Withdrawing cash from an ATM is becoming something we have to do less frequently and often we’re left to use the closest one. Convenience over caution because when you need cash, it’s often on short notice.

To prevent yourself from falling prey to several ATM scams that can happen if you used a compromised machine, here are some tests to always follow. You can watch the video above before reading the highlights below.

Twist The Reader

Skimming, where the magnetic stripe of a credit card is copied by a fake reader is becoming less common since most cards now use embedded chips. Still, many banks in the United States issue cards where the magnetic stripe can still be used and therefore stolen. What you want to do is, before using any ATM, twist the card reader if it’s protruding and look for any looseness or signs of tampering.

You can see in the video above how to handle various types of ATMs and card readers. Also, make sure to check the keypad as well.

Choose Wisely

Where you withdraw cash can also improve the odds of not coming across a skimmer or a shimmer (the latter used to steal credit card chip data). ATMs found in and around banks tend to have good camera coverage and security nearby. Guards, cameras, and lots of foot traffic make criminals avoid these types of ATMs in most cases because the chance of getting caught or the skimmer being discovered are higher.

The crooks will have to return to get their skimmers in order to extract the card data from them so they value not losing one they’ve placed. Many ATMs have the scams built in though, here’s how to handle ATM currency conversions.

The post Never Use An ATM Without Running These Checks First appeared first on foXnoMad.

Costa Rica’s capital city is the main entry point into a diverse number of stops across the country but few stay and see San Jose. Aside from having a bad safety reputation, it’s not the green, coastal place many tourists come to Costa Rica to see. San Jose is a city that will surprise many visitors though with safe spaces, historic foods, and a vibrant atmosphere not to be missed.

Watch the video here to see what San Jose has to offer tourists.

Use Your Guides

A good guide will help you get around to understand the best neighborhoods in San Jose. There are several where you’ll experience a high degree of security, while others should be visited mainly during the day. This goes for downtown; it’s where you’ll find the Mercado Central, Teatro Nacional, and Mercado Borbon. Only open during the day, be mindful of your belongings in the surrounding streets and don’t draw attention to yourself.

It’s in the two major markets here though that you’ll find some of the best and oldest San Jose foods from Soda Tala to must-visit ice cream shop, La Sorbetera de Lolo Mora.

There’s also Bario Escalante, a hipster and lively part of San Jose that has a reputation for food, nightlife, and a relaxed atmosphere.

Ride Share Around

Ride share apps and Uber are commonly used in San Jose and make it easy to get around without having to worry about negotiating a fare price. They also make tracking and sharing your movements with friends and relatives possible so you have have more safety as you travel the in San Jose. A good guide will set you up with an introduction into San Jose for a good first day but then you have the next to explore on your own.

Not spending at least a day in San Jose is missing a lot on Costa Rican culture that emanates to the rest of the country from here.

The post Is San Jose, Costa Rica Safe To Visit? appeared first on foXnoMad.

AirTags have been very popular since they were first released in 2021 because they’re small, useful, and work with Apple’s Find My network. Now, 5 years later, Apple has released the AirTag 2. One of Apple’s quietest but most impressive updates to its current product lineup though and you already have an AirTag, you might be wondering if it’s worth upgrading.

The short answer is a limited, yes. Maybe.

Flying Saucers

Apple clearly decided that the original AirTag was popular and functional enough that they didn’t want to change the look or design, at least not on the outside. The AirTag 2 has the same dimensions with a UFO shape and quite easily scratched metallic cover. Unfortunately, Apple doesn’t make the AirTag in any other color than white and you’ll have to look very closely to be able to tell the AirTag 1 apart from the AirTag 2. The only difference visually is the uppercase lettering on the AirTag 2 which no longer says “designed in California, assembled in China”.

Apple AirTag (2nd Generation): Tracker for Keychain, Wallet, and...

Buy on Amazon

The AirTag 2 is .8 grams and uses the same CR 2032 battery with the same battery life of around one year.

