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Unleash your inner IT overlord
I read every comment you leave at the end of this newsletter, and one theme always stands out: You want to know all the hidden things your tech can do!
Lucky for you, uncovering those “I had no idea!” moments is my superpower.
🪟 Secret Windows restart trick
Frequent shutdowns can fix most computer issues, but you can try a Shift shutdown to close all processes and apps and clear the RAM completely.
- Hold down Shift before you restart.
- In the menu, click the Power button > Restart while holding the Shift key and wait for your PC to power down.
- Choose Continue when it turns back on.
♻️ Did you know Windows is more environmentally friendly than macOS? Windows puts your deleted files in the Recycle Bin, while macOS throws them in the Trash. (Bet you never thought of that before!)
🧭 Wipe your location from photos
Your phone stores metadata every time you take a picture, including the date you snapped the photo, your camera settings and where you were located when the picture was taken. Before you share a photo, send that data to the intergalactic bit bucket.
- On iPhone, open the image you want to share and tap the share button (square with an arrow pointing up). Next, select Options and toggle off Location and All Photos Data.
- On Android, open Google Photos, select the photo, tap More (the three-dot menu), then go to Edit and click Remove location.
☎️ Fix your phone’s call audio
Let’s say you’re on the phone with a pal, and your background is so noisy that your friend can’t hear you. Good news if you have an iPhone: There’s Voice Isolation mode.
- Place your call, and when your recipient picks up, swipe down from the top right of your screen to access the Control Center.
- At the top of your screen, you should see an orange microphone icon next to the word Phone. Tap that, and you’ll see a separate screen with an Audio & Video option. Scroll to and tap Voice Isolation.
🏠 Deck your yard
Let’s prep your porch for the holidays without blowing a fuse (or your wallet).
🔌 Festive power-up: Outdoor extension cord (33% off, $30)
Playing electrical Jenga? These cords are waterproof, wear-resistant and built with a flame-retardant jacket. Perfect for inflatables or that one reindeer that always droops.
Set it and forget it: This power stake timer (18% off, $24) means no more walking outside to unplug lights at midnight. Comes with a remote that reaches 100 feet.
In honor of Veterans Day: Salute our heroes by upgrading your outdoor American flag ($10, 50% off). Heavy-duty polyester lets it wave, not fray.
Easy on, easy off: A pack of these light clips (8% off, $12) keeps your Christmas lights sturdy without peeling your paint. Your walls (and sanity) will thank you.
🚪 Front-entrance flex: This wreath hanger (15% off, $9) holds up to 20 pounds and adjusts for the perfect placement. Change it up without leaving a mark
Wipe those shoes: Stop dirt before it hits your floor with a new doormat (24% off, $46). The low profile means your door won’t catch and drive you nuts.
🎁 Shop the season: Hit up Amazon’s holiday page for more steals on decor, stocking stuffers and more. You’ll rest easy getting that out of the way now.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Why your car insurance hates you
My car insurance jumped 32%. I didn’t crash. I didn’t speed. I simply exist.
Sound familiar? Full-coverage car insurance rates rose 25% on average last year, and in some states, it was closer to 40%. Overall, rates are up 55% since 2022.
🕵️ Go incognito with ChatGPT: Have a weird question you’d rather keep private? Click the speech bubble icon in the top right and select Turn on temporary chat. The prompt box will go dark, meaning nothing you type is saved to your history or the bot’s memory. Don’t forget, once you close it, it’s gone for good.
🪪 Smile for Uncle Sam: A new smartphone app built for local law enforcement gives officers face‑scanning powers very similar to the tool used by ICE. The app, uncovered by Ars Technica, links camera photos to large biometric databases. It doesn’t return a name but a “reference number” and tells officers whether to call ICE. We’re inching toward a world where your face can be your ID.
ChatGPT’s crackdown is just for show
Supposedly, it’s done giving legal and medical advice. I tested it anyway. Spoiler: no surprises here.
My daughter is addicted to AI chatbots
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.
