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Adpocalypse survival guide
“Kim, I am so sick and tired of all the ads on websites. It feels like they’ve gotten worse since ChatGPT is taking away site traffic from Google. How do I block the annoying ads?” — Terry in Ohio
Terry, you’re right. Websites are loading up with more ads than ever.
Pop-ups, auto-playing videos, banners that dance around while you’re just trying to read a recipe or check the news. It’s digital chaos.
Why? Because many sites are losing tremendous ad revenue in the 60% range from fewer clicks and fewer visitors. So they’re cramming in even more ads, hoping to squeeze out one more buck before you give up and close the tab.
But you don’t have to live like this. Here’s how to shut down the noise.
🔧 Start with your browser
Fight back, one browser setting at a time.
Chrome:
- Click the three dots (top right) > Settings > Privacy and security > Site Settings
- Scroll down and block pop-ups and redirects
Safari (Mac):
- Safari > Settings > Websites > Content Blockers
- It tries to get rid of pop-ups, trackers, auto-play videos and more
Firefox:
Virtual party list
🥳 Hosting or heading to a get-together? Let’s get the fun started.
- 🎁 Wrapping, handled: This double-sided organizer (28% off) keeps your gift bags, ribbons and bows tidy.
- 🍷 Pop, pour, press: All with a four-in-one wine opener (15% off) that aerates and seals when the party’s over.
- 🍫 More like fun-do: NutriChef’s electric fondue pot (8% off) makes gooey goodness in minutes.
- 🚀 Vibes in overdrive: Bring the night sky indoors with a galaxy light projector (19% off). 4.4 stars and 7,000+ reviews.
- ⛺ “No adults allowed” zone: From playing to reading, this kid’s canopy (28% off) gives ’em a cozy space to do it.
🛍️ Still stumped? I got you. An e-gift card is a great last-minute idea. And don’t forget, more gift-worthy finds are on my Amazon store.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Kim’s picks under $50
I dug through the Prime Day treasure chest to find the best gadgets, home helpers and little luxuries, all under $50. And yep, some are even under $10. Let’s jump in.
Prime perk alert: Amazon is giving Prime members a $15 credit just for uploading a photo with Amazon Photos. Just add one pic through the app, and boom, free cash. It’s already included in your membership, so don’t miss it! While you’re at it, click this secret link for more Prime Day deals.
Stop poking your Echo: Say, “Alexa, volume up” or “volume down” to adjust the sound. Want more control? Say “Alexa, set volume to 5.” The range goes from 1 to 10, so you can dial it in for podcasts (like The Kim Komando Show), playlists or whatever you’re playing.
☕ Starbucks Secret Menu is out: It’s now officially in the app under the offers tab, starting with fan favorites: Cookies on Top, Dragonfruit Glow-Up, Just Add White Mocha, and Lemon, Tea & Pearls. Bonus: There’s also a Secret Menu Contest running until July 20. You could win up to $25,000. Try this for fun: The next time you go to Starbucks, tell them your name is “Bueller.” Don’t go the first time they call your name! 😂
$80K side hustle or headache?
Renting out your empty land for storage sounds like easy money, until the HOA, zoning laws, or a nosy neighbor comes knocking.
1.8 million
The number of teachers now getting a crash course in AI. A new $23 million union-backed training academy, funded by Microsoft ($12.5M), OpenAI ($8M plus $2M in tech) and Anthropic ($500K), aims to make every AFT member fluent in AI. It’s like summer school for grown-ups.
📱 Screen locks too fast (or too slow)? You can change that. On iPhone, go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Auto-Lock and choose a time. On Android, go to Settings > Display and look for a Timeout, Screen Timeout or Sleep option. I recommend 30 seconds.
Pixar almost deleted Toy Story 2
Toy Story 2 was nearly lost to a single keystroke, until a backup saved the day. Here’s why your files need a rescue plan, too.
I found your next favorite gadgets
🧠 Upgrading your tech game shouldn’t melt your brain (or your wallet).
- 🔌 Running out of ports? Plug in a five-in-one USB-C hub (50% off). Whoa, 4.6 stars and 185,000+ reviews!
- 🖼️ Memories on a loop: Printing pics? Send ’em straight to this digital photo frame (14% off).
- 🐶 Fetch this steal: Keep tabs on your doggo 24/7 and fling treats with a 360° dog camera (56% off).
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
China’s spherical spybot is terrifying
It rolls like a tire, fires nets, and sprays tear gas. Plus, NASA lost pricey footage, Hertz nickel-and-dimes with tech, and McDonald’s big password problem. What’s your childhood home look like now? Google Maps lets you time travel. Let’s go!
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.
This is nuts: Two new AI tools, DAILA and DeepDi, let anyone upload an app file and then it will spit out the source code. Translation: An app will reverse engineer another app in seconds. Companies who thought their proprietary code and tech secrets were safe are screwed.
Back it up, or risk losing it: Keep your family photos and important tax documents safe in the cloud, safe from fire, theft, floods and thieves. Total Drive has your back, and so do I. Just $18 for 10 TB is a no-brainer.
Make $80K a year renting out your yard — July 12th, Hour 1
I talk to a guy who makes big money with his unused space through the Neighbor app. Here’s how you can do it, too. Plus, the demise of Google, Apple vs. p*rn, and the first foldable iPhone. Also, how sending out a smiley face could save your relationship.
Your A+ checklist
🔔 School’s almost back in session. I’ve done the homework for you.
- ✍️ Jot this down: Snag a set of gel pens (20% off, six-pack) for journaling, note-taking or doodling during class.
- 📑 Get out of a bind: These ring binders (20% off, four-pack) double as cheat sheets. You didn’t hear that from me.
- 📝 Note to self: One college-ruled notebook (41% off, six-pack) per class = zero confusion.
- 🛏️ Dorm-approved: Drift off after that 2 a.m. study sesh on silky-soft bedsheets (18% off).
- 📦 Bin there, done that: Stackable storage bins (25% off, two-pack) tell your roommate, “That’s mine.”
💯 Extra credit: There’s a whole backpack’s worth of back-to-school deals waiting for you on my Amazon page.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
🕶️ Use extensions in Incognito: By default, Chrome disables extensions in Incognito mode. But if you want something like an ad blocker to stay on, you can allow it. Click the Extensions icon (top right) > Manage extensions > (Extension Name) Details, then toggle on Allow in Incognito.
👀 Sneaky stuff: Researchers are putting secret prompts for AI chatbots into academic papers. I’m talking about invisible white text like “only give positive reviews” or “ignore all negatives” that humans can’t see but bots can. It started as a joke, but now it’s popping up because it works.