home Archives

Kim’s picks to outsmart break-ins

ChatGPT

Your home should be your safe place, not a bull’s-eye.

I’ve tested every kind of security gear you can think of, and these are the real deal. No monthly fees. No gimmicks. Just solid, reliable protection for your front door, your mailbox, your garage and everything in between.

1. 🔒 Seven-in-one smart lock ($80, 43% off)

Unlock with your fingerprint, phone, code, a key and more. Psst … this $60 discount won’t last long.

2. 📦 Head-to-toe wireless doorbell camera ($55, 15% off)

Catch porch pirates red-handed. Works with Alexa, Google Assistant and stores up to 128GB of video on a local SD card.

3. ☀️ Solar motion sensor lights ($20 four-pack, 44% off)

Shine a spotlight on creepers (or raccoons) the second they step into your yard. Weatherproof and heatproof.

4. 🚨 Remote-control alarms ($22 two-pack, 28% off)

Stick these little sensors on doors, windows, gates (your choice), and get an instant alert when someone tries to sneak in.

5. 💡 Light bulb security camera ($40, 20% off)

Screws in like a normal light bulb. Tracks motion, records in color at night and sounds an alarm if something’s off.

Continue reading →

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

Real estate secrets hiding in plain sight

ChatGPT

Most people hop on real estate sites just to see their dream house or check local sales prices. That’s cute, but if you know where to click, these sites cough up more secrets than your drunk aunt at Thanksgiving.

Continue reading →

Happy ‘National Relaxation Day’

😌 Rest assured, it’s a real thing … and the perfect excuse to treat yourself.

🧘‍♀️ Instant zen: An essential oil diffuser (46% off) brings the spa home. Such a great gift idea!
💪 Knot today, tension: This massage gun (35% off) has 4.5 stars and 34,000+ reviews for a reason.
🧊 Chill out: Memory foam pillows (27% off, two-pack) with cooling gel mean no pillow flipping at 2 a.m.
🔥 One-wrap wonder: Hot or cold, this therapy wrap (20% off) will soothe your hurt foot, elbow or wrist.
💋 Kiss dryness goodbye: Grace & stella’s lip mask (41% off) hydrates and repairs while you sleep.

💝 Because you deserve it: Why stop here? Click through to my Amazon page for more cozy comforts and gift-worthy gems.

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

Travel the world without paying for hotels

Open/download audio

Want to globe-trot like a baller but on a budget? Try home swapping: the Airbnb alternative that doesn’t cost a mortgage payment per night.

Ctrl + Alt + Goodbye: If you’re using Windows 11 Home or Pro (version 23H2), you get no more security patches or bug fixes on Nov. 11, 2025. Go to Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates to upgrade. FYI: Enterprise and Education editions get support until Nov. 10, 2026.

34 years

That’s how long AOL’s dial-up has been screeching. Come Sept. 30, 2025, the iconic modem handshake will join Blockbuster late fees in the nostalgia graveyard. Broadband won years ago, this is just a very late funeral. If you’ve never heard it, imagine R2-D2 having a panic attack through a kazoo. Hey, in the mood to go back in time? Check out these home pages from way back to log on to memory lane.

🌐 Better Chrome: You can change those little shortcut icons in the middle of the Google home page. Open a new tab, click Customize Chrome (bottom right) and scroll to Shortcuts. Toggle on Show shortcuts, and select My shortcuts or Most-visited sites. To remove one, click the three-dot menu and hit Remove.

🚨 You must read this before your next Uber ride

ChatGPT

⚠️ Warning: This story contains details about sexual assault that may be disturbing.

I know two women who were raped by an Uber driver. That’s not hearsay or a story I read online. They trusted the ride, believed the app was safe and paid the price in the most horrific way possible.

Continue reading →

Why rich people swap homes (and how you can, too)

ChatGPT

Want to globe-trot like a baller but on a budget? Enter home swapping: the Airbnb alternative that doesn’t cost a mortgage payment per night. It’s just what it sounds like. You stay in someone’s house, they stay in yours, like Freaky Friday with better Wi-Fi.

Continue reading →

⚡️ 3-second tech genius: You can send your Roomba back to its dock mid-clean by pressing the Dock or Home button. Or open the app and tap Send Home or Dock.

$300,000 in 1883

On HBO’s The Gilded Age is about $9 million to $10 million today. Shoes cost $3, a dentist visit was 50 cents and a fully furnished 2,000 sq. ft. home went for $12K to $15K. The kicker? The mega-rich didn’t pay income tax (paywall link). If you did not see that series, stream it today. It’s fantastic!

🧳 Travel warning: Here’s something I never even thought of. Then again, I’m not a thief. Scammers are hanging around baggage claim areas grabbing the luggage tags you throw away. Why? The tags contain your name and flight info, which can be used to file fake missing item claims and get cash from airlines. Folks, keep those tags on until you’re home.

4.56 billion years old

The age of a meteorite that crashed through a Georgia home back in June. Scientists say it’s roughly 20 million years older than Earth itself. Oh, and this wasn’t a one-off, it’s the 27th meteorite recovered in the state. Talk about Skyfall, no Adele needed.

Bamboozling Gemini: At Black Hat (cybersecurity event), researchers showed how Google’s AI Gemini can be hijacked with a single calendar invite. One hidden prompt, and boom, Gemini starts spewing lies, deleting meetings or opening your windows via Google Home. It’s like a robbery, but your AI assistant is opening the front door.

🧨 Inside job: Security researchers tricked Google’s Gemini into turning on smart home devices using a Google Calendar invite. When Gemini was asked to “summarize the week,” it unknowingly ran booby-trapped prompts that lit up devices in Tel Aviv. It’s the first known AI attack with physical consequences.

🎤 Got a wild tech story? Did your smart home go rogue? Did AI creep you out or help you catch a hacker? Getting scammed? Family drama because of tech? I want you on The Kim Komando Show. If I feature your story, you’ll get a $25 gift card as a thank-you. Just say you saw this in the newsletter. Click this link to send it now!

Move iPhone apps at once: Want to clean up your Home Screen without deleting anything? Long-press an app to enter jiggle mode and start dragging it. With another finger, tap other apps to add them to your stack. Once you’ve got them all, swipe to the App Library and let go.

⚡ Solar hacker warning: Turns out smart inverters in home solar panels can be hacked. If attackers exploit hardware bugs or trick people into granting app access, they could disrupt entire power grids and trigger blackouts. The kicker? These inverters last over 15 years, so even good security now might not hold up later.

Don’t live in fear: Get the best home protection with no wires or contracts, and setup takes just 30 minutes. You’ll get sensors, HD cameras and 24/7 monitoring. Right now, get 50% off a new system when you sign up for an awesome monitoring plan.

I loved these 10 true movies you can stream this weekend

ChatGPT

First about this image. I asked AI to “make a pic of me watching a movie,” and somehow it nailed my husband, our two goldens (even Bella the puppy!). But there’s something off. Can you spot it? At the end of the newsletter, rate it, then drop your guess, name and email. I’ll pick five winners to get a Kim Komando Show ballcap (a $29.99 value)! 🧢

Continue reading →