TECH CORNER
8-1-2025
Max Trenck
SHORTCUTS AND TIPS
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Use your phone’s Notes app (iPhone) or Google Drive (Android) to scan documents.
🗑️ Quickly trash it: On Windows, choose a file and hit Ctrl + D to delete and send it to the trash. On a Mac, that’s Cmd + Del. (Bonus: Cmd + D on a Mac duplicates the file.)
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Let’s turn off ad tracking on your phone. On iPhone, open Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking. For Android, go to Settings > Google > All services > Ads > Ads privacy.
🐶 Calm your pup: Leaving an anxious dog at home? Try playing soft, low-volume music. Classical music is best. It helps the space feel less empty and can ease separation anxiety. FYI: Start the habit while you’re home, so they link it with comfort.
Finders keepers: Looking for a file? Hit the Windows key and start typing its name. That’s it. On a Mac, hit Cmd + space bar and start typin’. So simple and saves so much time.
📝 Need to brush up? Microsoft offers free online training for its Office programs, including video tutorials, interactive guides and practice exercises.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Use Alt + Tab (Windows) or Command + Tab (Mac) to jump between open apps.
The two-minute rule: Overwhelmed by your to-do list? If a task takes two minutes or less, just do it now. No overthinking. If not, save it for later. This simple habit keeps the little stuff from piling up and helps you power through your day. Neat.
📝 Better writing with Windows 11: Want fewer spelling mistakes? Windows 11 has a built-in autocorrect feature. Go to Settings > Time & language> Typing, then toggle on Autocorrect misspelled words. You can also turn on Highlight misspelled words to underline anything it couldn’t fix.
Set default apps on iPad: Want Gmail instead of Mail? Or Chrome instead of Safari? Go to Settings > Apps > Default Apps. You’ll see categories like Email, Messaging and Browser. Tap one to switch. Bonus: You can also enable any custom Keyboards you’ve installed from this menu.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Use Alt + Tab (Windows) or Command + Tab (Mac) to jump between open apps.
📝 Better writing with Windows 11: Want fewer spelling mistakes? Windows 11 has a built-in autocorrect feature. Go to Settings > Time & language> Typing, then toggle on Autocorrect misspelled words. You can also turn on Highlight misspelled words to underline anything it couldn’t fix.
Set default apps on iPad: Want Gmail instead of Mail? Or Chrome instead of Safari? Go to Settings > Apps > Default Apps. You’ll see categories like Email, Messaging and Browser. Tap one to switch. Bonus: You can also enable any custom Keyboards you’ve installed from this menu.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Need to print something fast from your phone? Email it to your printer. Many HP and Epson printers have their own email address.
💻 Emergency Windows restart: If your PC is totally frozen, don’t just hold the power button. Press Ctrl + Alt+ Del to open the security screen. Then hold Ctrl and click the Power icon in the bottom-right. You’ll get a warning about losing unsaved data. Click OK to restart right away.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Lost a file? On Windows, press the Windows key and start typing the name. On Mac, hit Command + Space bar and do the same. It’s the fastest way to find documents, apps or settings.
Miss the old Start menu? With Windows 10 support ending in October, you might not love that Windows 11 centers the taskbar icons by default. Good news: You can switch back to the classic look. Go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors and set Taskbar alignment to Left.
Keep your iPad battery healthy: Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health and toggle on 80% Limit. This caps charging at 80%, which helps reduce wear and extend battery life. Pro tip: If Maximum Capacity is under 100%, it’s already aging.
📳 Custom buzz, who dis? On iPhone, you can make a personal vibration pattern for any contact. Go to Contacts, select someone, tap Edit, then choose Ringtone or Text Tone. Under Haptics, select Create New Vibration. Use your finger to tap out a pattern, then hit Stop and Save.
📧 Take back that email: In Gmail, you can undo a sent message if you move fast. Click the Settings icon > See all settings > General, then find Undo Send. Set the cancellation period to 30 seconds, scroll down, and click Save Changes. Next time you regret an email, just hit Undo.
🍏 Rename multiple files on Mac: Got a folder full of random file names like IMG_2348? Select them all with Cmd + A, right-click and choose Rename. In the drop-downs, pick Format, then Name and Index and type something like “Hawaii” under Custom Format. Set Start numbers at 1, and hit Rename.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Want to paste text without weird fonts, colors or sizes? On Windows, press Ctrl + Shift + V. On Mac, hit Cmd + Option + Shift + V. Works in most apps.
