🚩 Scammers love this app (and you shouldn’t)

Welcome to your Thursday, {{first_name | friend}}. Once upon a dial-up connection, in a house lit by incandescent bulbs and AOL CDs stacked like coasters, there was a game. A legendary time-waster, if you will.

But it wasn’t only for fun. It was undercover training. Microsoft once preinstalled a game into Windows to slyly teach people how to use their mouse. Which one was it? A) Minesweeper, B) Solitaire, C) Hearts or D) FreeCell? Guess now or forever wonder. (Just kidding, answer’s at the end!) 

😎 Don’t gatekeep the good stuff. Forward this newsletter to that one coworker or friend who still uses “password” as a password. You know the one. — Kim

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“Kim, I heard the call with the man who lost $60,000 in a crypto scam. You said anytime someone wants to move the conversation to WhatsApp, it’s a scam. Why is that?” — Dennis in Washington

Thanks for the question, Dennis. I’m glad you heard that call. Heartbreaking. And unfortunately, it’s not rare. When someone says, “Let’s move this conversation to WhatsApp,” it’s almost always the beginning of a scam.  

By the way, I don’t know if you’re aware that many of these scammers are victims of human trafficking in Myanmar. They’re forced to work in scam compounds where they spend 12 to 16 hours a day targeting people around the world. 

If they don’t hit their scam dollar quotas, they’re beaten. So it’s not personal, their lives depend on stealing from people.

Scammers are taught to not be watched. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and even regular old email have systems to detect fraud and spam. You can report messages, block shady profiles and sometimes recover lost money.

WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal are a different story. 

These are encrypted apps designed for privacy. Great for your personal life, but also great for criminals. Once the conversation moves there, there are no moderators, no scam detection systems and no help when things go wrong. You’re on your own.

Scammers start where you trust them. Maybe it’s a message from someone who looks legit on LinkedIn. Maybe it’s a friendly DM on Instagram or a Facebook message from someone who says they’re in finance or crypto.

At first, it sounds professional. Then comes the switch:

That’s when the manipulation begins. You’ve stepped off the platform with guardrails and right into their controlled zone. You’re isolated. And once they start asking for your money, there’s no one to step in.

No real financial expert, investor or recruiter will insist on switching platforms to close a deal. If they do, they’re not legit. They’re trying to sell you something shady or set you up to be drained dry.

I’ve talked to so many people who got pulled into these scams. It starts with curiosity and ends with an empty bank account. So here’s your rule: If someone wants to switch to a private app and talk about money, run. You are not being rude. You’re a genius in a world full of impulse-clickers.

Doubling the length of Prime Day backfired. While Amazon expected bigger profits, shoppers used the extra time to comparison shop.

Listen on Komando.com →

📹 No cellfies here: Turns out the FBI does have the “missing minute” from the Epstein prison footage. You know, the one that mysteriously vanished from the DOJ’s public video. The metadata shows it was recorded, just not released. Officials now claim the raw footage exists and shows nothing sketchy, obviously.

🔥 Today is the last day: Microsoft is killing off password storage in its Authenticator app. Your logins were migrated to Edge in early July, and the rest, like payment info, is toast tomorrow, Aug. 1. Passkeys are sticking around, but this is your sign to switch to a new password manager before your digital pantry gets cleaned out on Microsoft’s schedule. I use and recommend NordPass.*

Windows 11 22H2 support is ending: Microsoft will stop security patches and bug fixes for this version on Oct. 14, 2025. To update, go to Settings > Windows Update and enable Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available. FYI: Support for Home and Pro editions already ended last October.

✨ Manifesting, but make it AI: Vision boards are so 2006. Now it’s all about editing yourself into a trailer for your future. AI tools like Freepik and Runway let you simulate dream jobs, podcast guest spots, even private jets, with your own face (paywall link). Does it help? Maybe. Is it a little Black Mirror? Definitely.

🆓 If you run a small business, grab this free guide from NetSuite, “3 Insights for Leaders.” It’s packed with smart tips to help you stay ahead, even when the rules change. Worth the download.*

Lithium-ion battery fire: A home in Fairway, Kansas, caught fire after a lawn mower battery blew up in the garage. It was on the charger when family members heard an explosion, and the fire spread quickly. Thankfully, everyone got out safely. PSA: Charge your electric goodies outside, not in the garage.

