📬 Did someone forward this to you? Sign up here. Tomorrow: The NBA season is tipping off with smart basketballs, AI cameras and replays that look like a video game. I’ll break down what’s cool, what’s creepy and what to know before you link your fantasy or betting accounts.
Welcome to your Saturday, {{first_name | friend}}. Before QR codes became the confetti of modern life, we had menus with actual pages. Wild times. Now these little pixel mazes are on parking meters, TV ads, flyers and someone’s forearm at a tech conference.
Ever noticed some QR codes have a big company logo smack in the middle? Yet your phone scans it fine. QR codes are tougher than they look. Scratch them, smudge them, cover a corner and they keep working.
📱 How much of a QR code can be damaged or covered before it stops working? A) Even 5% breaks it, B) 10%, C) Up to 30%, D) It’s fine unless you squint. Take your guess, the answer is scanning in at the end.
📻 Listen up! My national radio show is airing all weekend across the USA. With over 510 stations strong, find your closest one by using our super-duper station locator map, or listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart or watch the entire show on YouTube. I’m wherever you are. — Kim
TODAY’S DEEP DIVE
Latte-dah, hackers
Image: ChatGPT/Kim Komando
🤯 WOW! A crook can set up a free hotspot with the same name as the coffee shop’s, and your phone may join it without asking. From there, every site you visit runs through his laptop. And that padlock you’ve trusted for years? Google pulled it from Chrome, because nearly every scam site has one, too.
The Short Version: Most banking sites encrypt your data, but fake hotspots, trap sign-in pages and phony padlocks still make public Wi-Fi risky. Here’s how to spot them, plus the easy fix. Steps below.
📖 Read time: 2 minutes
“Hi, Kim, I was interested in what you said about how when you are using public Wi-Fi, anyone can see what you do. How is that possible? Will NordVPN protect me from that? I do my banking and email on the public Wi-Fi.” — Ed in Minnesota
Ed, let me clear something up first. Your password isn’t floating through the coffee shop for anyone to read. Most websites and banking apps scramble what you send. Chrome warns you before opening a site that doesn’t.
The problems? Plenty.
☕ What can still go wrong
The fake network. A crook names a hotspot “Coffee_Shop_Guest.” Your phone joins. Now your traffic runs through his laptop, and he can steer you to a look-alike bank login.
The trap page. Many networks make you click through a sign-in page. A fake one can ask for your email password or a card number. Real ones don’t need either.
The padlock lie. Nearly all phishing sites have one. Google dropped it from Chrome because people thought it meant safe. It only means private, even on a fake.
The names still show. Even on a secure connection, the network can see which sites you visit and when.
Old apps and devices. Not everything encrypts, especially that app you never update.
Before your next latte:
Check the exact network name with an employee.
Turn off auto-join for public Wi-Fi on your phone and laptop.
Bank on cellular data instead.
🔒 The easy fix for public Wi-Fi
Yes, Ed, a VPN closes most of these gaps. It wraps everything leaving your device in an encrypted tunnel before it ever hits that sketchy network. The coffee shop sees you’re on a VPN. Not your bank. Not your email.
I tested the big ones before choosing the official VPN of The Kim Komando Show. That’s NordVPN. My whole family uses it.
Here’s what you get:
Auto-connect. It turns on by itself when you join Wi-Fi, so you never forget.
Threat Protection. This blocks known dangerous sites and trackers.
Kill Switch. It cuts your internet if the VPN drops, so nothing slips out unprotected.
Coverage. One account covers up to 10 devices.
Really works. Independent auditors at Deloitte checked its no-logs policy for the sixth time.
Speed is where VPNs usually let you down. You flip one on and suddenly Netflix is buffering like it’s 2009. So I looked for hard numbers, not marketing.
Independent testing firm Artifact Security put NordVPN and ExpressVPN through the same lab test across 55 routes on three continents. NordVPN came out on top with an overall score of 91, compared with 84 for ExpressVPN. On Android, NordVPN downloaded at 526.6 Mbps to ExpressVPN’s 494.8. The bigger gap was upload speed: 223.3 Mbps vs. 148.9. That’s about 50% faster for video calls, cloud backups and sending photos to the kids.
✅ Get up to 78% off, just $3.37 a month, plus 4 extra months. Grab the deal here.* I would not recommend it if I did not use it myself. Btw, I get no kickbacks or residuals when you buy.
🗣️ Text/post this stat: Google pulled the padlock from Chrome because nearly all scam sites have one, too. A padlock means private, not safe. GetKim.com
📩 Send this to someone who checks their bank account at the airport gate.
