All tech. No filler.
Join 900,000+ people who stay ahead of the tech curve with The Current, delivered daily. No fluff, no BS.
Small-business tips and tricks you won’t find anywhere else
I’ll never forget when my son, Ian, asked me where in Los Angeles I lived. I told him I couldn’t remember — it was 30 years ago, and I lived there for maybe six months. A few minutes later, he called and had the address. It was available for free to anyone on the internet […]
How can you protect yourself? I’ll share tips to lock down your SSN before it’s too late.
A bunch of people are getting a new tax form. I’ll tell you all about the change the IRS has put off for years that’s finally kicked in.
Are you using AI yet? I wrote a great list of 10 prompts to try, and I’m giving away an e-book with 50 more for free.
Breaking news and tips
How to find a hidden GPS tracker on your car
The latest stats say 80% of stalking victims are tracked using tech. One of the most popular ways to do it? GPS trackers, like an AirTag. They’re small enough to slip into a bag, pocket or your car undetected.
“Kim, this doesn’t impact me.” I wish that was true. Maybe you have an ex or friend who won’t buzz off, or maybe you met a stranger at a bar or store who was acting creepy. You’re at risk. Did you drive across the U.S. border? Yep, crooks are targeting tourists, too.
The good news is your phone can alert you when an unknown tracker is with you. If all else fails, good old-fashioned sleuthing works, too. I’ll show you how.
⏰ The clock is ticking
An AirTag will start beeping only after 24 hours away from its owner. That gives the stalker plenty of time to reach you, especially if they’re local. If a carjacker tags your ride, they could learn your routine and follow you home before you even know what’s going on.
The rumor mill says Apple’s AirTags 2, coming later this year, will have antistalking tech. With the most current AirTags, tech-savvy stalkers can rip out the built-in speaker so you won’t get alert, but the new ones should make it harder. For now, you need to do everything you can to stay safe.
On your iPhone, make sure a few settings are enabled:
- Go to Settings > Notifications > Tracking Notifications and toggle on Allow Notifications.
- Now, open your Find My app and tap Items at the bottom of the screen. Tap on Identify Found Item.
On Android, the process is similar as long as your phone is running Android 6.0 or newer. If it’s not, you really need a new phone!
- To make sure alerts are enabled, go to Settings > Safety & Emergency > Find Unknown Tracker Alerts. Toggle on Allow Alerts.
✅ You need to make sure your location and Bluetooth settings are enabled, too.
On iPhone:
Love at first sight
😊 I’m blushing at all the cash you’re about to save.
- Your partner deserves a new, hot smartwatch band. Check out these red ones for Apple ($8) and Samsung ($9).
- RFID wallets for men (36% off) and women (20% off) keep your cards safe from digital thieves.
- Zen out with a diffuser and essential oils ($38, 28% off).
- Love should be crystal clear, so etch your favorite pic in heart-shaped glass ($90).
- Cuddle up in a heated throw blanket (36% off).
- The key to your heart is never losing your stuff with a two-pack of Tile Bluetooth trackers (5% off) or four Apple AirTags (29% off).
▶️ More gadgets? Say no more. I’ve got a bunch of handpicked favorites for you.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
“Kim, how is EndpointLock different from a VPN?” A VPN encrypts your internet connection and hides your web activity. EndpointLock encrypts your keystrokes so no one can copy what you type. It’s a must for me. Hit this link for 10% off.
🌋 Kick some ash: Scientists found a burnt scroll from Herculaneum, another Roman town Mount Vesuvius wiped out in 79 A.D. They’re using X-rays and AI to read without touching it. Early hints say it might be a work of philosophy. When I visited Pompeii, I was amazed at how forward-thinking they were. There were food courts, sanitation, lovely homes, and even a brothel with the names of prostitutes on the walls with prices and ratings. Really! If you go, ask your tour guide the question I do wherever we go: “What’s something you normally don’t show tourists?” I will save my story about cannibals on the Amazon River for another day.
Wisconsin Cheese Mart: Gemini in Google Docs
🧀 Gouda grief, not again: Google had to edit one of its Super Bowl ads after its AI butchered a fact about Gouda. In the original video, Gemini said Gouda made up 50% to 60% of the world’s cheese consumption. Spoiler: It doesn’t. The fixed version calls it “one of the most popular cheeses in the world.” Another reminder AI loves to make crap up or, as the AI companies say, “hallucinate.”