🐒 Chimp off the old block: I want to see this in person! Tourists snapping pics at a temple in Bali get their phones and wallets snatched by monkeys. It’s been happening for years, and nobody can stop it. The only way to get your stuff back? Bribe them with fruit, really. (paywall link). Oh, and they know what’s valuable and will barter for better snacks. If they were ducks, they’d want quackers. 

Your next job interview might be with a bot. AI recruiters are screening candidates. Here’s how to impress the algorithm.

Listen on Komando.com →

🌎 I’ve got fixes for the most annoying travel problems.

🛡️ ICYMI: Click here for 25 must-haves you need to stay safe, secure and prepared for the worst on your next trip.

🤑 I use the app Kudos to save money! It’s free, super smart and finds the best rewards and cash back at places like Walmart, Macy’s, AT&T, Verizon, Expedia and over 2 million stores. Use code KIM for $20 back. P.S. If you’re wondering what credit card is best for you, they’ll help with that, too!*

⚡️ 3-second tech genius: If your Echo sounds like it’s underwater, unplug it. Wait 30 seconds, then plug it back in. A good ol’ restart does the trick.

What those F keys actually do: On Windows, press F11 in most browsers to toggle full-screen mode. F2 renames a selected file or folder, and F3 searches within the open app. Alt + F4 closes your current window, and F5 refreshes a page or document. Pretty handy once you know them.

🍏 Clear your iPhone’s browsing data: It’s a quick fix for websites not loading or scrubbing private searches. Go to Settings > Apps > Safari > Clear History and Website Data. Now choose a Timeframe and tap Clear History. FYI: This logs you out of sites, but your autofill info stays.

Clear it out on Android, too: Open Chrome and tap the three dots (top right). Go to Delete browsing data and choose a Timeframe. Now tap More options and make sure Browsing history, Cookies and site data, and Cached images and files are selected. Then hit Delete data at the bottom.

🔗 Make cleaner links on Mac: Sending someone a messy URL in an email? There’s a better way. Type your message, highlight the text you want to turn into a link, and press Command + K. A text box will pop up. Paste your URL with Command + V and click OK. Voilà. A professional hyperlink.

💸 Sky-high steal: Thinking about getting a drone? If you’re a Prime member, now’s your chance to snag the DJI Mini 4K on sale for $249. That’s $50 off the regular price. Sends footage from up to 6 miles away. No FAA registration needed, just unbox and fly.

$16.5 billion
That’s how much Tesla’s spending on AI chips from Samsung, and that’s just the appetizer. Interestingly, not buying ’em from Nvidia. Elon Musk says it’s a “baseline,” which in Musk-speak usually means “buckle up.” The AI6 chips will be homegrown in Texas, giving “Made in America” a futuristic glow-up. 

3 in 4
The number of new grads saying “nah” to working at Big Tech firms. Turns out, job security and vibes matter more than kombucha on tap. Layoffs, ethical murkiness and burnout culture make Google and Meta feel like cautionary tales. Instead, job hunters are going for startups and anywhere they won’t be laid off by lunch.

399 billion
The gallons of water Texas data centers are expected to chug annually by 2030. That’s nearly 7% of the state’s entire projected water use. They’re actually telling people not to take so many showers. Good thing I don’t live in Texas. I love nothing more than getting up at 6 a.m. for a cold shower. So I don’t.

This is incredible science that you’re not going to see anywhere else. I’m not sure why.

Researchers created a paper-thin “metasurface” that reveals different hidden images under altered lighting. Twist the light one way, see the Matterhorn in Switzerland. Twist it another way? See a cockatoo.

Yep, this flat chip shows two totally different images, depending on how the light is polarized. One reveals with normal light, the other with twisted “circular” light. It’s a breakthrough for anti-counterfeiting, drug testing and quantum tech. 

You could soon scan meds or passports, with something smaller than a sticker. Whoa, talk about getting one smart tidbit to impress your family and friends.

💡 Answer: B) Solitaire! That innocent little card game preinstalled on early versions of Windows was actually a sneaky training tool, long before YouTube how-tos.

Oh, you’re gonna hate me for this one. Why couldn’t the sailor play cards? Because the captain was standing on the deck! (Told ya!)

🥳 Join me for my video podcast today. Click here for the fun! I’m the blonde.

This is the #1 tech newsletter in the United States. Tomorrow: Real stories, unreal emotions. True-story movies that emotionally dropkick you in the best way possible. After all, every day is a chance to get smarter, stronger and better. — Kim

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Photo credit(s): ChatGPT, 2025 EPFL Bionanophotonic Systems Lab CC BY SA 4.0

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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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