🔐 Is your browser betraying you?

Here’s a wish for a happy Sunday, {{first_name | friend}}. Ever wonder how Google captures the world, one pixel at a time? Most of the magic comes from their camera-loaded, globe-trotting Street View cars. But what happens when the roads run out?

Turns out, there was one landscape so tricky, Google had to call in some nonhuman help. What was the first animal Google enlisted to carry its Street View gear where cars couldn’t go? Was it a: A) Bird, B) Camel, C) Gorilla or D) Penguin? The answer takes a wild turn, and no, it’s not the one you’d expect. Stick around to the end to see a great action photo.

📺 Tired of scrolling for something worth watching? Head to my YouTube channel! It’s packed with smart tips, real laughs and tech talk that actually matters. Click now and enjoy screen time that’s finally worth it. — Kim

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I got a question from a listener named Jim K., and it’s the kind that sticks with you.

“I checked Have I Been Pwned and found one account breached twice, another nine times, and another five times. I keep my usernames and passwords in Notes. I don’t let websites store my credit card info, but I do reuse passwords. I’m not sure I trust password managers. And I really don’t want to change every password the next time there’s a breach.”

Jim, you’re not alone. Most people, especially smart, careful folks like you, are in the exact same boat. That’s why I’m sharing this.

Once a password is leaked, hackers use credential stuffing to try logging in across hundreds of sites. And when you reuse passwords, you’ve made their job a whole lot easier.

Here’s what’s happening behind the scenes:

And no, your Notes app won’t protect you. It’s not encrypted, and if someone gets into your phone or iCloud, they’ve got your entire digital life. Stop that now. Browser-stored passwords? Same problem, they’re often just a click away from being stolen.

This is where a dedicated password manager comes in. It’s not some clunky tech tool. It’s like autofill, but encrypted and actually safe.

I get the hesitation. I was skeptical, too. But I’ve tested dozens of options, and the one I trust with my own accounts is NordPass. (Full disclosure: They’re a longtime sponsor of my national radio show.) They use zero-knowledge encryption, so not even NordPass can see inside your vault.

They also include a dark web breach scanner, so you’ll know right away if any of your account logins and passwords have been leaked. That’s a huge win in today’s scam-heavy world.

If you’re still on the fence, now’s the time to make the switch. Even though you’re reading my newsletter, you can still get the radio show discounted price.

✅ NordPass is only $1.24/month. Btw, if you sign up, I get no kickbacks or residuals.

Jim, and anyone else feeling that uneasy “what if,” this is one of the smartest moves you can make to protect yourself, your finances and your peace of mind.

Caller Josh says his kid’s obsession has crossed the line and even turned inappropriate. A must-hear for parents. Plus, the NBA’s high-tech gambling mess, OpenAI’s for-profit shake-up, and new scams that can clone your voice in real time.

Listen on Komando.com →

🎧 Or listen now on your favorite platform:

Your messes are shaking right now (as they should).

🧽 Real bowl-buster: Finally, a toilet brush (53% off, $8) that doesn’t turn into a germ swamp. Silicone bristles + flexible head = one clean porcelain throne.

Dusty window screens? This screen cleaner brush (23% off, $16) scrubs dirt straight out of the mesh. No uninstalling, no drama.

💥 Tiny insects, big solution: BugMD’s pest control kit (33% off, $40) is safe for pets and people, but ruthless for creepy crawlers. Balance restored.

For “oops” moments: Keep Tide’s travel stain remover (38% off, $8) in your bag or glove box. When something spills, just spray, dab and strut.

🛒 Your cart upgrade starts now: Click this secret link to see which of your go-to items are on sale. I bet you’ll be shocked by how many show up.

🛞 Altman’s $50K ghost car: Ever order something that took too long to ship? Sam Altman’s been waiting 7.5 years for his Tesla Roadster. This week, he finally asked for his $50,000 deposit back, and Tesla’s email bounced. Really. The car? Still MIA. The refund? Also MIA. The drama? Very much alive. I’d say it’s like pouring gas on the Musk-Altman beef, except, you know, it’s electric. Oh, on Joe Rogen’s podcast the other day, Musk said the new Roadster will fly!

Fake CEO fiasco: Apparently 100,000 people watched a fake NVIDIA livestream where an AI-generated version of CEO Jensen Huang told them to send crypto to “advance humanity.” I mean, buddy, that’s like your boss asking for rent money during a PowerPoint. The wildest part? It got five times more live viewers than the real NVIDIA event.

