security

If you're big Twitter users like we are, then you know that currently, you can't send DMs to people who aren't following you--a feature we actually really like. Beause it means you can't get DMs from random people either. Well that's all…

On November 11, Google will go live with three new changes to their terms of service, with one particular component regarding Google ads that you might want to pay special attention to. Especially if you don't want your Google Plus profi…

Our home needs some major upgrades, and with a brand new, super smart home automation system coming out this fall, I think I'm even more excited to get started. Because this? Very cool. Revolv is a Colorado-based tech company that's deve…

A few of us at Cool Mom Tech have downloaded the new iOS 7 , and as promised, spent some time with it to really give you our assessment. The truth is, the reviews here are mixed, and we've seen similar assessments on social media and tec…

I read your post on removing your information from Spokeo and have a question: How often do you need to go there and remove yourself? Also, is anyone doing anything to protect citizens' privacy? Displaying this information without an ind…

We always hear about devices getting hacked--PCs, smart phones, huge corporate networks--so it's no wonder someone has finally created the most secure phone possible. Your best bet for total phone security, should you be an international…

My first instinct (and job) as a mom is to keep my kids safe, so when I found out how many thousands of bits of information about us were being sent to online marketers every time they play or learn on my iPad, I got pretty protective. F…

Just about every day, I have a moment where I'm grateful social media wasn't around when I was a teen or pre-teen. Don't get me wrong; technology is a major positive in my life and in my kids' lives. But it's also kind of scary to think …

Now that so many people are using URL shorteners like bit.ly, ow.ly, tiny url, and even custom urls, it's easier to get tricked into clicking over to a phishing site or intalling malware that suddenly DMs your whole Twitter list to tell …

If you have recently upgraded to a new tablet and want to hand off the older model to your lucky kids, there are a couple safety measures we recommend you put into place to make your tablets safe for kids. Even the older models are still…

Now that we're fully immersed in swim season, as parents we've always got safety on the brain. Recently we discovered The SEAL System , a really clever gadget and companion app to help you monitor your kids in the water. Now, there's ano…

Between my daughter making spontaneous bedside appearances at 1AM, getting up to use the bathroom and other random nightly occurrences, I'm lucky if I ever get a full night's sleep. It's no fun getting jolted by an alarm clock as it is, …

I'm not sure about you but I think I win the award for most keys lost. Well that's all about to change thanks to this amazing new technology. The August Smart Lock is actually safer than keys, and gives you access to any place that you h…

My forgetfulness has been the bane of my (and my husband's) existence. Lest you think I exaggerate, perhaps I will tell you about the time I left my wallet on top of my car and drove away. For fellow forgetters like me, here is a fantast…

My Facebook activity has dropped off lately because I realized how much time I was spending on it--but also in part because of the confusing Facebook privacy changes that they seem to be making continually, sometimes unbeknownst to their…

Any time I talk to a parent with tweens, the conversation eventually turns to the kinds of technology they are using, which then eventually turns into a Q&A session of me asking about cell phone usage, social media usage, cyber bullying …

Having worked with a security company for years on the PR side, I'm super vigilant about what information I put out there, and more importantly, what networks I use to access information. (Those cybercriminals are more sophisticated than…

[This post has been updated as of January 2014 to include new information] I'm pretty sure almost every one of my oldest daughter's friends got an iPod Touch for Christmas this year. We're talking third-graders. And while even we here at…

Yes, we all make New Year's Resolutions to eat better and work out more and blah blah blah. Cue the leftover cheesecake entering my mouth at 10AM on January 1. But if you're online at all (hi there) I've put together a few tech resolutio…

My pre-teen wants an iPad or Kindle Fire for Christmas. Are there good Internet filters available for these devices? -Karen Hi Karen, great question! Yes, with kids bogarting our tablets and quite a few getting one for the holiday, we th…

This morning, our editor Liz Gumbinner talked to the TODAY Show about the pitfalls of SnapChat , the most popular app you've probably never heard of. But you should. Especially if you're the parent of a teen. Also known as the "sexting a…

It was kind of fun to log onto Pinterest today and see a message about the new secret boards. In case you haven't checked it out, we've got the scoop plus some fun ideas on what to do with yours. Because unfortunately, they're not unlimi…

I'm not big on sharing kid photos on Facebook--I find my privacy settings magically change too often--but I'm also not great at queueing photos in emails to send to family and friends, either. This results in irritated people who are tir…

After we posted instructions on how to get your personal information off Spokeo , we received numerous comments and emails from our readers with concern about having to share your email address in order to remove yourself. While we under…