New Tricks Daily

Have you ever seen a message saying 'your password was found in a data leak' and wondered if it is real or just a scare? Big websites get hacked from time to time, and when that happens, email addresses and passwords can end up in leaked databases. The most important rule first: never type your actual password into a random website that claims to check leaks. A genuine check only needs your email address, or it works inside a trusted tool you already use, like Google Password Manager. If any site asks you to enter your password to 'scan' it, close that tab immediately. A quick, safe leak check can save you from a hacked account. What Is a Data Breach? A data breach happens when hackers break into a company's systems and steal user data - names, email addresses, and sometimes passwords. It does not mean someone hacked your phone. That is also why reusing the same password everywhere is so risky. If one website leaks your password and you use it on ten other sites, al...

Have you ever tried to copy a number from a message into another app, and kept switching back and forth until you forgot it? Or wanted to watch a video while replying to a chat? Android has a free, built-in answer: split screen. It puts two apps on your screen at the same time, one on top and one below. You do not need to download anything. Split screen puts two apps side by side so you stop switching back and forth How to turn on split screen Open the first app you want to use, for example YouTube or Chrome. Tap the square button (recent apps) at the bottom of the screen, or swipe up and hold, to open the recent apps view. Find the first app's card, tap its app icon at the top of the card (or tap the three dots on it). Tap Split screen or "Open in split screen view". The first app will move to the top half. Now tap the second app from your recent apps or app list, and it will fill the bottom half. Start split screen from the recent apps view — no extra app needed Four st...

Do likes on Instagram distract you? Maybe you keep checking how many likes your photo got, or you compare your numbers with others and feel bad for no real reason. Instagram gives you a simple, real option: hide like counts. You can hide them on your own posts, and you can also hide them on posts you see from others. This guide shows both settings, step by step, on the Instagram app for Android. Hiding like counts lets you enjoy posts without comparing numbers What hiding like counts actually does Hiding like counts does not remove likes. People can still like your post, and you can still see who liked it if you check. It only hides the number. This is different from hiding comments or restricting someone. Hide like counts on your own new post 1. On the final share screen, before you tap Share, tap Advanced settings at the bottom. 2. Turn on Hide like and view counts on this post. 3. Tap the back arrow, then tap Share as usual. The hide-like option lives under Advanced settings on the ...

 is a useful companion read. A Note on Sensitive Documents Scans of ID cards, bank papers, and certificates are sensitive. Share them only with trusted people and organisations. Avoid posting them on social media or in public groups, and delete them from Drive and downloads when you no longer need them. What do you scan most often — bills, school forms, or office papers? Tell us in the comments, and share this guide with anyone who still runs to a shop just to scan a single page.

Do you reuse the same password for almost every account? You are not alone — but one leaked password can unlock many of your accounts at once. The solution is not to memorise dozens of passwords. It is to let a password manager remember them for you. If you use Android or Chrome, you already have Google Password Manager, free. It saves your passwords securely, fills them in automatically, and creates strong passwords when you need a new one.   Google Password Manager remembers strong passwords so you do not have to. What Is Google Password Manager? Google Password Manager is built into Android and Chrome, and it is tied to your Google account. When you sign in to a website or app, it offers to save your password. Next time, after you unlock your phone, it fills it in for you. Your saved passwords are encrypted and synced to your other devices on the same Google account. It is free, needs no extra app, and is far safer than a notebook or reusing one password everywhere. How to Find ...

Does your phone take forever to open an app? Does it freeze while you type, or lag when you switch between apps? You are not alone — almost every Android phone slows down over time. The good news is that you usually do not need a new phone. A few simple habits can make your old phone feel fast again. Before you download any "phone booster" app (most of them do more harm than good), try these seven real fixes. They are free, safe, and they actually work. A slow phone is usually a fixable problem, not a reason to buy a new one. 1. Restart Your Phone Once a Week This is the simplest fix, and the one most people skip. Restarting clears temporary files from memory and stops apps that got stuck in the background. Hold the power button, tap Restart, and wait. If your phone feels slow, try this first — it takes one minute and often helps immediately. 2. Close Apps You Are Not Using Every app left open uses a little memory. On most phones, tap the square (recent apps) button and swipe...

