Kim Komando Daily Tech Update
Episodes
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 ...
8K televisions are on the way but the price isn't worth it
18 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
At the annual Consumer Electronics Show last month, companies like Samsung, Toshiba, Sony and LG made a big deal about their new 8K televisions. Other...
A new viral challenge parents need to be aware of
15 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
It seems that every couple of weeks, a new viral challenge pops up on social media. Some of these challenges are fun, some are dangerous but this one ...
Authors are making big bucks selling romance eBooks on Amazon
14 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Whether you're a fan or not, romance eBooks are extremely popular on Amazon and some authors are raking in the cash. Kim looks at the business of writ...
Russia is unplugging from the internet
13 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Russia is leaving the world wide web as we know it and they have built their own independent internet which they will test this year. Kim looks at the...
Smartphone companies are trying to wow consumers with new tech
12 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
It's a fact that people are holding on to their smartphones longer and that's caused smartphone makers some worry. Sales of new phones have flatlined ...
Four ways to stop robocalls you need to know about
11 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
There's nothing more annoying than getting a phone call from someone trying to sell you a product or service you don't want. Even worse, they use your...
Does Facebook think we’re all just a bunch of idiots?
08 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We all know Facebook is collecting data about us, and you won't believe the reason they say they do it. They must really think we're naive. Look at Eu...
Thieves force you to change your smartphone settings before they steal it
07 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
It's scary enough that a thief would steal your smartphone right out of your hand while you're using it. Now, thieves are getting more aggressive: The...
What's the most important thing you'd miss if you lost your phone?
06 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
If you worry about losing valuable photos if you were to ever lose your smartphone, listen up! There are many ways to retrieve those precious memories...
Top health news stories on Facebook are fake
05 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Facebook turned fifteen years old yesterday and sensationalized fake news such as "bacon is as harmful as cigarettes" are still rampant on the site. A...
Quitting Facebook for 30 days can make life better
04 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Despite all the privacy scandals, more than two billion users remain on Facebook. They stay connected with family and friends, find potential customer...
Making your household items smarter
01 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Even things you own that aren't already smart, don’t have to stay that way. An inexpensive smart plug can make your dumb appliance, lamp or hair dry...
Facebook got caught with its hands in the digital cookie jar
31 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Facebook got caught – again – with its hands in the data cookie jar. This time, an app tracked just every single thing you did on your phone and s...
You can win a car if you don't watch the Super Bowl
30 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
For may people, watching the Superbowl is about more than just game, it's also about the amazing commercials. Well, this year one automobile maker is ...
A twist on the classic phishing scam is taking over YouTube
29 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Many people have their favorite YouTube channels as well as their favorite YouTubers that they like to follow. Well, be careful! A clever scam is spr...
Government shutdown leaves airline passengers vulnerable to the dangers of hobby drones
28 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
America's politicians have been so busy quibbling about walls and the shutdown, that they’ve completely ignored everyone who flies. Kim looks at how...
An interesting twist to targeted advertising
25 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Let's say a husband is not happy that his wife no longer wants to take part in physical relations. Instead of talking about it with her, he can now us...
A robot that checks on everyone in the family
24 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Sony's new puppy-sized robotic dog Aibo can walk around the house and check on the family. It has cameras, facial recognition, and is connected to the...
A frightening hack of a home security system
23 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Imagine that you're sitting down with the family to watch television. As you start looking for something to watch, what sounds like an emergency broad...
There is truly no place left to hide online
22 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Maybe you’re the one person who has never had a Twitter or Facebook account. The massive social media network computers don’t know anything about ...
Tech companies spend big money to keep their executives safe
21 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
With fame comes the need for having personal security and big tech companies are spending big bucks on keeping their executives safe. In this episode ...
This data breach will go down as one of the biggest in history
18 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Have any of your online account credentials ever been stolen in a data breach? Since breaches are so common nowadays, there's a great chance they have...
Social engineering through the use of fake news
17 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Social engineering is the phrase that describes how people with an agenda use real names and sites to spoof you. And it seems that no one is immune to...
A Federal judge rules that police can't force you to unlock your cellphone
16 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
A judge in northern California ruled that police can't force anyone to unlock their smartphones using biometrics like a fingerprint or facial ID. But,...
What does Google know about you?
15 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever wondered how much Google knows about you? There is a way to find out. Learn all the data Google has on you with a few simple clicks. In ...
Texts are forever
14 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Jeff Bezos' divorce provides us with a cautionary tale: text messages are forever. In this episode of Consumer Tech Update, Kim looks at a few of the ...
Some people are losing their life savings trying to sell on Amazon
11 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this day and age, many people are looking the make a little extra money to help pay the bills. Thanks to the internet and social media, it's pretty...
The most expensive divorce in history
10 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
By now, you may have heard that Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is getting and his wife are getting a divorce after 25 years of marriage. So, how much money...
Apple's ad is a big fat lie
09 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Apple does not attend the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas as and exhibitor, but they do have a presence. The problem is, it's a big fat lie. In...
CES starts today and that means a major tech makeover
08 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
CES starts today in Las Vegas and runs all week. That means that our lives are set for a major tech makeover. In this episode of Consumer Tech Update,...
What new tech will we see from the Consumer Electronics Show?
07 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The world's largest tech trade show starts tomorrow in Las Vegas. There will be so many new gadgets and tech on display, but there are some particular...
Need to stop a carjacker? There's an app for that.
04 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
If you have an iPhone, you're probably familiar with the "Find My iPhone" app. Turns out, it can do more than just find your missing phone. In this ep...
Netflix is changing the way we watch a movie
03 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Netflix has released their first interactive movie. Viewers can now control the decisions of the movie's characters and take things in different direc...
The 5G revolution is coming. Are you ready?
02 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
There's been so much talk lately about 5G coming in 2019. Compared to 4G, 5G is 20 times faster. It's also going to revolutionize communication. In th...
Common tech items millennials have never heard of
01 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
If it seems like only a few years ago that pagers, VHS tapes, and floppy discs were everywhere, you are clearly NOT a millennial. In this episode of C...
New Year's resolutions for your digital life
31 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
So many of us make New Year's resolutions whether it's losing weight, getting organized, or learning a new skill. But what about New Year's resolution...