, and using apps, but everything that displays real estate is a challenge when you try to use it with one hand become. Your thumb can’t reach everything.

    Solution: Use One-handed keyboard feature in iOS 11. You can test this by opening iMessages or any other Apple app that uses the keyboard. Press and hold the emoji button to the right of the “123” button. At the bottom of the pop-up, select either the keyboard icon on the right or the left (the center icon puts it back in the middle). This will crowd the keyboard to one side, making it easier to reach all the keys with just one thumb.

    Another helpful option is to get a case with a strap or grip on the back that you tuck your fingers into. This gives you a lot of range without the worry of dropping your smartphone.

    2. You want to customize Control Center
    Problem: The new iOS 11 Control Center gives you a convenient way to open apps, turn on Airplane Mode, control your music, adjust screen brightness, and access other settings. However, customizing the Control Center icon that runs along the bottom isn’t very intuitive.

    Solution: You can’t just press and hold the icons and move them around on the home screen as you can. Instead, go to Settings, choose Control Center, and choose “Customize Controls.” Here, you can add and remove controls and set it up to your liking. To rearrange the order, touch and hold the bar on the far right of the controls.

    3. Face ID won’t unlock when your iPhone X is sitting flat
    Problem: While Face ID is a cool feature that helps justify the iPhone X’s hefty price tag, it doesn’t always work as smoothly as you’d like. Some iPhone X users have noticed a problem with it working when the phone is sitting flat on a table and they lean down to try to unlock it.

    Solution: There are a few ways to deal with this issue. First, you can hold and hold the phone to mimic how you looked when you first trained the iPhone X to recognize your face. You can also put the phone on a stand (you can even get a Qi charging stand for convenience), which is handy when you often need to unlock it while sitting at your desk or kitchen table at home.

    Another option is to try to retrain the iPhone to recognize your face from a different angle. Go to Settings, look for Face ID option and select “Reset Face ID”. Follow the reset procedure, but hold the phone slightly down instead of directly in front of your face. If it doesn’t work the way you want, you’ll have to get into the habit of picking up your phone to unlock it.

    4. You miss a headphone jack
    Problem: While Apple is essentially pushing us towards the wireless world, many people still have wired headphones they would like to use with their new iPhones.

    Solution: You don’t have to throw away your favorite headphones. Jack-less iPhones come with a Lightning-to-3.5mm adapter. If you’ve lost yours, Apple offers a replacement for $9, or you can pick up one from another manufacturer.

    The Apple solution has some drawbacks. It doesn’t support a lot of audio controls and in-line mics built into third-party headphones, which can add to your level of annoyance. There are also some third-party Lightning adapters available, some of which allow you to charge your phone and use the 3.5mm port at the same time (which eliminates another minor source of annoyance). You can also buy a Bluetooth adapter if you want to get a little closer to the wireless lifestyle.

    5. You Miss the Home Button
    Problem: Only headphone jack is not missing from iPhone X. The home button you’ve been using for years is also absent. Apple replaced this with a navigational gesture, which can take some adjustments if you’re not used to it.

    Solution: Turn on the Virtual Home button using the iOS Assistive Touch feature, which can be found in the Accessibility section of the General Settings on your iPhone. Turn this feature on, then customize how it works. For example, you can set the single-tap setting to “Home.”

  • 6 smart home upgrades to help sell your house

    You have to know your audience. This is true whenever you’re selling something, but it’s even more true when you’re selling something that could cost you hundreds or even thousands of dollars more!

    That type of money can only mean one thing: you’re selling your home. Hopefully, you are working with a professional who can give you advice on how to maximize your profits.

    We’re sharing expert tips from realtors who know what home buyers want. These days they want smart home tech.

    The good news for you is that you can often increase the value of your home by adding a few smart home devices that will set you back less than $1,000 and often less than $100.

    Here are six smart home gadgets home buyers are looking for. Don’t miss out on number 3 – it’s the first thing home buyers look for when they visit your home!

    1. Thermostat
    These days, you can remotely adjust the temperature in your home from any Internet-connected device from anywhere in the world. You may already have a smart thermostat from Nest or another popular brand.

    Smart thermostats save energy, which is always a plus. You can control the temperature and time so that you get cool or warm when needed. They’re also easy to read from across the room, making remote adjustments easy.

    The bonus when you’re selling your home is that home buyers see smart thermostats as they move around. Smart thermostats automatically improve the interior design of a home and give buyers the confidence that they never have to redo the thermostat when they move in.

    The Nest Learning Thermostat is the top of the line and best seller on Amazon. It integrates with other Nest products, such as smart light bulbs and washers and dryers, and other smart devices. The Nest can also monitor all of your energy usage so you know the best time to do some dishes or laundry. This thermostat also works with Alexa.

    2. Smoke Detector and Carbon Monoxide Detector
    Smoke detectors have saved countless lives over the past few decades. Carbon monoxide detectors too, although very few homes have CO detectors.

    Still, both types are so common that you forget you have them, the chirping!, loud, crackling noise that wakes you up when the detector’s battery is dying.

    There’s good news on a few fronts when it comes to smart detectors. They’ll send an alert to your smartphone when they need a new battery. More importantly, your family and you will receive alerts when the equipment detects smoke or deadly gas.

    First Alert’s Onelink Safe & Sound Alarm is a top new item in smart home appliances. It has an omnidirectional speaker, so its smoke and carbon-dioxide warnings are not to be missed. You can receive remote notifications of an emergency in your home and customize the night light. You can also talk to Alexa through this alarm. It is a life saver.

    3. Video Doorbell
    In a flash, regular doorbells are almost obsolete. Nowadays, you can hear your doorbell and see who is at the door from your smartphone, whether you are at work or on vacation around the world.

    This is extremely important when you are not at home but you have children or an elderly parent. This is important when thieves are stealing packages at your front door.

    Heck, it’s important for everyone’s safety. With Video Doorbell you can remotely receive alerts and watch (and talk to) who is at your door.

    Ring’s Wi-Fi enabled video doorbell is Amazon’s pick of choice and has a four-star reputation. Ring Key Video Doorbell lets you watch HD video from your smartphone, tablet or PC. It will send you an alert when visitors press the bell or trigger the built-in motion sensor. You can check-in on your property at any time with Video On Demand. It also works with Alexa.

    4. Smart Lock
    The days of carrying a pocket full of keys or a giant keychain in your wallet are over, after all! These days, your car is keyless and now, so is your home.

    Smart Locks are Wi-Fi enabled and communicate with your smartphone. You just need to go near your smart lock and it gets unlocked. Many keyless locks work with deadbolt locks and keys you may already be using.

    The August Smart Lock has four-star reviews and gives you secure, keyless access to your smart home. It also attaches to your existing deadbolt, so you don’t need new keys. From your smart phone, you can send a virtual key for guests to open the lock. You can also limit how long these virtual keys serve. Of course it works with Alexa for voice control.