Your WiFi works but your mobile data does not, or nothing works at all. Before you blame your provider, try these simple fixes. Most mobile data problems are a small phone setting, not a network outage. Work through the list in order, and check after each step.   Mobile data problems are often a small phone setting, not a network outage. 1. Check That Mobile Data Is Actually On Swipe down twice to open Quick Settings. Make sure Mobile Data is on, and check that Airplane Mode is not on. 2. Toggle Airplane Mode On and Off Turn Airplane Mode on, wait ten seconds, then turn it off. This forces your phone to reconnect to the nearest tower.   Toggling airplane mode forces a fresh connection to the mobile tower. 3. Restart Your Phone A restart clears temporary network errors and reloads the SIM connection. 4. Check Your Data Limit and Plan Go to Settings, then Network and internet, then SIMs (or Mobile network). Check your data usage and whether a warning or limit is set. Also confir...

Your WhatsApp account is linked to your phone number, and that makes it a target. In a SIM swap scam, someone could try to register your number on another phone and take over your account. Two-step verification stops that. Once it is on, WhatsApp also asks for a 6-digit PIN that only you know. It takes about two minutes to set up, and it is one of the simplest ways to protect your account. Two-step verification adds a PIN lock to your WhatsApp account. What Is Two-Step Verification? Normally, WhatsApp verifies you with an SMS code when you register your number. Two-step verification adds another layer: a 6-digit PIN that only you know. After you turn it on, WhatsApp will sometimes ask for this PIN when you open the app, to make sure you remember it. If someone tries to register your number on another phone, they will also need this PIN, even if they get your SMS code. You can add an email address too, so you can reset the PIN if you forget it. Note that this PIN is not your phone lock ...

Every app on your Android phone asks for permissions, but do you really know what each app can access? A simple torch app does not need your contacts, and a photo editor does not need your location all the time. Checking permissions takes only a few minutes, and it is one of the easiest ways to protect your privacy. Illustration: App permissions control what each app can access, from camera and location to contacts and microphone. What Are App Permissions? Permissions are the doors you open for an app. Camera, microphone, location, contacts, photos, files and notifications are all permissions. When you grant one, the app can use that feature while you use it, or in the background if you allow it. Android now lets you give access only while using the app, only this time, or all the time, so you can be much more precise than before. How to Check App Permissions — Step by Step Follow these steps on your Android phone: Open Settings, then tap Apps or Apps and notifications. Tap an app to o...

If your WiFi suddenly feels slow, or the lights on your router blink furiously late at night, it is natural to wonder who else might be connected. The good news is that most routers let you see every connected device in a few taps, and you do not need any special app or technical skill to do it. Illustration: Your router's device list shows every phone, laptop and smart device using your WiFi. Why Your WiFi May Feel Slow or Busy Before you assume someone is stealing your WiFi, remember that your own home can be busy too. Phones, laptops, smart TVs, speakers, cameras and game consoles all share the same connection, and many of them download updates in the background. Still, if the slowdown is sudden or happens at odd hours, checking the device list is a sensible first step. How to Check Connected Devices on Your Router — Step by Step Follow these steps on a phone connected to your own WiFi: Open your phone's browser and go to your router's login page, usually printed on a st...

Your WhatsApp chats hold years of memories, family photos, work messages and important contacts. If you lose your phone or switch to a new one without a backup, all of it can be gone in a moment. The good news is that WhatsApp on Android can back up your chats to Google Drive automatically, so restoring them later takes just a few taps. Illustration: Backing up WhatsApp to Google Drive keeps your chats safe if you lose or change your phone. What You Need Before You Back Up Before you start, make sure you have a Google account signed in on your phone, enough free space in Google Drive, and a stable Wi-Fi connection. Backups over mobile data can be slow and can eat into your data plan, so Wi-Fi is the safer choice. Also check that WhatsApp is updated to the latest version from the Play Store. How to Back Up WhatsApp to Google Drive — Step by Step Follow these steps on your Android phone: Open WhatsApp and tap the three-dot menu in the top-right corner. Tap Settings, then Chats, then Chat...

