Consumer Tech Update

Ah, holiday shopping. You're finding the perfect gifts for your loved ones, scoring great deals on tech you've been waiting to buy and ... avoiding scammers? Don't do it alone. I've got 4 tips to help you stay safe as you're checking things off your Christmas list.

X-rated content on the internet is nothing new. But it is being served up in a whole new way — and its producers have their fingers crossed you'll be willing to shell out $9 a month for it.

Facebook-owned photo sharing platform Instagram is a great place to keep up with friends and family. But it's also a haven for predators looking to exploit children. If you have a daughter or granddaughter that uses Instagram, you need to listen to this.

How much time do you spend on your phone each and every day? Do you think you could give it up for a whole week? A group of college students did, and the results were so surprising you'll want to consider giving up your smartphone too.

You're browsing the web for a new couch, and all of the sudden, a call comes through. It's the company whose website you were just scrolling. Creepy? Definitely. Marketers have a new tactic to get to you, but I'll tell you how to stay one step ahead.

Streaming services are more popular than ever, and consumers continue to say goodbye to cable and satellite companies. Is this a blip or something much larger? The numbers could spell the end of cable as we know.

Surely you've heard all the buzz around the latest kid on the streaming block, Disney+. It launched this week with a staggering number of subscribers. Years ago, Tim Cook gave his take on the future of TV, and he sure was right.

Think twice next time you're scrolling through your Facebook feed. We know Zuckerberg and the Facebook crew don't care much about your privacy, but a problem just discovered with the Facebook app takes that to a whole new level.

There have been a lot of big fails in consumer tech over the years. Remember the exploding Samsung Galaxy Note 7 and Amazon's Fire Phone? Add Google Glass to the list. But now all the major tech companies are going back to the drawing board to create a better version of those dorky glasses.

There are a frightening number of ways cybercriminals can hack into our tech. But now they've got an even easier method to take over smart speakers — or really anything equipped with voice control. That's pretty scary. I'll tell you how it works.

It's easy to get suckered into buying things you don't really need this time of year. But if you're shopping for new tech, there are a few items you really should wait to buy. Need a new TV? I'll tell you when to pull the trigger.

Are you, like most people, glued to your phone? You know it's a time suck, it's probably hurting your posture and they're expensive to boot. But your smartphone could be doing even more damage. Here's what researchers have to say about our tech obsession.

Looking to add a dashcam to your car? It can be a pricey endeavor. But your smartphone can get the job done for free with just an app. Need more features than a free app offers? I've got you covered, too.

You've probably heard 10,000 steps per day is the magic number to keep your waistline trim and your cholesterol and blood sugar under control. That's about five miles, and it should suffice, right? Not so fast. Researchers say the number is even higher. Lace up your sneakers!

Look around the next time you're at a restaurant. How many kids are quietly watching videos on a phone or tablet? Give a crying toddler a phone, and he or she is entertained for hours. But does that screen impact the way his or her brain develops? It does — much more than you might realize.