Tech Q&A: Online airfare, credit card skimming, exes on Facebook, and more
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}People are silhouetted as they pose with laptops in front of a screen projected with a Facebook logo, in this picture illustration taken in Zenica October 29, 2014. Facebook Inc warned on Tuesday of a dramatic increase in spending in 2015 and projected a slowdown in revenue growth this quarter, slicing a tenth off its market value. Facebook shares fell 7.7 percent in premarket trading the day after the social network announced an increase in spending in 2015 and projected a slowdown in revenue growth this quarter. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic (BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA - Tags: BUSINESS SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY BUSINESS LOGO) - RTR4C0V2 (REUTERS/Dado Ruvic)
Best day to buy airfare online
Q. I'm buying plane tickets to my family's Christmas reunion in sunny California. I heard you say on your national radio show that Tuesday was the cheapest day to buy tickets online. Is that still true?
A. That used to be the common wisdom, but new research shows the best day to buy is now Sunday. You can save up to $60 vs. other days of the week. Of course, the day you travel and the sites you use to buy the tickets online can make a big difference, too. Click here for those secrets and more to save big money on air travel.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Credit card skimming increasing
Q. My credit card number was recently stolen and my bank said a skimmer probably took it. Who is this and how can I avoid this person in the future?
A. A skimmer is not a person. It's a small digital gadget that reads the magnetic information from your credit or debit card. Thieves install them in ATMs, gas pumps and vending machines, or they use a handheld unit to steal thousands of cards in no time and make millions of dollars. To avoid a skimmer, first check out these photos so you know what they look like. Then know the places you shouldn't swipe a card at all.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Lock ex out of Facebook profile
Q. I just got out of a really bad relationship and I'm worried my ex has access to my Facebook account. What should I do?
A. You need to change your password to lock your ex out. In the upper right corner of your profile, click the downward triangle and choose Settings. Then next to Password, click the Edit link. Once that's done, go to the Security section and turn on Login Notifications and Login Approvals. Anyone trying to log in from any computer other than yours will need your phone to make it work, and you'll get a notice when they try. You should also review Trusted Browsers and Where You're Logged In to make sure your ex's computer isn't listed. Delete it if it is. Click here for more Facebook settings that hardly anyone knows about.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Dumping your landline
Q. I'm thinking of dropping my landline to save money, since I mostly use my cellphone now. Is there any good reason you can think of to keep it?
A. There are a few reasons to keep a landline. Your DSL Internet might require it, or you might be in a rural area with spotty cellphone reception. If your landline is bundled as an Internet package, you might find that dropping it actually increases your monthly bill, so be sure to check on that. Before you cancel that landline altogether, be sure you read these other reasons to keep a landline.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Apps to increase battery life
Q. I'm kind of bummed that my new phone's battery life isn't what I was expecting. Is there anything I can do about it?
A. There are apps you can download that will help you pinpoint where the battery life is going so you can put a stop to it. Take a look at Battery Doctor to start. There are also some general settings you can change on any phone and settings you can tweak on your specific phone model. Granted, this won't double your battery life, but it could mean the difference between the phone dying at work or lasting till bedtime.
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On the Kim Komando Show, the nation's largest weekend radio talk show, Kim takes calls and dispenses advice on today's digital lifestyle, from smartphones and tablets to online privacy and data hacks. For her daily tips, free newsletters and more, visit her website at Komando.com. Kim also posts breaking tech news 24/7 at News.Komando.com.