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Saving passwords in your browser? Stop that.
“Hi, Kim, I save all my passwords in my browser. So why do I need a password manager? Thanks for your newsletter. I can tell it’s a lot of work. The quality every single day is incredible.” — Robby in South Carolina
Thanks for your question and kind words, Robby. Now, l get this question a lot. Let me break it down.
Plenty of people still rely on their browser’s built-in memory for passwords. Chrome, Safari, Edge, they all pop up with that little offer: “Want me to remember this for you?” Which sounds sweet … until you realize it’s like giving your house key to a raccoon.
⚠️ The risks
Those saved passwords are stored in plain text behind your account login, not wrapped in the same heavy-duty encrypted professional password vault.
If someone cracks into your computer, steals your phone or sneaks into your Google account, congratulations! They inherited the keys to your entire digital kingdom.
Apple’s iCloud Keychain and Google Password Manager work fine if you stay in one ecosystem forever, but life isn’t that neat. Maybe you’re an iPhone person with a PC. Or use an Android tablet alongside your Mac. Suddenly those passwords don’t follow you everywhere you need them.
🧩 The difference
A true password manager generates long, unique passwords for every site you use and syncs them seamlessly across all your devices.
Open your phone, laptop, tablet, and your logins are securely filled in with a click. Many managers monitor the dark web for breaches and send you an alert the moment one of your accounts shows up in a leak. That’s something no browser is going to do for you.
🫡 The hidden bonuses
Good password managers also give you great tools for the long haul. Need to share Netflix with your family without typing your password into a group text? Done. Want to make sure your spouse or kids can access critical accounts if something happens to you? The best managers include emergency access. You can’t do that with passwords saved in a browser.
Sweep dreams are made of these
Life’s messy, but with the right tools, cleanup is easy.
🚗 Mini cordless vacuum (34% off): Crumbs in your car? This slurps them up and goes where bulky vacs can’t reach.
🌬️ Ceiling fan duster (24% off): With a handle that stretches over 4 feet, you’ll clean without balancing on a chair.
🤓 Eyeglass cleaning cloths (31% off, four-pack): Smudge-free vision in seconds. Your shirt can retire from lens duty.
🐶 Lint rollers (24% off, three-pack): We love our pets, not their fur. These extra-sticky sheets have you covered.
🧺 Laundry detergent sheets (21% off): Sheet happens. Get the power of liquid soap, minus the heavy plastic jugs.
⭐ Want more four-star-and-up finds? Tap this secret link and stock your grime-fighting arsenal.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
The airlines sold you out
Let’s talk about something no one thinks about when booking a flight: where your travel info really goes.
An investigative bombshell from 404 Media just uncovered that the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC), a company owned by the biggest U.S. airlines, has been giving federal agencies access to passenger records.
A sneaky virus could be lurking. It’s better to be safe than sorry. For just $19 for the first year, you get rock-solid antivirus protection on up to 5 devices. It’s smart, simple and keeps your tech safe without breaking the bank.
🍊 Fruit ninja: Coca-Cola has teamed up with MIT to save … oranges. Seriously. A bacterial disease is wrecking citrus trees, and Coke’s using AI to fast-track a cure. If they don’t figure it out, orange juice could be basically extinct in 25 years. The project’s called “Save the Orange.” Yes, that’s real. I’m rooting for juice. Your future breakfast might just be toast.
The enemy is already here
A nationwide SMS flood almost struck New York. While the Secret Service shut down a massive SIM server ring that could have sent 30 million texts per minute and knocked out 911, the threat shows how vulnerable our networks remain. Here is what happened and how to stay prepared.
1
The number of parents needed to make some baby iguanas. A female casque-headed iguana at Exotic Zoo in England just gave birth to eight healthy hatchlings without ever meeting a male. The phenomenon, called parthenogenesis, makes the babies genetic clones of mom, one of the rarest events in the animal kingdom. My bet? A very sneaky male iguana.
