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Small-business tips and tricks you won’t find anywhere else
I’ll never forget when my son, Ian, asked me where in Los Angeles I lived. I told him I couldn’t remember — it was 30 years ago, and I lived there for maybe six months. A few minutes later, he called and had the address. It was available for free to anyone on the internet […]
How can you protect yourself? I’ll share tips to lock down your SSN before it’s too late.
A bunch of people are getting a new tax form. I’ll tell you all about the change the IRS has put off for years that’s finally kicked in.
Are you using AI yet? I wrote a great list of 10 prompts to try, and I’m giving away an e-book with 50 more for free.
Breaking news and tips
How to find a hidden GPS tracker on your car

The latest stats say 80% of stalking victims are tracked using tech. One of the most popular ways to do it? GPS trackers, like an AirTag. They’re small enough to slip into a bag, pocket or your car undetected.
“Kim, this doesn’t impact me.” I wish that was true. Maybe you have an ex or friend who won’t buzz off, or maybe you met a stranger at a bar or store who was acting creepy. You’re at risk. Did you drive across the U.S. border? Yep, crooks are targeting tourists, too.
The good news is your phone can alert you when an unknown tracker is with you. If all else fails, good old-fashioned sleuthing works, too. I’ll show you how.
⏰ The clock is ticking
An AirTag will start beeping only after 24 hours away from its owner. That gives the stalker plenty of time to reach you, especially if they’re local. If a carjacker tags your ride, they could learn your routine and follow you home before you even know what’s going on.
The rumor mill says Apple’s AirTags 2, coming later this year, will have antistalking tech. With the most current AirTags, tech-savvy stalkers can rip out the built-in speaker so you won’t get alert, but the new ones should make it harder. For now, you need to do everything you can to stay safe.
On your iPhone, make sure a few settings are enabled:
- Go to Settings > Notifications > Tracking Notifications and toggle on Allow Notifications.
- Now, open your Find My app and tap Items at the bottom of the screen. Tap on Identify Found Item.
On Android, the process is similar as long as your phone is running Android 6.0 or newer. If it’s not, you really need a new phone!
- To make sure alerts are enabled, go to Settings > Safety & Emergency > Find Unknown Tracker Alerts. Toggle on Allow Alerts.
✅ You need to make sure your location and Bluetooth settings are enabled, too.
On iPhone:
XOXO essentials
😉 Don’t wait until the day before Valentine’s Day. I’ve got your shopping covered.
- This massage gun ($33) will hit all the right spots. If you’d rather go the old-fashioned route, grab relaxing oil ($17).
- Build Lego roses (10% off) together. They won’t wilt after a week.
- Feeling steamy? These shower bombs (35% off) are packed with aromatherapy.
- The man in your life will dig these scented candles (24% off). Use this flameless lighter (23% off) to set the mood.
- Cement your bond in stone with a hand-casting kit (10% off). Cheesy but cute!
- Nothing says “romantic” like new socks, right? This magnetic pair (10% off) is adorable.
🍫 Maybe romance isn’t on your mind: Grab yourself some chocolate truffles you don’t have to share.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
The coast is clear: If you were waiting while Apple ironed out the bugs, it’s now safe to download the new iPhone update, iOS 18.3. Reader Cara T., who just asked, there you go!
This makes cents: If you’re looking to make some extra cash, this might be for you. Instacart is rolling out a new side gig where you can make money by just taking photos of products on store shelves. This way, brands see what’s selling and how their products look to customers. The pay? Around $12 for 10 minutes of work (paywall link). I made $15 taking pics of store shelves at Costco while writing about the TaskRabbit app years ago. Too bad I walked out with 50 boxes of animal crackers and a kayak.
Wisconsin Cheese Mart: Gemini in Google Docs
🧀 Gouda grief, not again: Google had to edit one of its Super Bowl ads after its AI butchered a fact about Gouda. In the original video, Gemini said Gouda made up 50% to 60% of the world’s cheese consumption. Spoiler: It doesn’t. The fixed version calls it “one of the most popular cheeses in the world.” Another reminder AI loves to make crap up or, as the AI companies say, “hallucinate.”
Got a letter from Change Healthcare?
Don’t trash it! Hackers stole medical records and personal info in a Change Healthcare breach. Here’s what to do.
A real-life nightmare: Imagine random people showing up at your door, primed and ready for a good time. That’s what happened to a university professor who was stalked for seven years. The creep behind it fed her info into an AI chat site where people hang out, looking for sex. The first line of his ad? “[Victim] Is University’s Hottest Professor. How Will You Seduce Her?” She wasn’t his only victim, and the 36-year-old guy could spend up to 20 years in prison.
50 cents
Extra for an egg at Waffle House. No word yet on when they’ll drop the bird flu surcharge. Better than a price hike on the whole menu. Oh, be careful what you say around egg whites. They can’t take a yolk.
Meet the TikTok PI exposing cheaters for millions to see
Is your partner acting sketchy? Staying late at work? Suddenly has a new “friend”? Steph A., aka “Your Fave Investigator,” finds out the truth and posts the receipts for millions to see. How does she track them down? She gives me the dirt!
Get paid to blab: Don’t Google “paid surveys,” or you’ll end up on junk sites. User Interviews is legit. You may have to apply for several before you get approved, but they pay well. A Komando staffer made $40 for a 10-minute call. The downside? They pay in gift cards. At least Amazon and Visa are both options.
💡 Technical difficulties: Some of you couldn’t access my free e-book, “50 Smart Ways to Use AI.” We hit the server with a wrench and all is well now! Pro tip: If you’re still getting a 404 error, try in a different browser or an Incognito mode tab.
Lost your phone on silent? Make it ring anyway
You’ve checked your pockets, torn apart the couch, even dug through the laundry. Nothing. Here’s how to make your phone ring at full volume, even if the ringer’s off.
🐾 I’m a dog person: My Abby makes life better. It turns out that’s true even if the pet isn’t real. Ageless Innovation makes meowing cats, wagging dogs and chirping birds that respond like the real thing, minus the walking, feeding or litter box duty. Now they’re all over assisted-living facilities and even hospice care centers. Some 93% of folks say they feel more joy after getting one. They’re for sale on Amazon.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Angela Yang and Sean Kay, 2025 Midwestern Sectional U.S. Ice Dance Final
This video is all over social media: It shows two of the young figure skaters who died in the crash, Angela Yang and Sean Kay, taking home gold in a November competition. Their excitement and smiles are just heartbreaking, knowing what happened. Be sure to have tissues near if you watch the video.
Freebie alert: Apps that pay you to play

