Poke me — it’s Saturday, friend! Trivia to start us off. When Facebook launched around 20 years ago, you could “poke” someone in your friends list to get their attention. When did the poke go away and the “like" option arrive? Was it … A.) 2007, B.) 2009, C.) 2010 or D.) 2012? Think back, and you’ll find the answer at the end.

😳 Your personal info is all over the internet. Data brokers sell everything from your address to your Social Security number to anyone willing to pay. Enter Incogni. They scrub your personal info from the web. Use my link to try it for 60% off. On to making sure you’re always tech‑ahead! — Kim

When mobile apps first hit the scene, many were designed to make our phones more useful. This included new tools for productivity, as well as apps for entertainment. Many of today’s apps, though, are packed with sneaky permission requests and hidden trackers.

These tactics are legal because app developers (and the companies behind them) have to give you a choice to opt in or out of these tracking permissions. Unfortunately, not everyone knows how to do that … or the developers make it really challenging to figure it out.

Keep reading, and I’ll walk you through how to turn off these invasive tracking options.

⚠️ A heads-up before we get into the settings

Many smartphones use your location data to send info to first responders in an emergency. When you’re changing your settings, you may see an option to allow emergency services to bypass certain restrictions.

Also, some apps might not function correctly after you disable tracking features (think ride-hailing and fitness-tracking apps). For apps you use a ton and trust with your data, keep your location access enabled.

🍎 Apple fam, let’s do this

When you stop something like location tracking at the iOS level, all the apps you’ve installed have to abide by those rules. That means you don't need to change the setting for every single app, in some cases. Score.

1. Ad tracking

Developers know what you’re doing in their apps, sure, but some want to follow you around the web, seeing where you go, when you have your phone with you and even other apps you’ve installed. Why? To build a detailed profile of who you are, which allows for even more targeted advertising. Worse, many take your data, package it up and sell it off to other companies. No, thanks.

You’ll need to change your ad tracking on an app-by-app basis, but Apple makes it easy. Head to Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking to block apps and stop them from asking for permissions in the first place.

2. Significant locations

Your iPhone keeps tabs on the places you visit most. They say it’s to help you navigate to your favorite spots quicker. It’s also why you see recommendations for where to go when you open Maps at certain times of day. It’s all based on your patterns.

To opt out and delete your existing data, visit Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > System Services > Significant Locations.

3. Location tracking

These really are the keys to the castle, and you’re in control. Head to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services. From here, you can disable location tracking across your iPhone or give select apps permission to log where you are at specific times.

Use common sense here. Some apps, like those for navigation, need full location access to show you where to go. Your latest game obsession, though, probably doesn't need to know your location.

🤖 Use an Android?

I just could not fit everything in this email. Click here to get these steps on my site.

😂 Speaking of tracking … I overheard a guy complaining angrily about the NSA tracking him. Some people are so annoying when they have a chip on their shoulder.

I can’t tell you how many data breach notices cross my desk every week. So often, the companies involved are those you don’t even remember doing business with since they run in the background of transactions or other things you do online.

For me, it’s just one more reason to use Incogni, my online privacy secret weapon. They pull your info from data-broker companies and sites that sell it to anyone willing to pay. Data brokers get hacked, too, so it’s not just stalkers and scammers who have access to your personal information.

So far, Incogni has removed me from 627 data broker and people-search sites, and they send regular removal requests to keep my info off these sites. Incogni puts your name on data suppression lists, too, so these companies cannot sneak you back on.

🇨🇳 Remember when Verizon went down a few weeks ago? Chinese hackers were targeting phones used by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and his running mate JD Vance, the New York Times reported. Verizon says they’re working with law enforcement. I’m sure the Harris campaign is being targeted, too. You couldn’t pay me enough to run for office.

Flying cars … again: The FAA just rolled more rules for electric air taxis, from pilot training to airworthiness requirements. Imagine quick, quiet flights over city traffic, hopping from rooftop to rooftop. Some 1,044 vertiports are planned for development between now and 2028. I’m not saving my peanuts; the government moves so slowly.

🧘 Coping skills needed: An Arizona mom and daughter thought the self-driving Waymo vehicle they were in might crash while crossing multiple lanes. They made it through, with mom panicking and her daughter cracking up in the backseat. Waymo’s response? The vehicle kept a “safe distance.” Watch the video and see what you think.

