Connect with us

Technology

Google just made it easier to search through photos and PDFs

Published

on

Google just made it easier to search through photos and PDFs

The Files by Google app streamlined your ability to manage and share documents, photos and other data on your Android, version 5.0 & up. 

AMERICANS WORRY THESE ‘CREEPY’ DEEPFAKES WILL MANIPULATE PEOPLE IN 2024 ELECTION, ‘DISTURBINGLY FALSE’

Now Smart Search on Google’s Files app takes it a step further by allowing you to find text and objects in images and documents, including PDF files, on your device.

Files by Google app. (Google)

How to access Files by Google app

You can access the app by downloading it from the Google Play Store.

Advertisement

CLICK TO GET KURT’S FREE CYBERGUY NEWSLETTER WITH SECURITY ALERTS, QUICK VIDEO TIPS, TECH REVIEWS, AND EASY HOW-TO’S TO MAKE YOU SMARTER

To download the app on Android

  • Open the Google Play Store app on your Android
  • Search for Files by Google
  • Tap Install and wait for the app to download and install on your phone
  • Open the app and grant the necessary permissions to access your files

How to use Smart Search to find photos and files faster and easier

The Smart Search feature is particularly helpful for those moments when you can’t remember the exact file name but can recollect an image or similar words in the document or photo you’re looking for.

Now, instead of scrolling for hours for that photo you know you took but can’t remember when or where, it can easily be found by typing in keywords or objects that might be in the photo or file you’re looking for.

For instance, if you remember what you were wearing on a certain occasion but can’t remember where the photo is, you can use Smart Search to look for the company’s name on the t-shirt you were wearing in that photo, like NIKE. Then all the photos and files with that company’s name would populate in the search result — greatly reducing the amount of scrolling and sleuthing you’d otherwise have to do.

MORE: BEST TIPS AND TRICKS FOR SEARCHING THROUGH YOUR PHOTOS

Advertisement

Types of information you can seek out with Smart Search

  • Texts from images and PDF files
  • Location and objects from images
  • Audio & video titles, artists, or album names

HOW GOOGLE’S DATA CAN MAKE YOU A SUSPECT IN A CRIME YOU DIDN’T COMMIT

Smart Search uses an advanced algorithm that scans your files in the background of your device, which balances both device performance and privacy. Smart Search only scans within the device that it is on to pull up search results, so that your information doesn’t get shared outside your device.

Google logo and a person holding an Android. (Google)

MORE: HOW TO HIDE PHOTOS ON ANDROID FROM SNOOPS 

How long does it take for your device to learn your files?

There are some slight limitations with Smart Search. According to a help page, it does take a few days for it to “learn” the files on your device and show up as a search result. This means it takes a few days for newly downloaded or added files to be included in search results. The longer the file has been on the device, the more likely it will accurately pull up items in your search.

How to check If Smart Search is available on your Android

Smart Search isn’t available to all users. To check if Smart Search is available on your Android, you can follow these steps:

Advertisement
  • Open the Files app on your Android
  • Tap on the search icon at the top right corner
  • If you see a message that says “Smart Search is here,” then you have access to the feature. You can tap on “Learn more” to get more details on how to use it
  • If you don’t see the message, then you may have to wait until the feature is enabled for you
  • You can also check for updates in the Play Store or App Store and make sure you have the latest version of Files by Google app

How to search for a file using Smart Search

  • On your Android device, open Files by Google 
  • At the top, on the search bar, enter the name of the file that you want to search
  • If you’re not sure of the file name, you can also use the smart filter to search by — Audio, Documents & other, Images, Videos, Large files, SD card, This week
  • To deselect the filter, tap on the selected filter again

Steps to search for a file using Smart Search. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

MORE: BEST WAYS TO SEARCH FOR ANYTHING

How to turn off Smart Search in the Files by Google app

If you are concerned about the Files by Google app’s access to your personal data and its potential impact on your privacy and security, you might want to turn off Smart Search. 

  • On your Android device, open the Files by Google app
  • Tap three horizontal lines 
  • Then click Settings
  • Turn off Smart Search

Keep in mind if you do decide to turn off Smart Search, you can only use text from file names to search for files.

Kurt’s key takeaways

Smart Search on the Files by Google app can make most files, including PDFs and images, searchable on your device. Smart Search “learns” the files on your device, so it can retrieve files in a search more easily.

How many times have you gotten lost on your phone looking for that one photo or file because you couldn’t remember the name of it? Would you consider using Smart Search on Files by Google? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact

Advertisement

For more of my tech tips & security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter 

Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you’d like us to cover.

Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:

Ideas for using those Holiday Gift cards

Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.

