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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.
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.
New scam trick: Fake sites that look too good
Here’s the newest con in town: Scammers are using AI to clone legit websites, and they’re scary good at it. I’m talking about perfect logos, identical layouts, right down to the fonts and buttons.
The crazy part is that they spin these sites up in minutes. Then, they shove them to the top of Google, where you search for your bank, power company or even a government site. One wrong click, and boom, you’ve handed over your login, your info, your identity.
Check this out: Library Extension shows you what’s at over 5,000 libraries while you browse the web. You can borrow books, music or audiobooks without spending a dime. Best part? You don’t need to sign up. Get it on Chrome, Firefox and Edge.
🌕 Sign me up, Scotty: You could help track Artemis II, the first crewed moon mission in 50 years. The 10-day flight (set for April 2026) will loop astronauts around the moon. If you’ve got the gear to spot Orion, NASA wants your help. Basically, if you’re into backyard stargazing and unpaid work, this is right up your alley.
Your favorite podcast may disappear soon
Podcasting is changing fast. The era of big-budget true crime and long investigative series is fading, replaced by fast talk shows that are cheaper to make and easier to monetize. Here is why your favorite podcast may never return.
293.54 mph
Speeds hit by China’s BYD U9, claiming EV hypercar supremacy. So it turns out Yangwang’s engineering marvel U9 casually obliterated the speed charts. It didn’t just nudge the status quo; it demolished it. Anyone up for some electric NASCAR?
🍏 Turn off iPhone analytics: Apple collects usage data and location info from your device to “improve services.” They say it’s anonymous, but why risk your privacy? Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Analytics & Improvements and toggle everything off. Bonus: You’ll get a tiny battery boost since your phone won’t be uploading data in the background.
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.
⛳️ Talk birdie to me: Forget 18-hole snoozefests. YouTube quietly turned golf into a content gold mine. During the pandemic, channels like Good Good exploded; now 75% of their revenue comes from merch, not swings. Paige Spiranac parlayed 4M Instagram followers into golf stardom, and even Bryson DeChambeau used YouTube to fix his image with 2.3M subs.
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.
Man marries AI, his wife’s cool with it
George, your AI host, tells the true story of a man in love with an AI chatbot. What does this say about the future of relationships? Also: a tragic ChatGPT lawsuit, solo hacker attacks with Claude, disappearing Ford dashboards, YouTube vs. Fox, and AI-powered insurance appeals. AI isn’t going away anytime soon.
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.
📞 What’s your emergency? America’s 911 centers are so short-staffed they’re outsourcing some calls to a robot. A startup named Aurelian (because of course) raised $14M to let AI handle non-emergencies like parking rage and stolen fanny packs. It’s live in over a dozen cities and counting.
✍️ On the dotted line: Sign PDFs fast without extra apps. On a Mac, open the PDF and select Show Markup Toolbar (circle with a pin icon) at the top. Hit Signature (cursive icon) to sign with your trackpad or camera. For Windows, open the PDF in Microsoft Edge and click Draw (pen icon) in the toolbar to sign.
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.
Stay safe this Labor Day
🔋 My pick: Hand-crank emergency radio (38% off)
Don’t get caught in the dark. Stay connected with NOAA alerts, an SOS alarm and even a compass.
🚨 Carbon monoxide detector (25% off): Invisible danger? Get alerts to your phone the moment CO levels rise.
🚗 Car safety hammer (27% off, two-pack): Car accidents are scary. This breaks glass and cuts seat belts, so you get out fast.
🔒 Master Lock padlock (15% off, three-pack): Back-to-school or back-to-gym? Colors may vary, but protection doesn’t.
❤️🩹 Emergency first aid kit (16% off, 500 pieces): Everything you need for bumps, scrapes or “oops” moments.
👉 Prep doesn’t end here: Labor Day deals mean less stressing. Grab more emergency essentials on my Amazon shop here.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
📺 Cast your Chromebook to a TV: Want a bigger screen for movies or presentations? Make sure your Chromebook and smart TV are on the same Wi-Fi network. Open the Chrome browser, click the three-dot menu (top right), select Cast and choose your TV from the list of available devices.
Data grab alert: Anthropic just changed its privacy policy … again. You have until Sept. 28 to opt out if you don’t want your convos used to train AI. Otherwise? Your chats get stored for five years and turned into robot brain food. The toggle to opt out is tiny, buried under an “Accept” button. Sneaky.