Here's what's making news today in tech — picked from the 10 sources I trust, translated for normal humans.
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iOS 27 has a hidden anti-scam setting — here’s why every iPhone user should turn it on
Apple quietly added a new anti-scam feature inside iPhone settings, and most people have never turned it on. It can help block suspicious calls and messages before they reach you. For Portage County: Open your iPhone Settings, search for the scam protection option, and make sure it is switched on, especially if you have been getting strange calls lately.
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A CRT-era setting is still cropping your TV picture in 2026, but there's a fix
Many smart TVs have an old setting left over from the 1980s that quietly cuts off the edges of your picture, so you may be missing part of what you are watching. The fix is buried in your TV's display settings and takes about two minutes. For Portage County: Go into your TV's picture or display settings and look for something called "overscan" or "picture size," then set it to "full" or "screen fit."
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Sam Altman says OpenAI won’t go public until its models are safe
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says the company will not sell shares to the public until it can make stronger promises about the safety of its AI models, with no set date in sight. He made the comments as questions about OpenAI's future direction continue to grow. For Portage County: This does not change anything about ChatGPT you may already use, but it is a sign that even the people building AI say it still needs more work before they fully trust it.
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Cycle-Tracking Apps Bring Substantial Risks to Users, Says New Analysis
A new analysis found that many period and cycle-tracking apps carry real privacy risks, including sharing sensitive health data with third parties. This applies to apps that promote cycle syncing as well. For Portage County: If you or someone in your family uses a cycle-tracking app, check its privacy settings and avoid apps that ask for more personal information than they need.
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Look Out for This iPhone Duo Preorder Scam That Can Steal Your Data
Scammers are already running fake preorder pages for Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone, which is not available for preorder until October 16. These fake sites are designed to steal your personal information and payment details. For Portage County: If you see any website or ad offering an Apple foldable iPhone preorder before October 16, do not click it, and call Bill if you are unsure whether something is real.
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Don't throw away your old router — Do this instead
Instead of throwing out your old router when you upgrade, you can set it up in another room to extend your Wi-Fi signal further into your home. It takes a little setup but can save you money on a Wi-Fi booster. For Portage County: Before recycling an old Spectrum or AT&T router, call Bill to see if it can be reused to fix a weak signal spot in your house.
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I disabled 4 Windows background services and freed up gigabytes of RAM instantly
A tech writer turned off four background services running quietly on Windows and got back several gigabytes of memory, making the computer noticeably faster. These services run automatically and most people never know they are there. For Portage County: If your Windows PC feels slow, call Bill before changing system settings yourself, since turning off the wrong service can cause problems.
This digest is auto-generated daily at 6 AM ET from leading tech news sources.
Notice something off? Reply or text Bill at (330) 200-8042.
— Bill's Home Tech, Atwater, OH