Technology

86% are fed up with Big Tech, survey finds. Here’s how to get your privacy back

Years ago, we searched the web, bought new gadgets, and typed in our email addresses without much thought. As far as accounts went, “Hey if it’s free, sign me up,” we thought.

Fast forward to now, and you can’t go online or turn on the news without hearing about the control Big Tech has on our lives — and the growing resentment around it.

We’re not the only ones noticing. Probably due to government initiatives, tech companies are making changes to address these concerns. You can now password protect the page that reveals all your Google searches and other activity.

If you own an iPhone, it’s easier than ever to see what info the apps you use are collecting and block that data from being shared. Tap or click for five iPhone security settings everyone should know about.

Americans may be finally waking up to the fact that when a product is free, they are in fact, the product.

Big Tech: Do you trust it?

I hear from callers to my national radio show and readers from my website and newsletters all the time who say they’re tired of Big Tech companies, their power, and their control. It got me wondering, how widespread is this feeling? I put together a poll and sent it out to subscribers of my free newsletters, and 6,351 people responded.

Here’s a telling stat for you: 86% say they no longer trust Big Tech companies. As a country, we realize how much power and influence they have on our everyday lives.

TECH SMARTS IN YOUR INBOX: Technology changes by the minute. Keep up with my free email newsletters. Try them out here.

When’s the last time you got through a day without picking up your iPhone or Android smartphone? What about your Apple or Microsoft computer? Shopping on Amazon or scrolling through posts on Facebook?

The survey found that 76% of those who responded use Google daily, followed by Microsoft (60%), Apple (49%), and Facebook (45%). Over 40% shop on Amazon or use Amazon owned-products like the Echo daily; 89% are active shoppers on Amazon.com.

Only a mere 1.34%, or 85 people, of those polled say they don’t interact with at least one of those companies every day.

Who is watching and listening?

If you have a smart speaker at home, I bet you have wondered, “Is it listening to me all the time?” It’s one of the reasons I unplugged my Amazon Echo and stuck it in the garage.

I asked those polled if they think smart speakers listen to what you say all of the time instead of only when you use the “wake” words. A whopping 82.73% said “all the time.”

Amazon, Apple and Google will tell you their AI assistants only listen for the wake words, like “Alexa,” “Siri” and “Hey, Google.” One issue, though, is how often smart speakers are accidentally triggered.

A 2020 study from Ruhr University Bochum in Germany showed a combined 1,000 phrases could trigger Alexa (“election,” “a letter”), Google Home (“OK, cool,” “Ok, you know”), Siri (“hey Jerry,” “hey, seriously”) and Microsoft’s Cortana (“Montana,” “frittata”).

Worried your smart assistant hears too much? Tap or click to stop all your smart devices from listening to you and recording what you say. A good rule of thumb is to keep smart speakers out of bedrooms and bathrooms.

Nearly 60% of poll respondents fear their smartphones are spying on them and say they’ve experienced the phenomenon when they’re having a conversation about something and then saw an ad online for that exact product.

Before you jump to thinking your phone’s microphone is recording what you say, there could be other reasons for the coincidence. Maybe you searched for something similar before, or someone in your house did. Your home’s IP address is used to target you with ads, after all.

What about Google alternatives?

Here’s one of the most conclusive answers from my survey: 92% of respondents think Google knows too much information about their personal lives.

Think about it. Many of us use Google for our email, video meetings, document storage, web browser and much more. Tap or click here to see everything Google knows about you with one quick search.

You have great alternatives you want to step outside the Google-sphere. I have all your non-Google options listed here on my site from search sites that don’t track, mail, browsers, maps, and video sites.

To see the rest of the survey’s findings, check out the full results on my website.

NEED A HAND WITH A PESKY PRINTER, SLOW INTERNET OR ONLINE BUSINESS? Post your tech questions for concrete answers you can trust from me and other tech pros. Visit my Q&A Forum and get tech help now.

What digital lifestyle questions do you have? Call Kim’s national radio show and tap or click here to find it on your local radio station. You can listen to or watch The Kim Komando Show on your phone, tablet, television, or computer. Or tap or click here for Kim’s free podcasts.

Learn about all the latest technology on The Kim Komando Show, the nation’s largest weekend radio talk show. Kim takes calls and dispenses advice on today’s digital lifestyle, from smartphones and tablets to online privacy and data hacks. For her daily tips, free newsletters and more, visit her website at Komando.com.

Your Mac isn’t as secure as you may think; malware issues affect iPhones too

Apple is grappling with cyber exploits and vulnerabilities as the Mac faces some serious malware issues.

Earlier this month, Craig Federighi, Apple’s head of software engineering, noted that there’s a “level of malware on the Mac that we don’t find acceptable,” when he took the stand during the Epic Games v. Apple trial.

The iPhone’s iOS has a “higher bar for customer protection. The Mac is not meeting that bar today,” he said, adding that, since last May, 130 types of Mac malware have appeared.

