From tracking to ads, how to change default settings on your devices
Our devices are packed with settings that keep us safe and secure. You just need to know which ones to customize. Tap or click Windows and Mac security settings to check them now.
The same goes for the software and apps we use every day. Google Chrome is safe, but you can make it even safer. Tap or click five steps you can take.
Default settings are often much better for the company behind them than for you. Grab your phone and computer, then take a few minutes to improve your digital life.
1. Apple, stop tracking my location
Apple tracks where you go and how often you visit. It can then make suggestions based on what it calls significant locations. You can see these as calendar events or turn-by-turn directions notifications on the map.
Sure, it’s helpful, but not everyone likes it. You can delete this list.
• Go to on your iPhone settings > privacy > location services > system services.
• Beat Major Locations.
• Press the Clear History button..
Are you using a Mac? How to find all passwords hidden on your computer.
2. Alexa, don’t read my mind
The Amazon Echo monitors and learns your behavior based on requests you make through the Hunches feature. Here is an example. You say “Alexa, good night,” and your smart speaker says, “You left the kitchen light on. Should I turn it off?”
If you don’t like it, there’s an easy fix. Just say “Alexa, turn off Hunches” and you’re good to go.
You can turn off hunches through the app when you’re not near your Alexa.
• Open this Amazon Alexa app > type More at the bottom of the screen to open the menu.
• Tap on settingsthen scroll down and select hunches.
• Use the toggle to rotate out hunches.
Tech drives us all to the wall at times.Here are four more pesky Alexa settings that need changing.
3. Google, don’t track everywhere I go
If you use Google Maps, you know that Google sees where you are going. In addition, Google may save where you go even if you don’t use a particular Google service. You don’t have to leave this information sitting around forever.
• Sign in to your Google account. Click your profile picture and then click Manage Google Account or go to your Google Account page.
• Click on the left data privacy.
• Under History Settings, click site history.
• You can toggle this out.
If you disable this, future tracking will stop, but a copy of your history will be retained.
To completely delete your location history data, click on the Auto delete option. You can choose to automatically delete data older than 3 months, older than 18 months, or older than 36 months. You can delete everything manually beforehand.
Speaking of Google, this hidden map on your phone shows where you’ve been and what photos you took there.
4. Apple, stop bugging me with reviews
Whether you love or hate an app, you can rate and review it — but there shouldn’t be any pressure or obligation. In-app verification prompts are annoying, period.
To turn these off:
• Go to on your iPhone settings > app store.
• Turn out In-app ratings and reviews.
5. Samsung, I say goodbye to Bixby
If you have a Samsung phone, you also have access to Bixby. This virtual assistant is not as popular as Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri.
The bad news is that you can’t completely delete Bixby, but you can disable it and reassign the Bixby side button on your phone to do something else, such as play. B. launching the camera app. Here’s how:
• Go to settings > Advanced features.
• Switch out Bixby Routines.
• Tap the side button.
• You can now change the function of the side button. Tap or click here for the steps to do this.
6. Windows, stop showing me ads
Microsoft places ads and suggested apps in the Start menu. There are enough ads online without also seeing them on your start menu.
To turn them off:
• Go to start menu and open settings.
• Choose personalization.
• Choose beginning from the left pane.
• Switch out Occasionally show suggestions in Start.
Keep going: 10 default Windows settings you should change
7. Android, I don’t want to share everything I do
Usage and diagnostic data is one of Big Tech’s clever ways of getting its hands on everything you’re doing. Everything from the apps you use to the daily lifespan of your battery is taken into account.
You don’t have to send all of this personal information. Unsubscribing is easy. Follow these steps to disable usage and diagnostics on your Android:
• Open settings.
• Beat privacy > Usage & Diagnosis.
• Flip the switch out.
Privacy is important. Take a few minutes to adjust these settings on your Android.
Keep your technical knowledge up to date
My favorite podcast is called Kim Komando Today. It’s a solid 30 minutes of tech news, tips and tech callers like you from across the country. Look for it wherever you get your podcasts. For convenience, click the link below to view a recent episode.
PODCAST CHOICE: Secret iPhone Keyboard, Audacity Update, 5 Mistakes That Ruin Tech
This hilarious episode covers Google Fiber 100Gbps Download Speed, Starlink Slowdown, Audacity Update, Secret iPhone Keyboard, and five ways you can use your expensive phone, laptop, tablet, and ruin TV. Plus, you’ll use this eBay pro tip over and over again.
Watch my Kim Komando Today podcast on Apple, Google Podcasts, Spotify or your favorite podcast player.
Listen to the podcast here or wherever you get your podcasts. Just search for my last name “Komando”.
Learn about the latest technologies on The Kim Komando Show, the nation’s largest weekend radio talk show. Kim takes calls and shares advice on today’s digital lifestyle, from smartphones and tablets to online privacy and data hacks. Visit her website at Komando.com for her daily tips, free newsletters and more.
The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY.