Kim Komando Daily Tech Update
Episodes
A faulty iPhone battery leads to a scary situation
11 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
All phone batteries and accessories aren't created equal. An Oklahoma City mom learned that the hard way when the inside of her SUV was severely damag...
Will this wireless carrier silence robocalls?
10 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The robocalls just keep coming. Have you been hit by the influx of phony government agency calls? If you use this a major wireless carrier, you could ...
Is your kid addicted to screens? You can now hire someone to help
09 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
If you're a parent, you know the struggle of getting your child to put down the phone, tablet, computer or video game. Some are even enlisting help in...
Are the browser wars about to begin again?
08 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Yes, browsers are free of charge, but they come with hidden costs, some more than others. Find out why Kim predicts a browser war is imminent. Learn...
Stop 'channel surfing' on your streaming services
05 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Looking for a good movie or a show to binge watch this holiday weekend? These sites will help you find exactly what you're in the mood for. Say goodby...
Financial independence: Working at home in 2019
04 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
There are more ways than ever to earn money from home, giving you the power to achieve financial independence. I share how to find legitimate work-fro...
Amazon Prime Day is like Christmas in July
03 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
You don't want to miss Amazon's annual sale. This year it's expanded to two days, and other retailers are getting in on the fun with their own discoun...
Teen sexting and so-called experts
02 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
As parents, we teach our kids what behavior is acceptable and what isn't — that includes what they're doing online. Find out why I'm saying "no way"...
The end of the "foldable phone"?
01 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Think back to your first cell phone — now look at your smartphone. I bet you appreciate how far mobile devices have come. But if you're waiting for ...
It’s 'dumb luck' you see ads for things you were just talking about
28 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
You've probably come to expect targeted advertising based on your online searches, but how else are companies discovering what products and services t...
Malware is spreading — and your gadgets are at risk
27 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
You know your computer, smartphone and tablet are targets for hackers and viruses, but it's time to add the rest of your smart gadgets to the list. H...
Risking your data at restaurants
26 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
You probably don't think twice before handing over your credit or debit card at a restaurant. But scammers are targeting your favorite places to eat, ...
Stay connected to your neighbors — through your phone
25 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Technology is giving us all new ways to stay connected to our neighbors. Whether you're worried about crime and security, looking to buy or sell items...
Find out what Google knows about you
24 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Google tracks you online and offline, and you may be surprised at how much data there really is on your preferences, browsing history, searches, purch...
Are you getting all the internet you pay for?
21 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
If webpages aren't loading, videos are endlessly buffering and using more than one device is a headache, you may not be getting the connection speed y...
Using smartphones while driving — the awful truth
20 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Drivers are more distracted than ever behind the wheel, and we have smartphones to blame. I'll tell you just how pervasive — and dangerous — distr...
Protecting the most important thing on your smartphone
19 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
If you’ve ever lost your phone, you know the pain of losing hundreds or even thousands of pictures of friends, family, pets, vacations and special o...
Boosting a weak cell signal in your home or office
18 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Is a weak mobile signal in your home or office driving you up the wall? Boost your service with these tips, including one you can do right now — ...
Protect yourself from hackers on summer vacation
17 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Summer is here, and while you're prepping for a relaxing vacation, hackers are getting ready to take advantage of unsuspecting travelers. Here's how t...
Emergency medical information for your kids' phones
14 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Are your family's phones set up for ICE -- in case of emergency -- contacts? Would an emergency responder know about your child's severe allergies? Ar...
Watch out for hidden cameras in your vacation rental
13 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
As a vacation property owner, frequent traveler and tech expert, Kim knows a thing or two about hidden cameras. Learn how to spot technology that coul...
Amazon brazenly uses your Ring doorbell videos in ads
12 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when you sign up for something and don't read the terms of service? Your personal information can end up on the internet for the world to...
Revealed: Dark Web prices for stolen IDs
11 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Take a guess -- how much do you think cybercriminals would pay for your user names, passwords and other personal data? This is one area where you want...
Backfire! Sleep apps may actually be causing insomnia
10 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Is there an app for that? People wanting a good night's sleep are downloading apps they think will help them go to dreamland. But now, a doctor in Lon...
Watch out for 'Air Dropping'!
07 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Say you're sitting at a coffee shop, minding your own business and scrolling through your iPhone. Suddenly you start getting funny memes, selfies and ...