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WEB WATERCOOLER
🚨 Your ballot bait: That voter-registration cancellation text you got this morning? It’s a trap dressed in government khaki. The FBI says thousands of Americans have reported emails and texts claiming they’re off the voter rolls. Click, and a fake state election page asks for your name, address, birthday and other identity-theft ingredients. Expect more with Election Day coming Nov. 3. If it feels urgent, it’s most likely a scam. Ignore the link in the text, and type vote.gov yourself. Panic is how these people get paid.
Smudges go premium: If you were about to buy a MacBook this weekend, Apple gave you a reason to wait. Its Pro and Tell event on Wednesday is expected to bring MacBook Pros with OLED touchscreens and fingerprint sensors, plus other Macs and an iPad. Preorders could start that day, with deliveries by Nov. 6. The catch? Reports say they use today’s chips, so your $1,000-plus buys finger-friendly convenience, not necessarily extra speed or horsepower.
💲 How much are you paying per month for your phone? Maybe you’re like me and you never really check your bill. It’s on autopay. Shocker. I bet you’re paying more than you think. I was. If you’re over 50, get an unlimited line for only $35. Get an additional $100 off when you switch today using my link. It’s definitely worth looking at now while you’re thinking about it. Ralph, a reader, told me he’s saving $75/month or $900/year.*
Blood work got breached: If you’ve ever had a blood test, you might get a creepy letter saying a stranger probably saw the results. Quest Diagnostics found unauthorized access (paywall link) to the system doctors use to order tests and view records. It shut that system down, but nobody knows how many patients were affected. Watch your mail and insurance statements for surprise charges. Medical identity theft can turn one routine lab visit into months of cleanup.
🎟️ Friend applications work: Making friends after 30 now involves publicly listing your hobbies (paywall link) like a used Subaru with emotional bandwidth. In Florida, one woman offered homemade baked goods on TikTok and drew more than 800 comments, but only one real-life friend. In St. Louis, another guy got roughly 40 Reddit replies after naming his favorite Six Flags ride. He met his best friends and built a whole circle. Specificity works. Bring cookies and disclose your roller-coaster loyalties.
🚨 Last call: My merch drop ends tomorrow
This is your final chance to grab it.
Tomorrow night, my merch drop closes, and the crewneck, tee, jumbo tote and beanie disappear. They won’t be back next month. Or ever.
If you’ve been waiting, stop waiting. The tee is $28, an easy pick for everyone on your list. Toss in the beanie, or go all in and grab the whole collection. Prices start at $20.
No restocks. No reprints. No second chances.
🎤 PODCAST: THE KIM KOMANDO SHOW
His Tesla made the call he couldn’t
John was driving his Tesla when the chest pain hit. Hard. He knew something was very wrong. His son, Jack, was miles away. Then Jack’s phone rang. It was the Tesla. What Jack did next, with nothing but an app on his phone, got his dad to a hospital. Doctors found a massive heart attack.
John and Jack join me to tell the whole story, minute by minute. I’ve done this show a long time. This call gave me chills.
Here’s why you need to hear it: Your car can probably do things you don’t know about. Most people never open that menu. After this episode, you will.
Also in this episode: Maria found a security camera outside her exam room at the gynecologist, the peace sign selfie may leak your fingerprints, AI made copies of itself, how to catch a cheater with their own phone, AI chats can be used in court, Southwest banned robots from flights, and wait until you hear how Tom’s drones tell lost delivery drivers where to go. It’s the future.
DEVICE ADVICE
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Three minutes in and still waiting for the point? On YouTube, press and hold the video for 2x speed, then release to return to normal. On your phone, double-tap right to skip ahead 10 seconds or left to go back. On a computer, use L and J. We came for the recipe, not the family history. 😅
📊 Tired of QuickBooks? So was I. That’s why I switched to NetSuite. We’re implementing it here, and the visibility it gives me into my business is something I didn’t know I was missing. If your revenue is at least seven figures, download the free business guide at NetSuite.com/Kim.*
🤳🏻 Easier to show it than explain it: In the ChatGPT app, tap + in the message bar > Camera or Photos to take or select a picture, then ask a question. For example “What does this symbol on my washing machine mean?” Handy when the manual disappeared years ago. In mobile Chrome, tap the camera icon beside Search to get answers, too.
🚨 Still on Windows 11 24H2? Final reminder: Home and Pro received their last security update this month. Your computer will keep working, but Microsoft’s no longer fixing the flaws hackers could sneak through. Open Settings > System > About to check your version, then Settings > Windows Update for the free upgrade. If “later” was the plan last week, this is later.
