Happy Sunday, friend. Hope your coffee’s strong and your Wi-Fi stronger. Time for a little trivia to get those brain gears turning. In 2019, one app quietly hit 400 million downloads across the globe. That’s double the population of Brazil. It’s still number one today.

Here’s the kicker: It’s not a game or social media app. So what kind of app is it? A) Fitness, B) Video editing, C) Reading the Bible, or D) Learning a new language? Find the answer at the end! 

⭐ Like what you’re reading? Hit that “favorite” or “mark as not spam” button, so I don’t get lost in the junk folder abyss. I’m so sad there. — Kim

Picture this: You’re worth millions in crypto. You think your money’s safe because it’s digital, anonymous and locked up behind a strong password. But there’s one security hole you didn’t count on, your physical body.

That’s exactly what happened in a terrifying case out of New York City. 

Two men allegedly kidnapped a crypto investor and held him captive for weeks in a luxury town house. Why? To beat the password out of him. It’s called a “$5 wrench attack” by insiders. 

Kidnapped for crypto

According to The Wall Street Journal, Michael Carturan, with $30 million in crypto, walked into a Soho town house expecting a pitch meeting … and left 25 days later barefoot and traumatized. 

The goal? Force him to unlock his Bitcoin wallet. Kidnapped. Held hostage. Tortured, yes, even threatened with a chain saw, until he gave up his wallet info. 

This isn’t a plot from a Netflix thriller, it’s real life. And it’s a terrifying new way criminals are going after digital riches.

Carturan finally escaped barefoot into the street, flagged down an NYPD officer and lived to tell the tale. 

Two suspects were caught, including (because this story wouldn’t be complete otherwise) a former crypto CEO. 

This isn’t just one wild story

It’s happening more than you might think.

A Connecticut couple cruising around in their Lamborghini get kidnapped. Six guys grab them not because they’re flashy but because they thought the couple’s son was sitting on a fortune in crypto. Federal prosecutors say the plan was to hold them for ransom.

It’s not just here in the U.S. France has seen a wave of these attacks, with at least five crypto-related kidnappings reported in just the past few months. One involved the cofounder of hardware company Ledger.

Then there’s the case in Houston. A crypto influencer was asleep in her home when armed intruders broke in during the night. They didn’t want jewelry or cash. They wanted her laptop because that’s where the money lives now.

The worst part? Unlike your credit card, there’s no “freeze” button for blockchain. Once gone, your funds are dust in the cryptographic wind.

No undo button. No customer service number. No way to trace it.

So what do you do? 

Stay quiet about owning crypto. You don’t brag online. You don’t talk crypto in Ubers. This is your wake-up call. Use offline wallets. Be careful who you trust and where you go. Digital money comes with very real risks.

It reminds me of when I visited the Winston Churchill Museum in London and saw a sign that read, “Loose lips sink ships.” That wartime warning couldn’t be more relevant today. Except now, it’s not enemy submarines we’re worried about, it’s crypto criminals.

🚘 Car wrap scam: You get a text saying big brands will pay you to wrap your car in advertising. After you fill out an application, a “rep” sends a cashier’s check and tells you to deposit it, then pay a local installer via Cash App. Plot twist: The check’s fake, it bounces later and you’re out thousands. Never stops.

“Oh sheet,” says Google: Perplexity AI is now doing spreadsheets, presentations and websites, all from a $20/month subscription. You can use it on iOS, Android and soon Mac and Windows.

🧨 Tap that update button: Apple quietly slid out an update that plugs a nasty hole where hackers can crash your apps or expose your private life with a malicious, cursed JPEG. Install the patch before a stranger’s selfie ends your career. iOS updates used to mean emojis. Now they mean survival.

Hiring? Don’t waste time on the wrong candidates. LinkedIn connects you with qualified pros fast. Right now, you can post your job for free. Tap into the world’s largest professional network and find your next great hire today!*

1,000 lashes: Some guys online are shaving off their eyelashes to look more masculine. PSA: They’re not just for looks, boys. Lashes protect your eyes from dirt and deflect air from your cornea. And once you start messing with them, it ups your risk of infections like pink eye. Just don’t.

👨‍💻 Keep calm and Java on: Engineers say AI is pushing them to work harder and faster. Teams are shrinking, but expectations aren’t. Code that used to take weeks now has to be done in days. And with AI writing full programs instead of just suggesting lines of code? Yeah, junior devs’ glory days are over.

🧢 Adidas x identity theft: Hackers hit an Adidas contractor and grabbed customer data. Adidas says it was just contact info, but still, change your password on adidas.com if you have an account. Adidas is now investigating this little cyber joggers’ detour and letting the impacted users know.

