Hi, friend! It’s Monday and Veterans Day. Today, we both honor and thank the brave men and women who served in all branches of our military. Join me in a quiet moment of gratitude for those who served to make our freedom possible. They’re the definition of duty, courage, loyalty and selflessness. And don’t forget: When a service member gets deployed, so, too, does his or her family.

🎖️ My dad’s medals are treasured possessions hanging in my office. If a loved one’s medals have been damaged, lost or stolen, the U.S. military offers free replacements. Visit the National Personnel Records Center and click on your veteran’s branch to learn more. — Kim

🆕 Today’s podcast: Your DNA, for sale

⏱️ Daily Tech Update: Can you trust AI for holiday shopping?

💡 Digital Life Hack: Don’t spill the beans to ChatGPT

Apple really pulled off a great feat. You can now test your hearing with your AirPods Pro 2 and an iPhone running iOS 18. It’s a groundbreaking feature, FDA-approved and perfect for catching mild to moderate hearing loss early.

First, to take the hearing test, you’ll need:

• Apple AirPods Pro 2: Only specific models work (A2931, A2699, A2698, A3047, A3048, A3049). To see your model number, on your iPhone, go to Settings > Bluetooth. Find your AirPods in the list (e.g., “Kim’s AirPods”). Tap the More Info button next to them.
• An iOS 18-compatible iPhone or iPad: Scroll to the very bottom of this page to see if yours is on the list.

Once you have your earbuds and iPhone or iPad ready to go:

• Confirm your AirPods Pro 2 firmware version is 7B19: (More info here.) If not, place your AirPods Pro 2 in their charging case, close the lid, and connect the case to a power source. Keep your paired iPhone, iPad or Mac nearby, connected to Wi‑Fi and with Bluetooth enabled. Leave your AirPods Pro 2 near your paired device for at least an hour — maybe even days. No, you can’t force the firmware update.

👂 Now, let’s take the hearing test: On your paired device, go to Settings > AirPods Pro > Take a Hearing Test. In 10 minutes, you’ll have a clear picture of your hearing health. If hearing loss is detected, try Apple’s hearing aid features. Find these under Settings > AirPods Pro > Hearing Assistance.

Apple’s solution only works for mild to moderate hearing loss. If your hearing issues go beyond mild to moderate, it’s time to explore more advanced options.

If you’re on Android

There are no FDA-approved hearing apps or earbuds like Apple’s AirPods, but there are tools for getting a quick sense of how well you’re hearing:

• Sennheiser Hearing Test: Got headphones? This app takes less than 5 minutes to check your hearing and gives you clear insights into your hearing ability.
• Hearing Test by e-audiologia.pl: This app’s a double feature, offering pure-tone audiometry and digits-in-noise tests. Bonus: It also has a noise meter to make sure your testing environment is quiet enough.

These are perfect for a quick hearing health check. If you notice any issues, though, don’t skip the professionals; get a full evaluation from a hearing expert.

Different levels of hearing loss

Here’s the thing: Untreated hearing loss isn’t just inconvenient; it can lead to social isolation, depression, cognitive decline and even physical frailty. Hearing loss comes in levels, measured in decibels (dB), and understanding where you or a loved one falls is crucial.

• Normal (0 to 25 dB): Whispers, chirping birds and conversations come through clearly, even in noisy spots.
• Mild (26 to 40 dB): Whispers and soft sounds fade away. Busy places like restaurants make keeping up with conversations tough.
• Moderate (41 to 55 dB): Repeating becomes common, and subtle sounds like ticking clocks or birds are hard to hear.
• Moderately severe (56 to 70 dB): Voices sound muffled, and quiet noises like rustling leaves often go unheard.
• Severe (71 to 90 dB): Shouts or loud sounds like car horns are audible, but regular conversations are nearly impossible.
• Profound (91 dB and above): Only very loud noises, like fireworks, register faintly.

If you or someone you love is dealing with anything beyond mild hearing loss, let me introduce you to the Horizon IX hearing aids.

Not your grandparents’ hearing aids

Forget clunky, old-school hearing aids. Horizon IX hearing aids are sleek, smart and packed with cutting-edge tech:

• Crystal-clear sound: Two powerful chips process speech and background noise independently.
• Smartphone connectivity: Stream music, take calls and listen to podcasts right from your hearing aids.
• Discreet design: These look more like modern earbuds than bulky medical devices.
• Highly rated: The company behind the Horizon IX hearing aids has an A+ BBB rating and a 4.9 out of 5 rating with Consumer Affairs.
• Affordable: Insurance and financing options make them accessible.
• No risk: The Horizon IX hearing aids have a 100% money-back guarantee and a free 45-day trial.

Take the next step

✅ Get a free hearing evaluation from a doctor, and see if you qualify for a 45-day no-risk trial of the Horizon IX hearing aids right now.

💛 Do your loved ones a favor and share this if there’s someone in your life who could use it. FYI, I don’t get any residuals or kickbacks when you buy. I’ve seen how big a difference the right hearing aids can make with folks in my life, and I want that for you, too!