Scrub out Edge: Windows 11 loves making Edge your default browser. But you don’t have to live like that. To swap it out, go to Settings > Apps > Default apps, then pick your browser (like Chrome). At the top, clickSet default. From now on, links open where you say so.
🍏 Save a web page as a PDF: On iPad, let’s say you’re in Safari on a Wikipedia article. Tap the Share icon in the top right and select Print. Choose the Range (pages you want), then hit the Share icon again. Select Save to Files, choose On My iPad or iCloud Drive, and press Save. (Max is thrilled to now save web pages to a PDF on an Apple Device! Yes, I am THAT nerdy!)
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: If you want to see where an image came from, go to images.google.com. Click the camera icon, upload the file and run a reverse image search. Nice.
Working late on your PC? Turn on Night light in Windows to reduce eyestrain. Go to Settings > System > Display > Night light. Enable Schedule night light, then choose Sunset to sunrise or Set hours. You can also adjust the Strength slider to control how warm the screen gets.
📱 Screen locks too fast (or too slow)? You can change that. On iPhone, go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Auto-Lock and choose a time. On Android, go to Settings > Display and look for a Timeout, Screen Timeout or Sleep option. I recommend 30 seconds.
📦 Trade in old tech: Amazon accepts phones, tablets, smart speakers and just about anything. Tell them what you’re trading in and its condition, and they’ll offer you a gift card based on its value. Bonus: If you trade in Amazon gear like a Kindle, you also get 20% off a new qualifying device. (Max wonders what Amazon would pay for a 9 year old laptop.)
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: On Windows, press Ctrl +or – to zoom. On Mac, use Cmd + or –. Want things back to normal? Hit Ctrl + 0 (Windows) or Cmd + 0(Mac). Works in most apps.
Add a website to your iPad Home Screen: In Safari, tap the Share button (top right) and choose Add to Home Screen. Give it a name, hit Done, and it’ll show up as an icon you can move like any app. Much better than digging through bookmarks for your favorites.
💻 Free up RAM on Windows: If your laptop’s slow, disable unnecessary startup apps. Go to Settings > Apps > Startup and toggle off things like Microsoft Edge or anything else you don’t use. Bonus: Click Start > Power > Restart to clear memory if it’s just a one-time issue.
Find big files in Gmail: You can clear up space by searching for bulky emails. In the Gmail search bar, type filename:mp4 or filename:png to find large attachments. You can also search by size with larger:10mb. Select what you don’t need, and hit Delete to clean up your inbox.
🛑 Block pop-ups in Chrome: Sick of annoying pop-ups or pages redirecting you without asking? Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Pop-ups and redirects and choose Don’t allow sites to send pop-ups or use redirects. It’s not an ad blocker, but it helps keep sketchy sites in check.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Closed a tab by mistake? Press Ctrl + Shift + T on Windows or Cmd + Shift + Ton Mac to bring it right back. It’s the “oops” button your browser always needed. Awesome.
🍏 Add nicknames in iPhone contacts: Can’t decide between a real name or nickname? You don’t have to. Create the contact using their real name, then open it > tap Edit > add field > Nickname, type it in and press Done. Now you can use either name with Siri or search, and your phone will know who you mean.
See past edits in Google Docs: View earlier versions of a document by going to File > Version History > See version history. It shows what changed, who made the edits, and lets you restore old work. FYI: To restrict access, click the Share button (top right) and adjust the permissions.
📚 Keep reading without your Kindle: You can install the Kindle app on your phone (iOS or Android), and it’ll sync your progress automatically. Perfect for finishing that book when your e-reader isn’t around. Don’t have one? The newest Paperwhite model has weeks of battery life.
😁 Look better in photos: Never face the camera head-on. Instead, turn your body about 45 degrees, shift your weight to your back foot and lean your torso slightly forward. It’s a simple trick for a more flattering pose. The source? Oh, just 20+ years of broadcasting and looking fabulous!
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: In Google Docs, you can open web pages with fewer mouse clicks. On Windows, hover your cursor over a link and press Alt + Enter. On Mac, it’s Option + Enter.
🤖 Polish your writing: Working on an essay or report? Ask your favorite chatbot to make it easier to follow. Try this prompt: “Reorder the sentences and paragraphs to improve clarity and flow. Add transition words where needed, but keep the original tone.” Voila. More readable, still totally you.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: If your Echo sounds like it’s underwater, unplug it. Wait 30 seconds, then plug it back in. A good ol’ restart does the trick.