Apple is playing “an endless game of whack-a-mole” against malware that can affect hundreds of thousands of Mac users, he said.

An Apple iPhone Xs Max (R) and iPhone Xs rest on a table during a launch event on September 12, 2018, in Cupertino, California.
(NOAH BERGER/AFP/Getty Images)

But Apple has been dealing with vulnerabilities across all of its platforms, including iOS, iPadOS and tvOS.

Recent reports listed a series of flaws.

A May 26 report from Ars Technica said that “Apple has yet to patch a security bug found in iPhones and Macs despite the availability of a fix released almost three weeks ago,” citing a researcher.

Apple did not respond to a request for comment regarding this report.

APPLE’S SIRI HAS ‘MORE DIVERSE’ VOICE OPTIONS IN LATEST UPDATE

A May 24 report from Bleeping Computer cited security updates to patch macOS and tvOS vulnerabilities.

Two of the three affect WebKit on Apple TV devices. Webkit is Apple’s browser rendering engine that handles HTML content on iOS, macOS, tvOS and iPadOS. The third impacts macOS.

Apple has released updates to iOS, macOS, watchOS and tvOS that include security fixes for a number of vulnerabilities including those cited above, which Apple outlines in its “security notes.”

“A remote attacker may be able to cause unexpected application termination or arbitrary code execution,” Apple said regarding one of its fixes for macOS Big Sur.

In the case of Apple’s Safari web browser, the company cited “maliciously crafted web content.”

Other updates impact iPadOS.

“Though not as common as attacks on Microsoft Windows devices, cybercrime targeting Apple users is quickly growing,” said Chester Wisniewski, principal research scientist at cybersecurity firm Sophos, in a statement sent to Fox News.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

And the risk increases over time because there is no guarantee consumers will update their Apple devices in a timely fashion.

“New research from Sophos Home shows that 35% of consumers never update/patch their OS and apps, or only do so when prompted. This lack of consumer awareness around best practices for protecting personal devices means that if users aren’t paying attention, a large group could fall victim to this latest malware and future attacks,” Wisniewski said.

Change these 3 hidden Google settings to protect your privacy

Big Tech companies are woven into the fabric of our everyday lives. We message each other on our Apple and Android smartphones, share photos on Facebook, shop on Amazon, work on our Microsoft and Apple computers, and Google things all day long.

It’s no secret anymore that Big Tech tracks what we do and packages up our data to sell to advertisers. Tap or click to stop one of the biggest offenders, Facebook, from following you around the web.

If you’re super privacy-conscious, maybe you’re ready to nuke your private info floating around the web — or as much as you can, at least. Tap or click to erase yourself from the internet.

Let’s look at a company I bet you interact with most days, Google. Here are three settings you need to check.

1. Don’t let others know what you do with Google

Every time you use a Google service, your interactions are logged in your My Activity page. This page shows everything that you’ve searched for, photos you’ve taken, YouTube videos you’ve watched, how you used Google’s apps and so on.

Many people don’t know that you can password protect it all. Who needs this new feature?

Let’s say you share a computer or everyone in your house knows your system password. One-click is all it takes, and everything you’ve done with Google is free for the taking. Yes, they’ll also see anything that you’d be embarrassed to talk about at the dinner table. Even if that doesn’t concern you, best be safe should your phone or laptop end up in the wrong hands.

Here’s how to lock it down:

Visit myactivity.google.com on a computer.
You will see a pop-up that says, “Safer with Google: You can add more security to My Activity by turning on extra verification.” Click Manage.
Select the option for Require extra verification, then hit Save.

From now on, you’ll have to enter your password to see and delete your history. If your Google password is saved to your browser or computer, it defeats the purpose. You’re better off using a secure password you can remember.

Wait, they know what? See what Google tracks and how you can erase it.

2. Check Google Photo’s tracking setting

I recently wrote about the wealth of info you can see in Google Maps. You can retrace your trips going back years, down to the route. Tap or click for the steps to check out this map and turn off the tracking.

You might not realize Google Photos is collecting the same kind of information. You can see everywhere you’ve been as a series of photos on a map. Did you take a road trip and shoot pics along the way? The digital trail is there for you to see.

Open the Google Photos app and tap Search.
Under Places, you will see Your map. Tap it, then scroll down to see your photos as a list or zoom in on the map and select a location to see the photos you took there.

This might feel like a nice walk down memory lane. If you’re not bothered by it, there’s nothing for you to change. If you’re not so enthusiastic about this feature, you have a few steps to take.

On a computer, open Google Maps. Select the three-line menu, then click on Your Timeline.
At the bottom of the screen, click on Manage Location History.
This will open your Google account’s Activity controls page.
If Location History is on, the slider will be blue. Click on it to turn it off, and it should go gray. This will prevent Google from tracking any future movements or geotag photos.
There is also an Auto-Delete option, where you can choose a period for location data to be automatically deleted. This ranges from photos older than three months to photos older than 36 months.

