😱 2.5 billion leaked — Are YOU on the list?

Hope you’re kicking off Saturday with something cozy, {{first_name | friend}}. Maybe coffee with a side of “how is this real life?” because this story is one for the nerdy history books. Back in 2016, scientists managed to store a movie clip, not on a chip, cassette or cloud ... but on something much tinier. It’s so small, you’d probably just blink and mutter, “What a data-bit of trouble.” 😎

❓ Guess the “storage device.” Was it a … A) drop of water, B) grain of rice, C) strand of DNA, or D) speck of dust? The answer is going to surprise you at the end. 

Hackers don’t take breaks. Every five seconds, someone’s identity gets stolen. I use NordProtect because it actually stops them. Get 65% off now before it’s your turn. — Kim

📬 Was this forwarded to you? Be the first to know, not the last to hear. Sign up now. It’s free!

Hidden gems, big discounts, and yes, I dug through the digital outlet bins so you don’t have to. Amazon’s Outlet is packed with brand-name gadgets. 

The best part? Everything here is at least 50% off. Now, if you’re not into saving money on some great stuff, scroll on down to the Web Watercooler section, so you’re up-to-date on the latest tech news and security alerts. Don’t miss the big Google one.

Crank it up in the shower, on the beach or at your next BBQ. It’s travel-size and lasts all day on a single charge.

Why settle for two sad plugs? This splitter gives you six outlets and four USB ports. No more hunting for chargers.

Be prepared. This powerhouse works for gas and diesel engines, charges phones and even doubles as a camping lantern.

Say goodbye to tangled cords in your car. Plug it in once, and boom, enjoy automatic connections. Android crew, here’s one for you.

Your portable doctor’s office, without the copay. There’s a big LED screen and voice guidance if you need help seeing or hearing.

Ditch the funky, hard old loofah. The long handle helps you finally reach that tricky spot on your back.

Clip it to your book and read all night without waking anyone. Over 7,000 bookworms gave it 4.6 stars.

Great for side, back or stomach sleepers. You can even adjust how firm they are for your ideal comfort.

Keep your grill clean and rust-free. Flexible, food-grade and tough enough for all-season protection.

These are dishwasher safe (yes, really) and made of stainless steel. Bonus: built-in sharpener.

🛒 More cheap thrills await: There are plenty more deals I couldn’t fit in this list. I put these and 15 more hidden gems on my Amazon storefront. Check them out and grab them before they’re all gone.

🚨 Gmail scam alert: If you use Gmail or Google Cloud, heads up, hackers just leaked a massive database with over 2.5 billion names, email addresses and company details. That means you’re more likely to be hit with phishing emails, scam login pages or fake calls pretending to be Google support. Google says your passwords are safe for now, but don’t wait to take action. Turn on passkeys for phishing-proof logins, run a Google Security Checkup, and never trust an unexpected call claiming to be from Google. Once your info is out there, it’s out there, but how you protect yourself next is what counts.

Claude goes anti-bomb: If you were thinking about assembling a nuke recently, tough luck. Anthropic, with U.S. government backing, built a filter that blocks chats about making nukes. Think of it as a toddler lock on national security: keeps you from asking AI how to split atoms but still lets you order pizza.

I made the switch to Consumer Cellular: Same reliable nationwide coverage as the big guys, but for way less. And if you’re over 50, get two lines with unlimited talk, text and data for $60. No hidden fees, and customer support is U.S.-based. Save $25 with code KIM25.*  

Remember when computers took up half the desk? Apple’s testing a new more powerful version of its Tupperware-size Mac mini with a next-gen M5 chip. More speed, smoother graphics, same tiny size. Rumored to cost $600, which is less than you paid for your Dell in 1998. I use a Mac mini with a Pro Display XDR every day!

Their faces went viral without them: TikTok paid actors as little as $500 to license their faces for AI avatars (paywall link), which are now appearing in ads for horoscope apps, supplements and insurance quotes, even in other languages, sometimes on other platforms like YouTube. The actors don’t get royalties, can’t control the content and didn’t realize how far it would go. It was all in the fine print.

