Kim Komando Daily Tech Update
Episodes
Facebook is getting social with your bank account
07 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Facebook has been in talks with some of the biggest banks such as JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo and Citigroup trying to convince them to share millions ...
Why life’s basic skills are dying
06 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Ask yourself this: Do your kids know some of life’s most important basic skills? It seems that people under the age of forty have no concept of prop...
Never pack a laptop in checked baggage
03 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Nowadays your laptop is indispensable and even when you’re traveling, you need to have it with you. However, be careful never to pack your laptop in...
Google abandons "Don't be evil" motto
02 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Google promised from the beginning to abide by one simple code of conduct: “Don’t be evil.” But today, that code has been officially erased from...
Avoid this fake Apple scam spreading right now
01 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Big iOS scam hits iPhone, Mac and Windows PC users too. The scam uses a realistic looking but fake Apple website and once you get routed to it, you ge...
Summer Travel - How safe is public Wi-Fi
31 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
When traveling or simply out in a public place, you are tempted to use public Wi-Fi. But be careful! They’re not safe. Follow these steps to reduce ...
Uber and Lyft drivers livestream passengers without their consent
30 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
You may have heard the story of the St. Louis Uber driver who set up hidden cameras in his car to record then live stream his passengers. Do you have ...
Your children are busy killing each other this summer
26 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re wondering what kids are doing this summer, they’re off on a remote island killing each other. This popular video game is free but you’...
Human-looking robots are coming to a home near you
25 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Remember “The Jetsons?” It was a futuristic cartoon show in the 60s that predicted we would have a mechanical maid to help around the house. As it...
The Snapchat generation never goes outside
24 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re over thirty, you probably remember long summer days of playing outside. Today’s kids spend only one hour outdoors each day. You’ll be ...
Cellphones are a detriment to our kids’ health
21 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
As research continues, more discoveries are made linking brain disorders to mobile phone radiation. The latest studies show that kids ages twelve to s...
Hackers are becoming more dangerous than ever
20 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
It’s easy to become complacent as we get news of yet another data breach each day. But the truth is tens of millions of hackers are launching billio...
Social media levels the playing field with air travel
19 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re being treated rudely by a crewmember of a major airline, you can’t confront them directly or you could be arrested. But the good news is...
Top online scams to watch out for this summer
18 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Even though Nigerian prince email scams are a thing of the past, more sophisticated ones have taken their place. Kim Komando gives you a look at the l...
Watch out for retailers where your personal data is likely to be stolen
17 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Nowadays we hear of retailers getting hit by data breaches on a regular basis. But how do we keep track of which ones, and whether or not your data is...
Warning to all parents: Explicit content online filters don’t work
14 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re currently using or rely on online filtering programs to keep your kids or grandkids away from internet porn, listen up! They have been pro...
Caution cable cutters: Streaming services are not what they seem
13 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re like many cable cutters, you moved to streaming television to cut on your cable cost. After all, that’s the idea! But what if we told yo...
The private information we happily give away each day
11 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Every day we give big tech a piece of our privacy, becoming part of their vast system of algorithms. In this Consumer Tech Update, Kim explains how we...
'1984' is a must-read here in 2018
10 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Imagine everywhere you go, each turn you take, a camera is watching you. It’s very George Orwell 1984. But it’s happening for real. In this Consum...
Phone calls are dead - Texting is tedious - So walkie talkie voice chat is coming
10 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
What’s old is new again, as the new Apple Watch and Watch OS will feature a 35-year-old technology for the digital world. Since texting can’t conv...
Beware of illegal designer brand items sold on Facebook
06 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Designer labels for cheap. Sound too good to be true? It is, but you can find these fakes on Facebook! Listen to this Consumer Tech Update as Kim expl...
What to make of Facebook calling the Declaration of Independence “hate speech”
06 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
After a newspaper posted the Declaration of Independence leading up to the 4th of July, Facebook tagged it as hate speech and threatened to ban the pa...
The serious threat of deepfake videos
04 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Ultra-realistic but fake videos are being made of people saying and doing things they’ve never done. It’s deepfake technology and in this Consumer...
Financial Independence in 2018 working at home
03 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
There are more legitimate work from home opportunities than ever before, giving you the power to achieve financial independence. In this Consumer Tech...
Laptops and a vacation emergency
03 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
It’s happened to all of us at one time or another, spilling a drink on our laptop! What do you do? And did you know it DOES matter what KIND of drin...
