Privacy and Security

It might seem counterintuitive, but you should consider adding something to your travel kit that stops certain device functions. Specifically, the Databloc ($17.95) that Eyebloc sent me to try. The concept of the device is simple: it's a USB adapter that you add to the USB cable you normally travel with. The other end of the cable is either USB-A or USB-C depending on what you order. So what does this do, other than add an inch to your cable and convert a USB-A to USB-C if needed? It removes the data transfer functionality. Put simply, it's like a firewall that you don't even have to think about.

Everyone uses webcams for video conferencing these days. But sometimes you want privacy and to be certain that those cameras are off. The folks at Eyebloc have a solution that is different from traditional webcam covers. Eyebloc sent me a review sample of their Nanobloc Webcam Covers ($8.99). Instead of adding something plastic with moving parts that can break or prevent your laptop from closing completely, Eyeblocs are a peelable, reusable sticker that you place directly on top of the camera lens. 

This article will help you get into your iPhone if you can't remember your passcode, as well as offer some tips on how to keep track of and remember your passcode. The realization that you forgot your iPhone password can range from frustrating to terrifying. Perhaps you just got a new iPhone and can't yet remember the code, maybe it's a new one you haven't opened in a while, or maybe your brain is just stubbornly not giving you the information. Whatever the reason, when try after try yields nothing but an increasing time that your iPhone is disabled, it's time to look into other options. Let's look at how to unlock your iPhone if you forgot the password.

Learn how to unlock an Apple Watch with an iPhone. Knowing how to unlock your Apple Watch from your iPhone not only saves you from entering your passcode each time you unlock your smart watch, but also offers the convenience of not having to type on your tiny screen. 

Apps that you install on your phone can sometimes track your web and app activity outside of those particular apps—even when you’re not using them. This activity data is often sold to third parties to help them make advertising decisions. With iOS 14, they can’t track your data on the iPhone without your permission, but sometimes it’s easier to just stop apps from asking in the first place, so you never have to worry about allowing tracking by mistake. Let’s look at the simple way to stop apps from tracking your activity.

I previously reviewed the SecureDrive from SecureData and found it to offer impressive security and high-speed SSD storage, but I also felt it was expensive. The folks at SecureData sent me their lower-cost USB flash drive model which starts at a much more affordable price. The SecureUSB BT (starting at $119) comes with less capacity, 16 GB, but the company offers 32 and 64 GB options. Sure, they are more expensive than traditional thumb drives but they have some serious security built-in.

In this quick guide, we’ll first show you how to turn off the passcode on your iPhone. Next, we'll show you alternatives that protect your security while minimizing the hassle of constantly entering your passcode without having to turn your iPhone passcode off, such as enabling Face ID or changing your Auto-Lock settings. 

Young, old, or in-between, safety should come first and that's the idea behind the Silent Beacon Panic Button ($99.99) that the company Silent Beacon showed off at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and gave me a review unit to try. Like many iPhone owners, I already have an Apple Watch and so do my family members. But the watch does so many things and the Emergency SOS feature is just one of them. The Silent Beacon is meant to do one thing, call for help, and it does it well, better than the Apple Watch in fact.

Did you know that your iPhone tracks everywhere you go? It does; and if there is a place you visit often enough, it marks it as a Significant Location (a feature formerly known as Frequent Locations). This tip will show you how to find your iPhone location history in your Location Services settings. And we'll also cover how to turn Significant Locations tracking off and how to clear your iPhone location history, in case looking at the list of all the places you frequently visit gives you the heebie-jeebies.

The folks at Igloohome have been making smart door locks and lockboxes for a while, and they keep getting better. They sent me their latest, the Smart Keybox 3 ($189) to review and it improves over version 2 in multiple ways. This is not a door lock; it is a lockbox that hangs on a doorknob or gate. The circular keypad is used to unlock the lockbox using a PIN. You can also use the companion app to unlock the box via Bluetooth or generate more PIN codes for construction workers, cleaners, and other folks. It could also be helpful for Airbnb guests or keeping motorboat keys near the pier or a storage shed, etc.

Wondering how to share a password from iPhone to iPhone or to an iPad or Mac? If you want to let someone else watch your Netflix account, or log in to a website to view your shopping list, sharing the password safely and accurately can be a real pain. Especially if you are using longer, more secure passwords. But you don't have to type and text the password or read it out loud to the person you're sharing it with. The easiest way to share a password securely is by using AirDrop. This tip will show you how to share a password iPhone to iPhone or to other Apple devices, without any mistakes. Let’s get going with how to use AirDrop for password sharing on the iPhone.

The Best VPN apps for iPhones and iPads can be difficult to choose. Between looking for VPN apps that don’t track you, that provide good server coverage, good customer service, and all the different features, there is a lot to check up on. We’ve written before about what a VPN is and what to look for when shopping for a VPN, but here we’ll list our favorite VPN apps, with a special emphasis on ease of use and simplicity rather than feature bloat. 

For two decades, I've been adding smart features to my home, including a video doorbell, smart light switches, Alexa devices and more. But for most of that time, I have relied on X-10 motion-sensing floodlights and analog cameras for security. But now that changes, because ANNKE sent me a Floodlight Cam ($135.99) to try and, while not perfect, it has many benefits over the older technology.

I have been using a Ring video doorbell since they were introduced, but I've had some concerns about them so I was glad to try the Arlo Video Doorbell ($149.99) when Arlo sent a review unit. The Arlo addresses a couple of the issues I've had with Ring, specifically, the unit is narrower so it fits better on my door trim compared to the wider Ring version.

You can keep your navigation history a secret in Google Maps on your iPhone by using the new Incognito mode feature. This new way to hide your location history in Google Maps on your iPhone is similar to Incognito mode in Google Chrome, which offers a private browsing window and deletes browsing history when it's closed. This tip will show you how to keep your Google Maps location searches, maps, and navigation history private by using Incognito mode in the iPhone Google Maps app. And what information doesn't get hidden by Google Maps Incognito mode.

If you have an iPhone or iPad with Facial recognition and use Face ID to unlock your device, access apps, and pay for stuff, you’re part of an elite crowd of people who have embraced Face ID and jumped into modern technology feet first. But what should you do if your Face ID is not working or your Face ID is not available? Continue reading for fixes for when your Face ID is disabled that will make your iPhone recognize your face again. We'll also cover the reasons why your Face ID may not be working.