To delete anything more recent, follow these steps:

Open Google Photos on a PC.
In the top right-hand corner, click the Settings cog.
Scroll down and click Sharing.
Activate the slider for Hide photo location data.

You’re on a roll. Want to tackle a few more security steps? Tap or click here for three quick privacy fixes you need to get a handle on.

3. A new kind of tracking

Visit a new website, and there’s a good chance you’ll get a pop-up asking you to allow cookies. Cookies track the sites you visit and what you do there. They do handy things like saving your passwords and what’s in your online shopping carts, but at the expense of your privacy. All this data is used to target you with ads.

Google is doing away with third-party cookies. No, that doesn’t mean your info won’t be shared with advertisers. The method is changing, though. Google’s Federated Learning of Cohorts, or FLoC, runs behind the scenes in the Chrome browser for select users. This type of tracking groups you with people with similar interests.

Bennett Cyphers of the privacy-focused nonprofit Electronic Frontier Foundation says FLoC was created to “avoid the privacy risks of third-party cookies, but it will create new ones in the process.”

If you’re using Chrome, you may be “FLoCed” without even knowing it. Visit amifloced.org to find out if you’re part of the trial.

You have two options if you are. You can opt-out of all third-party tracking in Chrome.

Click the three-dot settings menu.
Go to Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data.
Choose the option for Block third-party cookies.

If you don’t want to deal with all that, it’s time to find a new browser. Tap or click for my privacy-focused browser ranking from best to worst.

NEED A HAND WITH A SLOW PC, WI-FI ISSUES OR A PRINTER PROBLEM YOU CAN’T CRACK? Post your tech questions for concrete answers from me and other tech pros. Visit my Q&A Forum and get tech help now.

Want to erase yourself from the internet? Here’s how

Ever get that eerie feeling somebody’s watching you? I hate to break the bad news, but there are endless tech companies, advertisers, snoops, and enterprising hackers out there trying to get their hands on as much of your info as possible.

If you want to get your privacy back, your first step is to shut down all the intrusive GPS trackers and hidden maps you can. Tap or click for eight buried settings you need to change now.

Now it’s time to see what’s out there. Sure, you can do a quick Google search for your name, but it won’t turn up everything floating around. Tap or click for step-by-step directions to digging up all the dirt others can see when they look you up online.

It’s nearly impossible to delete yourself from the web totally, but you can wipe out quite a bit if you know where to start.

1. Facebook

The term “data collection” and Facebook go hand in hand. We’ve known the social media giant follows you across the web for years, and it hasn’t exactly been careful with all our private information. Just this year, a breach exposed info on over 530 million users.

If you want to lock down your profile, you need to navigate a handful of menus to catch everything. Tap or click here for 10 security and privacy settings you should change.

If you don’t want to bother with all that, you can delete your profile. Here’s how to do it on a computer:

Click the down arrow icon in the upper right corner.
Click Settings & Privacy > Settings then click Your Facebook Information in the left column.
Choose Deactivation and Deletion.
Select the option to Delete Account.
Then click Continue to Account Deletion.

You’ll be asked if you want to deactivate your account or download your information. If you want to deactivate, your information will remain available for the taking. To delete:

Choose Delete Account.
Enter your password, click Continue and then click Delete Account.

Once you’ve deleted your account, you have 30 days to log back in and restore the account if you change your mind. Keep in mind you will lose access to Facebook Messenger as well.

2. Instagram

This Facebook-owned social media platform is all about photos, and you better believe yours are being analyzed if you have a public account. Even if yours is private, it’s hard to keep track of exactly who can see what you post unless you closely monitor your friend list.

You won’t find the option to delete right there in the regular menu. Here’s how to wipe out this account:

Tap or click here to reach the Delete Your Account page.
Select an option from the drop-down menu for Why are you deleting your account? and type in your password.
Select Delete (your username).

Instagram will delete your profile and account details one month from the day you hit that delete button. You won’t be visible on Instagram at that time, and you can log back in before that date if you change your mind.

3. Twitter

If you’re erasing your online presence, don’t forget about Twitter. Maybe you haven’t shared quite as much there, but it’s still a piece of the puzzle.

Deleting your Twitter account is easy. Log in on your computer and follow these steps:

Click on Settings and privacy from the menu. You’ll find this by clicking More in the right-hand menu when you’re logged in.
Select Your Account > Deactivate your account.
Enter your password when prompted and confirm you want to continue by clicking the Deactivate account button.

Just like Facebook, Twitter waits 30 days before fully deleting your account. During this time, your personal information is hidden from the public. If you log in, your account will return in full.

As Twitter warns, even some deleted tweets may still show up in online searches.

4. Amazon

Amazon sells it all, at great prices. Still, you probably don’t want others to see comments and ratings you have left on products purchased on the site, your biographical information, and other site interactions.

