Smart Phone Tips Archives - Rick's Daily Tips

How (and why) to protect your PayPal account with 2-Step Verification

Posted on October 26, 2025

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Two-Factor Authentication is an awesome feature that adds an almost insurmountable second layer of security to any online account that supports it.

And luckily, most online services do support it nowadays.

In a nutshell, Two-Factor Authentication works by requiring anyone trying to log into an account to enter a security code they received on YOUR mobile phone before being allowed to log in to your account.

That makes your account a lot more secure because anyone trying to log into it would need physical access to YOUR mobile phone in order to receive the security code.

[Read more…]

Q&A: How can I prevent unauthorized (or accidental) purchases from the Google Play Store?

Posted on October 23, 2025

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Question from Michelle: I sometimes hand my phone to my 9 year old son so he can play a game.

Well, I recently found out that he sneaked into the Google Play store and bought several games without my permission.

We had a long mother-son talk and he assured me that he won’t do it again, but I’d really like to make sure he (nor anyone else) can ever do that again. Is there something I can do to prevent this from happening again? [Read more…]

6 tips for extending your Android phone’s battery charge

Posted on September 24, 2025

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Note: The links in this post are affiliate links.

If it seems like the battery in your Android phone lasts about as long as a bowl of ice cream on a hot summer day, you aren’t alone.

A low or depleted battery charge is one of the most common issues that we’re likely to encounter with our smart phones.

As phones have gotten thinner, faster, brighter and more powerful, their ability to drain a battery dry has increased right along with their technological advances. [Read more…]

How to enable ‘Enhanced Safe Browsing’ in Chrome

Posted on September 20, 2025

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Google Chrome is the world’s most popular web browser, and it isn’t even close.

There are several very good reasons why Chrome is used by so many people, one of which is the strong security that Google has built into it by default.

But did you know there’s a setting you can change in Chrome that will make your Internet activities even more secure? [Read more…]

Why you should always use a ‘burner phone’ while you’re away on vacation

Posted on September 14, 2025

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Everyone deserves a nice vacation every now and then, but if you’re like me you’d rather not have to deal with some of the headaches that can arise while you’re enjoying a short break from everyday life.

These days one of the most common vacation headaches is having an expensive smartphone get stolen, lost or damaged while you’re splashing around in the surf or checking out the shops in your favorite resort town.

Replacing a damaged phone is a big enough hassle in itself, but even worse is having to deal with the aftermath of losing one altogether or having it get stolen. [Read more…]