Delete your information from this website right now
06 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
You might be surprised to know what this website has on you -- like every place you have lived, every phone number, and your relatives' names. It's th...
Watch out for new clever scams online
05 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
June is the start of the Atlantic hurricane season, which gives online scammers another opportunity to try to separate you from your money. Hear how s...
Shocking NY Times expose about YouTube and pedophiles
04 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
You may want to think twice before posting innocent videos of your children frolicking in the pool or doing gymnastics. A disturbing report in the New...
Facebook doesn't care about your privacy
03 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Every chance Mark Zuckerberg gets these days, he says privacy is Facebook’s number one concern. But in court this week, the company said its users h...
Kim helps man find $25,000 in unclaimed funds
31 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
One caller on Kim's national weekend radio show is $25,000 richer. Thanks to a tip from Kim, he found unclaimed funds owed to his family. Listen as Ki...
When do our phones track us the most? Not when you think!
30 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We know our phones track our every action. If you assume the tracking data moves during the day, you'd be wrong. Nighttime, when you're sound asleep, ...
Smartphones can't replace real-life relationships
29 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
If you look at your smartphone more than your family and loved ones, you're not alone. But that doesn't excuse you from shutting out the real world. L...
Cable TV -- you love it, you hate it, but are you ready to give it up?
28 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
"I only watch a few channels, so why do I have to pay so much for all this other stuff?" The TV watcher's lament. But don't cut the cable just yet. Le...
Memorial Day honors our fallen heroes, marks summer's unofficial start
27 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This Memorial Day fly the American flag proudly and remember our nation's fallen heroes. This day is also considered the unofficial start of summer,...
Serious gamers listen up! You could play your way to big bucks
24 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
It seems like every summer your kid turns into a blob that does nothing but play video games. Believe it or not, your gamer kid could be making a fort...
The 5G network poses a health hazard. Oh really?
23 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Researchers generally agree that cell phones don't cause brain cancer. So why are reports suddenly springing up that the 5G network is a health hazard...
If you own or operate a drone, check to see if it was made in China stat!
22 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Are drones doing more than flying over U.S. skies? Homeland Security warns they also may be spying for a foreign government. Learn more about your ad ...
Online privacy? There's no such thing to Google
21 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
He knows when you are sleeping. He knows when you're awake. He knows if you've been bad or good -- so watch out. We're talking about Google privacy po...
Robocalls flood our phones by the billions
20 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Twenty-six billion. That's how many robocalls Americans received last year. The FCC is stepping in, but blocking robocalls is harder than we thought. ...
Social media may have hurt an entire generation of Americans
17 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Millennials are the first generation of Americans to have grown up in a world with social media. Singer-actress Selena Gomez is one of those millennia...
Social media, young people and avoidable tragedies
16 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We hear a lot about the dangers of the Dark Web. But darkness can be found on the supposedly sunny side of the web too, and it's easy for young people...
Facebook logs another major security failure
15 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Facebook says it has fixed a major security problem that exposed 1.5 billion users to spying by hackers. What's worse is that the hack worked with a s...
Wikipedia fail after legend's death
14 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Legendary singer-actress Doris Day died Monday at age 97. Just after her death, however, the memory of this most beloved of stars was dragged into the...
When will Samsung get it right?
13 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Well, at least this time no one is getting hurt. For almost three years one Samsung phone or another has been exploding or catching on fire. Now Samsu...
5G has arrived, but do you live in a place that has it?
10 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
So you're all set to buy a 5G phone and start living in the fast lane. But how fast will you really be going? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit ...
Digital messaging is now open to debt collectors
09 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Debt collectors now have more ways to reach people who haven't paid up. Along with using phone calls, debt collectors are now allowed to go after a pe...
Google showcases AI and augmented reality
08 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Google Lens is pretty terrific as is and now it's going to get better. At its annual conference, Google announced changes to Lens and introduced sever...
Watch out for royal baby scams
07 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, that's the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to you peasant, had their first child yesterday. The infant may not hav...
What not to do if your phone rings just once at night
06 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
If your smartphone rings once in the middle of the night, you've been targeted in the latest phone scam. This one is traced to Africa and it's importa...
Gen Z and social media doppelgangers
03 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The nation's first generation of children to grow up in the age of social media graduates from college this year. Regrets, they may have a few. But, G...