There are plenty of apps that reward you for doing things you probably already do. I’m sure you’ve seen ads for them. You’re not going to pay your rent from the rewards you earn, but you might get enough perks to make your otherwise pointless scrolling worth it.
No-drone zone: Don’t even think about trying to fly a drone over the Super Bowl in New Orleans. The FAA is ready to slap anyone who flies over the Caesars Superdome with fines up to $75,000 starting Sunday at 1:30 p.m. local time.
Larry Ellison, AI and a future right out of ‘1984’

AI is all over the news and for good reason: Whoever controls AI controls geopolitics and economics. One big player in the AI world is Larry Ellison. He never finished college; he left to start building databases for the CIA. After that, he co-founded Oracle, and now, depending on the day, he’s the fourth-wealthiest person in the world.
Face control on Chromebooks
This is incredible: Google’s new AI feature lets people control Chromebooks using only head and mouth movements. It’ll allow folks with motor impairments to move a cursor, select options and write type emails via text-to-speech. See it in action. So cool.
25 years later
EA is re-releasing the original Sims and Sims 2 games digitally. The first game was only available on disk, but now both come bundled in the 25th Birthday Bundle for $39.99. Grab your copy on Steam, the Epic Games Store or the EA app for Windows.
They only care about money: Searching “undress app” on Google brings up paid-search promoted results for AI tools that create nonconsensual naked pictures. All you need is a photo of someone’s face to make a very lifelike fake. Google’s ad policies prohibit deepfakes, but these links keep showing up. When there’s money to be made, enforcement gets blurry.