What those F keys actually do: On Windows, press F11 in most browsers to toggle full-screen mode. F2 renames a selected file or folder, and F3 searches within the open app. Alt + F4 closes your current window, and F5 refreshes a page or document. Pretty handy once you know them.
🍏 Clear your iPhone’s browsing data: It’s a quick fix for websites not loading or scrubbing private searches. Go to Settings > Apps > Safari > Clear History and Website Data. Now choose a Timeframe and tap Clear History. FYI: This logs you out of sites, but your autofill info stays.
Clear it out on Android, too: Open Chrome and tap the three dots (top right). Go to Delete browsing data and choose a Timeframe. Now tap More options and make sure Browsing history, Cookies and site data, and Cached images and files are selected. Then hit Delete data at the bottom.
🔗 Make cleaner links on Mac: Sending someone a messy URL in an email? There’s a better way. Type your message, highlight the text you want to turn into a link, and press Command + K. A text box will pop up. Paste your URL with Command + V and click OK. Voilà. A professional hyperlink.
Clean up your PC automatically: On Windows 11, turn on Storage Sense to help your computer tidy up on its own. Go to Settings > System > Storage > Storage Sense and toggle it On. It can delete temp files, empty the Recycle Bin and clear out Downloads.
🍏 AppleCare just got easier: Starting today at 8 a.m. ET, you can cover up to three devices for $20/month, instead of paying for each separately. Most products are eligible up to four years after purchase (up from 60 days). Theft and loss coverage now includes iPads and Apple Watches. Sign up at an Apple Store or in the Settings menu of your iPhone, iPad or Mac.
Stay on Windows 10: Microsoft will end support on Oct. 14, but you can still get one extra year of protection for free (sort of). You’ll need to do one of three things: Trade in 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, sync your backup to OneDrive or pay $30. A pop-up on your PC will walk you through it.
JUL 31
“Kim, I heard the call with the man who lost $60,000 in a crypto scam. You said anytime someone wants to move the conversation to WhatsApp, it’s a scam. Why is that?” — Dennis in Washington
Thanks for the question, Dennis. I’m glad you heard that call. Heartbreaking. And unfortunately, it’s not rare. When someone says, “Let’s move this conversation to WhatsApp,” it’s almost always the beginning of a scam.
By the way, I don’t know if you’re aware that many of these scammers are victims of human trafficking in Myanmar. They’re forced to work in scam compounds where they spend 12 to 16 hours a day targeting people around the world.
If they don’t hit their scam dollar quotas, they’re beaten. So it’s not personal, their lives depend on stealing from people.
📲 App-solutely a trap
Scammers are taught to not be watched. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and even regular old email have systems to detect fraud and spam. You can report messages, block shady profiles and sometimes recover lost money.
WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal are a different story.
These are encrypted apps designed for privacy. Great for your personal life, but also great for criminals. Once the conversation moves there, there are no moderators, no scam detection systems and no help when things go wrong. You’re on your own.
Scammers start where you trust them. Maybe it’s a message from someone who looks legit on LinkedIn. Maybe it’s a friendly DM on Instagram or a Facebook message from someone who says they’re in finance or crypto.
At first, it sounds professional. Then comes the switch:
- “Let’s move this to WhatsApp, it’s easier.”
- “I’ll send you the investment details on Signal.”
- “I only do business on Telegram.”
That’s when the manipulation begins. You’ve stepped off the platform with guardrails and right into their controlled zone. You’re isolated. And once they start asking for your money, there’s no one to step in.
💸 Slide into a scam
No real financial expert, investor or recruiter will insist on switching platforms to close a deal. If they do, they’re not legit. They’re trying to sell you something shady or set you up to be drained dry.
I’ve talked to so many people who got pulled into these scams. It starts with curiosity and ends with an empty bank account. So here’s your rule: If someone wants to switch to a private app and talk about money, run. You are not being rude. You’re a genius in a world full of impulse-clickers.
-from Kim Komando newsletter, July 31, 2025
JUL 30
Microsoft Authenticator is ending password autofill soon. How to set up a Passkey before Aug 1.
How to share a YouTube video starting at a specific time – CyberGuy
JUL 28
Stop paying with privacy
Buy now, pay later (BNPL) apps are everywhere. See something shiny? Tap tap, and BAM, you own it in four “easy” payments. Zero interest, no credit card shame spiral. What a dream, right?
