⚠️ Your new normal

Hey hey, it’s Saturday, {{first_name | friend}}. You see Apple today and think sleek phones, spaceship campuses and a line of products that mysteriously need new chargers every year. But waaaay back in the ’70s, two dreamers in a garage were trying to launch their first computer. The catch? They needed fast cash, and one of them had to part with a prized possession. 

🤑 Take a guess what Steve Jobs had to sell to fund Apple’s very first computer? Was it his: A) guitar, B) Volkswagen van, C) comic book collection or D) record player? Phew, it wasn’t his black turtleneck collection. You’ll find the answer at the end.

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📻 Listen up! My national radio show is airing all weekend across the USA. With over 420 stations strong, find your closest one by using our super-duper station locator map, or listen commercial-free on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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First, look at the handy AI photo. If only, I’d be so good at multitasking. (lol) 

“Hey, Kim, I just was notified that my personal data was part of the recent SimonMed data breach. My data’s already out there from another breach. Does it even matter anymore?” — Sara in Newport Beach, CA

Hearing about breach after breach at banks, hospitals, insurance companies, even schools, it’s easy to feel like throwing your hands up.

Your Social Security number? Gone. Your passwords? Already for sale. So does protecting your identity still matter?

Absolutely. More than ever.

Here’s the deal: You can’t stop your info from leaking. That ship has sailed. But you can stop criminals from ruining your life with it.

You might not be able to stop the next breach, but you can stop it from wrecking your finances, your credit and sanity.

I had LifeLock until I got tired of paying nearly $300 a year and being constantly upsold. Now I use NordProtect, and only pay $51.24 a year. That’s 71% off when signing up for two years using my promo code. Big difference.

Just the other day, I got an alert that my personal info was exposed in a site’s data breach. Thanks to NordProtect, I knew right away. I deleted the account and stopped any trouble before it started.

NordProtect scans the dark web 24/7, alerts you to leaks, offers identity theft recovery, cyber extortion protection and online fraud coverage at no extra cost. If you fall victim to any of these crimes, you’ll receive expert support to resolve the issue, with your expenses covered for peace of mind.

Full disclosure: NordProtect is a sponsor of my national radio show. I’d use them even if they weren’t. They’re affordable, effective and actually put you back in control. Learn more about it now.

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🤖 Tough love: Do you coddle your AI chatbot? New research says being polite actually makes them dumber. Penn State researchers found that “rude” prompts got answers right 85% of the time vs. 81% for polite ones. So go ahead, skip the “please.” And who knows? Maybe a little tough love is exactly what your chatbot needs to shape up.

Bitcoin and blood: This is nuts. The DOJ just seized 127,000 Bitcoin (about $15 billion) from a Cambodian phone-scam empire that ran 76,000 fake social accounts and 10 forced labor camps. I talked about human trafficking and call center scams a few weeks ago, but this is gigantic. The alleged ringleader is still on the run. They even bought a Picasso. A real one, not an NFT. 

💾 Nuclear files and chill: Get this. A Department of Energy employee lost his security clearance after uploading 187,000 porn images to a federal network. He said it was for an “AI project,” not pleasure, and compared his interrogation to the “Spanish Inquisition.” The collection reportedly spanned 30 years. That’s not what “data backup” means, champ.

Strange bedfellows: Apple and NBC are holding hands, sort of. Starting Monday, you can bundle Apple TV and Peacock for $15/month (normally $21). That’s $6 you can spend on emotional support snacks while watching Slow Horses and Law & Order. NBC brings the junk food TV; Apple brings the prestige.

💸 Starlink wants you back: If you dumped Starlink, SpaceX is sliding back into your inbox with a “We’d love to have you back ❤️” and a 50% off deal. That’s $60 a month instead of $120, for two years. Basically the Wi-Fi version of “I’ve changed.” Loyal customers like me, meanwhile, are getting nothing but billing reminders.

📞 Saved in the nick of FaceTime: Woah. A 3-year-old Michigan boy saved his mom after she collapsed from a seizure by unlocking her phone with Face ID and FaceTiming a family friend, who called 911. Little Cody’s now an honorary junior deputy, complete with badge and swag. The sheriff joked that “we’re hiring,” but maybe let him finish preschool first. Love this.

From your front entrance to your hotel room, I narrowed it down to the standouts.

✅ My pick: Yale’s Assure lock (20% off) unlocks when your hands are full and automatically latches up for you. Fingerprint scanner? Works in just half a second. Plus, manage two-factor authentication and biometrics right from the app. No need to call a locksmith, either.

Best budget option: Both Alexa and Google get along with the eufy C30 (17% off). Built-in Wi-Fi makes setup a breeze, no extra bridge needed. It even laughs in the face of freezing winters and scorching triple-digit summers. Bonus: four AA batteries to get you started.

