Weekly Tech Tips
One practical tip every week to help you stay safe, save money, and get more from your devices.
Try the Scam Simulator
Practice spotting fake emails, texts, and calls in a safe environment. Our new Scam Practice Simulator shows you real scam examples and teaches you the red flags to watch for. Americans lose $3.4 billion a year to scams targeting seniors — this tool helps you fight back.
Try it nowCheck your streaming costs
The average American spends $61 per month on streaming services — and many of those subscriptions go unused. Open your bank statement and search for recurring charges from Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Spotify, and others. Cancel anything you have not used in the last 30 days. You can always resubscribe later.
Try it nowSet up two-factor authentication
Two-factor authentication (2FA) is the single most effective thing you can do to protect your online accounts. It means that even if someone steals your password, they cannot log in without a code from your phone. Start with your email and banking apps — those are the most important.
Try it nowClean up your email inbox
Search your inbox for "unsubscribe" — you will find dozens of newsletters you forgot about. Open each one and click the unsubscribe link at the bottom. Do 5 per day and your inbox will be cleaner within a week. Then set up filters to automatically sort important emails into folders.
Try it nowCheck your privacy settings
Go to Settings → Privacy on your phone and review which apps have access to your location, camera, and microphone. Remove access from any app that does not need it. A weather app needs your location, but a flashlight app does not. This takes 5 minutes and significantly improves your privacy.
Try it nowSpeed up your WiFi
Your router placement matters more than you think. Move it to a central location in your home, elevated off the floor. Keep it away from microwaves, baby monitors, and thick walls. If you are still getting slow speeds in some rooms, consider a mesh WiFi system — prices start around $70 for a 2-pack.
Try it nowBack up your phone today
If your phone was lost or stolen right now, would you lose any photos or contacts? iPhone: Settings → [your name] → iCloud → iCloud Backup → Back Up Now. Android: Settings → Google → Backup → Back up now. This takes a few minutes and could save years of memories.
Try it nowUpdate your phone right now
Phone updates include security fixes that protect you from hackers. iPhone: Settings → General → Software Update. Android: Settings → System → System Update. If an update is available, install it today. Leave your phone plugged in and on WiFi while it updates.
Test your password strength
Go to our Password Strength Checker tool and type in your most-used password. If it rates below "Strong," change it today. A strong password has at least 12 characters with a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. Never use birthdays, pet names, or common words.
Try it nowRegister on the Do Not Call list
Go to donotcall.gov and register every phone number in your household. This tells legitimate telemarketers not to call you. It will not stop all spam calls (scammers ignore the list), but it will significantly reduce the number of unwanted calls you receive. Registration is free and never expires.