Advertisement

Technology

Red Rooms makes online poker as thrilling as its serial killer

Published

on

Red Rooms makes online poker as thrilling as its serial killer

It’s rare for a movie to get technology right. And it’s even rarer for that movie to be a thriller or horror, where realism takes a backseat to scares and tension. But Red Rooms mostly gets it. Nothing takes me out of a film quicker than a tech MacGuffin that might as well be literal magic. Yes, the phrase “dark web” will always sound a bit silly, but at no point during its 118 minutes does the tech become a distraction.

It’s not the tech that makes Red Rooms great, though. It’s just something that could have easily tanked an otherwise excellent movie. What carries the film is the expert tension building by director Pascal Plante. The perfect slow-burn pacing. And the incredible performances by Juliette Gariépy as Kelly-Anne and Laurie Babin as Clementine.

The film centers mostly on Kelly-Anne, a model / hacker / professional gambler who attends the trial of serial killer Ludovic Chevalier. She befriends Clementine, a fan of Chevalier who insists that he is being framed.

Clementine neurotically and loudly defends Chevalier, calling into TV shows and shouting at reporters outside the courtroom. She makes a spectacle of herself. But Kelly-Anne remains more mysterious, her motives unclear. Even at the end of the film, there is ambiguity about what she was trying to accomplish and why.

The ambiguity is part of what makes Red Rooms so enthralling. The movie feels unpredictable. None of the characters seem trustworthy or relatable. The world they inhabit is familiar, yet uncanny.

Advertisement

The movie lingers in that discomfort for long periods of time, making you squirm. Giving you the opportunity to play through all the possible scenarios that could play out in your head. Is Chevalier really the killer? Is Kelly-Anne the killer? Was one of the victim’s mothers an accomplice? Is the prosecutor keeping a secret?

The movie inches along, drawing out a tale of kidnapping, live-streamed torture, and snuff films before erupting into a climax that unexpectedly mines online poker and Bitcoin for legitimate drama. It’s ultimately less about the murders themselves than it is about obsession, internet bubbles, and the media. It almost feels like a grimier companion piece to David Fincher’s Gone Girl.

Continue Reading

Technology

FBI email hack shows why you must lock down your tech

Published

on

FBI email hack shows why you must lock down your tech

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Here’s the uncomfortable truth. If someone can break into the personal email of the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, your inbox is not off limits.

Malicious actors targeted the personal email account of FBI Director Kash Patel, according to the FBI, and a group known as the Handala Hack Team in Iran has claimed responsibility for posting photos and documents online.

No classified systems were breached. But that is not the point. The real story is this: the front lines of cyber warfare now run straight through personal accounts like yours.

FBI SAYS ‘MALICIOUS ACTORS’ TARGETED PATEL’S PERSONAL EMAIL, IRAN-BASED HACKING GROUP CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY

Advertisement

Hackers didn’t breach FBI systems; they accessed a personal email account, showing how everyday accounts can become targets. (Donato Fasano/Getty Images)

Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide — free when you join my CYBERGUY.COM newsletter

What happened in the FBI director’s email hack

Hackers gained access to Patel’s personal email account, not any official FBI systems. The stolen material included photos, travel details and older messages that spanned more than a decade, with emails dating from around 2011 through 2022.

The FBI said “malicious actors” targeted Patel’s personal email account but did not attribute the attack to a specific country. A group known as the Handala Hack Team, which operates out of Iran, has claimed responsibility for the breach.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation says no government or classified data was compromised. The U.S. State Department is offering up to a $10 million reward for information leading to the identification of members of the Handala Hack Team. CyberGuy reached out to the FBI for comment, but did not receive a response before our deadline.

Advertisement

A cybersecurity expert described the exposed material as a “personal junk drawer.” That detail is what makes this incident hit close to home. Most people have one too.

The threat is real and it is getting more sophisticated

This does not appear to be random. U.S. officials have warned for years that foreign government-linked hackers, including groups associated with Iran, have targeted Americans, especially those connected to government or politics. These campaigns often ramp up during periods of geopolitical tension. Similar actors have previously targeted individuals tied to the Trump administration, including:

  • Donald Trump Jr.
  • Todd Blanche
  • Lindsey Halligan

These groups also hit private companies. In one recent case, hackers claimed responsibility for disrupting operations at a U.S. medical device company and spreading propaganda tied to geopolitical events. This is coordinated. It is persistent. And it is not slowing down.

Why your everyday tech is now part of the battlefield

Cyber warfare used to target government systems. Now it targets you. Why? Because personal accounts are easier to break into. They are often protected by reused passwords, old emails and weak security habits.

Once hackers get in, they can:

  • Map out your life through old messages
  • Steal personal photos or financial details
  • Impersonate you in scams
  • Use your contacts to spread attacks

FBI Director Kash Patel speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

In simple terms, your digital life can be used against you or someone you know. 

