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Breaking news and tips
Stop one-touch theft
Tap-to-pay is slick, fast and super convenient until it isn’t. Scammers have figured out how to use that same technology to steal your money without you even knowing.
It’s called “ghost tapping,” and it’s spreading so fast, the BBB issued a major alert about it.
💳 How it works
A scammer carries a hidden NFC reader, the same tech used in legit payment retail terminals, and bumps up close to your credit or debit card. If your card is contactless and not protected, boom, a payment goes through.
No swipe. No PIN. No clue it happened.
These crooks hang out in crowded spots like malls, airports, festivals and train stations. If your tap-to-pay card is sitting loose in a bag or back pocket, they can charge you by brushing past. It’s that easy.
Even worse? They often start with tiny amounts, so it flies under your radar. A couple bucks here, a coffee there, and they keep draining your bank account.
🛡️ Stay a step ahead
You don’t have to give up tap-to-pay. You just need to outsmart the scammers, especially when you’re in a crowd.
- Use an RFID-blocking wallet or card sleeve. These physically block anyone from scanning your card when you’re not using it. Cheap fix, big peace of mind. Here are some great sleeves (50% off) and wallets for men (60% off) and women (40% off).
- Turn off tap-to-pay if you don’t use it. In most banking app settings, you can turn off contactless features or set a low limit. Do it.
- Watch the screen before you tap. If something looks off, like the merchant name or amount, stop. Don’t tap and hope.
- Add transaction alerts. Most banks and card apps let you turn on push notifications for every charge. If something sketchy goes through, you’ll know right away.
💪 If you found this warning helpful, forward this newsletter to a friend or family member or simply use the share icons below now. This kind of scam hits hard.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
From mess to impress
If chaos had a villain, these picks would be the heroes.
💨 Dust-busting dynamo: Compressed air duster (40% off)
Ditch those disposable cans. Zarimi’s rechargeable turbo fan blasts away dust from keyboards, vents, and it even doubles as a leaf blower. Versatile and compact.
🐱 The cat’s meow: Whoa, this pet steam brush (62% off) is a huge steal. With one button, you can tap those fur clumps away. No more manual picking.
Bye-bye bugs: Itching for a solution to mosquito bites? Plug in an LED bug zapper (30% off) and consider them handled. Works indoors and outdoors. Win-win!
✨ Multi-surface magic: The Pink Stuff (47% off) handles grease, grime, stains, you name it, like a champ. The fruity scent leaves everything smelling delightful.
Spin-cycle TLC: Snag a six-month supply of descaler tablets (23% off) for your washer. Keeps it running smoothly and smelling loads better (pun intended).
😍 Peek at your faves: Hit this secret link to check which of your tried-and-true items are waiting for you at a discount.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Stop porch pirates from ruining your holidays
It’s the most wonderful time of the year for gift-giving and the worst time because of gift-stealing. Over $2 billion worth of parcels got stolen in the last three months of 2024 alone. That’s a lot of missing presents and stocking stuffers. With the right gear, you can leave porch pirates out in the cold.
🎧 Better sound, smarter gift: Raycon’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday sale is live with up to 40% off everything. The Everyday Earbuds give you premium audio, 32-hour battery life and active noise cancellation that actually works. I use mine on calls, walks and everywhere in between. Save now at BuyRaycon.com/Kim.
⚠️ Copy. Paste. Regret: I read about ClickFix again, this malware that uses fake videos to detect your OS, copy malicious commands to your clipboard, then pressure you with a countdown to paste them. If a site tells you to paste something into a command prompt, close your browser.
Gen Z’s secret to better online dates
Skip the swiping. The new move is checking someone’s Facebook history before you even say hi.
The 24/7 AI camera network spying on you
Flock cameras, installed by HOAs, apartments, and local businesses, are live feeds police can access anytime. Privacy red flag? Think so. Plus, Neil DeGrasse Tyson deepfakes, Kim K’s AI legal drama, and tap-to-pay scams. I also give advice to Jane from Atlanta who asks: how can I help businesses tap into AI?
📩 Gmail icons explained: Those tiny icons above your emails can be confusing. Switch them to plain text, so it’s clear what each one does. Go to See all settings > General > Button labels, change it to Text, then click Save changes. You’ll now see words like Archive, Delete and Mark as unread.