But here’s what they’re not telling you: While you’re breaking up your payments, they’re also breaking up your data and sharing it with companies you’ve never heard of.
These apps aren’t just making money from your shopping habits. They’re making money selling data about you.
JUL 27
Is someone spying on your Wi-Fi? How to sniff out network snoops easily
JUL 25
The USPS warns Americans of new ‘brushing’ scam, says to treat personal info ‘like cash’ — here’s what to know
JUL 24
🍏 AppleCare just got easier: Starting today at 8 a.m. ET, you can cover up to three devices for $20/month, instead of paying for each separately. Most products are eligible up to four years after purchase (up from 60 days). Theft and loss coverage now includes iPads and Apple Watches. Sign up at an Apple Store or in the Settings menu of your iPhone, iPad or Mac.
Stay on Windows 10: Microsoft will end support on Oct. 14, but you can still get one extra year of protection for free (sort of). You’ll need to do one of three things: Trade in 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, sync your backup to OneDrive or pay $30. A pop-up on your PC will walk you through it.
JUL 23
Router secrets unlocked
Your router has more to offer than just an on/off switch. One of the best ways to boost your Wi-Fi performance is to outsmart the interference swirling all around you.
Let’s talk about bands. Not the type that “break up” and go on a reunion tour when they run out of money. I’m talking about the Wi-Fi kind.
📶 2.4 GHz: Long range, slower speeds
This one’s your ranch dog. Not fast, but reliable for all the daily stuff. If you’ve got smart home gadgets, video doorbells or a tablet in the garage, 2.4 GHz is your go-to. But it’s crowded. Everyone and their pet’s camera uses this band.
⚡ 5 GHz: Speedy, short-range workhorse
Perfect for streaming, gaming or Zoom meetings in rooms close to your router. Less interference, higher speeds, but expect signal drop-off as you move farther from the source.
🚀 6 GHz (Wi-Fi 6E): Supercharged for the future
The new kid on the block. Virtually zero congestion, ultrafast and great for multiple devices at once. But you need a newer router that supports Wi-Fi 6E and devices that can use it (like recent iPhones, Pixels and newer laptops).
🎛️ How to change bands
Right now, your router’s trying to be too helpful. Most mash all the bands under one name (called “band steering”), so your device decides which one to use. Spoiler: It usually chooses wrong.
That makes things simple but less optimized. To take control:
- Log in to your router: In a browser, type 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1, or use the app your router came with (like TP-Link Tether, Netgear Nighthawk, or eero).
- Go to Wi-Fi or Wireless Settings.
- Turn off “band steering” or “smart connect”: This combines all bands under one name.
- Rename your SSIDs: This is where the magic happens. Once you’re in your Wi-Fi settings, you’ll see options labeled 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and maybe even 6 GHz if your router supports it.
Go ahead and give each one a clear, easy-to-recognize name. My Wi-Fi network’s name is FBI Surveillance Van. I’ll use it as an example.
Think: “FBI Surveillance Van-2.4,” “FBI Surveillance Van-5G” and “FBI Surveillance Van-6E.” Boom, you’ll now see separate networks pop up on your phone, laptop, smart TV, etc. If you need inspiration for a new Wi-Fi network name, I listed some below.
How to use them
- Use 2.4 GHz for smart plugs, doorbells and garage tech that lives farther away.
- Use 5 GHz for streaming on your TV, Zoom calls and online gaming near the router.
- Use 6 GHz for supported phones and laptops in the same room for ultra-speed.
If your router is too old to handle this, buy a new one.
Btw, say you’re not comfortable with these steps. You have one friend who is. Invite them over. Feed them. And then, tell them you need a favor.
😂 Other funny Wi-Fi network names: Drop It Like It’s Hot Spot, Pretty Fly for a Wi-Fi, LAN Solo, It Hurts When IP, Lord of the Pings, Tell My WiF I Love Her, NSA Listening Post, Mom Click This One, Nacho Wi-Fi, No More Mr. Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Art Thou Romeo. I love that last one!
JUL 18
7 Critical Steps You Must Take After Clean-Installing Windows 11https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/7-critical-steps-you-must-take-after-clean-installing-windows-11/ar-AA1ICMqT?ocid=sapphireappshare
JUL 12
Medicare data breach exposes 100,000 Americans’ info
JUL 10
Top multi-factor authentication apps to protect your accounts
JULY 3
Hundreds of thousands of TxDOT crash records breached after account compromise The Texas Department of Transportation said it is working to notify those who were affected.