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It’s a wonderful Wednesday, {{first_name | friend}}. My Christmas Cash Giveaway is in full swing! Every single day, one lucky reader of this newsletter wins a $100, $200 or $500 Amazon gift card, so check the Golden Ticket below to see if it’s you!

⏳ Let’s rewind to Dec. 3, 2001, when a mystery contraption known only by its top-secret code name “Ginger” was revealed live on Good Morning America. This tech launch had both Steve Jobs and Jeff Bezos claiming it would “redesign cities” and be “more important than the internet.” Major hype. Massive budget. Mega flop.

Which of the following was this $5,000 wonder machine? A) Google Glass, B) The Segway, C) The Newton MessagePad or D) The Zune? Check the end to see if you’re right!

👻 Don’t let me ghost you. Emails are weird. One minute we’re connected, the next I’m trapped in the spam dungeon next to fake crypto and sketchy time-share offers. Let’s not let that happen. Tap my name at the top of this email and add me to your Contacts, VIPs or Favorites, whatever your inbox calls its cool kids club. That way, I’ll always land where I belong: front and center with your tech tips and daily dose of “Whoa, I didn’t know that!” — Kim

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Picture this. You’re coming home after a long day and spot an Amazon box on the porch. Maybe the kids or parents sent an early Christmas present?

You open it up, and inside is a cheap pair of sunglasses or a plastic phone case. You think, “Strange. But free is free,” and toss it in a regifting pile.

You got hit with what’s called a brushing scam. Shady online sellers send little junk items to real addresses, so they can post fake “Verified Buyer” reviews under your name. It’s how they game the system.

But how did some scammer in another country get your home address?

A brushing package is not a quirky mistake. It’s a sign your information is floating around in the wrong places. Your name, address, email and who knows what else likely came from a data breach. And if they have your address, odds are good they also have your password from that same breach.

Btw, you get to keep anything sent to you for free. It’s a good idea to alert the online retailer that you got the box, though.

While you’re wrapping presents, hackers are running bots that take your leaked email and password and try them on every site they can think of. Amazon. Netflix. Your bank. Your airline mileage accounts. 

They’re counting on you using the same password or one that is easily guessed everywhere, like most people do. To make it through the season without a hacked account, here’s the rule to live by: Never reuse a password. Every site gets a unique long password.

And yes, I hear you. “Kim, I can’t remember 50 strong passwords with 15 or more characters, numbers and symbols.” You’re not supposed to. That’s what a password manager does, and a lot more. You really should be using one. 

NordPass, the official password manager sponsor of my show, constantly checks the dark web for new breaches. If your email or other personal data shows up, you get an alert right away. This way, you’re not a sitting duck.

Here’s another reason to use a password manager. Say someone visiting wants your Netflix log-in. NordPass lets you share access securely without exposing your password. It’s a nifty feature.

NordPass stores your payment info and autofills it instantly. This way, you beat the bots to the deals and avoid typing anything that a keylogger could steal. This also stops having your credit card details stored in your browser for anyone to grab.

✅ Right now, save 68% and get NordPass for only $0.95 per month, plus get 4 extra months using my radio link.

Perfect photos. Perfect reviews. Perfect lie. AI is powering a rental scam that could wipe out your trip before it starts.

Listen on Komando.com →

🎧 Or listen now wherever you get your podcasts, search for “Komando.”

🚫 The 19-minute bogeyman: A video labeled the “19-minute clip” went viral on Indian social media this week and is moving to us here. It’s rumored to show a couple in a hotel room doing the wild thing, possibly filmed without consent. If the video pops up on your feed, scroll on. 19 minutes? Clearly, it’s deepfaked AI.

Speedrun shopping: Ever order something and spend the next two days staring out the window? “Amazon Now” is rolling out in Seattle and Philly with 30-minute delivery on things like eggs, toothpaste, pet treats and medicine. Prime members pay $3.99 for delivery, non-Prime folks pay $13.99. It runs on tiny, hyperlocal warehouses built for speed. 

Speaking of Amazon: You get a call from “Amazon” about a fake iPhone charge. If you press 1, they calmly walk you through downloading a legit-looking app that gives them remote control of your phone, banking, photos, messages, all of it. Not just your info. Your entire phone. If they say “press 1”? Hang up like it’s on fire.

The kid phone debate: A new study of 10,000+ kids found getting a smartphone before age 12 is linked to higher rates of depression, worse sleep and even obesity. Not proof, but a clear pattern: The younger the phone, the rougher the outcomes. Something to know before giving into the preteen phone whining. 