Millennials watch TV on their terms
02 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Talkin' 'bout their generation. Millennials are changing the way they watch TV. It's hurting some industries but possibly helping others. Learn more ...
Zuckerberg waves shiny object to re-direct attention from scandals
01 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
You can always gauge how much legal trouble Facebook is in by how many shiny new toys it puts in front of consumers. Today, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerbe...
Another day, yet another data breach
30 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Yet another story pops into headlines telling us our personal information has been leaked. This time it targets adults over 40. Better be on the looko...
Fake Viagra is not a good thing
29 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Buying drugs online without a prescription is just a bad idea in general. Fake drugs can make you sick. Or, as is the case with Viagra, you'll get mo...
Facebook's new plan is frightening
26 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has a plan. It will affect almost all of us -- and it is dangerous. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/...
Put down your cellphone and live longer
25 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Researchers have found that mobile phone use does affect our bodies. In fact, using your phone too much can shorten your life. Learn more about your a...
Amazon loses round 1 of the drone wars
24 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
After years of hearing about Amazon's impending drone delivery service, many Americans braced themselves for a dystopian future where Amazon drones fi...
You won't believe which book tops Amazon.com
23 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Aspiring writers can turn to Amazon.com to get their books published. Or some enterprising folks can take a government report and publish it through A...
Stay away from bootleg streaming devices
22 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
If you're cutting the cord to save money, don't cut corners on the streaming devices you use. Using a bootleg device to stream movies or sports could ...
YouTube fans conspiracy flames as Notre Dame blaze livestreams
16 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
One of the world's most magnificent edifices, Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, came close to being destroyed by a massive fire. That was news enough. Bu...
The cost of keeping Mark Zuckerberg safe
15 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Mark Zuckerberg isn't America's sweetheart. In fact, to many people, he and Facebook personify everything that is wrong with social media. Now Faceboo...
Alexa is always listening
12 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Well, Alexa and Amazon are quite the busybodies. It turns out Alexa and Amazon employees don't listen only when you give a command. I'll tell you what...
Video doorbells prove popular with thieves
11 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Homeowners across the country love video doorbells. You get to see and speak with people at your door even if you're not at home. But thieves love the...
Watch out: Scammers are now targeting your paycheck
10 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The days of Nigerian princes trying to con people out of hundreds of thousands of dollars seem like a fond memory now. Scammers aren't asking for a lo...
Robocalls become more elaborate
09 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
With more than 5 billion robocalls recorded in March, not only are such calls increasing, they also are becoming so sophisticated, thanks to A.I. and ...
Making sense of mobile phone speeds
08 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile are the nation's big four mobile carriers. And if you watch their commercials, they all claim to have the fastest ...
Your face is your key at this new high-tech hotel
05 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The future promised in so many sci-fi movies has arrived — at least in one high-tech hotel in China. Built by Alibaba, the hotel uses facial recogni...
Tips to lock down your phone and keep your information safe
04 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Take note — no one is immune to hacking. As you know, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos' phone was hacked and his private photos were leaked. You may not be a b...
Google shuts down Google Plus
03 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Google Plus, meet MySpace. Almost eight years ago, Google launched its own social media site: Google Plus. Now Google is quietly shutting down the sit...
Tiny cameras are watching you
02 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Stories about guests discovering they are being watched by cameras in Airbnbs and hotel rooms are rising around the country. Blame the increasingly ti...
Flip phone is all Warren Buffet needs
01 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
If you were a billionaire, what kind of phone would you have? Well, billionaire Warren Buffet may own 5.5 percent of Apple, but he doesn't own a smart...
Personal data vulnerable in cheap phones
29 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
You get what you pay for. The moment you turn on that new cheap phone you bought, malware and spyware in pre-installed apps start grabbing your person...
Facebook wants more of your personal data
28 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Facebook wants to harvest your personal data, even if you're not a user. Belgium decided to be the first country to take Facebook to court over its n...
FCC gets tough on robocalls
27 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Consumers are answering about five billion robocalls a month. Under pressure from the FCC, mobile carriers are now doing something about it. Why are ...
Apple TV Plus dives into original programming
26 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Apple has unveiled its improved Apple TV app that creates a one-stop viewing experience. And in the fall, the company debuts its Apple TV Plus filled ...
