Encrypted Messaging, Explained!
Learn how to revive old photos with AI, snag a secret discount, and disable those pesky “Sign in with Google” prompts!
Thanks for opening my email!
I hope you’re having a fantastic holiday season! I call this the slide into the holidays because it happens fast, but at the same time, I keep putting off my holiday shopping. Remind me why I wait until the last minute?
Last weekend, I took a nice break from my duties—the radio show was a repeat, the newsletter went out early, and I was off from TV for a few days.
We went up to the Santa Ynez Valley, which is always an incredibly fun and beautiful place to visit. You’ve probably heard of Solvang, the small Hallmark-style town that gets super crowded during the holidays. We stayed in Santa Ynez, a tiny place with just a few streets where you can walk to restaurants, shopping, and wineries that are just a short distance away. Plus they have a unique country western bar that will make you feel like you’ve been transported to a different time and or place.
You might be surprised to know that when I go on family vacations, I go out of my way to pack as little tech as possible. Sometimes, I even forget a particular charging cable I pack so lean! I’m a true believer in disconnecting when it’s important.
First Up
This week, you’ve likely come across headlines like, “It’s dangerous to message between iPhones and Androids,” or “You need to use a secure messaging app.” These stories stem from recent spying incidents linked to China.
I’m not here to tell you how to message, but I want you to understand the key differences between messaging methods.
The most important concept is encrypted vs. unencrypted messaging—and the gold standard: end-to-end encryption.
Encrypted messaging means your message is secure, but it’s not foolproof. Think of it as a sealed envelope—someone could still open it before or after delivery, but while it’s making its way to you it’s contents are protected.
Unencrypted messaging is like a postcard—anyone along the way can read it.
End-to-end encryption ensures only the recipient can read the message. Even if someone intercepts it, they can’t access its contents—not even the person transporting the message.
Here’s how it works:
iMessages between iPhones are end-to-end encrypted by default. If you see a green bubble (messaging Android), it’s not.
Google Messages with RCS between Androids are also encrypted end-to-end (look for the little lock). But messages sent to iPhones are not.
Group chats mixing iPhones and Androids? No encryption there.
A lot of this boils down to tech companies refusing to adopt shared standards for cross-platform communication.
So, how can you send more secure messages? Use an app with end-to-end encryption as default, like Signal or WhatsApp.
Apps like Telegram and Facebook Messenger also offer it, but you have to manually enable it for each conversation. Telegram calls it “Secret Chat,” and Facebook Messenger calls it “Secret Conversation.”
Convincing everyone you know to switch isn’t easy. Trust me—I once had to walk my entire family through downloading and setting up a third-party messaging app. There were plenty of grumbles, but we got there!
Finally, let’s address the “I’ve got nothing to hide” argument.
Privacy is a fundamental human right. Imagine losing the ability to take someone aside for a private conversation. You wouldn’t accept that in real life, so why accept it in your digital life?
Plus, think about the little details you share in messages—family updates, passwords, medical info. Do you really want those out in the open?
And if you’re a journalist, executive, government official, or anyone handling sensitive information, the stakes are even higher. Protecting your communication is about more than just hiding secrets—it’s about safeguarding your right to privacy.
TV Segment Recap
Glasses that let you “see” what people are saying? I tried out the Hearview Subtitle Glasses that show close captions in the lenses for real-time conversations. Pricey, but pretty neat.
Cyber Monday has come and gone, but there are still some shopping days left in the season. Here’s a look at some of the tools you can use to help you find the best deals!
Tech News to Know
Consumers spent $13.3 billion online on Cyber Monday, up 7.3% from last year.
Amazon said its top sellers during its Black Friday Week and Cyber Monday event included Echo and Fire TV devices, Beats headphones, Samsung TVs, Barbie dolls, Play-Doh, Shark vacuums and air purifiers, and Medicube beauty devices and skincare.
Tech Tidbits
Redfin now lets you use AI to add holiday decorations to your home or home listing.
Bitcoin hit $100k for the first time in history.
Tesla is making an official Apple Watch app.
Download This
The MyHeritage app has an interesting new feature: bringing old photos back to life as a video clip. The LiveMemory feature uses AI to animate photos and re-image the entire scene.
I tried it with a few old photos, and the results can be hit or miss, but it’s pretty interesting and may conjure up some old emotions if you’re using photos of you as a kid or long-lost relatives.
You can try three creations for free, after that there is a fee.
Bookmark this
Cameo, the site that lets you get a birthday shoutout and more from your favorite (has been?) celebrity, is now open to pretty much anyone with a social media following.
I signed up to see what the process was like, and it took about 5 minutes for me to get listed. You do have to provide all of your personal details, like your full name, date of birth, driver's license, and more. Then, they verify you using a live selfie they compare to your ID, similar to adding your Driver’s License to Apple or Google Wallet.
Unlike the previous process, which required Cameo to vett listings, this is much more automated, which makes it a nice new way for creators to monetize their following.
Dealspotter
Got Verizon? You might nab a $10 monthly discount for a year just by snooping around the section of their app that enables you to unlock your phone number to leave. I tried it and was offered the deal; others reported they were able to nab it as well. But perhaps Verizon has gotten hip to this by now. Still, it’s worth a try!
Check it out
A website called IMG_0001 scours YouTube for videos uploaded from iPhones between 2009 and 2012. There used to be a built-in “send to YouTube” functionality and this website captures the raw, unedited early part of our smartphone experience.
Tech Life Hacks
This week’s tip comes from my brother, who shared a gem on social media.
Ever notice those popups on websites asking you to “Sign in with Google”? You can actually disable them.
It’s pretty straightforward: just copy and paste this into your Chrome address bar:
chrome://settings/content/federatedIdentityApi
Once there, select the option to "Disable sign-in prompts from identity services."
I’ll admit, I’ve used Google to sign into websites when I didn’t feel like dealing with a full signup process. But for better security and privacy, it’s always smarter to create a unique login for each site you use.
Tech Makeover
I couldn’t resist giving my Dad’s phone a little makeover while he was out here visiting. His phone was in a case that had seen better days and his screen protector (while doing its job) was completely cracked.
I ordered my favorite simple clear case and screen protector from Amazon, and he went home with a much better-looking phone.
Throwback Tech
People loved their BlackBerry phones. It seemed unbeatable—until something better came along. This screenshot is from a video captured on January 1, 2007, the year the iPhone made its debut. Little did this device know, its days were numbered.
Feedbag
Sherry from Norco writes in…
It’s such a pleasure to listen to you on Saturdays while I’m working in the kitchen. If I miss the live show, I always catch up on your iHeartRadio podcast. Thank you for being such an informative host—you truly make the show fun and interesting!
A huge fan,
Sherry
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Remember to tune into my radio show this weekend. In Los Angeles, it’s on KFI AM 640 on Saturday from 11 AM to 2 PM PT. You can listen anywhere by streaming on the iHeartRadio App or asking Alexa to “stream KFI AM 640” to listen instantly.
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That’s all for now. Have a great weekend.
Rich