Web traffic is dying, and now Google is putting AI answers at the top of its search results. What does this mean for your favorite websites? Plus, Uber’s new shuttle service, Tesla drivers ditch self-driving mode, and Jeff Bezos’ email etiquette.
Remove yourself from the internet
Image: Midjourney
Michelle in Phoenix asks: “Hello, Kim, do you have recommendations for services that remove your phone number, home address off Google? My son is getting extremely harassing texts and vandalism at his home. We want to remove all our phone numbers and addresses from public viewing.”
Michelle, you’re not alone.
Googling yourself used to be fun. Now it’s like opening the front door and finding your Social Security number spray-painted on your garage.
It’s not just creepy, it’s a big-time privacy and safety risk.
Google finally lets you do something about it.
You can request the removal of personal info from search results. It won’t erase the data from the internet entirely, but it can stop it from popping up on Google.
🔎 How to find out what’s out there
Start by Googling your full name, phone number and home address in quotes. For example: “Johnny Hottie” “555-555-5555” “123 Main Street”
If anything pops up, take a screenshot or jot down the URL. You need that next.
✏️ Request removal directly from Google
Visit Google’s “Remove Personal Info” tool and fill out a form. Choose the type of info you want removed, paste the link and submit it.
You can also do this directly from search results. Click the three dots next to a link and choose “Remove result.” Hopefully, the mighty Google will get rid of it.
How to spot a fake job
A few weekends ago on my national radio show, I shared an amazing gig that pays up to $65 an hour being an AI tutor. You’ll help the chatbot refine answers, prompts and images. Now my inbox is overflowing with people asking how to apply. Here are the sites to check out!
Malware alert: Skip the free file converters. You know those handy PDF-to-DOC or WebP-to-JPEG tools? Hackers are stuffing them with malware to steal your personal and financial info. They’re showing up in search results and ads. Play it safe: Stick to Adobe Acrobat or Microsoft Office instead.
3 tricks to see if your passwords are being sold on the Dark Web
Hackers can make a ton of money by selling your private information on underground forums. It’s possible that your passwords are being sold on the Dark Web right now. That’s why you should run a cybersecurity check now and then.
We’re hiring right now! Our tips for finding the right person
You get what you pay for, and that’s true when it comes to free job boards, too.
Post a job opening to one and sure, you might get a stack of resumes — but there’s a good chance you’ll spend way more time sorting through unqualified candidates than interviewing your next great team member.
🔍 Google’s testing AI-only search results: The new AI Mode ditches the usual 10 blue links and instead lets Gemini 2.0 take over with web summaries, graphs and shopping data. Think of it as a bigger version of AI Overview, and yes, we all know how spot-on that is. It’s opt-in only for now through Google’s Search Labs, so you can ignore it … for now.
One curse word breaks AI: Sick of the crappy AI Overviews in your Google Search results? There’s an easy workaround: Add a swear word. Seriously, type “How do I factory reset my iPhone?” and you’ll get a generic blurb. Change it to “How do I f *ing factory reset my iPhone?” (without the asterisks) and you’ll get normal, clickable results. For an equally effective but less fun option, add -ai to the end of your search.
Remove personal search results on Google
Got something online that you don’t want the whole world to see? Here’s what to do, in 60 seconds.
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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
4 Google tips for your best search
Want to improve your Google searches? Listen to this one-minute podcast for tech tips that will get you better Google Search results.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Password manager hacked, smartwatch burns, Brand New or Not True
Samsung’s smartwatch is under fire for reportedly burning wearers, a popular password manager was hacked, and why you shouldn’t rely on Tile’s new QR code stickers to find your lost stuff. Plus, how to ask Google to remove your personal info from search results, turning an old PC into a media server, and see if Kim can fool a Komando listener in this week’s Brand New or Not True.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Make Google remove your personal details from search results
Ever Google yourself and find all kinds of personal details out there? Listen to this one-minute podcast for a quick way to remove your private information from search results.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Google your phone number NOW
Want to remove your personal information from Google’s search results? Listen to this one-minute podcast for a new way to protect your privacy.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dangerous prayer apps, malware-infested movies, browser hack
China plans a mission to collide with an asteroid. Find out why. Speaking of stars, don’t download free movies starring these specific actors. Plus, how to get more private data removed from Google Search results and how to set up your browser to do what you want when you open it. Kim and the crew will also tell you all about mental health and prayer apps that fail to protect your privacy.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Twitter bots, Russia vs. Wikipedia, self-destructing emails
Apple and Google put out some emergency updates. If you don’t install the newest OS, you’re in danger. Plus, I’ll tell you all about Twitter bots, Elon’s takeover and Russia’s spat with Wikipedia. I’ve also got a few tech tricks to share, like how to send self-destructing emails and the secret trick to removing images from Google Search results.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Google now lets you remove images from search results
Have any photos of you or your kids that show up in a Google Search that you’d like removed? Listen now for a way to make them disappear forever.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ready to hire? Find great candidates the way Kim does
© Arne9001 | Dreamstime.com
Every small business has its own unique needs. And, despite the uncertainty of the world right now, one thing that remains unchanged is the importance of having the right people on your team.
Some business owners turn to free job boards or sites like Craigslist. That’s a big mistake. You never know what you’re getting from sites like that. They simply don’t have the tools or screening systems in place to find quality employees, and you’ll never get back the time you waste doing that work yourself.
SEO tips to get your website to the top of Google search - How a baker turned her passion into a successful business
Kim Komando talks to Heather Lloyd-Martin, who’s been featured in Forbes and Entrepreneur magazine and many others about using Search Engine Optimization to get to the top of Google’s search results. How a lady turned her passion for baking into a business that makes over $200K a year. Plus, hot tips to hack-proof your life.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices