Shira Ovide

New York

Writer of The Tech Friend newsletter

Education: Haverford College; Columbia Journalism School

Shira Ovide writes The Tech Friend newsletter. Sign up here. She is the strategy editor for Help Desk, The Washington Post's team of journalists who focus on the impact of our digital lives and empower us to corral technology to serve our needs. Before joining The Post in October 2022, Ovide wrote the On Tech newsletter for the New York Times. She has also been a technology columnist at Bloomberg Opinion and wrote about technology, finance and the media industry for the Wall Street Journal. Ovide lives in New York.
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Latest from Shira Ovide

You can say no to a TSA face scan. But even a senator had trouble.

Some airport travelers, including a U.S. senator, are having trouble saying no to security technology that's supposed to be voluntary.

July 11, 2023

Why Threads has a shot, but only 5 social media platforms actually matter

Be honest: Are you rooting for Mark Zuckerberg?

July 7, 2023

E-bike batteries are a fire risk. Here’s how to protect yourself.

Lithium-ion batteries power our smartphones, laptops and electric transportation. They’re also a safety risk we need to take seriously.

June 30, 2023

I moved my Gmail to a less creepy email. It was surprisingly easy.

I transferred 15 years of Gmail messages to a smaller email provider. My email switch was almost as easy as ordering a pizza.

June 27, 2023

How to find trustworthy repair help for your busted iPhone or TV set

Here's advice on how to find a reliable electronics repair shop, what questions you should ask and steps you can take to make sure your repair ends happily.

June 23, 2023

Why you should skip a VPN and identity-theft monitoring

Should everyone use a VPN? What’s the best way to save digital photos? A selection of reader questions and responses.

June 20, 2023

The do’s and don’ts of posting photos of your kid on social media

Consider asking your child’s permission before you post and other guidelines for parents.

June 16, 2023

5G was an overhyped technology bust. Let’s learn our lesson.

Phone companies and Apple promised that 5G would be an awesome improvement. Nope. How can we believe in promises now of technology that will change our lives?

June 13, 2023

    Should we all be using a VPN? Our tech friend answered your questions.

    The Help Desk’s Shira Ovide answered reader questions about the technology in their lives.

    June 13, 2023

    The truth about WhatsApp’s and Apple’s privacy promises

    WhatsApp and Apple are each buying ads to brag that they’re keeping your personal information private. Are they telling you the truth?

    June 10, 2023