Email scams have more information on you than ever before
25 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Long gone are the days of bogus Nigerian princes offering you countless millions in return for mere processing fees. Today, phishing scam emails have ...
Watch out for tax season scammers
22 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
As you prepare to do your taxes, beware of online scams. Before you download any tax software, listen to Kim's advice on what to watch out for to kee...
Kickstarter wins and fails
21 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Kickstarter turns 10 in April. Since then, four point two billion dollars has been pledged on almost one hundred and sixty thousand funded projects. K...
Genderless voice assistants for AI
20 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Voice assistants have typically been female. Now a company has created a gender-neutral voice. Listen to what it sounds like and tell me what you thin...
Apple Watch can tell if you're having a heart attack
19 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Apple was part of a study conducted on over four hundred thousand people, in order to find out if the Apple Watch can detect irregular heartbeats. The...
How Facebook, Google and YouTube management failed the world
18 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
I'm sure you heard about the horrifying massacre in New Zealand. What is most disturbing is the fact that the gruesome video of the killings was on so...
Facebook power outage: Server error or a hack?
15 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Facebook had a major outage that was believed to be a server error. But when you think about it, servers can't be so easily misconfigured, which leads...
Crazy things passengers left behind in Uber cars
14 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
If you forget something in an Uber, the good news is: you can get it back. But are you curious what people leave behind? Kim looked into it and shares...
Do AirPods cause cancer?
13 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We thought smoking cigarettes was safe back in the day. Now we know better. But consider new tech like AirPods. Are they safe, or will we one day disc...
Robot doctor tells family their loved one is dying
11 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Receiving bad news from a doctor is devastating enough. What if you got news that your loved one is dying from a robot? This is what happened to Ernes...
Uninformed tech writers try to revise the "Y2K" scare
11 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The greatly hyped, end-of-world Y2K event came and went without anybody noticing. Now, some tech writers are trying to create that same panic with the...
The future of Facebook?
08 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
After all the scandals, data breaches, and fake news Mark Zuckerberg had an epiphany about privacy and security for Facebook. He has a new vision abou...
The last Blockbuster Video store on earth
07 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Video stores used to be the only way to rent movies back in the day. Many people have spent a weekend evening at Blockbuster Video, renting movies and...
Should you buy a foldable smartphone?
06 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Since it was unveiled, the foldable smartphone has been generating a lot of excitement. But is now the right time to buy one? Kim looks at how smartph...
Another Facebook privacy eye roll
05 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
When many of us signed up for Facebook, we gave them our phone number to prevent hackers from being able to access our account information. It's calle...
Parents are now using social media to help name their babies
04 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
New parents have a tough time picking names for their new offspring. It used to be going through the baby name book or checking names online. Now, it'...
Are you addicted to your smartphone?
01 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Many of us just couldn't live without our smartphones. When we can't text, check email or apps, and surf the web whenever we want, we experience frust...
The dreaded robocaller
28 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The phone rings and you've got a fifty-fifty chance of it being a robocaller. That's right, nearly 50% of all calls are robocallers and they've been o...
A YouTuber tells kids how to commit suicide
27 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
YouTube has been in the news lately and it hasn't been too good. First, it was people leaving comments promoting child pornography. Now, it's videos p...
Incredible new car tech: What to expect this year
26 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
BMW let the cat out of the bag at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. You won't believe what drivers will be able to do with the latest technology...
There's no end to the ways Facebook collects your info
25 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Facebook has been in the news for quite some time about the way it has handled data from users. But this time, Facebook is not the one doing the spyin...
Facebook wants to put a camera in everyone's living room
22 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Facebook has a history of massive data breaches, bad management, and arrogant stances. Now, Mark Zuckerberg is trying to convince people to purchase t...
Samsung's foldable smartphone is here
21 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Samsung finally unveiled its first foldable smartphone and it's pretty innovative. Kim looks at the new Samsung Galaxy Fold smartphone, how it works, ...
Could your smartphone save your life?
20 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Imagine you've just been in a car accident, trapped in your vehicle with no help around and you can't reach your cell phone. But, you can still talk s...
Samsung is changing the smartphone
19 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Smartphone sales have been stagnant the last few years but Samsung plans to change all that. They plan to announce their first foldable smartphone at ...