🚗 Left your garage open? Check meross’s smart opener (29% off) without turning around in traffic. Hooks up to over 1,600 models. You can also open and close your garage door remotely using your phone. Nice.

Top indoor find: Lockin’s knob (15% off) lets you unlock four ways: touch, code, key or app. Keeps kids, roommates or your nosy in-laws out.

✈️ When you’re traveling: Pack this portable lock ($8.99, 31% off). Fits any-size door for instant peace of mind at hotels, Airbnbs and even at home.

🙋‍♀️ “Kim, what tech do you use?” Click here to see all my favorite gadgets and accessories I rely on daily. Some are on sale!

⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Buying a secondhand phone? Dial *#06# to see its IMEI number. Then enter it on Stolen Phone Checker to find out if it’s been reported stolen or blocked by a carrier.

Sign out of Google everywhere: If you’ve used someone else’s computer, make sure to fully log out. Go to Google and tap your profile icon in the top right. Choose Show more accounts > Sign out of all accounts > Continue. Then go back, tap Sign in > Remove an account and delete yours from the list.

📷 Webcam not working on Windows 11? Go to Settings > Privacy & security > Camera and toggle on Camera access. Also toggle Let apps access your camera. Then open the app you’re using and press F8 to turn it on. Still blank? Go to Device Manager > Cameras, right-click yours, select Update driver > Search automatically for drivers, then Restart your PC.

⚠️ Tired of being tracked every time you go online? With ExpressVPN, you can browse, shop and stream safely, no matter where you are, even on sketchy public Wi-Fi. It hides your IP address, encrypts your data and lets you appear as if you’re in another country to unlock shows and sites worldwide. One tap, total online freedom. Get 4 extra months using this link.*

Try callback reminders: In iOS 26, you can finally remind yourself to return missed calls. Open the Phone app, tap Recents, then switch to Missed. Swipe left on a call and tap the little blue clock icon. Choose a reminder like “in 1 hour” or “tonight,” and never forget to call back again.

💬 Save ChatGPT chats as PDFs: Working on a project or research? You can save your full conversation for later. Scroll to the top, highlight from the first message to the last, then right-click and select Print. In the pop-up, change Destination to Save as PDF, hit Save, and your file will download.

💕 It’s not for me, it’s for us. Every day I comb through every tech story to bring you the truth, trends and advice that matters. I can’t fit it all here. So I cram this knowledge in my fab award-winning radio show. Find your local radio station here.

Watch this: You have to see this video from Dennis who called the show thanking me for my AI help. Everything that you see here (except for the photos) Dennis created for his 52nd wedding anniversary using AI. Wow, just wow. It is so amazing and loving.

Look out, lawyers: Staci from New Mexico got sued over a $5,200 debt and fought back with ChatGPT. She told it to act like a Harvard law professor. The result? A $2,000 win. Hear how she did it in this episode.

💬 Want to share your story? I’d love to hear it straight from you. Make an appointment to speak with me, and you could be on the show. Book your spot.

📺 Watch the show on my YouTube channel. Click here now. It’s like our own little corner of the internet, minus the weird pop-up ads.

Miami-Dade just debuted the nation’s first autonomous patrol vehicle, the Police Unmanned Ground (PUG) Patrol Partner. 

Miami’s newest high-tech assistant doesn’t need lunch breaks and is loaded with AI brains, 360° cameras, thermal imaging and even a drone launcher to keep an eye on things while the human officers handle, well, the humans. 

It’s got a max speed of 25 mph, so it’s more of a mall cop than highway patrol. 

For now, PUG’s job is to roll around like your nosy HOA president with a badge, logging suspicious activity and feeding intel to deputies.

The answer: B. Volkswagen van. Yep, Jobs hit that “maybe I’ll sell my car to pay the bills” moment and actually did it. Partner Steve Wozniak also sold his HP calculator, and voila, the duo scraped together cash for Apple’s first-ever computer. 

🛣️ One for the road: Where do Volkswagens go when they retire? The Old Volks Home! (Oh, it was so bad that it was good!)

Running on empty? Most of us are without even realizing it. I started using Native Hydrate from NativePath, and it’s become my daily energy hack with hydration, focus and zero sugar. Get yours for 44% off, and get free shipping! It’s a little boost that really works!

This is the #1 tech newsletter in the USA. Tomorrow, let’s get rid of the duplicate photos in your life the fun and easy way.

✌️ Until then, go out into the world and make something amazing happen. I’m so glad you’re here with me. — Kim

📣 Don’t keep me a secret: Send your friends to GetKim.com

Photo credit(s): ChatGPT, Policing Lab

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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