Your public profile doesn’t include purchases or browsing history, but there’s still a lot to be gleaned from it. Here’s how to change that:

Sign into your Amazon account. Click Account and Lists.
Under Ordering and shopping preferences, click Your Amazon profile.
Click the orange box marked Edit your public profile.
Here, you’ll see Edit public profile and Edit privacy settings.

Click through the various options to review. You can adjust the about me section, shopping lists, wish lists, any pets you added, and more. Check your community activity section, too.

5. Google

I bet you think, “Yeah, Google knows quite a bit about me.” But do you really know just how much? Tap or click here for a simple way to see all the data points about you the search giant has cataloged. You’ll be shocked.

Think about it. If you use Google for searches, email, navigation, photo storage and watching videos on YouTube, the stream of data is never-ending.

Step one is wiping out your search history and activity. You can also delete what you’ve said to Google Assistant, block personalized ads and clear your info from Google Chrome.

Each of these has its own set of steps. It won’t take too long, and it’s worth doing if you value your privacy. Tap or click here to erase what Google knows about you.

You can also blur pictures of your home on Google Street View. Here’s how.

6. People search sites

These online databases go by a few names: People search sites, people finder sites, people search engines, background check sites … The list goes on.

They all operate in much the same way. They scrape publicly available social media profiles and public records sites to compile as much information as possible about you. Browse a few, and you’ll realize just how much they know. The scariest part is most of this information is free for anyone who decides to look you up.

How can you stop it? By law, these sites are required to delete your information if you so request. That doesn’t mean they make it easy.

CyberBackgroundChecks.com is a surprisingly accurate site. When I saw my profile, I was blown away. Tap or click for steps to delete your profile.

There are a ton of other people search sites out there. Tap or click for a full list and steps to remove your profiles.

7. Delete yourself from ancestry and genealogy websites

DNA kits sound so cool, in theory. Learn about your background and find out where you came from. But what does it mean to send your actual genetic information to a company? I don’t love the idea.

Start with FamilyTreeNow, a genealogy site that reveals more than you’d want. Tap or click for directions. Be sure to follow these carefully. You should never pay anything to remove yourself from this or any other site.

Then there’s 23andMe. If you no longer wish to share your private information with 23andMe, you can delete your account through the Account Settings page. Here’s a big caveat: “Genetic Information and/or Self-Reported Information that you have previously provided and for which you have given consent to use in 23andMe Research cannot be removed from ongoing or completed studies that use that information, as stated in any applicable Consent Document.”

If you’ve used Ancestry.com, you can revoke access to your DNA and ask the company to delete your results. Tap or click here for the steps to do that.

NEED A HAND WITH A PESKY PRINTER, NASTY UPDATES OR WI-FI PROBLEMS YOU CAN’T CRACK? Get answers! Post your tech questions for concrete answers from me and other tech pros. Visit my Q&A Forum and get tech help now.

7 secrets hackers don’t want you to know

The internet is a scam minefield. Around every corner, someone is waiting to rip you off.

Think I’m dramatic? In 2020, Americans reported more than 2.2 million fraud cases to the FTC, with nearly $3.3 billion in losses. Cybercrime pays big time. Just look at the $5 million Colonial Pipeline recently paid to hacker’s ransomware demand.

Your first line of defense? The basics that everyone likes to ignore. Tap or click for the essential cybersecurity basics, from strong passwords to keeping your system up to date.

The more data scammers and hackers have on you, the easier it is to take advantage. If you own a home, so much personal info is floating around. Tap or click to see what your mortgage documents and other public records reveal to anyone who knows where to look.

The fun doesn’t stop there. Here are seven security secrets hackers wish I wouldn’t tell you.

1. We’re going to use what you post against you

You might not realize how much your rambling can give away to snoops and hackers. That’s because many of us use names of things that are important to us, like our kids or pets, to create passwords or answer security questions.

First step: Check your social media privacy settings. (More on that below.) There’s no reason your profiles should be publicly accessible. Then be honest with yourself about how much private info you share. Should everyone on your friend list know the names of your grandkids, where you live, and important dates in your life?

While you’re at it, get rid of those easy-to-guess passwords, too. Tap or click for five smart rules to create passwords you can remember.

2. We’re good at writing believable scam emails now

Some of the most successful scams come through emails. It’s not all Nigerian Princes and other tricks you already know how to spot. Today’s hackers are a lot smarter than that.

Look for subtle signs that something is off, like a link or email address with a single character changed. On a computer, hover your mouse over any hyperlinks and see where they go. If it’s not a site you recognize and trust, don’t click.

If the email urges you to download something, especially something you never requested, delete it and move on with your life.

BEFORE YOU HIT DOWNLOAD: 5 mistakes to avoid when downloading files

3. We’re scouring your photos for details

When you’re focused on smiling for a selfie or catching a cute photo of your dog, you might not realize what’s in the background. Snap a picture in your home office, and your computer screen could be visible. What secrets are there for someone who zooms in close enough?