Attention Lawmakers: Follow the path of Georgia and Washington state!
29 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Do you remember the Uber self-driving car accident in Arizona that killed a pedestrian? The driver was trying to stream a show on her phone. Forty-sev...
Is the baby crying? There’s an app for that
29 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Do you remember those times when you held a crying infant and couldn’t quite figure out why it was crying? Well, now you can! A new app claims to kn...
Many parents track their teens electronically - Do you?
27 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We hear about the government tracking us but what about tracking our kids? A staggering 25% of parents already do. One app can make it easy. Do you or...
Upgrade your older iPhone now with iOS 12
27 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Even though iOS 12 won’t be out until this Fall, you won’t have to wait. You can get the Beta Test version to preview the new features. Granted it...
Is Facebook listening to your private conversations?
26 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Have you experienced this? You have a private conversation about a particular product and you start seeing online ads popping up on your computer or s...
Arizona’s fatal Uber crash and what Uber must do now
23 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
An auto industry report is slamming carmakers for using misleading names for vehicle technology. This, as a police report, reveals a false sense of se...
Good or bad for America - Behind the online sales tax supreme court ruling
22 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The Supreme Court ruled allowing the states to collect sales taxes on online sales. Let’s get to the heart of the matter: Do you think this is right...
Why Facebook is alienating millions
21 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Are you one of the millions who ended their relationship with Facebook? Breaking up is hard to do but Facebook is acting like a psychotic ex, hounding...
Your Privacy - Amazon’s Alexa comes to Marriott hotel rooms
20 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
When you get a hotel room you expect privacy, right? That’s why not everyone is happy about Amazon and Marriott hotels teaming up. By this summer, a...
Fake News; Americans are having trouble distinguishing factual statements from opinions
19 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Can you tell a real story from an opinion piece? According to a new poll, most Americans cannot. In this Consumer Tech Update, Kim puts us to the test...
Two U.S. Senators demand answers to Amazon Echo & Alexa’s eavesdropping
18 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
After a family proved that Alexa was listening in on private conversations, two U.S. Senators want answers from Amazon. Listen to this Consumer Tech U...
Police angry as Apple makes it even harder to hack into a locked iPhone
15 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Apple’s next upgrade will make it impossible for crooks to crack the code on your iPhone. But the new iOS will also stop police from being able to g...
Bigger and more expensive cable & satellite bundles
14 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Two big mergers happened in the last two days, and neither of them is good for you and me. With At&T taking over Time Warner and Comcast buying 20th C...
Why the AT&T - Time Warner takeover is such a big deal
13 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
It’s a multi-billion dollar takeover and it’s bad news for you and me. Listen to this Consumer Tech Update podcast as Kim explains why the AT&T/Ti...
Top online vacation scams and how to avoid them
12 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
As you head out for vacation, you can bet that scammers are working hard to snag your hard earned money. Here are the most important things you should...
The world’s fastest supercomputer now claimed once again by the U.S.
09 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Great news: America once again owns the world’s most powerful supercomputer, performing at 200 Trillion calculations per second! But what is it good...
Who are the biggest cybersecurity threats to the U.S.?
08 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The U.S. is a target of cyber attacks and cyber terrorists. An FBI agent mapped out the biggest threats. What’s being done and what would happen if ...
Apple’s new app for addicted smartphone users
07 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
There is direct clinical and medical evidence that heavy smartphone users experience physical symptoms when their device is taken away. Even with Face...
Why millions may not want to upgrade to this fall's iPhone X Plus
06 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We always want the latest and greatest gadget but this time around, iPhone users may be happier with the latest upgrade instead of the new upcoming iP...
Should you give your DNA to testing companies?
05 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
DNA testing companies promise to break down your genetic code if you send them a sample of saliva. They’re making billions, but at what cost to your...
What your kids will be doing on their smartphone this summer
02 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Kids are putting away lunch boxes and backpacks to enjoy summer vacation. That means more time for smartphones! But do you know where your kids will s...
The Problem with Hillary Clinton running Facebook
01 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Hillary Clinton had an interesting answer to the question of where she would like to be a CEO. Without hesitation she said Facebook. In this Consumer ...
On Facebook, who actually owns your digital data?
31 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Facebook’s been using your personal data to make money for years. Now one user has uncovered just how valuable your data is. But whose data is it on...
How to keep Alexa, Siri and your smartphone from uninvited listening
30 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Our smart assistants are helpful, until we lose control and they start listening all the time and sharing unintended conversations. We need to turn of...