Your inbox holds your entire life: Family photos, bank info, travel plans, everything. But here’s the problem: Free email providers aren’t really free. They scan, track and sell your data. That’s why I trust StartMail. It keeps your emails truly private, blocks trackers and spam, and even lets you create unlimited disposable addresses so you stay anonymous. No snoops. No ads. Just secure, private email. Take back your privacy today. Get a 7-day free trial and 60% off today!*

🔥 Fire drill: Picture this, you’re an Amazon driver in California, and your route literally runs through a wildfire, smoke everywhere. You call dispatch thinking they’ll tell you to turn back. Instead? “Do what you can.” That’s what Johnny heard. Amazon’s apps track every blink, brake and sip of water, but they can’t seem to provide basic safety guidance like not driving into a fire. 

Drive-thru showdown: In the most exciting event since race walking, Taco Bell clocked the fastest drive-thru time in America, again. Four minutes, start to finish. Chick-fil-A might smile more, but Taco Bell feeds you faster. The study also says AI drive-thrus are less accurate than humans. Yeah, your next taco might come quicker, but maybe with someone else’s Baja Blast.

Ever feel like your body’s buffering? Check out Native Hydrate from NativePath. With clean energy and zero sugar, it might help you feel more awake and focused. Use my link to give it a try, and get 44% off!*

Walking the walk: You’ve gotta see this. People with paralysis are walking again thanks to a self-balancing robotic suit. No walker, no cables, just pure movement. One guy stood up and hugged his daughter for the first time in three years. Watch the video; it’s the kind of hope you feel. I love when tech actually helps in such an amazing way.

If you’re flying for Thanksgiving or Christmas, don’t wait. I have the insider tricks airlines don’t tell you.

Listen on Komando.com →

🎧 Or listen now on your favorite platform:

⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Searching for documents on Google? Add filetype: to your search. Try filetype:pdf tax form, filetype:doc resume template, or filetype:ppt marketing slideshow. You really need to remember this one. It’s a time saver.

Sync your Kindle devices: Reading the same book on your phone and e-reader? No need to remember the last page. Go to Settings > Device options and toggle on Sync. Your reading position, notes and highlights update automatically, so you can pick up right where you left off. FYI: Both devices must be connected to the internet. 

Speak to ChatGPT: You can talk out loud instead of typing. I use it when I want to work through a longer thought and like feeling there’s someone on the other side (you can also choose a voice type). To try it, open a new chat and tap Use voice mode. Your convo will show up as text afterward. Oh, and don’t forget to hit the mic.

Online privacy isn’t a maybe, it’s a must: ExpressVPN hides your IP, encrypts your data and keeps snoops out of your business, whether you’re streaming, shopping or scrolling. Fast, secure and simple to use. Get four extra months here.*

Keep your iPad organized: Download a ton of apps? Your screen can get cluttered fast. Head to Settings > Home Screen & App Library. Under Newly Downloaded Apps, toggle App Library Only. Then under Dock, turn on Show App Library in Dock. New apps will skip your home screen but stay easy to find in your Dock. Neat. 

🍁 Be the fall guy: Want to see autumn colors at their peak? Don’t guess, look at a real-time foliage map before you hit the road. Visit Explore Fall and search your state, then use the slider to see when leaves will reach their brightest. You can also view this basic U.S. map and ask your favorite AI chatbot to plan a scenic route around the best date.

🚶🏼‍♀️ Take me on a walk: Click to listen to my latest show on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart, Pandora or wherever you get your podcasts. I also make chores go by faster!

Get lost in the stars: Explore an interactive night sky from your browser. 

Be an internet historian: Capture a permanent snapshot of a page in case it disappears or changes.

Get a new view: WindowSwap lets you open a new window somewhere in the world. Such a cool thing! I got a lake in Tennessee and a cat lady’s patio.

💰 Save money: Hit this link to see if anything you’ve bought on Amazon is on sale. I do this for stuff I use a lot.

Soothe the brain: Mix ambient sounds to build your custom focus or relax to theme music.

The answer: B) Camel. In 2014, Google strapped a Street View camera onto a camel to capture the vast, vehicle-inaccessible dunes of the Liwa Oasis in the UAE. It’s one of the few times a camel contributed to technology without spitting on it first. The 62-mile scenic desert near Abu Dhabi has some of the world’s biggest dunes. If you want to see the cool video, it’s here.

🐪 How do camels learn to mate? They read the “Llama Sutra.” I know, alpaca my bags and go now.

Tomorrow: AI takes on America’s most confusing bill. ICU charges, mystery fees and how a chatbot slashed $160,000 off a hospital invoice, no insurance rep required. This is the #1 free tech newsletter in the United States. 

✨ You’re the sparkle this timeline needs. See you tomorrow, same magic hour. — Kim

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Photo credit(s): Bing Image Creator, Labigo, Google

Companies noted with an asterisk (*) sponsor my national radio show. Also, as an Amazon Associate, we earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

This newsletter and its content are intended for informational purposes only. They are provided without warranty of any kind. You shouldn’t construe anything provided here as legal, health, medical, technical, tax, investment, financial or any other kind of advice.

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