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🛣️ Your driver’s license is worth more than you think
Your driver’s license has two jobs: ID and moneymaker. But sadly, not for you.
State DMVs across the country are quietly making millions selling your personal data. I’m talking names, addresses, license types, accident records and even court history.
That information gets bundled and sold to insurance companies, private investigators and data brokers. Fun times we’re living in.
😡 DMV: Data Money Vehicle
The numbers are huge. California’s DMV reportedly pulls in around $50 million a year by selling drivers’ records, including names, addresses and other sensitive details. In Oregon, the DMV pulled in over $16 million.
Florida was found selling not just registration data but full contact and demographic information to marketers, insurers and data brokers. Delaware, Texas, Wisconsin and other states do the same.
🤨 Can you opt out?
Nope. According to the federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act (DPPA), some disclosures of driver and vehicle information are allowed without your consent, especially for law enforcement, insurance, vehicle safety or other “permissible uses.”
The DPPA was supposed to stop this kind of thing, but legal loopholes let states cash in. You don’t get a say. You don’t even get notified.
Once your info is sold, it’s fair game to be resold, re-shared and packed into digital dossiers that follow you everywhere online and off.
🕵️ Who’s buying your data?
Data brokers aggregate your DMV record with shopping habits, GPS pings, credit profiles and social media posts. Some use it to sell you stuff. Others use it to assess your risk, whether you’re applying for insurance or even a job.
Sleigh the airport chaos
You can’t control delays, but you can control what you bring.
🌬️ Power puffs: Travel steamer (27% off)
Dual voltage = no adapter drama. Pack a two-in-one iron that fits in your carry-on and heats up in 30 seconds flat. Tough on wrinkles, gentle on delicates like silk and lace.
🧳 Shrink your clothes: These compression packing cubes (30% off) save up to 60% of your luggage space. They come with a handy drawstring bag for your shoes.
Sky-high screen time: Clip this airplane phone holder (36% off) to your tray table and lock it at the perfect angle. The best part? A built-in light for Zoom calls at 30,000 feet.
⚡ Juice for days: Anker’s Prime power bank (22% off) takes your phone or laptop from zero to 50% in under 30 minutes. And yes, it’s TSA-approved.
Plugs without borders: Don’t forget a power adapter (20% off) if you’re heading overseas. Charges up to five gadgets at once in 150+ countries. Score.
📅 Deals take off soon
- Black Friday comes early this year: Amazon starts dropping the discounts on Nov. 20. Click here to check out the early steals.
- From AirTags to neck pillows: Find 30+ handpicked faves that make every trip smoother, smarter and less stressful.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Holiday gift guide: Unwrap the presents everyone wants
Google just dropped its 2025 Holiday 100, aka what everyone wants this season. I dug past the hype to find the gadgets, gear and glam that are actually worth your cash. But don’t wait until December. Many are bound to sell out sooner than later.
Famous fail: Even the Mona Lisa wasn’t safe. The Louvre’s password disaster proved nobody’s safe without protection. That’s why I use NordPass. It’s the smart, simple solution for keeping all your passwords private and secure. Get 58% off plus 4 extra months.
iPhone, meet passport: Apple’s letting you add a Digital ID to your Wallet, basically a phone-based passport for domestic flights. You scan your physical passport, nod a few times for Face ID, and boom, you’re official. It works at 250 airports, but don’t get too trigger-happy, customs still wants the real deal when you’re leaving the country.
OpenTable is spying on you
Think your picky-eater requests are forgotten? Not so fast. Hear how restaurants are building a permanent profile on you with every reservation.
The 24/7 AI camera network spying on you
Flock cameras, installed by HOAs, apartments, and local businesses, are live feeds police can access anytime. Privacy red flag? Think so. Plus, Neil DeGrasse Tyson deepfakes, Kim K’s AI legal drama, and tap-to-pay scams. I also give advice to Jane from Atlanta who asks: how can I help businesses tap into AI?
