Consumer Tech Update

Not much beats big prizes if you're looking to attract an audience online. Add in the thrill of competition, celebrity hosts and lots of water cooler talk, and you've got a winner. But HQ Trivia, the hit app that launched in 2017, just couldn't last. Here's what happened.

Where there's fear, scammers are quick to follow. The coronavirus has people across the world scared, and criminals are taking advantage. If you're seeing texts, emails and social media posts claiming there's new information you need to know, think twice before you click.

If you're a Mac user, you probably believe you're less at risk online than Windows users. Hate to break it to you, but that "common knowledge" just isn't true anymore. If you have a Mac, don't miss this — you may be more exposed to hackers and cybercriminals than you realize.

I've been warning for years that social media is truly harmful to kids and teens. Yes, popular platforms are full of predators that should have been banned for good long ago. But there's another danger you need to know about if you have a teen at home.

Sharing is caring, right? Well, not always. Peer-to-peer car rental apps allow you to rent your car to a perfect stranger or the other way and around. And honestly, that's a terrible idea. I'll tell you why.

It's no secret apps profit from your data. You sign up for an account and details like your usage and location are compiled and sold. You know greedy advertisers are snapping up that info, but there's another big buyer: the U.S. government.

There are countless decisions to make as a parent, and today's technology adds even more choices. One of the biggest? When your child should get his or her first smartphone. The choice is up to you, but I have some recommendations for kids under 10.

We've all got iPhones and Androids now, but before that, the BlackBerry reigned supreme — at least in some circles. Now the iconic brand is out of the phone game, again. Is it gone for good this time?

When it comes to software development and deployment, rushing is never the right answer. Just ask the company that created the tech behind the embarrassing Iowa caucus. What's the solution? I have a novel idea.

Where there's fear and uncertainty, there are criminals waiting to pounce. If you're glued to your phone or computer reading about the coronavirus outbreak, be wary of news coming from anyone you don't know. I'll tell you why certain files could spell disaster for your data.

Online dating is a minefield. I'm not talking about awkward hellos, mixed signals or ghosting. I'm talking sexual predators that lurk in online dating and "hookup" apps, looking for their next victim. Now the government is stepping in to find out how protected users really are.

The coronavirus has people scared — there's no doubt about that. Naturally, people are turning to Google for answers. And you'll be shocked at just how much one search term is blowing up.

Are you worried about your privacy? Do you want to protect your personal information? If you're like most Americans, you answered yes. But saying it and meaning it are two different things.

About 20% of American adults get their news through social media. And with a public health scare — the coronavirus — dominating headlines, fake news is spreading like crazy. What rumors are floating around and what should you do if you see them? I've got the scoop.

Long gone are the days of believing you can use major social media platforms and keep your info private. But a new option on the market takes things even further — connecting you with other users using facial recognition software. Yes, it's as creepy as it sounds.