Harsh reality of today’s self-driving cars
29 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Are you excited for self-driving cars? The thought of basically having your very own autonomous chauffeur? Don’t get too worked up! I think it’s g...
A Pause to reflect on Memorial Day
26 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Kim’s sharing her thoughts on three powerful words; duty, honor and selflessness. On this Memorial Day we honor those who died fighting for our free...
The Big Problem with crowd source funding
25 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Crowdfunding has gone mainstream, but how do you know who’s sincere and who’s not? A start-up company just walked off with over $3 million, leavin...
The most appalling video game ever
24 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
What you’re about to hear is hard to believe. Whether you have kids who play video games or not, you will find this shocking. There’s a popular Am...
Something troubling is quietly happening at Google
23 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Google promised a business code of conduct when it was established in 2001, with a pretty direct motto “Don’t be evil.” The motto is being erase...
After the Santa Fe school shooting, Facebook fails to fulfill its promise to stop fake sites
22 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Facebook has a major problem on its hands after fake sites were shared just minutes after the Sante Fe school shooting. Facebook hasn’t been able to...
Throwing away your old cellphone could start a 5-alarm fire
19 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
It might seem like an easy solution, just toss your old cell phone in the trash. But that act could blow up in your face, literally. Tossing cellphone...
Police say no more listening to our scanners
18 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Law enforcement says enough is enough when it comes to the public listening in on their scanner traffic. Their main concern is that criminals are havi...
The Gig Economy - How much can you make?
17 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever heard of Gig-Economy? If you’re considering driving for Uber or Lyft, or renting a spare bedroom, a guest house, or even an entire hom...
Flying cars? Not so fast!
16 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Uber says it will have flying taxis in under two years. What? A handful of companies are getting on board to make flying cars a reality, but will it r...
The first city to scan residents' social media posts
15 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
California becomes the first city to monitor its residents' social media posts. Artificial Intelligence will scan Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram dai...
FBI lists the top 3 most popular online scams
12 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
People get ripped off by sneaky hackers every day. An unsuspecting public is swindled out of 1.4 billion dollars a year. The FBI says that it boils do...
Why now is a bad time to buy a new smartphone
11 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We all love new tech, but the trick to buying is all about timing. You don’t want a device that’s about to be replaced by something better. Listen...
4 things you must do to get your smartphone ready for summer travel
10 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
With summer around the corner, you’re likely planning weekend trips and family vacations. Whether you’re going to another state or another country...
3.4 Billion robocalls hit Americans in April
09 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The number is staggering. Americans have had to deal with almost 3 and a half billion robocalls in the month of April alone. The unwanted calls are be...
YouTube gets paid by encouraging your kids to cheat
08 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
YouTube is under fire again, this time for promoting cheating in school! It seems the site finally took down hundreds of videos that were steering our...
Apple, Warren Buffett and how Wall Street got it wrong
05 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
If you had believed the tech news chatter over the last two months, you might think that Apple was on the verge of collapse because of poor iPhone X s...
Mobile phone warning as malignant brain tumors double
04 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re still chatting on your cell phone with it directly against your ear then listen up! There’s a new warning out of Great Britain that over...
3 ways to boost a weak cellphone signal
03 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The number one complaint is weak signals inside homes and offices. Follow these tips for the fastest and least expensive ways to get a stronger in-hom...
Are you tired of super expensive smartphones?
02 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The thing about Smartphones is that they’ve gotten very expensive. Apple and Samsung profits have gone up and sales have done very well, but consume...
7 facts about Big Tech and money
30 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Every quarter, publicly traded companies report how much money they’ve made. Big Tech is made up of Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google and Microsoft. H...
Why the Sprint and T-Mobile merger could hurt consumers
30 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Two of the largest cellular carriers are merging into one company. That's good news for investors but bad news for consumers. Both companies have been...
Amazon's incredible first quarter of 2018 revenue
27 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Each quarter when the time comes to report on business earnings, we take a step back and marvel at Amazon. First quarter sales are typically the lowes...
Amazon Alexa for kids
26 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Building on the success of the Amazon Echo and Alexa, there’s now a kids’ version called the Echo Dot Kids Edition. But for parents, the question ...
Everything you need to steal a car is available on Amazon and eBay
25 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Next time you park your car think about this: Everything someone needs to steal your vehicle in less than two minutes is for sale on Amazon and eBay. ...
Owning a smartphone - How young is too young?