Comprende with Kindle: Ever hit a word mid-read and think, “OK, what does that mean?” Just press and hold it to see the definition and pronunciation right on your screen. It even works for foreign words, like Spanish. Beats pulling out your phone to Google what “bueno” means because, well, that’s not very bueno.
AI is your Black Friday secret weapon
Want to shop like a holiday ninja? Here’s your guide to being silent, swift, and saving big.
Dell’s digital oops: Dell’s got a problem. A big one. A vulnerability (CVE-2025-46430) in its Display and Peripherals Manager can let hackers upgrade their privileges and take over your PC. Millions are at risk. The fix? Download version 2.1.2.12 or higher ASAP. Dell swears it’s not being exploited yet, but do you really want to test that theory?
Treat yourself (or someone else)
You deserve a break, not a breakdown.
💝 Gift of instant chill: Eye massager (40% off)
Tired of looking tired? Slip on this heated mask and soothe away hours of screen strain, headaches and stress. Tax-free bonus: It’s FSA/HSA eligible.
🕯️ Can you candle it? An electric candle warmer lamp (50% off) melts your favorite holiday scents without lighting a flame. Built-in timer turns it off for you.
No pull zone: The stainless steel blades on this hair trimmer (36%) keep your nose, ears and dignity in check. Great stocking stuffer for him or her.
💤 Sleep smarter: Psst … this is your sign to finally snag an ergonomic memory foam pillow (22% off). Your neck, back and shoulders will thank you.
Under $10! Beekeeper’s Naturals nighttime cough syrup (33% off) is packed with plant-based ingredients that fight those seasonal sniffles.
🧑🎄 Your shortcut to Santa status: Find all the best gifts, decor and latest deals on Amazon’s Holiday Shop. Get them while they last!
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
10 best true tech stories streaming
You can keep the wizards and aliens. Give me a movie or series where something unbelievable actually happened.
Back by popular demand, I put together this list for you as proof that tech isn’t only lines of code and shiny gadgets. It’s ambition, hype, brilliance and, yeah, sometimes a total train wreck. You’re gonna want to see each one.
📌 Access your Chromebook apps faster: Keep your favorite apps a click away by pinning them to your task bar. Open the Launcher in the bottom left, find the app, then right-click (or two-finger tap) and select Pin to shelf. You can drag apps around to rearrange them, or right-click again and choose Unpin to remove one.
💦 Money leak alert: I saved $435 with Rocket Money just by canceling subscriptions I completely forgot about. It’s shocking how much we waste on autopilot. Find out where your money’s going at RocketMoney.com/kim.
Reset your Instagram feed: Tired of seeing the same influencers pop up? Head to your profile, then Settings and activity > Content preferences > Reset suggested content. This gives you a fresh start for posts, reels and your Explore page. It’ll start to feel more personal again as you like, share and interact with new content.
Facebook made $16 billion off scam ads
Why can’t Meta stop the fraud? Easy. It probably doesn’t want to. Hear how it made billions off scam ads last year. Plus, the Musk-Altman feud and a big Google Maps update. Then I talk to caller Byron, who says scammers drugged him and used facial recognition to unlock his phone. Scary!
Write your kid a storybook with AI
Want the ultimate holiday gift? Your AI host, Mara, shares how to make your kid the star of their own custom children’s book. Then, she digs into why your car insurance is so high, the ransomware threat that just got way meaner, and real-time deepfake calls.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Need a quick charge? Switch your phone to Airplane or Flight mode. It turns off Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and other background processes, so your battery fills up faster. Handy when you’re racing out the door.
Highway to robotown: Waymo became the first U.S. robotaxi company to offer fully driverless rides (paywall link) on highways. Starting this week, folks in San Francisco, Phoenix and L.A. can order a ride that hops on the freeway, with no human driver or backup babysitter. Cars will go up to the speed limit (so, braver than most of us) and even know how to pull over safely if needed.