Before you post a photo online, zoom in and make sure you’re not uploading anything private. Then, lock down your social media accounts. At least this way, you know who can see the things you post.

On Facebook (from a computer):

Log in, then click the arrow pointing down on the top right corner.
Select Settings & Privacy, then click Settings.
Click Privacy in the left column.
Under the Your activity heading, choose whether all your friends, only certain friends, or anyone can see your posts, liked pages, and tagged photos.

On Instagram:

Tap the settings wheel at the very top, then Privacy.
At the top, toggle the switch for Private Account.

4. We know who to pretend to be to fool you

If you get an email from a stranger asking you for money, you trash it, right? If it’s from your boss or HR department, though, there’s a good chance you will take it seriously. BEC, or business email compromise, attacks are widespread for just that reason.

In most cases, these scams involve getting an email from someone you report to or your company’s HR department asking you to purchase something, send gift cards, pay an invoice, wire money or hand over your cash some other way. Of course, it’s not your boss or company contacting you.

If you receive such a request, reach out to that person another way. Don’t just reply to the email. Instead, give your boss a call or stop by the HR office to confirm the request was legitimate.

5. We know your network’s weak points

I already reminded you how vital secure passwords are for all your accounts, but what about your router? If you never changed that when you set up your router, you need to do it now. Tap or click for the fast and easy way to find your router’s default password.

Then consider how you share your Wi-Fi password. You can allow guests Wi-Fi access without giving them your password with these options:

Create a Wi-Fi guest network with a separate password for visitors to use.
Create a QR code your guests can scan to connect.

Don’t know how to create a QR code for your Wi-Fi network? No worries, we can help. Tap or click here to find out how to share Wi-Fi without giving out your password.

6. We’re patient enough to wait you out

Hackers should be Hollywood actors because they know how to play the game and make you fall for their tricks. They have incredible fortitude. Tech support scams work this way.

You get a strange popup, call a number and end up on the phone with someone who says they can help. The “tech support rep” may talk you into giving up remote access pretty quickly, but the person doesn’t try to make a sale right away. The person waits until you believe that you’re talking to a genuine IT company. Tap or click for 7 hot IT support scams going around right now.

7. We’re sneaking into your old accounts

How many unused accounts do you have just floating around? They’re for games you don’t play anymore, services you canceled long ago, and email accounts you never access. Bad news: They serve as another way in for smart hackers.

There’s a good chance a lot of your old accounts share the same (bad) passwords. Once a hacker learns one, they have the keys to the rest of the castle. Your old accounts may even contain personal information they can use to get access to your current accounts.

Your first action item is identifying those old accounts. Look through your email, and search for words like “login,” “account” and “password.” The site justdelete.me can help you find the steps to delete old accounts in a snap. Tap or click for a direct link and more pro tips to wipe these out.

NEED A HAND WITH A SLOW PC, SMARTPHONE ISSUES OR A SOFTWARE PROBLEM YOU CAN’T CRACK? Post your tech questions for concrete answers from me and other tech pros. Visit my Q&A Forum and get tech help now.

Learn about all the latest technology on The Kim Komando Show, the nation’s largest weekend radio talk show. Kim takes calls and dispenses advice on today’s digital lifestyle, from smartphones and tablets to online privacy and data hacks. For her daily tips, free newsletters and more, visit her website at Komando.com.

Gary, Indiana hit with ransomware attack on city’s government computers

The city of Gary, Indiana is reeling from a recent ransomware attack on several of its servers, according to multiple reports Thursday.

City spokesman Michael Gonzalez told news outlets that a cybersecurity company is helping the city rebuild those servers. He said the FBI and Department of Homeland Security have been notified about the attack.

The city of Gary, Indiana is reeling from a recent ransomware attack on several of its servers, according to multiple reports Thursday.
(Getty Images)

He did not disclose when the attack was identified or which city departments were affected, citing an ongoing investigation.

Gonzalez also declined to say whether the city paid a ransom following the ransomware attack.

Investigators have not yet determined if anyone’s personal information was compromised, but if that is the case Gonzalez said the city will offer those individuals “credit monitoring and any other assistance we can.”

RANSOMWARE WILL LIKELY GET WORSE IN 2021: REPORT

He said city employees have faced challenges although not all city departments were affected by the attack.

“We’ve been doing the best we can,” he said. “Now that we’re going through the restoration process, we’re seeing things are getting better.”

Washington Metropolitan Police Department chief Robert Contee speaks during a news conference in Washington.
(AP)

The city is still assessing the costs associated with the attack, including restoration-related expenses. Fox News has reached out to Gonzalez for further information.

WASHINGTON DC POLICE CYBERATTACK MORE EXTENSIVE THAN ORIGINALLY THOUGHT, OFFICIALS SAY

Ransomware attacks, in which hackers lock up computer data and demand ransom payments in order to give it back, have been on the rise in recent weeks.