24 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Researchers in England say that one-quarter of kids under the age of six now carry smartphones. Let's assume the same is happening in the U.S. Guess w...
Smartphone addiction is no different than substance abuse
23 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We allow technology into our lives based on its promise to brings us closer together. In reality, it has done just the opposite and in many cases with...
The Amazon effect at $14 per hour
20 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Amazon has dramatically changed our lives, there is no doubt about that. But the question is: Exactly how has it changed us? Amazon Prime now has one ...
The IRS computer system meltdown Sub: What caused the system meltdown of the IRS?
19 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We don’t know what happened to the IRS online tax filing website because they’re not saying much about it besides comforting the nation that it wa...
For Facebook, the worst is yet to come
17 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Facebook’s lawyers had hoped since Zuckerberg’s disastrous appearance before Congress, that things would begin cooling off. Instead, Facebook’s ...
Sales tax from online and out of state sales - The Supreme Court ruling
17 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
There are three major reasons to shop online. There’s unparalleled convenience, choices and, usually, prices are lower because, if you’re buying o...
For Mark Zuckerberg, the great and powerful Oz has spoken
15 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Here's a happy thought: If Zuckerberg hasn't figured it out yet, and all too often narcissists don't, at least it's clear to everyone else: There will...
Why Apple's HomePod is in real trouble
12 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
HomePod is Apple's much-publicized competition to Amazon's best seller, the Amazon Echo. Since its very recent introduction, HomePod sales have been n...
Mark Zuckerberg's last day before a rather uninformed Congress
12 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Now that Mark Zuckerberg's congressional hearing is over, so is our long national nightmare. Or is it? There are no winners after two days in front of...
Mark Zuckerberg's first day before Congress
11 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Day one of the two-day marathon Congressional hearings with Facebook's CEO is over. Another is about to begin. The big question is: How did Mark Zucke...
Mark Zuckerberg testifies before Congress
10 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We're about to experience the greatest media circus on Earth, as Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg prepares to testify before a skeptical Congress. Can he ...
What is your actual value to Facebook?
09 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Did you know that as a Facebook user, you have a certain monetary value? Facebook makes its money by selling advertising and, of course, all sorts of ...
YouTube shooting was not just another random office shooting
06 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
It's tempting to write off this week's shooting at YouTube headquarters as just another random workplace shooting. The reality is, it was far worse an...
Why Mark Zuckerberg says he's still the best person to run Facebook
05 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The founder of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg held a rare news conference. He usually doesn't expose himself to reporters' questions because no one can con...
Even with smartphones, YouTube and instagram, generation Z is bored
04 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re like most adults, you assume that young people never experience boredom. Which shows just how disconnected you may be. Let's call generati...
The trouble with trying to boycott Big Tech and social media
03 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
You don’t need me to tell you that Americans are angry. Whether they’re Liberal or Conservative, there’s one place where they all come together:...
Facebook is worse than a bad Hollywood movie.
02 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The latest revelation about Facebook sounds more like a plot from a low-budget, direct-to-video, Hollywood flop with a supervillain and a plan to take...
What you need to know about China's falling space station
30 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Whether you work for big tech or not, the sky really is falling and it won't be a soft landing. The Tiangong One is coming to Earth. The Chinese space...
Can, or should, social media be saved?
29 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The closest analogy that describes all of social media right now is this: Looking out across the social media horizon, there’s nothing but warehouse...
How Facebook brands its users as liberal or conservative
28 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Well it’s another day with yet another revelation about how Facebook intrudes in our lives. Not only have they sold all your personal information to...
Mark Zuckerberg's attempt to win the White House
27 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
It was only ten months ago that Facebook’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, ditched his standard gray T-shirt, jeans, and sneakers for a business suit and tie...
Uber and the catastrophic failure of its self driving car
23 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Uber recently published videos of passengers riding in self-driving cars. None of them were paying attention or noticed anything outside the car. Now ...
Deleting your Facebook account
22 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Facebook is at a crossroads. Its survival as the “king of social media” is, for the first time, in question. Yet, its management doesn’t get it....
Big Tech - Bad Management
21 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
In the world of business, there are the three major hallmarks of good management: Fairness; Transparency; and Responsibility to the public. Now, consi...
Don't underestimate how much trouble Facebook is in right now
20 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Facebook's management doesn't seem to understand why daily use on the site is continually falling. It may be because of all of the false promises Face...
Safeguarding the information on your smartphone
19 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Your smartphone can give away more information than you think Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad ...