I hope your Saturday is going great, friend. Imagine stepping out for groceries and coming home to … no home. That’s exactly what happened in Texas when crews demolished the wrong house. 

👷🏼‍♀️ Thinking cap time: So what do you think led these folks to swing the bulldozer in the wrong direction? A) A paperwork typo, B) A Google Maps error, C) A drone misreading addresses, or D) A confused neighbor? Find the answer at the end! 

It’s really bad: Cyber threats are more sophisticated than ever. From phishing scams to ransomware attacks, all your devices are constantly at risk. That’s why I’ve partnered with TotalAV, my go-to antivirus solution that offers real-time protection. More on that below! — Kim

You pay for high-speed internet, but your current connection is slower than your mom who took nine months to come up with a good joke. Something’s off, and no, it’s not Mercury in retrograde (this time). 

Enter: DNS.

🧠 Wait, what’s DNS?

DNS stands for Domain Name System. It’s like your computer’s address book. When you type in a website like komando.com, your device has to look up the matching IP address (the real location of the site) before it can load it. 

Now here’s where it gets spicy: Most people are using the DNS servers provided by their internet service providers (ISPs), and those servers are often slow. 

Why? They’re overloaded, outdated and in desperate need of a nap. 

⚡ The solution: Change your DNS

Yes, you can do this and switch to a faster, more private DNS service. You have two great options:

1. Google DNS
   Primary: 8.8.8.8
   Secondary: 8.8.4.4
   
2. Cloudflare DNS
   Primary: 1.1.1.1
   Secondary: 1.0.0.1

🛠️ How to change your DNS in baby steps

These are the correct steps for most. Yours might be a tad different depending on your device and operating system.

On Windows:

1. Go to Settings > Network & Internet
2. Select Wi-Fi or Ethernet
3. Under DNS server assignment, click Edit
4. Choose Manual from the drop-down menu
5. Toggle IPv4 ON
6. Enter the DNS numbers above
7. Hit Save
   

On Mac:

1. Go to System Settings > Network
2. Click your Wi-Fi > Details
3. Go to the DNS tab
4. Press the + icon and enter the new DNS addresses 
5. Hit OK
   

🔍 What you’ll notice

• Websites load faster
• Fewer random “server not found” errors
• A bit more privacy from prying ISPs
  

Try it for a week. Best case, your internet goes from molasses to Mario Kart on a mushroom. Worst case, you switch back. I bet you won’t though.

🚀 Be a pal and spread the know-how by using the handy-dandy share buttons below. 

Last year, nearly half of American adults were hit with a scam, hack, or worse. It’s not if it will happen, it’s when. Antivirus software is a huge help when it comes to cyberattacks like these. And that free antivirus? Let’s be real… It probably won’t cut it when you really need it.

I trust TotalAV, the award-winning antivirus software that protects you against malware, phishing, ransomware, or sneaky browser hijackers. TotalAV shields your devices from the latest threats — all without slowing you down.

It’s easy to install, easy to use, and runs quietly in the background while you safely browse, shop, and bank with total confidence. You can even protect five devices under one account with my exclusive offer. I suggest you lock down & protect your digital life today with TotalAV for just $19 for the first year.

🧠 ChatGPT passed the Turing test: Yep, the big one where a machine tries to convince you it’s human. In a study, people chatted with the new GPT-4.5 for five minutes, and 73% thought it was a real person. The bot was told to act like a slightly awkward, internet-savvy introvert with dry humor. Without that personality prompt, it only fooled 36%. 

📧 Google phishing scam: If you get an email saying there’s a legal subpoena tied to your Google account, don’t panic and don’t click. It’ll send you to a fake support page to steal your login info. Google says they’re working on a fix. Imagine getting sued by Fake Google, and losing.

🥾 Going hiking? Your map app might send you off a cliff. UK mountain rescue teams were called out last year. Blame bad directions and folks blindly following routes. So, use a proper map, learn a few survival basics and maybe pack a flare just in case. “Recalculating route” shouldn’t mean straight into the abyss.

☑️ Badge means business: Is your identity verified on LinkedIn? Your little checkmark is about to get a big upgrade. Adobe just added LinkedIn verification to its new Content Authenticity app. That means when your content pops up with your badge, folks will know it’s really you, not some AI bot. Hiring? Use my link to post a job for free.*

🚐 Uber and Volkswagen are teaming up: They’re launching a robotaxi service in the U.S. with self-driving electric microbuses. First stop? Los Angeles, starting in late 2026. But don’t get too excited just yet. You’ll still see a human behind the wheel until at least 2027. Why? They’ve gotta wait for those permits to clear.

🚭 Parents, watch out for smart vapes! They look like colorful gadgets that play music, run games, take calls and send social media notifications. But they’re actually vapes … with up to 30,000 puffs, and some even give you points for every hit. Yep, it’s nicotine, sweet flavors and gaming all rolled into one. It’s kind of like a Tamagotchi, except instead of you keeping it alive, it’s killing you. 

🦺 Think of this list as bubble wrapping for your everyday life.

• Leg covers (29% off) keep your chairs from scuffing your beautiful floors.
• These stretchy chair covers (20% off) add color and guard against spills.
• Stop door slams and pinched fingers with handy door stoppers ($9).
• Big project? Cut-proof gloves (30% off) protect your hands while you DIY.
• Slip on some tinted safety glasses (19% off) that fit over your regular specs.

🔒 Lock it down: Add an extra layer of “hands off” with a two-pack of padlocks (22% off) for your backpack, briefcase or luggage.

⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Alexa overload? Say, “Alexa, delete everything I said today” to wipe your voice history instantly. If only that worked during an argument with your spouse, right?

🎉 You’re invited! This weekend, my award-winning national radio show is broadcasting on 420+ stations across the U.S., and I’d love for you to join the fun. I’m talking tech tips, digital life hacks, wild stories I can’t fit in the newsletter and taking calls from listeners just like you. Find your local station or get the podcast.

❌ Right outta here: Stop backspacing one letter at a time. On a Mac, try Cmd + Fn + Delete to erase the words to the left of your cursor and Cmd + Delete to clear text on the right. On a PC, it’s Ctrl + Backspace (left) and Ctrl + Delete (right).

📖 Plot twist: Looking for fresh reads? Check out Wattpad, where hobbyist writers and future best-selling authors share everything from romance and sci-fi to thrillers and fan fiction. Many stories you can read without an account, or sign up for free to unlock more. Feeling inspired? Publish your own.

🖥️ Full frontal: If you want to screenshot a long web page, check out the free GoFullPage extension (Chrome and Edge). It captures the whole page, not just what’s on screen. Just click the icon, and it scrolls, snaps and stitches everything into a new tab. You can save it as a PNG, JPEG or PDF. 

⏩ The fast lane: Slow Wi-Fi? Place your mesh nodes halfway between your router and dead zones. This will help boost your signal. Pro tip: Connect to the 5GHz band instead of the 2.4GHz band. You’ll notice the difference.

💸 Learn to make money from your hobby: The Hobby Letter* is sharing ways everyday people are turning their hobbies into real cash using social media. There’s no fluff, just short, tactical reads you can apply in under five minutes. Start your free trial (cancel anytime) and follow their 30-day plan to make your first dollar from social media.

🏚️ The answer: B) Google Maps error! Yep, in 2016, a demolition crew in Rowlett, Texas, showed up at the wrong address. The right house? Still standing across the street. I like to think it’s side-eyeing every construction crew that drives past to this day.

Speaking of … I have this great joke about construction. I’m still working on it. Got to hammer out a few kinks. Make sure to nail the delivery. I just don’t want to screw it up! (Was that a groan I heard, or do you need to eat something?)

TotalAV doesn’t just shield you from malware: It enhances your device’s performance. Whether you’re on a PC, Mac, iPhone or Android, TotalAV has you covered. And the best part? You can get a full year of protection for just $19 on up to five devices.

💪 May your router stay strong, your phishing filters stay stronger, and Google Maps finally learn how to read the room (and the street). See you tomorrow with my thoughts on what makes a good photo in the best tech newsletter in the USA! — Kim

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