📬 Dad jokes? I think you mean pun-ishment: A retired teacher with a Ph.D. is handwriting hundreds of emotional, intentionally corny letters to strangers who just want a dad-style pep talk. The “Dad Letter Project” exploded overnight on TikTok. It’s like getting a warm hug and a bad joke from someone else’s highly literate father. No AI. Just authentic dad energy. So awesome. Speaking of… “Dad, are we pyromaniacs?” “Yes, we arson.” 🔥

⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Set a sleep timer on your TV, so it powers off if you nod off. Look under Settings > Timers or General. I keep mine at 120 minutes.

👋 Weekend chores are more fun with company. Catch my award-winning weekend radio show on a station near you. Not sure where and when? Enter your ZIP code into my handy-dandy station finder, or get my show’s podcast to listen on your schedule.

Turn off Windows 11 notifications: Some app alerts get annoying fast. Go to Settings > System > Notifications > Notifications from apps and other senders, and toggle off the ones you don’t want. To silence them all, go back to Settings > System > Notifications, and turn it off completely.

Feeling left behind? Download NetSuite’s free knowledge drop, “The CFO’s Guide to AI and Machine Learning.” No matter what you do, you should know more about AI. It’s not going anywhere.*

🔙 Jump back to Google results on Mac: In Safari, if you’ve clicked through a bunch of links from a Google search, don’t tap the back button over and over. Instead, press Command + Option + S to snap right back to your most recent search results. 

📱 Check for keyloggers on your phone: These apps can record keystrokes and messages, then send them to hackers. Common ones to watch out for? Hoverwatch and mSpy. Make it a habit to check your installed apps list regularly. If you spot something new or weird, Google the name to see what it is.

✨ Lots of cool stuff going down in the studio. Blink and you might miss it.

🎧 On this week’s show: Schools secretly spying on kids at home, China building a $14K pregnancy robot that can carry a baby start to finish, and yep – translation earbuds are finally here. Don’t miss it! 👉 Tap to listen now.

🤖 George is back! My AI sidekick has thoughts on why some carmakers are quietly pulling updates from smart cars and what that means for you. (Hint: your “smart” ride might not stay smart.) ✨ Hear George’s hot take.

⚡ Juice jacking alert: You’re at the airport, your phone’s dying and that free USB charging station looks tempting. Don’t plug in. This viral FB video explains why it’s one of the worst mistakes you can make. 

📞 Got a wild tech story or burning question? If we pick you for the show, you’ll snag a $25 gift card. Just say you saw this in the newsletter! 👉 Send me your story.

Missed the show? No worries, you can catch it anytime right here.

Hang onto your Clif Bars 

A famed Italian mountaineer is being accused of summit catfishing. That’s right, stolen REI valor. 

Marco Confortola claims he climbed all 14 of the world’s tallest peaks, but fellow climbers say some of his “proof” photos are stolen or Photoshopped. One selfie supposedly shows him atop Lhotse, but it looks a lot like another climber’s pic, just with bonus digital snow.

Confortola denies everything and blames jealousy. “Because I’m nice,” he said in a classic villain origin quote. Rumor is he climbed a glass wall to see what was on the other side.

🧬 The answer: C) A strand of DNA. In 2016, researchers at Harvard encoded a five-frame clip of a galloping horse, originally captured by Eadweard Muybridge in 1878, into synthetic DNA. 

Why? Because DNA can store up to 215 petabytes (that’s 215 million gigabytes) per gram. That’s like shoving every episode of every show you’ve ever binged into a molecule. Science, you sly fox.

Fun fact: While your phone freaks out over low battery by 5 p.m., DNA data could survive thousands of years under the right conditions. So your great-great-great-grandkids might find your TikToks next to ancient fossils. You’re welcome?

🐸 A frog got his DNA test back. He’s part Scottish, part Irish and a tad Pole. (lol)

Think you’re safe online? So did the last million people who got hacked. I use NordProtect because it cuts through the noise and protects what matters. Save 65% while you still can.

This is the #1 tech newsletter in the United States. Tomorrow, I’m going over how planes are getting smarter, quieter and way easier to fly. 

✌️ Until then, keep learning, keep laughing, and never stop pressing that power button on life. I’m proud of you. 💡 — Kim

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