📱 Disable Android bloatware: Some preinstalled apps can’t be uninstalled, but they’ll still update and eat resources in the background. If you don’t use them, shut them down. Go to Settings > Apps > [App name] > Disable > Disable app. Handy if your phone’s running low on storage space.
Don’t get tricked by “oops” money
A “wrong number” cash drop on Zelle or Venmo is not a mistake. Criminals use stolen cards to make you the fall guy, tricking you into sending your own money. Here is how to spot it and stay safe.
Uber’s new Costco energy: You might want to check out using prepaid passes for routes you take often, so you save money up front. You can buy bundles of five, 10, 15 or 20 rides, and the bigger the bundle, the bigger the discount (5%‑20% off), which means no surge price surprise for your daily commute.
Accessorize your digital life
🤖 Your gadgets deserve better than “just the basics.”
🎧 Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE + SmartTag2 (17% off): Grab these earbuds and score a SmartTag2 for free. Hurry, this only lasts until Sept. 28.
🍏 Apple AirTags (24% off, four-pack): Lost-and-found is canceled. Tag your keys, wallet, bag or even your dog.
🚗 Wireless car charger (12% off): Bumpy road? No prob. This keeps your phone steady while powering it up.
🛜 Wi-Fi travel router (5% off): Your own private, portable hotspot. Because public Wi-Fi is just plain risky.
💻 Laptop cooling pad (10% off): Stop cooking your desk and your thighs. Nine fans help chill everything.
⚡ Level up for less: Check out 25 more tech deals on my Amazon page before they’re gone.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Your new router might be a waste of money
You’ve probably seen the sales pitches. “Get blazing-fast Wi-Fi 7 with internet speeds like you’ve never seen before. Just $600 for a new state-of-the-art router!” Let me save you money.
Yes, Wi-Fi 7 is fast. Theoretical speeds reach up to 46 Gbps. That’s 46,000 Mbps, compared to Wi-Fi 6, which tops out around 9.6 Gbps (9,600 Mbps). Here’s what that means in real life.
🍏 Stop iPhone from switching audio: Ever had your AirPods cut out because your iPhone jumped to your car’s Bluetooth or a speaker? iOS 26 has a fix. Go to Settings > General > AirPlay & Continuity and toggle on Keep Audio with Headphones. Lovely.
📱 Scratchgate is here: iPhone 17 Pro owners already started posting battle scars within 24 hours of launch. Apparently, the anodized aluminum frame scratches super easily, revealing shiny silver underneath. YouTubers warn that the camera bump chips, too. Here’s a solution: Buy a $13 case or embrace the “relic guitar” vibe.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
🔥 Keep your Fire Stick cool: If it’s tucked tightly behind your TV, it can overheat and slow down. Good news: Amazon usually includes an HDMI extension cable. Use it to move your Fire Stick away from the back of the TV for better airflow.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
The airlines are selling you out
Forget peanuts. Airlines are quietly handing over five billion passenger records to the feds. Then, I talk to Brian, a grieving uncle who wants to name his pond on Google Maps after his niece but isn’t sure how to get started. Plus, the U.S. keeps TikTok alive, and one woman keeps getting tickets for cars she’s never even seen.
Hackers love your browser logins
Saving passwords in your browser is like handing your house key to a burglar. George, your AI host, explains why a password manager keeps you safe and covers TikTok’s takeover tweaks, how your 401(k) is funding U.S. spyware and new proof Mars had water.
🐢 Speed up old PCs: On Windows 11, flashy animations and effects can slow down an older computer. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Visual effects and toggle off Transparency effects and Animation effects. Apps will open more basic and your desktop will look plainer, but you’ll get a snappier system in return.
Clever scam spreading: Venmo, Zelle and Apple Cash are being used for the “accidental deposit” trick. Scammers send you money (using stolen cards, of course), then say oops before begging you to send it back. If you do, your bank later reverses the original payment, and you’re out real cash. PSA: Never send money back to strangers. Let the app deal with it.