Free VPN options for budget users

Americans lost nearly $21 billion to cybercrime last year, a 26% increase from the year before. Investment scams, crypto scams, and phishing remain the most common ways criminals target victims.

Samsung Messages is going away this summer. You’ll need to switch to Google Messages, which should make texting more secure and improve messaging between iPhone and Android.

Susan in Orange County is heading to China. Rich recommends bringing a VPN, a portable power bank, messaging apps like WhatsApp or Telegram, and translation tools such as Google Translate, Apple Translate, or Gemini. For connectivity, he suggests using an eSIM from Airalo.

Older Kindle models are losing support in May. Here’s the list of affected devices and how to check yours.

Vic in Sherman Oaks asks whether a smartphone can be remotely wiped even if it’s offline.

Bob emails asking if you can see speed limits and hazards in Apple Maps or Google Maps on CarPlay without entering a destination. Rich says Google Maps used to offer a Drive Mode, but it appears to be gone. For now, your best option is Waze, which shows that info even without a destination set.

YouTube Premium is raising prices by $1 to $4 a month.

Marianne in Los Angeles says her copper landline is being phased out. Rich suggests alternatives like Ooma, Ooma LTE, or Starlink.

Inc. has a great article on what businesses can do right now to avoid the same fate as the massive LAPD data breach.

Yolanda says when she clicks links in spam text messages, she gets an “Error 400.” Rich says don’t click those links. Instead, reply with “STOP,” “unsubscribe,” or just delete the message. Better yet, enable spam text filtering on your iPhone or Android.

Connie writes in that she’s buying an iPhone from Apple as a gift for her daughter and asks whether to choose Verizon or “connect to any carrier later.” Rich recommends choosing “connect to any carrier later,” which gives you an unlocked phone. Her daughter can then activate it on Verizon once she receives it.

Fabrice says changes in his Outlook email aren’t showing up in Gmail. What’s going on? Rich says it’s likely set up using POP3 instead of IMAP.

Alex is looking for a truly free VPN with no upfront cost. Rich recommends Proton VPN and Windscribe as solid options. Just know they come with limitations. You won’t get all the premium features, but they’ll get the job done.

Doug Suttles, co-creator of Speedtest, explains why your internet speed isn’t the full story and how his new tool called Orb reveals what’s actually slowing your connection.

Martino called in to say he loves MagicJack and recommends it as a solid alternative to a traditional landline.

Spectrum is finally launching a Fire TV app, arriving April 15.

Mark in Torrance is looking for a way to organize and preserve 40 years of photography. Rich recommends options like Google Photos albums, Dropbox, or a dedicated service such as SmugMug.

Waymo cars are now scanning roads for potholes and reporting that to both cities and ways.

Rich mentioned how to turn on voice isolation on the iPhone.

Robert says when he texts himself on his Android phone, it doesn’t come through. Clearing the cache for the Messaging app might help - just be careful not to clear the data, that will delete your messages. Rich mentioned Email me apps for iPhone and Android.

Ross Barbour of Sonos explains how the latest Sonos speakers make whole-home audio more flexible, portable, and easier to expand. Mentioned: Sonos Play and Sonos Era 100 SL.

Rich DeMuro brings you the latest tech news, helpful tips, gadget reviews, and more - plus interviews with industry experts - all in this weekly show.

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