We’re relaunching my Tech Tips & How-tos newsletter as The Current Tech Hacks. Our goal is to provide you with even more useful tips and tricks to get the most out of your tech, all in a more streamlined, skimmable format.

The Current Tech Hacks will appear soon in your inbox. Not subscribed yet? Sign up here →

Simple mistakes could be running down your phone battery — and not just for the day. We'll share a list of rules you should follow to make sure your battery lasts for years to come.

Cold-calling is tough. No one answers their phone anymore. Cold-emailing is easier, but how do you not end up in the trash folder?

• It all starts with the subject line. Get the recipient’s attention with the first five words, and/or make it personal by using “Referred to you by” or “Quick question” with the recipient’s name.
• In the body of the email itself, get to the point. If you have a mutual acquaintance, include that person’s name in the first sentence. Write like you’re talking to the person. Avoid corporate-speak, like words such as “synergy” or “paradigms.”
• Tell the person what you want, and be specific. And don’t forget to proofread before you hit “Send.”

📧 Wondering whether someone read your email? Here are some methods to tell if your message is still unread.

If you learned something new or found this helpful, consider subscribing to the Komando Community. Your support makes our work possible. Try it free here!

Scammers often impersonate well-known brands and services to earn their victims' trust. Geek Squad is a popular tech repair service owned by Best Buy, making it the perfect target. Cybercriminals are reaching out through email, phone, text and pop-ups to get your money and personal information. Here are five Geek Squad scams to watch out for.

Losing everything on your devices is heartbreaking. Think about all you would miss.

Don’t leave it to chance! Take the time to back them up the right way. My pick is IDrive. It’s safe, fast and easy. You can back up all your devices — iPhone, Android, Mac, PC — to one account and access your stuff from anywhere.

When you use my name, Kim, at checkout, you get 90% off your first year. What a deal.

Is your floor plan posted online for anyone to see? When you think about it, that's a serious privacy concern. Luckily, in just a few steps, you can protect yourself. I'll show you how.

It's disturbingly easy for hackers to break into your smart home devices. Online databases show common default passwords for your devices. If you haven't updated the passwords, digital burglars could invade your home. Here's how to stay protected.

You think it’s OK to post pics of the kids online. Maybe you’ve only done it a few times. As soon as I saw this video, I shared it with my immediate family. You need to watch this video. You need to share it with your loved ones, too. Be the difference.