👀 The game is yours. My messages aren’t: Before lending your iPhone, hold an app’s icon and choose Require Face ID to lock it. For extra privacy, tap Hide and Require Face ID to remove it from the Home Screen and stop its notifications. Find it in the Hidden folder at the bottom of App Library. Little fingers do tend to wander.
🌙 Too bright, even on the lowest setting? On Android, open Settings > Accessibility > Vision enhancements and turn on Extra dim. It darkens the screen beyond the usual minimum. Add it to Quick Settings for easy access. Tap it on for late-night scrolling, then off to return to normal. No fiddling with that slider again in the morning.
🍏 Less Dock, more screen: Apple fills your Mac’s Dock with its own apps. Why stare at ones you never use? Right-click one > Options > Remove from Dock. Then open System Settings > Desktop & Dock. Adjust Size for smaller icons and Magnification for how much they grow when you hover. The apps stay installed. They just lose their front-row seats.
KIM’S DAILY DEALS
As an Amazon Associate, some links pay us a commission at no extra cost to you. Keeps this newsletter free. Thank you.
🤖 Tech it to the next level
Five clever gadgets I’d own or gift.
📺 Safer streaming: Fire TV Stick 4K (50% off, $30)
New release
Give your old TV a brain boost. Ask Alexa+ what you want to watch, and Wi-Fi 6 keeps buffering to a minimum. Security bonus: It blocks downloads from unknown sources, so sketchy apps can’t easily sneak in.
Image: Amazon
🎧 Snooze soundly: This Bluetooth sleep mask (17% off, $30) has built-in speakers that won’t dig into your ears. Pop them out on laundry day.
Glow big this season: Wrap these cluster lights (13% off, $26) around a window, railing or tree. Waterproof, so they shine indoors or out.
🔌 Ten sockets, one strip: Tessan’s surge protector (20% off, $20) packs six outlets, four USB ports and a plug that hugs the wall behind furniture.
Stocking stuffer alert: A phone holder (50% off, $6) shaped like a hand making a peace sign or thumbs-up. Tilt it for hands-free video calls.
💻 Upgrading your computer? Don’t overspend on the wrong machine. Tap here for my top 20 laptop and desktop recs.
Prices and deals were accurate at the time of publication.
WHAT THE TECH?
Image: Spirit Halloween
👻 Talk scary to me
Your front yard can finally talk back, which seems unnecessary when you have neighbors.
Spirit Halloween’s $299.99 Willow Witch responds when trick-or-treaters speak to her, thanks to what Spirit calls industry-first conversation tech. Meanwhile, Home Depot’s 12-foot Skelly has a $379 app-controlled upgrade. You can talk through him live over Bluetooth or load up to 30 recordings.
So your lawn is transformed into a haunted call center with plastic bones and zero benefits. The scariest part? Your HOA has never had so much material.
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LOGGING OUT …
🎓 What you learned today: Public Wi-Fi has more risks than you think, fake voter-registration texts steal personal data, MacBooks may get touchscreens, a Quest Diagnostics breach exposed medical records and making friends after 30 might start with a specific online post. Not bad for one email. Basketball is getting a software update. Tomorrow, I’ll show you how the NBA is rolling out sensor-packed balls, 3D tracking, AI-powered stats and Prime Video replays that can fly around the court.
👾 The answer: C) Up to 30%. QR codes have built-in error correction, which is a fancy way of saying they come with backup data.
At the highest setting, a scanner can still read the code even if about 30% of it is damaged, smudged or covered up. That’s why brands can drop a chunky logo right in the middle and still expect your phone to do its little scan-and-beep victory dance.
Now the scary part: Scammers love QR codes. They paste fake QR stickers over real ones on parking meters and signs. Before you scan, make sure it’s not some sticker slapped on. After you scan, read the web address before you tap or pay.
Barcodes must be hard to read. You’ve got to read between the lines.
💛 Even with 30% scratched off, a QR code still works. Turns out we’re built the same way. Chipped, smudged, still getting the job done— Kim
Kim Komando • Komando.com • 510+ radio stations • Trusted by millions daily
🏆 THE KIM CHALLENGE: Forward this to ONE person who needs to hear it today. Pick the person who popped into your head while reading. You know who it is.
Photo credit(s): ChatGPT/Kim Komando, Amazon, Spirit Halloween
Companies and products denoted by an asterisk (*) within this publication are paid sponsors or advertisements. As an Amazon Associate, the publisher earns from qualifying purchases. Statements regarding products denoted by a double asterisk (**) have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration; such products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This newsletter is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, medical, or professional advice of any kind. Readers should consult with a qualified professional before making any decisions based on this content. The publisher disclaims all liability for any loss, damage, or injury resulting from the use of or reliance on the information contained herein.