Remember this word: NUDIFY
New apps let you undress anyone in a photo. This disturbing trend is spreading fast, and everyone need to know.
Shop local: Bet you never thought about it while browsing cheap stuff on Temu, but after President Trump did away with a tax break for e-commerce companies, the site’s algorithm changed. Now you’ll see more products from the Chinese retailer’s U.S. warehouse marked with a green “local” badge. Yeah, I still won’t use Temu.
3,000
Fewer words spoken each day. In 2005, we said an average of 16,000 words a day. Today, that’s down to 13,000 because of texting and social media messages. Women tend to chat more than men, averaging 13,349 words a day versus 11,950. (Now, did you expect a joke here, really?)
Meet the TikTok PI exposing cheaters for millions to see
Is your partner acting sketchy? Staying late at work? Suddenly has a new “friend”? Steph A., aka “Your Fave Investigator,” finds out the truth and posts the receipts for millions to see. How does she track them down? She gives me the dirt!
It’s not just apps on your phone: Websites ask for permissions, too, and you may have granted access to your webcam and microphone. To check in Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge or Mozilla Firefox, click the icon to the left of the address bar, near the refresh button. For Safari on a Mac, click the Safari menu > Settings for … Voila.
😵💫 Overwhelmed? AI can help when you have no idea where to start on a big project. Here’s a prompt to get you thinking: “I have a 50th birthday party to organize, and it’s happening in two months. I need to find a venue for 75 people and cater the event. What tasks do I need to do, and how should I organize my time?”
Got a letter from Change Healthcare?
Don’t trash it! Hackers stole medical records and personal info in a Change Healthcare breach. Here’s what to do.
🤖 Alexa’s glow-up: Save the date for Feb. 26. That’s when Amazon will show off a new Alexa with generative AI. Yep, it’s finally happening after many delays. Alexa will be able to chat back and forth with you and help you get things done. Expect the smarter Alexa to cost you a few bucks a month.
Angela Yang and Sean Kay, 2025 Midwestern Sectional U.S. Ice Dance Final
This video is all over social media: It shows two of the young figure skaters who died in the crash, Angela Yang and Sean Kay, taking home gold in a November competition. Their excitement and smiles are just heartbreaking, knowing what happened. Be sure to have tissues near if you watch the video.
Freebie alert: Apps that pay you to play
There are plenty of apps that reward you for doing things you probably already do. I’m sure you’ve seen ads for them. You’re not going to pay your rent from the rewards you earn, but you might get enough perks to make your otherwise pointless scrolling worth it.
🧀 Gouda grief, not again: Google had to edit one of its Super Bowl ads after its AI butchered a fact about Gouda. In the original video, Gemini said Gouda made up 50% to 60% of the world’s cheese consumption. Spoiler: It doesn’t. The fixed version calls it “one of the most popular cheeses in the world.” Another reminder AI loves to make crap up or, as the AI companies say, “hallucinate.”
Larry Ellison, AI and a future right out of ‘1984’
AI is all over the news and for good reason: Whoever controls AI controls geopolitics and economics. One big player in the AI world is Larry Ellison. He never finished college; he left to start building databases for the CIA. After that, he co-founded Oracle, and now, depending on the day, he’s the fourth-wealthiest person in the world.
Face control on Chromebooks
This is incredible: Google’s new AI feature lets people control Chromebooks using only head and mouth movements. It’ll allow folks with motor impairments to move a cursor, select options and write type emails via text-to-speech. See it in action. So cool.
$100 million
Reported sales price for Brookhaven, a virtual city in Roblox. Some 60 billion people have played the life-sim game. Think building fancy houses, driving around in nice cars and exploring the city. Around 120 million players log on a month. That’s almost the population of Japan!
🍏 I called this months ago: A foldable iPhone is coming, finally. Rumor has it it’ll be ultra-thin, at just 4.6mm unfolded, and will use a Samsung foldable OLED panel since they’ve already figured out the tech. It could be a massive 12 inches, with two 6.1-inch displays connected by a hinge. The price is TBA, but I bet it’ll cost a fortune. We’ll find out in 2026.