Tech Q&A: Stopping location tracking, keeping medical records on an app

Illustration file picture (REUTERS/Kacper Pempel).

Stop location tracking

Q. I was shocked to hear you say on your national radio show that my phone is tracking wherever I go. What is the setting called?

A. "Frequent locations" is buried deep inside your phone’s privacy settings, and unless you turn it off, it will record your daily routine. It keeps track of where you are and how long you stay there. It even knows where you live and work based on how long you're there and the number of times you go. If you're someone who doesn't like the idea of being tracked, you can disable it. Click here for the step-by-step instructions to turn off location tracking on your Apple or Android device.

Wrap car keys in aluminum foil

Q. I’ve heard you should wrap your car’s key fob in aluminum foil. Why?

A. Wirelessly unlocking a car is convenient, but it comes at a price. Specifically, the key fob's signal is easy for criminals to intercept and this allows them to open your car without setting off any alarms. If you have a true keyless car model, they might be able to just drive away. Since your key fob's signal is blocked by metal, you can wrap it in aluminum foil. You could also make a foil-lined box to put your keys in at home. Click here for the research behind key fob’s insecurity and other ways to foil criminals.

Health app to track medical records

Q. I was just diagnosed with a disease and faced with a myriad of doctors and treatments. Is there an app to help me organize my medical records?

A. Fortunately, there is an easy way to keep track of your medical records. You can access those records, customize them with your own notations, and share them with your doctors right from your smartphone or tablet. You can do that with the iBlueButton app, which was developed by physicians. Click here for more information about how the app works, its security and a video overview too.

Free coloring pages for adults

Q. I find it so relaxing to color. The only coloring pages I find online though are for little kids. How about some coloring pages for adults? I hate buying the pages in a store.

A. You don't need to set foot in a store to get a great coloring book. You simply need to check out my list of cool sites including museums, government sites, and more that let you download all the coloring pages you could ever imagine. For starters, Open Culture has collaborated with several different libraries and museums to make a complete set of coloring books available for free download. There are coloring pages from the National Archives, the Digital Public Library of America, Smithsonian Libraries and more. Get your markers, crayons and colored pencils sharpened and ready to go! Click here to check out the internet's top coloring free downloads for adults.

Use an old tablet as digital photo frame

Q. I have an old tablet. Can I use it to show my photos?

A. With the right app on your tablet, you can turn it into a digital photo frame. Try an app like Digital Photo Frame for Apple or Dayframe for Android. Both apps offer several effects that you can add to your photo transitions. You’ll also find tools to crop and resize your photos to perfectly fit the screen, and view your photos as thumbnails for easy selection into your slideshows.

Kim Komando hosts America’s largest weekend radio talk show as she takes calls and dispenses advice on today’s digital lifestyle. Visit Komando.com for free podcasts, videos, product reviews, shows, tips and advice.