Happy Tuesday, friend. New York’s last typewriter repair shop is still clickety-clacking away. The shop sells 40 to 50 typewriters a month, mostly to people nostalgic for a time before we had 47 tabs open at once, which makes me wonder: Does your local Best Buy even move that many laptops? I doubt it.

Here’s something to noodle on: Which sell more units per month in the U.S.? A) Typewriters, B) Smart doorbells, C) Used iPhones or D) USB-powered mug warmers. Make a guess, and you’ll find the answer at the end.

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Mention taking a trip to Antarctica near your phone, and suddenly every screen you own starts pushing parkas. You didn’t search it. Didn’t type it. Definitely didn’t ask your smart speaker to recommend thermal underwear. But the “Visit Antarctica” ads found you anyway. So how did they know?

Chances are, you were hit by ultrasonic cross-device tracking.

This high-frequency sound is too high for your ears to notice, but it connects your devices without your knowledge. No clicks. No cookies. Just vibes.

🎯 What is ultrasonic tracking?

It’s audio surveillance in stealth mode.

Ultrasonic tones (usually between 18–22 kHz) are baked into ads, websites, even retail kiosks. You won’t hear them, but your devices do. 

That’s how advertisers link your laptop, smart TV, phone and even your smart speaker together as one user profile. That profile can then be used to deliver hyper-targeted ads and track your behavior across devices and platforms. Nice.

🧠 Why marketers love it

Because it’s invisible. And almost no one’s blocking it.

Unlike cookies or GPS tracking, this doesn’t ask for permission. It’s passive, sneaky and hard to detect.  

😳 Yes, it’s real

The FTC isn’t thrilled about this tech. They issued warnings to companies using it without proper disclosure, especially ones embedding code into apps and ads. Marketers are still pushing the limits, quietly experimenting without you clicking a thing.

🛑 How to protect yourself

I’ve listed the basic steps below. They might vary by device, so if it’s not exactly where I say, just poke around. You’ll find it.

✅ Limit mic access on your devices

• iPhone: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone. Turn off access for apps that don’t need it.
• Android: Settings > Privacy > Permission Manager > Microphone, then deny access for anything that doesn’t absolutely need it.

✅ Turn off tracking on your smart TV

• Samsung TVs: Settings > Support > Terms & Privacy > Viewing Information Services, and toggle it off.
• LG TVs: Settings > All Settings > General > User Agreements, and uncheck Personalized Advertising.
• Roku TVs: Settings > Privacy > Advertising, and limit ad tracking.

✅ Stop your smart speaker from storing recordings

• Amazon Alexa: Settings > Alexa Privacy > Manage Your Alexa Data > Choose Don’t Save Recordings.
• Google Nest/Home: Google Home app > Settings > Privacy > Turn off audio recording.

Silent tracking is real, but now, you’re putting your hands over tech’s ears, saying la la la, I can’t hear you. 

🚨 Fake toll payment texts are back: And up by over 600%. Scammers are once again impersonating E-ZPass and others to steal your info and money. They’ll hit you with a text telling you to pay now or risk fines and a license suspension. Block the number, and don’t click the link. Next up: fake texts from “I-95” asking for child support.

Verizon’s new price lock policy: With all the economic chaos going on, Verizon’s offering a three-year price guarantee on certain plans. Sounds great, right? Not so fast. This “deal” only covers the base charge. Fees aren’t included, so your bill can still go up. Oh, and they can also cut your monthly autopay discount in half. Cute, Verizon. Real cute.

🧠 AI is changing radiology: Over 75% of AI software approved by the FDA for medical use is built for radiology. These tools scan hundreds of images and spot things like cancer, strokes and pneumonia (paywall link). Yep, that means doctors can catch urgent cases faster and treat patients sooner. They just have to watch out for the false reports, of course. 

Feeling the sting of sky-high cloud costs: Here’s a smart move — switch to Oracle. Companies are saving up to 50% on their cloud bills without sacrificing performance. Want to see how much you could save? Check it out for yourself.*

👎 Downleveling: It’s the new tech hiring trend. You crush the interview … and then they offer a lower-level role than the one you applied for. Congrats! You nailed the interview for a job you didn’t want. Why? Companies have so many candidates, they’re not taking chances on anyone who doesn’t check every single box. Say no? Cool, there are a hundred others behind you ready to take it. Rude.

▶️ TikTok, who? YouTube wants you to watch more Shorts later this spring. They’re updating its video editor to automatically sync cuts to the beat of the music and AI stickers. Plus, no more minimum watch time. Views will be counted the second you press play. Cool, but we all know TikTok’s secret sauce is its algorithm.

🛰️ Mark your calendars: Amazon’s finally launching its first internet satellites tomorrow, April 9 at 12 p.m. ET. It’s their shot at taking on SpaceX’s Starlink and bringing high-speed internet to the whole planet. Sure, Starlink already has thousands of satellites up there, but Amazon’s betting it can win you over by cranking out cheaper terminals. Fingers crossed the satellite doesn’t come with “some assembly required.”

🛡️ Protect your things and your peace of mind.

• A personal safety alarm (37% off) is essential.
• Put this great travel door lock (30% off) on any door.
• A fake rock (13% off) is better than the “key under the mat” trick.
• Hide your sensitive info with an identity theft roller (33% off).
• This paper shredder (23% off) runs 60 minutes straight.

👛 Safe n’ sleek: These men’s wallets (9% off) and women’s wristlets (28% off) block digital theft in style.

⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Say “Alexa, remember this,” and she can store your information like Wi-Fi passwords, recipes, birthdays or gate codes.

🤖 Mixed signals: Watch what you type into ChatGPT or any AI. Asking for a “detailed” answer and a “summary” can confuse your bot. Stick to positive language like “do” instead of “don’t.” AI is built for specific tasks, so saying not to do something is only helpful if you explain why. Keep it simple.

From Lisa in Texas: “Kim, I’m done with Big Tech snooping. Is StartMail really private?” You bet! StartMail is built for privacy — no tracking, no ads, just secure email. You can even import all your old messages and contacts, hassle-free. Save 60% now with my exclusive link!*

🛑 Keep out hackers: Hide your SSID (network name) so randos don’t see your Wi-Fi. Find your router’s IP address (usually on a sticker at the bottom) and type it into your browser. Then, Login > Wireless Settings > Disable SSID broadcast.

🌦️ Avoid the storm: Planning a road trip? If you have Android Auto, just say, “Hey, Google, show me the weather radar.” You’ll get live storm updates right on your screen. It’s a handy way to stay ahead of any surprises. And remember, eyes on the road.

📝 No scanner? No worries. On your iPhone, go to the Notes app > create a new note > Attachment button (paper clip icon) > Scan Documents to open your camera. Tap Insert to grab the text. For Androids, open Google Drive > (+) icon > Scan document > Save > Upload, and you’re good to go. Congrats, your phone is now a scanner/copier/fax from 2002.

The answer: C) Used iPhones. The market for used iPhones is substantial and growing. Despite nostalgia analog dreams, refurbished iPhones still outsell typewriters, smart doorbells and, yes, even those USB-powered mug warmers your coworker definitely got for Secret Santa. Turns out, the past is charming, but the resale market is ruthless.

📬 Quick ask before you go: Hit reply and let me know: What’s the oldest tech you still use on purpose? (Bonus points if it has a crank.)

Thanks for letting me into your inbox. Same time, same vibe tomorrow with the best tech newsletter in the USA, because staying smart should feel like a conversation, not homework. — Kim

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