😤 Hackers are breaking into Ticketmaster accounts: They’re stealing tickets to resell. Just ask Mika, who changed her Ticketmaster password but was still scammed out of $400 worth of tickets. Live Nation, Ticketmaster’s parent company, controls around 80% of concert ticket sales and says they can’t fix this problem.

💻 So long, farewell: The latest version of Windows 11 (24H2) isn’t just routine updates; it also removes some apps, including WordPad, Paint 3D and Tips. To update, go to Settings > Windows Update and enable Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available. FYI, support for Windows 10 ends on Nov. 14, 2025.

Not a cure for loneliness: Big Tech says AI tools like Replika let you create a virtual AI companion. The more you chat and pay per month, the more it adapts its tone to become a friend you think you can trust. Remember, you never know what the developers taught it or will take away in a nanosecond.

🚨 North Korean hackers are targeting Macs: It starts with an email containing a fake crypto news headline, like “Hidden Risk Behind New Surge of Bitcoin Price,” and includes a link to a PDF. The link actually leads to a malicious app that lets the sender take control of your system. If you’ve clicked on a random PDF link recently, scan for malware ASAP. I use TotalAV.*

Human trials could start soon: Methazolamide, a drug usually prescribed for eye diseases, could help fight Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists believe Alzheimer’s is caused by abnormal protein buildup around brain cells. In animal tests, Methazolamide actually got brain cells to “spit out” these harmful clumps, reducing the buildup. Praying for this one.

Before you buy: If you’re in the market for a baby lounger, sleep positioner, wedge, inclined sleeper, weighted sleep sacks or crib bumpers, just know not everything sold online is safe. Third-party retailers on Amazon and other sites often don’t comply with recalls. Always search online for the exact name of a baby or kid product with the word “recall.”

🎞️ Coming to (paid) Google Workspace in the next few days: Google’s AI-powered Vids app pops out presentations with just a prompt. Describe what you want, drop in files or documents, and Gemini does the rest. The app adds stock footage, generates a script and provides an AI voiceover. Will it make presentations better? Sitting through a PowerPoint presentation is like a mix between a root canal and a colonoscopy … but without the luxury of anesthesia to take the edge off.

🥜 Better than peanut butter and jelly … almost.

• An air fryer and fancy French fry seasoning. Now all you need is a bag of frozen fries.
• A pizza-cutting blade (27% off) and grease-absorbing sheets for your next game-day slice.
• Viral Korean cleansing foam followed by a snail mucin moisturizer (26% off). You’ll practically glow.
• Reusable overnight oats containers and cute collapsible bento boxes. No more ordering expensive breakfast and lunch.
• A time-marked water bottle and a 90-day personal planner so you don’t lose complete control over your life before the holidays.
• A silicone microwave mat (50% off!) and an Angry Mama microwave cleaner, because scrubbing a dirty microwave stinks.

One sign your email was hacked? There are messages in your sent folder you definitely didn’t send. Now, check if an unknown device is logged into your account. In Gmail, for instance, click on your account picture, then go to Manage your Google Account > Security > Your Devices > Manage all devices. Look for any devices you don’t recognize and click on them. Sign out when you’re done, and remember to change your password to stay safe.

Rip those cassette tapes a new one: Time to bring those tapes into the digital age. You can use this USB-based converter ($25.99, 26% off now!) and my favorite free audio-editing software. Nice!

🖨️ Printer smarts: Turning off your printer can trigger maintenance tasks when you turn it back on, which sucks up expensive ink. Instead, let your printer go into energy-saving mode when it’s not in use.

💸 Struggling with debt? PDS Debt is A+ BBB-rated and works with you to consolidate your high-interest payments into one manageable monthly plan — no loans, no bankruptcy. Their expert negotiators help reduce what you owe and get you back on track fast. Visit PDSDebt.com now and take the first step toward financial freedom!*

Call me, maybe: Delete your outgoing voicemail message if it uses your voice and replace it with the default included with your device. Why? Hackers can copy your voice to access protected financial records — or pose as you to rip off your friends and relatives.

🔌 This is a good find: Lots of generic phone chargers don’t meet established safety and quality testing guidelines. Consumer Reports did a ton of testing, and this cheap Amazon cord works as well as the expensive USB‑C cords.

This art is for sale on Amazon. Can you find the hidden tiger?

Thank a veteran today! Many restaurants and businesses offer veterans free meals, discounts and great deals on Veterans Day. Here’s a great list to check out.

Each military branch has its own ball — there’s the Navy Ball, the Army Ball and so on. With the newest branch, we can now look forward to Space Balls.

🎟️ Just one — that’s all. The best way for me to grow this free newsletter is by having you get one person to sign up. Find your unique referral link below and share it. Thank you for your help. I’ll be back in your inbox tomorrow, bright and early, with intel for anyone shopping for a new laptop. See you then! — Kim