Speaking of phones: Big Wireless is loaded with hidden fees. I can’t stand it, and that’s why I trust Consumer Cellular. If you’re over 50, here’s the deal: Two lines for just $30 each, and your second month is totally free. One of my readers, Marcus, told me he’s saving $85 a month after switching. That’s over $1,000 a year back in his pocket. You get the same reliable coverage, U.S.-based customer support and no contracts or surprises. Check it now, and I bet you save big bucks, too!*

Bite-size TV: I think this would make me go crazy. People are watching TV one TikTok clip at a time, cropped, out of order, sometimes sped up and usually with text or music on top. Ted Lasso, Grey’s, even Game of Thrones, one minute at a time. The binge is dead. This is TV tapas.

🎯 Analog deer season: Get this. Illinois just banned AI, drones and e-bikes for deer hunting season. Yes, really. Drones ruin fair chase, AI keeps giving bad advice, and e-bikes tear up state land. Bottom line, if you’re hunting with more tech than a Best Buy shelf, you’re doing it wrong. Maybe stick to buying your meat from Trader Joe’s. If only your primal ancestors could see you hunting from a lithium-powered bike.

Online stores track your every move. These pro tips stop them from playing you.

Listen on Komando.com →

🎧 Or listen now wherever you get your podcasts, search for “Komando.”

⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Stop reading 50-page reports or contracts to find one piece of info. Drop the PDF file directly into ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini. Then ask: “What are the 3 biggest red flags in this document?” or “Summarize the budget section in a table.” It turns an hour of reading into 10 seconds of analysis.

🚨 Android alert: Google released a major update that fixes 107 security flaws, including two zero-days already being exploited. These let hackers spy on you or take control of your device. It affects Android versions 13 through 16, so basically that would be everyone. Head into Settings > System > Updates and install it as soon as it appears.

Keep an eye on word count: If you’re working on something in Google Docs and need to stay under a limit, turn on the live counter. Go to Tools > Word count and tick Display word count while typing, then hit OK. Bonus tip: If you think faster than you type, try Tools > Voice typing and dictate your words instead. Oh là là, that alone is worth the price of this newsletter.

🐘 Let’s talk ears: I use my Raycon earbuds all the time. They’re super easy to pair, and they come with adjustable tips so they fit any ears, whether you’ve got big Dumbo ears, tiny ones or something in between. Right now, get up to 30% off everything sitewide. Great sound, long battery life and no nonsense. These solid wireless earbuds that don’t cost a fortune make a great gift, too.*

Stay on top of recalls: Your car’s safety depends on staying informed. Download the free SaferCar app on Android or iOS to get automatic recall alerts. Enter your car’s VIN, and it’ll tell you if there are any current recalls while keeping an eye out for new ones. 

Undo that oops on your iPhone: Made a mistake while typing or accidentally deleted an email? Give your phone a quick shake, and a prompt will pop up asking if you want to undo it. To make sure it’s on, open Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Shake to Undo. Careful though, don’t swing it too hard. It’s not a cocktail.

Ever think silence sounds relaxing? Vice wrote about something I’d never heard of before. There is an anechoic chamber in Minneapolis that’s officially the quietest room on Earth and spiritually the meanest.

It sits at -24.9 decibels. Yup, decibels can get negative. It’s so quiet your ears panic and start turning up the gain like a busted radio. People walk in expecting zen and end up hearing their heartbeat and their blood flow. Get this, most cannot stand to be in the room longer than 45 minutes. 

Honestly, the whole thing doesn’t sound very appealing.

🛴 The answer: B) The Segway. Oh, what a saga. The suspense was palpable. But the reality? A $4,950 self-balancing scooter that now mostly haunts boardwalk rentals and mall cop patrols.

The Segway was so hyped that venture capitalists were bidding to invest before even knowing what it was. And in a tragic twist of irony, the British tycoon who bought the company, Jimi Heselden, died in 2010 after riding one of the scooters off a cliff. You could say the company went downhill after that.

Tomorrow, I’m unwrapping smart gifts that come with monthly nightmares, like a bird feeder that bills you. It’s the ghost of subscriptions future. You’re in the right place today, this is the #1 tech newsletter in the U.S.!

🦸🏼‍♀️ Whatever you do today, do it with the confidence of a 4-year-old in a Batman cape. — Kim

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Photo credit(s): Gemini, CUZNYAX, Orfield Labs

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.