💻 Learn Chromebook shortcuts: There’s a hidden menu for all your keyboard combos. Press and hold Ctrl + Search + S to bring it up. A few to try: Ctrl + N opens a new window, Ctrl + W closes the current tab, Ctrl + Shift + T reopens the last one, Shift + Alt + N shows notifications, and Ctrl + R reloads the page.
Fix a lost phone signal in seconds
You know how it goes, the second you actually need to make a call with your phone, the signal tanks. Don’t panic. I’ve got fast fixes.
Marketplace moron alert: In case you wanted to feel smarter than someone today, a 19-year-old in St. Louis recently stole a car, then listed it for sale on his own Facebook Marketplace account two days later. Yeah. Cops saw the post, showed up, and he confessed. At least he chose the “Used, but might be stolen” category to list it.
Healthy without the pricey
Ready to upgrade your body like it’s your phone? Start here.
😌 Facial glow-up: Red light therapy mask (31% off)
Forget the salon price tag. Pop this on for 20 minutes, tap the massage mode and relax. Stick with it and you should start seeing smoother, brighter skin after about a month.
⌚ Save $80: Wowza, snag a new Fitbit Versa 4 (40% off) while this deal is still hot. Sync it with your iPhone or Android and see your progress instead of guessing.
Feeling sore? Wrap this heating pad (53% off) around your back, shoulders, waist or wherever you need soothing relief. Bonus: FSA eligible. Here’s how to use it.
🏃♀️ Go the extra mile: Build strength with a weighted vest (50% off). Great if you’re training, doing cardio or adding “oomph” to your strolls around the block.
Little luxuries: From moms to besties, she’ll love this gift set (33% off) that’s got a candle, diffuser and room spray in one box. Comes prewrapped with a bow. Chic and easy.
🎁 Skip the boring stocking stuffers: Check out my holiday gift guide. The “I put thought into this” present takes only two clicks.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Ransomware hackers upped the game, and it’s personal
If you read one thing today, let it be this, because the rules of ransomware have officially changed, and not in a “Yay, innovation!” kind of way.
For years, the scam was simple: Hackers locked up your computer, holding your files hostage and demanding a ransom in Bitcoin for a promise to give your data back.
Every second counts: On Windows 11, you can now show seconds on your task bar clock. Go to Settings > Time & language > Date & time > Show time and date in the System tray. Tick Show seconds in system tray clock. Sure, Microsoft says it’ll use more power, but your laptop will probably survive.
The blue mystery rock: A Harvard astrophysicist says an interstellar object named 3I/ATLAS might have an “engine.” NASA spotted weird acceleration and a bright blue glow, you know, stuff comets don’t usually do. It’s flying by Earth in December, about 167 million miles out. If there’s no debris cloud, it might be artificial. Pale blue dot, meet blue mystery rock.
💾 The 3-2-1 backup rule: Got important files you’d cry over losing? Follow this. Keep 3 copies of your data (one main, two backups), stored on 2 different types of media like an external drive and the cloud, with 1 copy off-site, somewhere physically separate. That’s why I use Carbonite for cloud backup. When disaster strikes, you’ll be the smart one smiling. Save 50% off at carbonite.com/kim.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Creeps love their Meta Ray-Ban glasses
Weird guys are using them to record their pickup attempts on college women. Plus, YouTuber Ian Runkle joins me to talk about a lock company that sued an influencer and got roasted. Also: AI in real estate, smart fridge ads, and what’s new with GPT-5.
Is your loyalty card spying on you?
Your fave AI-host Mara exposes the hidden price of loyalty programs (hint: it’s your data). Then, how to turn your closet clutter into holiday cash. Plus, a rapid-fire look at the week’s top headlines.
iOS 26.1 is out: Hate the Liquid Glass design? Head to Settings > Display & Brightness > Liquid Glass to choose between Clear and Tinted. Clear keeps that translucent, see-through look in the original iOS 26, while Tinted adds a frosted layer. I like the new one, makes text easier to read.
Smarter moves, faster growth: In business, speed and clarity win. NetSuite’s all-in-one platform unites accounting, inventory, HR and CRM, so you can see everything that matters in one dashboard. It’s how top-performing teams cut chaos, save time and scale smarter. Get NetSuite’s free “CFO’s Guide to AI and Machine Learning.”