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Happy Tuesday, {{first_name | friend}}. My Christmas Cash Giveaway is going strong, and today it’s powered by ImproveLife. If you’re fighting cravings or have low energy, GLP-1 Support helps curb appetite and boost metabolism naturally without stimulants. Until midnight, get up to 50% off plus a free gift using this special link.** Every single day, one lucky subscriber of this newsletter wins a $100, $200 or $500 Amazon gift card, so check the Golden Ticket below to see if it’s you!
🔤 Speaking of winning, some 14.9 million cozy mornings begin with coffee and Wordle. For years, “ADIEU” reigned supreme among players who wanted to knock out the vowels early.
The New York Times’ WordleBot analyzed all the games to find the best starting word. Is it: A) AUDIO, B) MEDIA, C) TRACE or D) PIZZA? The answer’s waiting at the end, no peeking!
✅ Mark this as “not spam” so I can avoid that scary folder. There are too many Bed Bath & Beyond coupons in there. — Kim
📬 Was this forwarded to you? Be the first to know, not the last to hear. Sign up now. It’s free!
TODAY’S DEEP DIVE
Surprise sibling season
Image: Gemini
Most people take a 23andMe or AncestryDNA test for fun. Maybe you want to confirm an Irish ancestry or learn something about your health. Well, that’s what you think.
What you don’t expect is a complete stranger showing up claiming to be your long lost brother or sister and asking for a piece of the inheritance. That’s exactly what the WSJ reported (paywall link) is happening to more families, and the stories are wild.
I’ve told you for years not to give 23andMe your DNA. These people obviously didn’t listen.
🩸 But we’re blood
Let me start with Amanda. When her father died, she and her sister received an inheritance. Soon after, she got a message from a woman who said she was their surprise half sister. She took a DNA test, matched with the sisters’ tests and wanted her share of the money. Their dad never mentioned another child. Still, the DNA spoke for him.
Then there’s Ryan. His father died years earlier, and everything was settled. Until a man from another state matched with him and claimed to be his half brother. He went to court, and the judge agreed to reopen the estate. Ryan had to split money with his new half brother.
A family in Boston thought they’d closed their father’s estate when an estranged daughter showed up after finding two half sisters through a DNA match. She met them, shared stories, looked through her dad’s old photo albums, then filed legal action demanding part of a multimillion‑dollar malpractice settlement for her dad’s misdiagnosis.
Another family in Utah went through something similar. Their father passed away years earlier. Then a half brother surfaced through a DNA match and insisted he was entitled to a portion of the inheritance. After a long legal fight, the court agreed and granted him a share.
As DNA databases grow, more surprise relatives are popping up. Some want connection. Some want answers. Some want money.
✍️ Check your will
So how do you protect your estate from being reopened or challenged after you’re gone?
You have to ask a lawyer. I’m definitely not one. But it seems that things need to be really explicit in your will.
Name every beneficiary by full legal name. Don’t rely on general terms like children or descendants. Add a clause stating that anyone not known to you at the time of signing is excluded. And update your documents regularly so the law reflects your wishes, not DNA tech alone.
Know someone who might have a bonus child? Forward this newsletter or use the share icons below.
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THE KIM KOMANDO SHOW
Digital clues to catch a cheating spouse
Right now, about 1.2 million spouses are cheating. Tech is giving them sneakier ways to do it. Here are the digital red flags you need to look for. Plus, I help Demetra from Louisville, KY. Her daughter is a doctor being attacked by fake bad reviews. I look at how to save a professional reputation.
🎧 Or listen now wherever you get your podcasts, search for “Komando.”
WEB WATERCOOLER
🦺 Rebar gold rush: We’re 440,000 workers short (paywall link) in construction. AI data centers need an army to build out, and they’re dishing up $100K to $225K salaries, free meals and job security. One guy said he hasn’t sat between gigs in years. If someone you know is looking for a job, send them this.
$11M walk-in robbery: A San Francisco man (Sam Altman’s ex-boyfriend to be exact) got robbed of $11 million in crypto after letting a fake delivery guy (paywall link) into his home. The thief asked him to “sign for the package,” then pulled a gun, duct-taped him, gained access to his wallets and left with his laptop and phone. Scary stuff. As they said in World War II, “loose lips sink ships.”
😡 Fueled by spite: Remember when kids would parrot everything you said word for word to get a rise out of you? Oxford named “rage bait” the 2025 Word of the Year. Posts and comments designed to make you furious tripled in use this year. It beat out “aura farming” and “biohack” for the crown.
Zuck’s dating empire: Facebook Dating is pulling 21 million users, with Gen Z sneaking in for the match. It’s free, built into the main app and powered by an AI assistant that helps you “skip the swipe.” No ads, no tiers, no roses. Only Zuck helping you find someone who isn’t emotionally unavailable and still uses Facebook.