More Ultra

AirTags have an Ultra wide-band chip in them which, in the AirTag 1, is what gives you the ability to be able to visually track them when you’re within about 10 meters or 30 feet. The AirTag 2 now has the next generation ultra wide ban- chip that Apple claims has quote, “up to 50% greater” Precision Finding range, which should be about 15 meters or 50 feet of range. You can see in this video here the results of my own testing.

The AirTag 1 had a magnet that was just enough to hold its weight but gave me no confidence it would stick if there was any movement. The AirTag 2 however has a solid lock to metallic surfaces and feels like it wouldn’t fall off, even with some firm shaking.

Time To Upgrade?

Apple hasn’t made any concrete promises about how much extra Bluetooth range the AirTag 2 has compared to the first generation, it should give you more range and in outdoor areas could be 50-60 meters versus 10-12, a huge jump. And that’s important because Bluetooth is what AirTags use to quietly talk with all of the Apple devices around them. It’s this communication that lets you see where they are through the Find My App.

The AirTag 2 is the same price as the AirTag 1, $29 for one or $99 for a 4 pack and Apple stores have pretty much run out of their remaining AirTag 1 stock, so AirTag 2 is it. For those of you already using AirTags, I wouldn’t replace all of them. The AirTag 2 is a great upgrade but not so much you have to go out and replace your current AirTags. Unless you have one really valuable or important item you want to be able to track to the best of Apple’s ability, then it might be worth upgrading just those AirTags – though in some cases a Ridge Tracker Card may be better.

The post AirTag 1 vs. AirTag 2: A Difference Worth Upgrading To? appeared first on foXnoMad.

The Ridge Tracker Card and Apple’s AirTag are two of the most popular tracking devices you can use to monitor your valuables. Both of the devices though come in vary different forms factors – for good reason – and despite it’s limitation, the Ridge Tracker Card can be better than an AirTag, sometimes.

You can watch the full video above and read on for more.

Why The Slim Look?

The Ridge Tracker Card is wallet-friendly with its ID card dimensions while the AirTag has a small puck shape, about the size of a U.S. quarter or 50 cent Euro coin. AirTags are thicker though, so they don’t fit conveniently into wallets, for example. The Tracker Card has a more favorable form factor for slim spaces but that’s because it’s lacking Apple’s Ultra-wideband (UWB) chip.

Ridge Wallet Tracker Card Compatible with Apple Find My, Slim...

Buy on Amazon

The UWB lets you visually track a device within about 10-20 meters (more in the AirTag 2) but otherwise you’ve got to rely on Bluetooth and Apple’s Find My network. For most cases, the disadvantages of the Ridge Tracker Card are outweighed by its shape – especially if that means you’re more likely to use it rather than no tracker at all.

The Obvious Fit

Ridge Tracker Cards are ideal for wallets and slim purses because they are credit card shaped. AirTags simply don’t fit well in card holders and your wallet is presumably one of your more valuable possessions. You can still play a chime from the Ridge Tracker Card using Find My, so even though you can visually get a precise lock on it if you misplace your wallet indoors, the sounds should help guide you the rest of the way.

Other good uses include letters and important documents you might have mailed or sent via courier. You can get more precise tracking of those documents and in cases where they’ll be sent back to you (think legal or financial documents) you’ll have an extra layer of reassurance knowing just where they are.

On The Move

Sports gear like belt packs and vests might also be a good place to use a Ridge Tracker Card over an AirTag. The lighter weight and thinnest means less bounce and over long running or cycling distances, ever little annoyance (or lack thereof) can add up. Being IP67 rated also means the Ridge Tracker Card can be submerged in water for up to 30 minutes in shallow water, meaning you can use it for swim or kayaking gear as well.

Books, vinyls,  and notebooks also make for situations where you might want to use a Ridge Tracker Card over an AirTag. But the Apple is no slouch, here are 8 creative ways to use AirTags.

The post The Ridge Tracker Card Is Better Than An AirTag… Sometimes appeared first on foXnoMad.

This is a wild video from South America where a woman fought back against two thieves trying to snatch her phone. The crooks were caught completely off guard, but a lot could have gone wrong here for the victim. Instead of this reaction, in the video above I break down what she could have done to prevented the attempt with the least risk to herself.

The post Woman Fights Back Against Two Phone Snatchers appeared first on foXnoMad.