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Don’t just freeze, fight back
Ashley in Washington asks:
“Kim, do I really need identity theft protection? I used to have LifeLock years ago and dumped it because they constantly were selling me other things. I heard you say on your radio show that you use NordProtect now. Why? How is any of this different than freezing your credit? Love your show and newsletter!”
You’re asking a smart question, Ashley, and you’re not alone in wondering. Let’s break it down.
🥶 Do the credit freeze
Freezing your credit is smart, and I recommend everyone do it. A credit freeze keeps criminals from opening new accounts in your name. And heck, it’s free!
Here’s how to do it at the four credit reporting agencies.
- Equifax: Visit Equifax.com or call 1‑888‑298‑0045.
- Experian: Visit the Experian freeze center or call 1‑888‑397‑3742.
- TransUnion: Visit TransUnion’s website or call 1‑888‑916‑8800. (Argh, they just got hacked, btw. Details below in the Web Watercooler section.)
- Innovis: Visit Innovis or call 1‑866‑712‑4546.
Once you’ve placed the freeze, you set a PIN or password to temporarily lift or remove it. Make sure you keep this info in a safe place.
But that’s just one layer of protection. It does nothing when thieves get into your existing bank accounts, credit cards, email, or if your Social Security number or medical records end up on the dark web.
🛡️ Full-scale identity protection
I used LifeLock years ago, too. They were the first big name in ID theft protection. But like you, I got tired of the upselling and prices increasing.
You sign up, then every alert or feature seems to require “upgrading” to yet another tier. It’s like joining a gym where they charge you monthly and then $10 per dumbbell. No thank you. And LifeLock isn’t cheap. Their top plans can run $30 or more per month per adult.
Back to the office
🖨️ My pick: Polono portable printer (62% off)
Print anywhere, without ink drama. Just connect it to your phone or laptop, and boom, crisp 8.5” x 11” docs on the go.
🌬️ Oscillating table fan (25% off): No more sweaty Zoom calls. It’s so quiet you’ll forget it’s even there.
✨ Desktop vacuum cleaner (19% off): Clears up dust, eraser bits and all those crumbs from your snack breaks.
🪑 Lumbar support pillow (15% off): Slouch less, focus more. Easily straps right onto your office chair.
🖊️ Gel ink pens (10% off, six-pack): Use these to jot down the next big business idea on a napkin.
📦 Your digital supply run: Tap here to stock up your cart with 4-star-and-up gadgets. Explore more on my Amazon storefront.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Think you’re paying $139 for Amazon Prime? Think again
When’s the last time you checked how much Amazon is pulling from your bank account? If you guessed around $100 a year, you’re in for a surprise. You could be spending over $300 annually without realizing it. Let’s break it down.
💭 What if the fastest, most powerful cloud also cost way less? Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) packs the speed, muscle and big-league savings the smartest companies swear by, minus the usual cloud drama. See what the buzz is about, and try it free today.
🕵️ AirTagged and bagged: Guy loses his AirTag-equipped suitcase at LAX, chases the signal, finds his clothes being modeled by squatters in a condemned building not far from the airport. The bag was trashed, but he still got most of his wardrobe back, just … pre-worn. Imagine sprinting after your underwear on Find My iPhone.
Are these glasses secretly recording you?
Smart glasses are getting harder to spot, and some can secretly record everything you say. Here’s what you need to know to protect your privacy.
$46.7 billion
Nvidia’s Q2 revenue hit a record high, and nearly half of it came from six companies. The AI gold rush is paying off big-time, but that kind of customer concentration is the corporate equivalent of putting all your GPUs in one basket. Two customers are nearly 40%! Let’s just hope “Customer A” doesn’t speak Chinese.
⚠️ Don’t trust every Play Store app: Harmful ones sometimes sneak past Google’s checks, and one wrong download can infect your phone. Protect yourself: Open the Play Store app, tap your Profile, go to Play Protect > Settings > General, and toggle on Scan apps with Play Protect. It’ll inspect your apps and warn you about risks.
AI finds lost stuff faster than you
Losing your keys can ruin your day. New AI tools can scan your room, point out where they are hiding, and even suggest the most likely spots to check. Here is how it works.
