Illustration picture. (REUTERS/Kacper Pempel)
A surprising way to stop car theft
Q. A friend of mine puts her car keys in the freezer "to stop car thieves." Is she nuts?
A. Car thieves are increasingly taking advantage of keyless entry systems to break into cars, or to steal them outright. A freezer can block the remote entry fob's wireless signal and thwart the thieves. Learn more about this new type of car theft and some more practical alternatives to freezing your keys. Speaking of cars, read the bonus Q&A for a huge privacy mistake people make when renting cars.
Hackers attack through legitimate sites
Q. I heard on your national radio show that hackers found a way to spread viruses using popular websites. Can you tell me more?
A. Hackers trick ad networks into distributing malicious ads to major sites like The New York Times, BBC, AOL and others that get a lot of traffic. Clicking on a compromised ad takes you to a site that attacks your computer. Find out how the hackers trick the ad networks and how to protect your computer.
Enjoy discounted Kindle books anywhere
Q. I see discounted Kindle books on Amazon, but I don't have a Kindle. How can I take advantage of the deals?
A. You can get the Kindle app for your Android or Apple tablet or smartphone. This way you can buy, download and display Kindle books. There's also a Kindle program for computers. Learn more, along with five of my favorite Kindle books on discount right now.
Organize your mobile photos
Q. I've got a ton of photos scattered on my smartphone. What's a good way to organize the mess?
A. You can take control of your photos with organizing apps like Tidy (Android, Apple; free) and Sortpad (Apple; free). For moving photos off your gadget to free up space, take a look at Google Photos (Android, Apple; free) and Room For More (Android, Apple; free). Get more apps that help you use your smartphone to its fullest.
Apps for traveling with kids
Q. I'm taking my five kids on our first road trip. Yes, I am crazy. What can I do to keep them entertained?
A. There are plenty of fun road trip games for your smartphone or tablet. Look at States 'n' Plates (Apple; $1) or Road Trip Bingo (Apple; $2) for interactive fun. There's also the classic game MadLibs (Android, Apple; free) and apps like Drawing Desk (Android, Apple; free) to let the kids doodle without the mess and hassle of crayons. You can also download 500 Coloring Pages (Android, Apple; $2) if your children prefer coloring to drawing. Learn about more apps you'll want, including apps to help you find the nearest rest stop.
Bonus: Big privacy mistake when renting a car
Q. I rented a car recently and paired my smartphone to the onboard system. Then I heard you on the radio talking about this very thing. Why is this so bad to do?
A. This is a big privacy risk no one thinks about, but rental cars can store your phone number and contacts if you let them. The next person to rent the car can potentially see this information. Find out how what you can do if you've already paired your phone to your rental car.
On the Kim Komando Show, the nation's largest weekend radio talk show, Kim takes calls and dispenses advice on today's digital lifestyle, from smartphones and tablets to online privacy and data hacks. For her daily tips, free newsletters and more, visit her website at Komando.com. Kim also posts breaking tech news 24/7 at News.Komando.com.
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