Last Friday, the 5,500-mile Colonial Pipeline, which transports more than 100 million gallons of fuel per day – or almost half of the East Coast’s supply, was taken offline by a Russian hacking group called DarkSide that demanded $100 million ransom. By Thursday, the pipe likely paid more than $4 million to the hackers to get the pipeline back up and running.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

And on Thursday, another Russian-speaking ransomware syndicate, known as the Babuk group, released thousands of sensitive documents from the Metropolitan Police Department on the dark web. The gang revealed the attack last month, threatening to leak the identities of confidential informants.

Fox Business’ Jonathan Garber and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Use Amazon? Make these 5 changes now to protect your privacy

Amazon’s pandemic boom shows no signs of slowing down. Every single minute in the first quarter of this year, the e-commerce giant brought in $837,330.25.

For Big Tech companies, collecting your data is a vital part of their profits. You can take your privacy back as long as you know the proper settings to change. Tap or click for eight hidden maps and trackers you need to switch off now.

If you use Google Chrome, you might be part of a test of Google’s new tracking method without even knowing it. Tap or click for a free tool to know if Google is following you around the web.

Amazon is tracking you in ways you may have never considered, but you can take back your privacy by following these steps.

1. Erase your Amazon browsing history

Scroll through Amazon.com, and you’ll see all kinds of things you’ve browsed before or items remarkably similar. It’s not a happy accident. Amazon keeps a detailed history of the items you browse. You can shut out those suggestions by clearing your browsing history from your profile.

This not only stops Amazon from tracking your activity. It can also keep your browsing secret from others who use your computer. That’s an excellent way to keep gifts a surprise.

Here’s how to clear your Amazon browsing history on a computer:

Log into your account, then click on Account & Lists at the top right of your screen.
Scroll to the bottom of the page to see Your Browsing History.
Click View or edit your browsing history.
To remove a specific item from view, click Remove from view beneath the product.
You can clear the entire list by selecting the Manage history dropdown on the top right of this page and clicking Remove all items from view.

Pro tip: To stop Amazon from collecting your browsing history from now on, toggle Turn Browsing History on/off into the off position.

PIPE DOWN, ALEXA: 5 frustrating Amazon Alexa and Echo settings to update

2. Delete your Alexa recordings from her memory

Imagine everything you’ve said to your Alexa smart speaker over the years. Take a trip down memory lane before you wipe it all out.

Open the Amazon Alexa app. Tap on More (which has three vertical lines).
Hit Settings > Alexa Privacy.
Tap Review Voice History.
From here, you can filter by day, time range, and device. Tap a recording, then the play button to listen.

Instead of deleting these recordings one by one, you can wipe everything out all at once.

In the Alexa app, click the three-line More menu.
Choose Settings > Alexa Privacy > Manage Your Alexa Data.
Under Voice Recordings, tap Choose how long to save recordings.
From here, you can choose a time period or select Don’t save recordings. This will delete any previous recordings.

Here you can also enable voice deletion. You can say, “Alexa, delete what I just said,” or “Alexa, delete everything I said today.”

BYE, BYE TRACKING: How to see everything Google tracks about you and erase it

3. Hide your order history or just certain orders

If you’re anything like me, you’ve ordered a lot over the years. Fun fact: My first Amazon order was a book, way back in 1995.

There’s no way to delete your order history permanently, but you can archive orders and hide them from view.

Here’s how to do it from your web browser:

Log into your account, then click Returns & Orders in the top right.
Under each order, you’ll see Archive order.
A box will pop up, asking you to confirm.
If you need to access an archived order to get a receipt or make a return, click Accounts & Lists, and select the block called Archived orders.

WIPE IT OUT: When’s the last time you deleted your search history from your browsers and social media platforms? Here’s how.

4. Stop Amazon Sidewalk from sharing your internet connection

Sidewalk is essentially a mesh network that extends your Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connection range by up to a mile. It turns your Echo speakers and some Ring gadgets into bridge devices to give internet-connected tech a boost.

Sounds handy, but what about your privacy? Amazon says the Sidewalk network uses three layers of encryption and that your neighbors won’t be able to see your data. I say the Internet of Things is notorious for insecure devices and no updates.

This only applies to some devices, including Ring’s Floodlight Cam, Spotlight Cam Wired and Spotlight Cam Mount from 2019 or later, along with most Echo models (including the Dot, Plus, Show, Dot for Kids and Studio) made after 2016.

If you want to opt out, open the Alexa app.

Tap More followed by Settings.
Tap Account Settings, followed by Amazon Sidewalk.
Turn Amazon Sidewalk off if you do not want to participate.

5. Control who can see and hear you using an Echo Show

I bought all my siblings Amazon Echo Shows to drop in to say hi to our mother whenever they want. It’s one of the Echo’s best features, but the speaker or display goes both ways.

Someone could watch or listen to what’s going on in the room after a 10-second delay. You never know who might pop in unexpectedly unless you adjust your settings.