Check your Facebook settings: The sinister mobile app has quietly turned on two settings that let Meta scan your phone’s entire camera roll. Nice. That means Facebook can look at your photos, even the ones you haven’t uploaded. Go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Camera roll sharing suggestions > and Toggle off Custom sharing suggestions from your camera roll and Get camera roll suggestions when you’re browsing Facebook. PSA: Your steps may vary but these work for most.
Fire up your Labor Day kitchen
🔥 My pick: COSORI 9-in-1 air fryer (25% off)
Healthy, easy, crispy food! I’m an air fryer gal. If you’ve been waiting to jump on the bandwagon, this is your sign.
🍓 Digital food scale (30% off): From meal prep to portion control, this beats the old “eyeballing” method.
🌡️ Meat thermometer (20% off): Save your BBQ dinners. No more “Is this done, or am I risking salmonella?”
🍵 Milk frother wand (17% off): Café vibes at home. Get barista-level foam without the upcharge.
🍾 Champagne & wine sealer (39% off): Keep your “special occasion” drink fresh for days.
😋 ICYMI: I rounded up 25 more Labor Day deals you’ll love. And if your cart’s not full, swing by my Amazon shop for even more holiday steals.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Scam factories running on human suffering
From billion dollar scam factories to AI powered blackmail, George, your AI host, breaks down the new face of online crime. Also: a million lost in a crypto scam, stolen Google tokens, Gemini’s “Nano Banana” update, hacker teens chasing clout, Everest cleanup drones, and smart tech tricks for your TV, Kindle, Fire Stick, and Mac.
Charlie Chaplin’s in theaters after 100 years
Charlie Chaplin famously rereleased his 1925 silent classic The Gold Rush in 1942 with new narration and edits, believing it would connect better with modern audiences. Now, thanks to film archivists and AI, the silent masterpiece has been painstakingly restored. The 4K version just premiered at Cannes and hit 250 theaters worldwide.
🚨 Runway crash alarms: Ever wonder how pilots know if another plane’s about to cut them off on the runway? Spoiler: They don’t. Honeywell’s testing a new system that yells, “Traffic on runway” 30 and 15 seconds before disaster. Considering we had 1,664 runway oopsies last year, I’d say it’s about time planes got their own version of Waze.
🚗 Play music in older cars: If your ride doesn’t have Android Auto or CarPlay, load your favorite songs onto a USB flash drive. Plug it into your car’s radio, and as long as they’re MP3 or AAC formats, it’ll play right away. No USB port? Grab an adapter that plugs into the cigarette lighter instead.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
AI restores a mother’s voice
Then, one man and a chatbot pulled off a massive cybercrime spree. Want to go to the moon or Mars? I talk to Roman Chiporukh, CEO of SpaceVIP, who’s literally an outer space travel agent. Plus, Hertz’s AI scanner mess, and the true cost of Prime.
Labor Day backyard bliss
💡 My pick: Outdoor string lights (29% off)
Instant patio upgrade! String them up, grab a drink and feel like you’re at a rooftop bar.
☔ Windproof travel umbrella (32% off): Holds up in 85 mph winds. 100K+ reviewers gave it a stellar 4.5 stars.
😅 Portable neck fan (61% off): Forget waving a paper plate. This keeps you cool, hands-free on hot days.
🦟 Mosquito repeller (30% off): Ditch the sticky bug spray. Create a 20-foot bug-free zone around your patio.
👄 Organic lip balm set (17% off, six flavors): Dry, cracked lips? These hydrate so they stay silky smooth.
🛒 Fire up the grill and your cart: Tap here to see all the Labor Day markdowns before they’re gone. There’s even more on my Amazon page.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
🛠️ Troubleshooting on Windows 11: Running into issues like no sound, no internet or a printer that won’t connect? Go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters. You’ll see options like Audio, Network & Internet, Printer and more. Click Run next to the one giving you problems, then follow the prompts to diagnose and fix it.
🎸 Thunderstruck the cattle patrol: To keep wolves from eating livestock, scientists are flying $20K drones that scream preloaded clips like AC/DC, gunshots and Marriage Story arguments at them. So far? It’s actually working. Wolves run. Cows live. Somewhere, a Five Finger Death Punch fan is trying to follow the drones on tour and asking where to buy merch.