Find the neighborhood cameras tracking your car
Want to know who’s watching your driveway? I’ll walk you through the easy ways to map nearby cameras.
🐾 Dog 2.0: Tom Brady said his new dog, Junie, is a clone of his old one. He used a blood sample from his late pitbull mix, Lua, and had a biotech company recreate her. These companies usually charge around $50K to clone a doggo. I mean, I get it, losing a pet wrecks you, but cloning? I’m drawing the line before Jurassic Bark.
🏠 Deck your yard
Let’s prep your porch for the holidays without blowing a fuse (or your wallet).
🔌 Festive power-up: Outdoor extension cord (33% off, $30)
Playing electrical Jenga? These cords are waterproof, wear-resistant and built with a flame-retardant jacket. Perfect for inflatables or that one reindeer that always droops.
Set it and forget it: This power stake timer (18% off, $24) means no more walking outside to unplug lights at midnight. Comes with a remote that reaches 100 feet.
In honor of Veterans Day: Salute our heroes by upgrading your outdoor American flag ($10, 50% off). Heavy-duty polyester lets it wave, not fray.
Easy on, easy off: A pack of these light clips (8% off, $12) keeps your Christmas lights sturdy without peeling your paint. Your walls (and sanity) will thank you.
🚪 Front-entrance flex: This wreath hanger (15% off, $9) holds up to 20 pounds and adjusts for the perfect placement. Change it up without leaving a mark
Wipe those shoes: Stop dirt before it hits your floor with a new doormat (24% off, $46). The low profile means your door won’t catch and drive you nuts.
🎁 Shop the season: Hit up Amazon’s holiday page for more steals on decor, stocking stuffers and more. You’ll rest easy getting that out of the way now.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Unleash your inner IT overlord
I read every comment you leave at the end of this newsletter, and one theme always stands out: You want to know all the hidden things your tech can do!
Lucky for you, uncovering those “I had no idea!” moments is my superpower.
🛋️ Browsing Facebook Marketplace? You might’ve noticed the algorithm showing items that sold weeks ago. To see what’s actually available, go to Marketplace on desktop, search for what you want, and under Filters, set Date listed to Last 7 days. Oh, and folks, if a profile says it “joined in 2025,” that’s not a seller, it’s a setup.
Attention, scroll at ease: Remember that old-school Uncle Sam “I Want You” Army poster? The 2025 version is the Army on TikTok. That’s right, they’ve tapped eight soldiers with big followings to show real life in uniform, romanticizing the gym fails, the 4 a.m. wake-ups, even the “mandatory fun days.” Their posts hit 40 million views, but the program’s on pause for an ethics review.
🌙 Give your eyes a break: If you’re on your Windows PC late at night, that blue glare can make it harder to fall asleep. Go to Settings > System > Display and toggle on Night light. From there, you can adjust the strength to make it warmer or schedule the hours it turns on automatically.
Facebook made $16 billion off scam ads
Why can’t Meta stop the fraud? Easy. It probably doesn’t want to. Hear how it made billions off scam ads last year. Plus, the Musk-Altman feud and a big Google Maps update. Then I talk to caller Byron, who says scammers drugged him and used facial recognition to unlock his phone. Scary!
VPN myths that need to die
Half the stuff you’ve heard about VPNs is total nonsense. No, they don’t make you invisible online. AI host Rylie breaks down fact from fiction. Plus, how Chess.com became a billion-dollar empire, a teen’s genius and the latest AI fails that’ll make you facepalm.
🍏 What’s new in iOS 26.1: Apple’s changed how alarms and timers work. When an alarm goes off, you need to slide to stop it instead of tapping. Tapping still snoozes it, but sliding dismisses it completely. Bonus: In Apple Music, you can swipe the Now Playing bar left or right to skip or go back to a track without opening the full player view.
🌿 The “secret” supplement I use to help manage cravings: Always reaching for snacks or feeling that midday slump? Same. My team and I created a clean GLP-1 Support formula that actually works. No caffeine, no stimulants. Just steady energy, clear focus and fewer cravings. I take ImproveLife GLP-1 Support daily, and I’m proud of that. Try it for up to 30% off with free shipping before it sells out.