First, double-check who you have approved to Drop In:

Open the Alexa app on your phone.
Tap Communicate at the bottom of the screen, and on that page, tap the contacts icon at the top right.
Scroll through your contacts and make sure Allow Drop In is toggled on for only the right people.

Next, set permissions for each of your devices. Maybe you are OK with this feature being switched on in the kitchen, but not in your bedroom.

In the Alexa app, select Settings > Device Settings and choose the device you’d like to use Drop In with.
Tap Communication, then select Drop In. Choose from permitted contacts only or just your household.
If you’d like to disable Drop In altogether, open the Alexa app on your phone and follow the above steps for each of your Echo devices. When you get to the Drop In page for each Echo device select Off.

HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT POKEY WI-FI, SMARTPHONE ISSUES OR AN ONLINE BUSINESS TURNING A PROFIT? Post your tech questions for concrete answers from me and other tech pros. Visit my Q&A Forum and get tech help now.

Tech tip: Speed up your Windows or Mac’s startup the easy way

Remember back when you bought your computer? It was blazing fast, started up as soon as you hit the power button, and everything was clean and tidy.

If your machine is a few years old, it’s taken a lot of wear and tear. The outside, and all those small ports, definitely need a good cleanup. Tap or click for my guide on the best ways to get the grime off your devices without ruining them.

Then you need to look inside. Tap or click for six smart ways to bring some life back to an old computer that really work .

Now, let’s speed up your startup time and get that computer back into fighting shape.

Reduce your startup time on Windows

In most cases, you can blame long startup times on apps and programs you don’t need during your PC’s wake-up process. You probably don’t need Zoom to start in the background. On the other hand, your VPN app should launch, so it’s always on.

Here’s how to see which apps load during Windows startup:

Click on the Start menu.
Select Settings (cog icon) and click on Apps.
In the left menu, click on Startup. It should be the last option.

The Startup panel displays all the apps installed on your machine. If Windows has measured the impact of that app on your PC, you will see a rating next to it. Options include No impact, Low impact, Medium impact, and High impact.

An app with a high impact can slow down your startup time. Go through the list and determine which apps you don’t need immediately after startup. Toggle each slider next to the app to turn it on or off.

Pro tip: For a more straightforward view, filter apps by impact. This way, you can quickly see which ones have a high impact and adjust accordingly.

PROTECT YOUR NETWORK: 5 router settings to keep hackers off your cameras, smart speaker, and home network

Change startup apps on a Mac

Take a look at your Mac’s Dock. You likely have a string of apps and programs that open whenever your Mac starts. Be sure that you need all of them to launch when your Mac starts.

Click on the Apple menu and navigate to System Preferences.
Click on Users & Groups.
Select your User Account, then click Login Items on the top right.

Here you’ll see a list of the applications that open automatically when you log in.

To prevent an app from running automatically, click on Remove a login item. Then select the app’s name that you want to block and click on the Remove button below the list.

You can use the checkbox to hide items that you still would like to launch. To add a new item, hit the plus symbol under the list and find it on your computer.

PRIVACY BOOST: The best free password manager for iPhones, iPads, and Macs is built right in.

CBP’s Big Bend Sector harnesses tech to fight illegal border activity

MARFA, Texas – Marfa, Texas, is a small town three hours east of El Paso. Home to fewer than 2,000 people, it hosts the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Big Bend Sector headquarters.

Marfa, Texas, is three hours east of El Paso. Home to less than 2,000 people the area hosts the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Big Bend Sector headquarters. Border Patrol agents are working around the clock to stop illegal activity. This checkpoint is located just south of town off highway 67 onroute to the Presidio Port of Entry. (Stephanie Bennett/ Fox News)

Big Bend is one of CBP’s biggest sectors, covering 165,154 square miles over 77 Texas counties and the entire state of Oklahoma. It is responsible for patrolling 517 miles along the Rio Grande, which is the international boundary between the U.S. and Mexico.

Despite this, only about 600 border patrol agents are assigned here.

What may look like quiet farmland is anything but, and agents work round the clock to stop drugs, human trafficking and illegal crossings.

“We have increased numbers across the board, every day, so we’re doing the best we can to make apprehensions,” said Greg Davis, public affairs officer for the Big Bend Sector. “We’re very concerned for especially our small communities, where we had people coming in, that they may come across a rancher’s house and we’ve had instances where they’ve kicked in the doors”.

Border Patrol apprehensions at the southern border have risen significantly compared to last year. Comparing fiscal year 2020 through March and fiscal year 2021 through March, the number of family apprehensions has risen by 62%, unaccompanied children has risen by 233% and single adult apprehensions by 365%.

As the weather warms up, agents are performing more desert rescues too. The terrain around the Big Bend Sector can be very dangerous and deadly. Temperatures are already starting to soar and will only get worse in the summer months.