Losing your phone is a horrible feeling. One minute it is in your pocket, the next minute it is gone — and with it your photos, contacts, messages and bank apps. The good news is that most Android phones already have a free tool built in that can help you find it: Google Find My Device. The best part? You do not need to install anything new or pay anything. You only need to set it up once, before the phone goes missing. Let us walk through everything in simple steps.   Illustration: Find My Device can locate, ring, lock or erase a lost Android phone. What Find My Device Needs Beforehand Find My Device only works if a few things are already switched on. Take two minutes to check them today, while your phone is safe in your hand: Your phone must be signed into a Google account. Almost every Android phone already is, because you need a Google account to use the Play Store. If you are not sure, go to Settings and check the Google account shown at the top. Location must be turned on. Go...

A call comes in claiming your bank account will be blocked, or that a UPI payment has failed and you must act now. The voice sounds official, the pressure feels real, and that urgency is exactly the trick. Most UPI fraud calls in India do not hack your phone — they trick you into giving away the one thing that protects your money. In this guide, you will learn how to spot a UPI fraud call, what to never share on a call, and how to report it on the national cybercrime helpline 1930. How UPI Fraud Calls Usually Work The caller may claim to be from your bank, a UPI app, a delivery company, or customer care. Common stories include a blocked account, a refund, a KYC update, a wrong transfer, or a prize you have won. The caller then asks you to share an OTP, enter a PIN, approve a collect request, install a screen-sharing app, or transfer a small amount to “verify” your account. Remember this simple rule: no bank, UPI app, or government agency will ever ask you for your UPI PIN, OTP, or full...

If your WiFi password is still the one printed on the router, or an old password half the neighbourhood knows, changing it is one of the simplest security upgrades you can make. You do not need a laptop or a computer for this — your phone and a browser are enough. In this guide, you will learn how to find your router's login page from your phone, change the WiFi password safely, and reconnect your devices without getting locked out. Before You Start: What You Need You need three things: your phone connected to the WiFi network you want to change, the router's admin username and password, and a new, strong password in mind. The admin password is not the same as the WiFi password — it is the one used to log in to the router's settings page, and it is often printed on a sticker on the router itself. If you have never changed the admin password either, do that too while you are in the settings, because the default admin passwords for popular routers are widely known. Find Your ...

"Congratulations, you've won a lottery!" — from a number you've never seen. Spam calls are annoying, and some of them are outright fraud attempts. The good news: your Android phone already has a free, built-in spam filter. You don't need to install anything. Here's how to turn it on and take back control. How the built-in protection works Google's Phone app checks incoming calls against a database of known spam numbers. When a spam call comes in, your phone can warn you ("Suspected spam caller") or block it silently. It's free, it's already on your phone, and it works surprisingly well. Turn on Caller ID and spam protection Open the Phone app (the green phone icon you use to make calls) Tap the three dots (⋮) in the top-right corner, then tap Settings Tap Caller ID & spam, then turn on See caller and spam ID On the same screen, turn on Filter spam calls so suspected spam never even rings That's it — most spam calls will ...

Handing your phone to a friend to show them a photo is normal — but nobody wants their private chats on display while they scroll. WhatsApp has a built-in feature for exactly this: Chat Lock. It locks any chat you choose behind your fingerprint (or face lock / phone PIN), moves it into a hidden "Locked chats" folder, and hides its message previews in notifications. Here's how to use it properly. How to lock a chat Long-press the chat you want to lock Tap Lock chat from the menu Confirm with your fingerprint (or your phone's screen lock) Done. That chat is now locked. Where do locked chats go? Locked chats disappear from your main chat list and move into a separate Locked chats folder. To open it, pull down on your chat list — the folder appears at the top. Tap it, verify your fingerprint, and your locked chats are there. How to unlock a chat Changed your mind? Long-press the locked chat inside the Locked chats folder, tap Unlock chat, and confirm with your ...