5 good, simple tech changes to make 2024 better

New 12 months, identical you. And that’s OK! You don’t want to makeover your complete life to have a superb 2024.

But I can inform you firsthand it’s completely price it to spend a couple of minutes cleansing up your tech life. Keep studying for steps to banish unsolicited mail, make your cellphone much less annoying and enhance your cybersecurity. You bought this!

I share ideas like this day by day in my free e-newsletter, The Current. Join 500K good individuals who learn it. You’ll be glad you probably did!

TWO MINUTE TECH TRICKS: START THE YEAR WITH A CLEAN INBOX

1. Automate a no brainer safety step

You overlook to lock your laptop once you stand up. Welcome to the membership. Be good and inform your Windows or Mac to do it for you! You can set your laptop to auto-lock should you’ve been inactive for a sure period of time.

On Windows:

• Open Settings and go to Personalization, then Lock Screen.
• Click Screen saver settings and choose any choice (besides “None”) from the Screen saver dropdown menu.
• Set a time for Windows to wait earlier than locking. Check the field for On resume, show logon display. Hit OK.

On a Mac:

• Click the Apple menu > System Preferences > Desktop & Screen Save > Screen Saver. Use the slider to select a time.
• Click Show All to return to the primary System Preferences window.
• Click Security, then Require password to wake this laptop from sleep or display saver.

(*5*)

Man appears to be like onto his laptop (Cyberguy.com)

You also can arrange your PC to lock primarily based on the place your cellphone is. Think about it: If your cellphone’s close by, so are you — and so your laptop stays open. You stroll away, it locks.

2. Say goodbye to group chats that drive you up the wall

Group chats are enjoyable once you’re blissful to be there and terrible once you don’t care in regards to the convo. The grownup transfer is to ask whoever added you to take away you …

• Or do the ol’ Irish exit you probably have an iPhone. Tap the thread, then choose the group icon on the high. Scroll and faucet Leave this Conversation. Save this for once you’re determined.
• You also can go the refined route and mute the convo. (This is what I often do.) Tap the group textual content message, choose the group icon on the high of the thread, then scroll and toggle on Hide Alerts.

YOUR SMART ASSISTANT IS LISTENING, BUT DOES THAT IMPACT THE ADS YOU SEE?

On Android, muting is your only option — except you’re up to telling Aunt Kathy you’re out.

• If you utilize Google Messages, open the group textual content, then faucet the three-dot menu > Group Details > Notifications. Select Silent. Ahh, better.
• For different Android apps, look by way of your messaging menu choices for an choice to mute the dialog.

3. Fix the house safety mistake even I used to be making

Back within the day, I turned off all my dwelling safety alerts as a result of they had been annoying — unhealthy transfer. What you need to do is alter your digital camera’s sensitivity (or improve to better cams) if yours are at all times going off unintentionally.

Ring cameras are utilized by most individuals to seize footage round their houses. (CyberGuy.com)

You can often discover controls to alter movement sensitivity in your safety system app. Systems go by completely different names, so I’ll cowl the steps for 2.

Adjust your digital camera sensitivity with SimpliSafe

• Open the SimpliSafe app and faucet Cameras on the backside of the display.
• Tap the gear icon on the high proper of the display.
• Choose the digital camera you want to to change.
• Choose Motion Detection and make your changes to the sensitivity.

FIVE DUMB TECH SECURITY MISTAKES YOU’RE MAKING

Adjust your digital camera sensitivity with Ring

• Open the Ring app and faucet the gear icon for a digital camera.
• Tap Motion Settings > Motion Sensitivity. Adjust the slider.

4. Organize your cords and cables the way in which execs do

When the whole lot’s jumbled up, it’s unimaginable to inform what goes the place. Try this super-smart trick.

• Get some stickers. These might be labels you write on or color-coded dots. One of my readers, Tony, suggests utilizing coloured foil stars.
• Create a system that works for you. Write on the labels or use colours to signify the twine sort (e.g., pink for USB-C, blue for HDMI).
• Affix the identical label or coloured sticker to the cable and the port on the gadget. When you plug within the twine, merely match the cable’s sticker to the port.
• Place the sticker in the identical place on every cable. Try placing it on the highest of the twine to rapidly discover the proper orientation into the port.

5. Less unsolicited mail to cope with

Is your mailbox overflowing with unsolicited bank card and insurance coverage provides? You can thank the large 4 credit score reporting bureaus: Experian, Equifax, TransUnion and Innovis. 

Closeup of two trendy black and brown steel pink flag mailboxes at single household dwelling in residential suburbs with no one and home in background (iStock)

Each bureau offers lists of shoppers, primarily based on particular standards, to credit score and insurance coverage firms for prescreened provides. Yes, it is fully authorized. But don’t be concerned, there is a answer: Opt Out Prescreen, a software developed by these very credit score bureaus. 

• Visit optoutprescreen.com. You can select to decide out for 5 years or ceaselessly, then fill within the kind.
• Opting out completely? You’ll have to use snail mail, but it surely’s price it. Print, signal and mail a affirmation kind.

Keep your tech-know going 

My in style podcast is named “Kim Komando Today.” It’s a strong half-hour of tech information, ideas, and callers with tech questions such as you from all around the nation. Search for it wherever you get your podcasts. For your comfort, hit the hyperlink under for a current episode.

PODCAST PICK: Billionaire doomsday preppers, p*rn copyright trolls & nasty Amazon rip-off

Plus, my 2024 tech resolutions and methods to have AI make it easier to craft yours. California bans this ultra-weird product from Amazon — and sure, it includes donkeys. Peloton pill goes out of date, and I’ve bought 5 tech street journey ideas.

Check out my podcast “Kim Komando Today” on Apple, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or your favourite podcast participant.

Listen to the podcast right here or wherever you get your podcasts. Just seek for my final identify, “Komando.”

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Sound like a tech professional, even should you’re not! Award-winning in style host Kim Komando is your secret weapon. Listen on 425+ radio stations or get the podcast. And be a part of over 400,000 individuals who get her free 5-minute each day e mail e-newsletter.

Copyright 2024, WestStar Multimedia Entertainment. All rights reserved.