How to protect your phone from hackers
Recent news about cyberhackers — including the apparent Russian government hack of the DNC’s email and the U.S. government hack of an iPhone used by the San Bernardino killer — serve as a reminder that phones and other electronic devices aren’t impenetrable vaults.While most people aren’t targets of the NSA, FBI or a foreign government, hackers are looking to... READ MORE
Surprising places you can find robots
Robots working in factories, on the battlefield, in hostage situations and in many other places are commonplace today.But it may surprise you to learn about the rapid development of humanoid robots and other intelligent machines that will soon pop up in places you might not expect — from the hair salon and corner bar, to the dairy farms that produce your milk.Such robots may not... READ MORE
How to recover from a tech-support scam
It starts when you see a notification that your computer is sending an error message or is infected with a virus. Maybe you (rightly) shrug it off as just another scam. But maybe you panic, call the number on the screen, and listen to someone posing as a Microsoft technician offer to fix the problem if you allow him to gain remote access to your computer. You give him the go-ahead.Uh-oh.... READ MORE
Here’s what “virtual reality” is really like
It doesn’t take a high-tech headset to see that virtual reality (VR) is the rage. It’s being touted as the future for all things sensory — from games to film and television, from storytelling to visual art.My response as a television critic — and as a dyed-in-the-wool TV viewer — is to ask what this all means to me.I am not typically an early adopter. My beat... READ MORE
Scams can lurk in your Google Alerts
Google Alerts are designed to keep you up-to-date on the latest online chatter surrounding your chosen areas of interest. It’s simple to sign up, pick any topic, and receive alerts by email as Google finds relevant new results.But hidden dangers can lurk in the links that land in your inbox on a weekly, daily or even real-time basis.Always evolving scammers are succeeding in getting... READ MORE
Fashionable tech can help you keep fit
Salvatore Angelone has gym equipment in his Fremont, N.H., house that didn’t exactly get a workout. But last April, the financial services project manager donned a “smart shirt” made by OMSignal, a technology company that works with fashion brands. “It was a game changer,” said Angelone, 52. “I’m in the best shape of my life.” The form-fitting compression shirt keeps... READ MORE
Virtual doctor visits offer convenience
When you’re coming down with a cold, there are a few items you typically reach for to start feeling better: cough drops, herbal tea, maybe an over-the-counter medication.For most of us, though, a smartphone wouldn’t top that list. But that may change as healthcare companies increasingly steer customers toward streaming video apps that connect patients with doctors online.The... READ MORE
Technology’s benefits vs. (privacy) costs
This year, consumers will be entrusting even more of our lives and intimate details to our technologically advanced cars, homes, appliances and even toys — and to the companies that build them.Are we ready for that?You might, for instance, like the idea of turning on your TV with a spoken command — no more fumbling for the remote! But for that to work, the TV needs to be... READ MORE
How to block telemarketing calls and texts
If you’d rather not get another offer to fix you up with a “free” cruise, a few simple steps can eliminate most such annoying calls and text messages.Start by adding your landline and cell-phone numbers to the Federal Trade Commission’s Do Not Call Registry (www.donotcall.gov). Your number should appear on the list the next day, and most sales calls will stop after... READ MORE
U.S. power grid vulnerable to cyberattacks
Brian Wallace, a security researcher at the cybersecurity firm Cylance, was on the trail of hackers who had snatched a California university’s housing files when he stumbled into a larger nightmare: Cyberattackers had opened a pathway into the networks running the United States’ power grid. The attack involved Calpine Corp. — a power producer with 82 plants operating in 18 ... READ MORE
Technology 2024