Advertisement

IF SOMEONE GETS INTO YOUR EMAIL, THEY OWN EVERY ACCOUNT YOU HAVE. THESE 3 MOVES LOCK THEM OUT FOR GOOD

What you need to do right now to lock down your tech

I know it can sound intimidating, but it really comes down to this. You don’t need special skills, just a few smarter habits starting today.

1) Turn on two-factor authentication everywhere

Two-factor authentication (2FA) is one of the strongest defenses you have. Even if someone steals your password, they cannot get in without the second code. Focus on your email first. That is the master key to everything else.

2) Stop reusing passwords

If you reuse one password across accounts, one breach can unlock your entire digital life. Use a password manager and create unique passwords for each account. Check out the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2026 at Cyberguy.com

3) Clean out your “digital junk drawer”

Remember that phrase from the FBI case? Old emails, documents and attachments can expose years of your life. Go back and delete anything you no longer need, especially files that contain personal, financial or travel details. For anything important, move it to a secure location instead of leaving it sitting in your inbox. You can also check out CyberGuy’s 5 digital clean-up tips you didn’t know you needed to reduce long-term clutter and limit what attackers could access if your account is ever compromised.

Advertisement

4) Watch for highly targeted phishing

These attacks are getting more convincing. Hackers can use stolen data to craft emails that look personal and real. Always double-check links and sender addresses before clicking. Use strong antivirus software that can detect suspicious links, block malicious downloads and warn you before you interact with a dangerous site. Think of it as an extra layer of defense you do not have to think about. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com

5) Consider using a data removal service

Even if you clean up your inbox, your personal information may already be circulating online through data broker sites. These companies collect and sell details like your address, phone number and even past activity. A data removal service can help automatically request the removal of your information from hundreds of these sites, reducing what hackers can find and use against you.

 6) Keep your devices updated Updates fix known security flaws. Delaying them gives attackers a window to exploit your device.

7) Separate your digital life

Use different email accounts for banking, shopping and personal communication. This limits the damage if one account is compromised. Consider using email aliases, which are alternate addresses that forward to your main inbox. For example, you can use one alias for online shopping and another for signups. If one alias gets exposed or starts receiving spam, you can disable it without affecting your primary email account. For recommendations on private and secure email providers that offer alias addresses, visit Cyberguy.com

Cyberattacks today often focus on personal data like emails and photos, which can be used to expose or manipulate victims. (Philip Dulian/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Advertisement

8) Use passkeys where available

Passkeys replace passwords with a secure login tied to your device or biometrics. They cannot be reused or phished, which makes them one of the safest ways to protect your accounts today.

Kurt’s key takeaways

The U.S. is facing capable cyber adversaries. Hacker groups have shown they can keep pushing, adapt quickly and target both institutions and individuals. At the same time, the most common entry point is still simple. A weak password. An old email account. A moment of inattention. That means the first line of defense is not just government agencies. It is you.

What’s one thing you’ve done or haven’t done to protect your accounts that still worries you? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide — free when you join my CYBERGUY.COM newsletter 

Advertisement

Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com.  All rights reserved.  

Continue Reading

Technology

The best deals we’ve found from Amazon’s Big Spring Sale (so far)

Published

on

The best deals we’ve found from Amazon’s Big Spring Sale (so far)

Amazon loves to manufacture an event. March is historically a dry spell for deals; however, with Amazon’s third annual Big Spring Sale, which runs through March 31st, the retail behemoth is hoping to lure in would-be shoppers with the promise of steep(ish) savings and discounts on more seasonal, spring-centric items to hold folks over until Prime Day surfaces at the onset of summer.

The bulk of the deals we’re seeing right now aren’t quite on par with Black Friday or Prime Day, and, as with most shopping events, not everything on sale is worth picking up. That said, Amazon’s latest sale is one of the first big opportunities we’ve seen this year to save — and bypass some tariff-induced pain — especially since some of our favorite gadgets are currently matching their lowest prices to date, including headphones, robot vacuums, and a slew of charging accessories.

To help you sift through it all, we’re focusing squarely on the gadgets that are actually worth picking up, many of which we’ve tested and recommend even at full price. You’re not limited to Amazon, either. Retailers like Best Buy and Walmart are offering the same deals in a lot of cases, meaning you don’t necessarily need to succumb to shopping at the so-called “Everything Store” just to save a buck (or 50).

Headphone and earbud deals

Streaming and soundbar deals

Advertisement

Fitness tracker and smartwatch deals

Other Verge-approved deals

Update, March 28th: Adjusted to reflect current pricing / availability and several new deals, including those for Apple’s latest entry-level iPad, the Breville Barista Express, and JBL’s Flip 7 speaker.

Continue Reading

Trending