Still saving passwords in your browser? It’s time to upgrade. NordPass stores your logins securely and fills them in instantly. No more password headaches. Get 52% off and take control of your digital life the smart, safe way!*

Tech is amazing, but it also takes a toll on our lives. It’s not just draining your mind, it’s aging your body too. Think about your posture when hunched over your screens… Guilty!

The digital fatigue is real. That’s why I take NativePath Collagen every day. It helps replenish what your body loses over time by repairing joint and skin damage, and restoring that youthful glow from the inside out.

Take the supplement your tech-filled life needs: NativePath Collagen. Because screen time shouldn’t show on your face.

⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Use the app Google Lens to identify plants, products or landmarks from your phone camera.

🔊 Customize Windows audio: You can control the volume of individual apps right from your task bar. Just right-click the volume icon and select Open Volume mixer. Slide it down for something like System Sounds, and bump it up for Spotify. FYI: The Device slider changes overall volume, but app levels stay put.

From crayon to canvas: Bring your child’s sketch to life with a little AI magic. Just upload a pic to ChatGPT (or your favorite bot), and say, “This is a photo of my child’s drawing of a [describe it]. Turn it into a digital illustration in a [watercolor, cartoon, etc.] style.” Boom, instant keepsake.

🎤 Listen up: Adobe has a free tool to test if your mic is set correctly for a podcast or video meeting. Try it here. You’ll get pointers on where to sit relative to your mic and whether there’s too much going on in the background. Nice!

Anxious pup? Try a compression vest. These snug-fitting vests (5% off) apply gentle pressure around your dog’s torso, kinda like a hug. This can help your furry friend relax more during storms, fireworks or when traveling. I use one with my golden Abby.

🤑 Piqued your interest: Want your savings to grow faster? Online high-yield savings accounts can offer 3% to 4% interest or more. Four big names I trust: Marcus by Goldman Sachs, Ally Bank, Capital One 360 and American Express. They’re FDIC-insured up to $250,000. But watch out for hidden fees, withdrawal limits and teaser rates that drop after a few months.

Online security isn’t optional, it’s essential. That’s why I recommend ExpressVPN. It keeps your online data safe, blocks trackers and lets you browse without limits. Right now, get four extra months free when you sign up. Stay secure and one step ahead!*

🎁 For the dad who says he “doesn’t need anything.”

• Muscle knots? This massage gun (30% off) helps him chill.
• A set of fresh cologne (33% off) packs four bold scents.
• This hairbrush ($21) keeps his beard looking sharp.
• Get him a multitool ($10) that’s part knife, part screwdriver.
• These rolling grill baskets ($24) are a must for any BBQ.

🛒 Two weeks to shop: Check out my Ultimate Father’s Day Gift List for more picks he’ll want to use.

🛒 Visit my Amazon store for more of my recommendations.

• Sarah from New Haven, Connecticut, watched her pet cam in horror as her French bulldog, Yogi, had a seizure. Luckily, her other pup, Reggie, was there to save his buddy. 
• Andrew from Pensacola, Florida, used a drone to save a girl caught in a rip current. Wow!
• Paul from Joplin, Missouri, loves to make 3D-printed puzzles. The problem is, no one knows how they work. He wants a way to show folks how to solve them.

Plus, Shirley asks for laptop recs, Kim writes an e-book, Robbie’s hubby falls for an $80K scam, Rich looks for copyrighted pics online, David wants to background check his tenants, and so much more!

🎶 Spin the globe: Hear live radio stations from Cairo to Kyoto in real time on Radio Garden.

Make digital sand art: Watch water, fire and plants react like elemental chaos.

🌍 Get dropped anywhere: Hit “Go” and try to figure out where in the world you just landed.

Mix: Two scoops of collagen* into your coffee, tea or smoothie. It’s an easy way to strengthen your joints and get extra protein. Bonus: It smoothes wrinkles, too.

🚶‍♂️ Take me on a walk: Listen to my show’s podcast.

See what’s on sale: Save big bucks using this secret link on Amazon that lists stuff you buy over and over. Love that!

🧠 The answer: C) Reading the Bible. Yep, YouVersion’s Bible app quietly hit 400 million downloads back in 2019. It’s available in 1,800+ languages with more being added regularly. It’s used in every country on Earth, from the U.S. to remote regions in Africa and Asia.

Apparently, there’s just something about daily devotionals and audio scripture that gets us all tapping “Accept cookies.”

Isn’t that amazing and wonderful?! Oh, and if you need an ark, I Noah guy! (Oh, I heard you laugh at that one!)

🇺🇸 We’re proud to be the #1 tech newsletter in the U.S. and proud to bring you the top tech news every day. Tomorrow, learn about what jobs AI isn’t taking over. Until then, that’s your daily tech fix. Now go touch some grass. 🌾 — Kim

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