The remote uprising: Netflix killed phone-to-TV casting for nearly everyone, unless you’re clinging to an ancient Chromecast and shelling out for the ad-free $18 plan. They quietly flipped the switch on Nov. 10 and hoped no one would notice. We did.
🦴 Man’s best friend: OK, this isn’t tech, but I love when we can help our heroes. A veteran with nine deployments, hanging on by a thread, was saying his final goodbyes when he found a crumpled card for Northwest Battle Buddies. That led him to Kayden, a black lab trained specifically to interrupt the spiral of PTSD. The nonprofit recently graduated their 300th service dog pair, providing these companions for free. Proof that sometimes, the only thing strong enough to pull a soldier back from the edge is a wet nose and a wagging tail.
DAILY TECH UPDATE
ChatGPT reports your convos to the police
What happens between you and AI is constantly watched. It could even land you in jail. Listen to this short podcast for the details.
🎧 Or listen now wherever you get your podcasts, search for “Komando.”
DEALS OF THE DAY
Buckle up for Travel Tuesday
I’m here to help you navigate your next trip and save you some bucks.
✈️ Jack of all trades: AirFly SE (35% off, $26)
This little gadget lets you use headphones and earbuds with things that are too old to have Bluetooth, like airplane TVs or gym machines. You plug it in, and it sends the sound to your wireless headphones like magic. Amazing really!
Image: Twelve South
✨ Glow getter: This foldable mirror (50% off, $20) lights your face evenly and zooms in when you need precision. Charge it up, and you’re ready for touch-ups at airports and dingy hotel rooms.
Pretty practical: A travel jewelry case (26% off, $12) keeps your bling from tangling. With multiple pockets for necklaces, earrings, rings and more, everything stays in its lane.
🚗 Junk in your trunk? Keep it all in place with a car organizer (42% off, $19). Sturdy when you need it, folds flat when you don’t. Great for road trips, camping or hauling groceries.
Soap on the go: Add water to these dissolvable soap sheets (28% off, $14) to wash your hands anywhere. They come in three scents, so you can switch it up. Bye, gross rest-stop bathrooms.
🔒 Hands off your data: You asked for RFID-blocking cards (30% off, $7, six-pack), and they’re back. Slide one into your wallet, and block digital pickpockets. Cheap, simple security.
Pack smart, spend less: Amazon’s deals page is loaded with the latest lightning bargains.
DEVICE ADVICE
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Did you accidentally close a browser tab? Press Ctrl + Shift + T (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + T (Mac). It instantly reopens the last closed tab (and keeps your back-history intact). You can press it multiple times to reopen the last 10+ tabs you closed. Bravo!
Lower your screen timeout: Ever leave your phone on the table and forget to lock it? The screen slowly eats away at your battery. On Android, go to Settings > Display > Screen timeout. On iPhone, open Settings > Display & Brightness > Auto-Lock. Set it to 30 seconds or a minute to save some juice.
Stop the tracking today: Every time you go online, Big Tech and your internet provider track what you do and sell that data. Want it to stop? I use ExpressVPN to stay private and secure. It hides your IP address, encrypts your connection and actually works. It’s the only VPN I trust and recommend. Take back your privacy now and get 4 extra months when you sign up. That’s the best deal anywhere.*
📺 Make your TV look sharper (the right way): The Sharpness setting doesn’t actually add detail. It enhances only edges. Real clarity comes from your TV’s resolution and the quality of the video source. Setting Sharpness around 5% to 20% gives a more natural image.
🎙️ Record your ideas on Windows: Use the built-in Sound Recorder app. Search for it in the Start menu, turn on your mic and click the big red button to start recording. Tap Mark to bookmark important moments. In the three-dot menu (top right), you can change the recording format and audio quality. Love this for you.
WHAT THE TECH?
Image: Acemate
🎾 Serves you right
Itching to play tennis but your partner is making excuses? I’m sure you have “work stuff” on a Sunday morning, Charles.
Meet Acemate, the world’s first tennis robot that rallies, catches and serves like an actual human minus the line-calling arguments. It zips around on wheels, tracks your shots with 4K binocular cameras, scoops up balls like a hungry Roomba and fires them back at up to 80 mph.
It’s about $2,500, which is either insane or a bargain, depending how annoying your tennis friends are.
LOGGING OUT …
The answer: C) TRACE. Why? It’s flush with high-frequency consonants and the most common letter placement patterns. Consonants, especially the Big Five (R, S, T, L, N), help you solve puzzles faster.
🧻 What’s the best thing about playing Wordle on the toilet? You can eliminate vowels and your bowels at the same time. (You laughed because it’s true!)
Tomorrow, I’m unpacking brushing scams, fake reviews and how your porch “gift” could lead to a full-on account breach.
This is the #1 free tech newsletter in the United States.
🔒 Your peace is worth protecting, even if that means saying no. I have trouble with that, too. — Kim
📣 Don’t keep me a secret: Send your friends to GetKim.com
Photo credit(s): Gemini, Twelve South, Acemate
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.