“The smugglers oftentimes will bring people across, these migrants have a lot of difficulties, have an issue, and get left behind,” Sean McGoffin, chief patrol agent for the Big Bend Sector, told Fox News. “It’s a very large area, very rugged, rough terrain, lightly populated throughout the entire area, so we do have a lot of areas that we cover.

“It’s often difficult to get to some of the areas that are right along the border, but we have a lot of agents here who are well versed and they’ve been here a long time and they know how to do the job along the border,” McGoffin said.

The Big Bend Sector is one of the biggest, covering 165,154 square miles in 77 Texas counties and the entire state of Oklahoma. The sector is responsible for patrolling 517 miles of river along the Rio Grande which is the international boundary between the U.S. and Mexico.

On Wednesday, the sector held its annual open house to display the equipment and assets used daily by Border Patrol agents, including helicopters, the K9 and horse patrols, and a variety of different vehicles.

There were two new truck-mounted roaming cameras, which will help them see more clearly on the go. The cameras can move in any direction and are equipped with night vision.

Two new truck-mounted roaming cameras will help agents see clearer 24/7 wherever they go. The cameras can move in any direction and are equipped with night vision. (Stephanie Bennett/Fox News)

“We have limited resources when it comes to agents, we do work very hard to ensure that we have capable dedicated personnel out there on the ground doing the job, and they do that valiantly every day,” said Davis.

He continued: “We make do with the resources we have in the best of our ability, we do use a lot of technology and it’s also very important I want to point out that we get a lot of tips from the public when they see something unusual on a highway or in a town, they will notify law enforcement and sometimes us directly.”

Migrants can use portable emergency distress towers to signal for help. The 20-foot solar-powered devices have instructions in English and Spanish so migrants who get lost in the desert can get help fast.

New portable emergency distress towers will help migrants call for help. It’s a 20-foot solar powered device with instructions in English and Spanish. (Stephanie Bennett/Fox News)

“We do have technology, this is technology that we didn’t used to have, so we’re getting some of that from our headquarters component and we’re really thankful for their investment in this sector,” said McGoffin. “We’re always going to need a little bit more manpower, but we’re adept in this sector of doing what we have to do to make things happen.”

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The town of Marfa is located on U.S. Highway 67, the main road leading from the Presidio Port of Entry, one of the busiest in the sector.

The National Guard has stepped in to help, but there’s only so much they’re authorized to do. Nationwide U.S. Customs and Border Protection is hiring more officers and agents.

“We want to make sure there’s nothing bad coming into our country, we want to make sure that we’re protecting our country and our communities and our agents who go out there every day. They work very hard to ensure the safety of our countries and our communities,” said McGoffin.

Dead celebrities have large followings on Twitter, Instagram – and even endorse products, politics

Dead celebrities aren’t dead on social media and often command large followings – but things can get complicated when the dead are represented by the living.

Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley have large followings on Twitter and Instagram. The actress, who’s been dead for almost 60 years, has about 1.7 million followers on Instagram and the King of Rock and Roll, who’s been dead for almost 45 years, has 1.1 million Instagram followers.

Both have significant followings on Twitter too.

AMAZON, APPLE, MICROSOFT AMONG TOP BRANDS USED BY SCAMMERS

While that may not be that surprising, it does get strange when dead celebrities engage in endorsements, as pointed out in a paper authored by Andrew Gilden, an Assistant Professor of Law at Willamette University.

This news was first reported by TorrentFreak.

“Marilyn Monroe survives today as a highly-paid celebrity endorser even though she died almost 60 years and her ‘estate’ is controlled by individuals with zero personal connection to her,” Gilden wrote.

“It might seem impossible for someone to make an endorsement after they have died… Nevertheless, posthumous endorsements have become commonplace in social media marketing,” Gilden writes.

This happens because entities have bought into the right to use a celebrity’s name.

And this can extend to political activity also.

Posthumous endorsement laws allow rightsholders to speak in the official voice of the dead, which can then be leveraged for political activity, according to Gilden.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Gilden cited Marilyn Monroe, Muhammad Ali, and Elvis Presley as engaging with the #BlackoutTuesday protests about police brutality, despite the fact that no one knows how they would feel about those issues if they were still alive.

Gilden also addressed issues surrounding Ronald Reagan and Tom Petty during Donald Trump’s reelection campaign.

“Both the Reagan Foundation and the Petty estate objected to certain activities by the Trump Campaign. The Reagan Foundation objected to the dissemination of a ‘Trump-Reagan’ commemorative coin, and the Petty estate objected to the use of Petty’s music during campaign rallies,” according to Gilden.

Technology

Big Tech: Do you trust it?

Who is watching and listening?

What about Google alternatives?

1. Don’t let others know what you do with Google

2. Check Google Photo’s tracking setting

3. A new kind of tracking

1. Facebook

2. Instagram

3. Twitter

4. Amazon

5. Google

6. People search sites

7. Delete yourself from ancestry and genealogy websites

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