I’m a health nut: But some nutrients are hard to get in the right amounts without high-quality supplements. Magnesium Breakthrough from BIOptimizers combines all seven kinds of magnesium. I use magnesium for better sleep. Use this link and code KK10 to get an additional 10% off.*

💸 Is the mystery solved? A new HBO documentary, “Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery,” claims Canadian developer Peter Todd is the mystery man behind bitcoin. Todd, of course, has denied he's the real Satoshi Nakamoto, and he's now in hiding. If it’s true, though, he holds the keys to over a trillion dollars in crypto. Check out the trailer — looks good!

Kids can report nudes in texts: It’s a new feature in iOS 18.2. If they report it, the images, messages and contact details of both the sender and the recipient will go straight to Apple for review. Apple might restrict the sender’s messaging and alert the authorities. About time!

Heads-up, gamers: Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 just dropped, and it’s time to own some noobs! This time, the game takes place in the ‘90s and launches with 16 multiplayer maps, plus the return of round-based zombies (just in time for Halloween). There’s also a new "omnimovement" mechanic, so you can expect faster combat. Get it on PS5 and Xbox.

🛩️ When you’re the boss, you make the rules: You can post almost anything on social media — as long as it doesn’t tick off the billionaire owners. Take Facebook: Election misinformation, fake news and AI junk? Totally fine. But use public data to track Mark Zuckerberg’s $66.5 million Gulfstream G650ER jet with the tail number N68885, and your account will be suspended.

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• Scrubbing the shower is such a pain. Spray on this cleaner once a week, let it sit overnight, then wash away soap scum, grime and oil (20% off, $19.19).
• The bristles of this cleaning pen ($9.48) get into every crevice of your rings and necklaces to make diamonds and other gems sparkle.
• Hairbrushes get gross over time. Buy this specialty comb once ($11.85) and you can make yours last so much longer.
• Genius — a powder you can sprinkle into cooking oil to make it solid and easy to throw out with the trash (10% off, $8.99).
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• Stop straining your back by moving appliances to clean beneath them. This flexible microfiber duster ($16.99) easily slides under your washer, dryer, fridge and more to grab dust and hair.

📻 Catch up with my award-winning national radio show: Find your local station and tune in, or get my show’s podcast. I share so much there that I just can’t get to in this newsletter. See ya on the radio!

Locked up tight: Fun privacy trick next time you use Gmail on the web: Click the little padlock icon at the bottom when creating a new email to put your message in “confidential mode.” You can set an expiration date and a passcode for your recipient to open the email.

🛜 Use your iPhone as a webcam: Your iPhone probably has a better camera than the one built into your Mac. As long as both your iPhone and Mac are linked to the same Apple account and on the same Wi‑Fi network, you’ll see your iPhone show up as a camera option in any desktop video-calling app.

Android secret: One-handed mode makes it easier to reach everything with one thumb. From Settings, go to Accessibility > System controls > One-handed mode.

Switch to the web: You can access lots of phone apps on the web, like on your laptop or desktop, instead of directly on your device. It’s nice to have a bigger screen to look at stuff and a bigger keyboard to type out posts and comments. Try it with Instagram, Snapchat, WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger.

Hear the world: If you ever ask anyone to repeat something they said, check out the new, dual-processor, almost invisible hearing aids from hear.com. The company has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, a 4.9 out of 5 rating with Consumer Affairs and a 100% money-back guarantee. Click here to find out today if you qualify for a 45-day risk-free trial.*

These impossible beauty standards. Oh, my gourd!

The answer: B.) 2009. Wow, 15 years of likes just flew by. They added the “love,” “wow” and “angry” reactions in 2016. So, why did they get rid of the poke? Because Zuck figured out he could sell what you “like” to ad and marketing companies. And, as you now know, every other social media platform since has ripped off the “like” concept.

🤣 I joined a local scat group on Facebook recently. They had a meetup, but when I arrived, I realized my mistake and skiddy-be-bop-a-do’d out of there as fast as I could.

Before you go: Incogni is the reason I have zero spam calls and texts on my phone. They’ve sent 712 requests on my behalf to people-search and data-broker sites to remove me. Incredible. Try it yourself for 60% off right now. See you back here tomorrow with the best tech newsletter in the USA! — Kim