Before entering a protest, border crossing, government building, or other uncertain environment, a few simple steps can make your phone much harder to track or search. Learn why powering it down, using a Faraday bag, and leaving it in its “Before First Unlock” state can provide meaningful protection when your device leaves your hands.

Most of us have sent a quick "Made it home" text. Apple's Check In and Android's Safety Check can do that automatically—and alert a trusted contact if you don't arrive safely. Learn how these built-in features work, why they're useful, and how to set them up in just a few minutes.

Your phone can already erase itself when it needs to. Most people just never turn the feature on. Here's how to set up a real, working self-destruct on both iPhone and Android, and the one common mistake that quietly cancels it out.

There's a small box somewhere in your home or office that connects everything to the internet — and its default settings are probably working against you. A free, ten-minute adjustment can improve your privacy, block malicious websites, and even filter adult content. Here's how.