2026 July eBytes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The 10-step phone security tune-up you should run every year - and why
Your Brain Is a Better AI Detector Than Any Tool Out There. Here's How to Use It
The Best Cheap Phones We've Tested for 2026
Older iPhones have an unfixable security flaw - why it can't be patched and the models affected
We Can't Stop Falling for These 7 Scams. Here's How to Protect Yourself From Each One
Google Drive Almost Full? Try These Free and Easy Ways to Open Up Space
I Turned Off All My Phone Notifications for a Week. Here's Why I'm Not Going Back
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The 10-step phone security tune-up you should run every year - and why
Don't let the most essential device in your life become a liability. Our one-hour wellness check will keep your phone secure for another year.
https://www.zdnet.com/article/10-step-phone-security-tune-up-to-run-every-year/
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Your Brain Is a Better AI Detector Than Any Tool Out There. Here's How to Use It
AI writing has consistent, recognizable patterns that no detector captures better than a well-trained eye.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Best Cheap Phones We've Tested for 2026
Looking for a new phone that won't wipe out your bank account? Whether you're looking for a basic smartphone or a retro flip phone, these are the top models we've tested for under $300.
https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-cheap-phones
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Older iPhones have an unfixable security flaw - why it can't be patched and the models affected
Here's how to tell if your device is at risk and what to do about it.
https://www.zdnet.com/article/older-apple-iphones-unpatchable-security-flaw/
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We Can't Stop Falling for These 7 Scams. Here's How to Protect Yourself From Each One
You aren’t paranoid. Somebody is out to get you. A lot of people, in fact. Cybersecurity experts told us these are the red flags to look for.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Google Drive Almost Full? Try These Free and Easy Ways to Open Up Space
You only get a few gigabytes of free storage on Google Drive, but these tips can help you clear some digital space.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I Turned Off All My Phone Notifications for a Week. Here's Why I'm Not Going Back
I thought turning off notifications would make me miss everything. Instead, it showed me how much of my attention had already been scheduled by apps, emails, promos, DMs and tiny red badges.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Links - News, Tips, & Downloads
7 Hidden iPhone Settings You Should Change Right Now - A few quick tweaks to your iPhone's default settings can make it faster, smarter, and far less annoying to use.
https://www.pcmag.com/explainers/7-hidden-iphone-settings-you-should-change-right-now
The Complete List of the Best Google Voice Commands for Your Home - These are the voice assistant commands everyone should know for their Google Home and Nest speakers.
I Did the Math: You Probably Need Way Less Internet Speed Than You Think - Do not automatically sign up for your ISP's fastest tier. Follow our simple tips to find the perfect balance of throughput and cost.
https://www.pcmag.com/explainers/calculate-how-much-internet-speed-you-really-need
The Best Apps in the Windows 11 Store: Unleash Your PC's Potential - The number of excellent apps in the Microsoft Store might surprise you, and the selection continues to grow. These are the best apps to install first.
https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-apps-in-the-windows-11-store-unleash-your-pcs-potential
Printing a Web Page Is a Huge Headache. These 5 Tricks Will Simplify the Process - Most web pages aren’t designed to be printed. But if you absolutely need a physical copy, here's how I print them without ugly formatting and unnecessary clutter.
https://www.pcmag.com/explainers/printing-web-page-huge-headache-5-tricks-will-simplify-the-process
7 Mini Security Devices That Protect You While Staying Hidden - Here's my collection of tiny security products that can fit anywhere while protecting you from break-ins, flooding, theft and more.
Gmail Has a Built-In Tool for Unsubscribing From Everything. Here's How to Use It - Gmail's built-in unsubscribe tool can clear years of unwanted newsletters from your inbox in just a few minutes.
Microsoft Says This Free App Can Fix Slow PCs in One Click. I Had to Try It - I installed Microsoft's free PC Manager tool to see if a single click could actually make a difference on a sluggish computer.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ask a Question - Send any Tips & Downloads, Ask a Question, For Sale, or articles to: TheMiningPCC@gmail.com
**********************************
Q. From a PCC Member - He got a Facebook Messenger message that his account was flagged and will be shut down. He was to download a PDF file and submit it. Is it fake?
A. From Tom Kreuzer, a PCC Board member. After looking at the message and who it was from “Meta AI” that was a fake account and not verified with a blue check. Be very careful what you click on, lots of scams out there.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------