AT&T CEO John Stankey says not to expect long-term job security. Companies will treat you the way you treat them. Plus, why AI needs nuclear power, GPT-5 updates and why Gen Z is ditching cars. Then, I take a call from Steven about starting his own AI podcast.
Your phone’s more intimate than your diary
ChatGPT
Our phones hold everything: photos, texts, money apps, health info, even our bad selfies. Handing over access to your partner? That’s not just convenient. That’s trust on a whole new level.
Some people think it’s the 2025 version of giving someone a house key. Others worry it’s a recipe for drama, or even the prequel to a Netflix true crime doc.
But done the right way, sharing your device can make life smoother and safer, and bring you closer. Let’s talk about a few smart ways to do it. Note: I’ve checked all these steps below, but depending on your device, operating system, make, model and whether Mercury is in retrograde, your steps may look a little different.
🧬 Share biometrics
Letting your partner unlock your phone with their Face ID or a fingerprint means no fumbling for passcodes. Great in emergencies or when one of you is driving.
- iPhone: Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode). Enter your passcode, tap Set Up an Alternate Appearance (Face ID) or Add a Fingerprint (Touch ID), and scan your partner.
- Android: Settings vary, but generally go to Settings > Security & privacy > Device lock or Biometrics > Face recognition or Fingerprints. Add a new face or fingerprint and follow the prompts.
🛟 Set up emergency contacts
This makes sure your partner’s number shows up for first responders even if your phone is locked.
- iPhone: Open the Health app > Profile icon (upper-right corner) > Medical ID > Edit. Scroll to Emergency Contacts > Edit > Add Emergency Contact, select your partner, and save.
- Android: Open the Contacts app, pick your partner, and mark as Emergency Contact. Some phones (like Pixel or Samsung) also have Settings > Safety and emergency > Emergency contacts for more options.
📍 Share locations
Skip the “where are you?” texts. Location sharing keeps you connected, whether for safety or convenience.
- iPhone: Open Find My > People tab > Start Sharing Location. Choose your partner’s contact, then set it to share Indefinitely.
- Android: Open Google Maps > Profile icon (upper-right corner) > Location sharing > Share location. Pick your partner, set the time period (or Until you turn this off), and hit Share.
Kim’s 25 top Labor Day deals
Euhomy, Insignia, Dreamegg, Levoit
You know I can’t resist a good sale. Amazon’s Labor Day best weekend deals are finally here, and I did some digging so you don’t have to.
Here’s a link to everything on sale, if you want to explore. Have fun!
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
🚨 Farmers Insurance data breach: Hackers stole data on 1.1 million Farmers Insurance customers. They grabbed names, addresses, birth dates, driver’s license numbers and the last four digits of Social Security numbers, everything they need to steal your identity. Farmers is notifying people, but until then, keep an eye out for phishing scams. They’re coming.
$27 million
That’s how much Mark Zuckerberg’s security cost in 2024. Meta’s annual “keep Zuck safe” budget is more than Apple, Amazon, Nvidia, Microsoft and Alphabet spent combined protecting their own CEOs. It’s not paranoid if everyone is actually always mad at you, right?
🍏 Turn off iPhone analytics: Apple collects usage data and location info from your device to “improve services.” They say it’s anonymous, but why risk your privacy? Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Analytics & Improvements and toggle everything off. Bonus: You’ll get a tiny battery boost since your phone won’t be uploading data in the background.
Don’t just freeze, fight back
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Ashley in Washington asks:
“Kim, do I really need identity theft protection? I used to have LifeLock years ago and dumped it because they constantly were selling me other things. I heard you say on your radio show that you use NordProtect now. Why? How is any of this different than freezing your credit? Love your show and newsletter!”
New scam trick: Fake sites that look too good
Midjourney
Here’s the newest con in town: Scammers are using AI to clone legit websites, and they’re scary good at it. I’m talking about perfect logos, identical layouts, right down to the fonts and buttons.
The crazy part is that they spin these sites up in minutes. Then, they shove them to the top of Google, where you search for your bank, power company or even a government site. One wrong click, and boom, you’ve handed over your login, your info, your identity.
My pick for home security: Keep your home safe without the hassle. SimpliSafe installs in minutes, no wires or contracts, and comes with HD cameras, sensors and 24/7 monitoring. Get 50% off your new system today!
👾 Free VPN, but you’re the product: FreeVPN.One, a Chrome extension with over 100K installs, was busted taking covert screenshots of people’s activity and sending them to a sketchy server. The dev claims it’s for “security scans,” but researchers say that’s a lie with encryption on top. Google’s store still lists it. Basically: Chrome blessed spyware with a gold star. Need a solid private VPN? Hit this link to get 4 months free.
Claude goes anti-bomb: If you were thinking about assembling a nuke recently, tough luck. Anthropic, with U.S. government backing, built a filter that blocks chats about making nukes. Think of it as a toddler lock on national security: keeps you from asking AI how to split atoms but still lets you order pizza.
🚨 Gmail scam alert: If you use Gmail or Google Cloud, heads up, hackers just leaked a massive database with over 2.5 billion names, email addresses and company details. That means you’re more likely to be hit with phishing emails, scam login pages or fake calls pretending to be Google support. Google says your passwords are safe for now, but don’t wait to take action. Turn on passkeys for phishing-proof logins, run a Google Security Checkup, and never trust an unexpected call claiming to be from Google. Once your info is out there, it’s out there, but how you protect yourself next is what counts.
Kim’s Outlet picks: All 50% off or better
ChatGPT
Hidden gems, big discounts, and yes, I dug through the digital outlet bins so you don’t have to. Amazon’s Outlet is packed with brand-name gadgets.
The best part? Everything here is at least 50% off. Now, if you’re not into saving money on some great stuff, scroll on down to the Web Watercooler section, so you’re up-to-date on the latest tech news and security alerts. Don’t miss the big Google one.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
🧬 Eyes before flys: Biometric e-gates are here. Soon, you can scan your face at six airports (ATL, SEA, DCA and more), so you can skip human interaction and plunge straight into security, assuming you’ve paid for Clear and aren’t a criminal. It’s Clear’s way of prepping for the 2026 World Cup, or the singularity, whichever comes first.
Gold bars to nowhere: A Pennsylvania woman lost a whopping $800,000 to scammers posing as bank and SSA agents after a fake pop-up said her Social Security number was on porn sites. They made her believe she was “helping” an investigation, convincing her to convert her money to gold and hand it off to couriers. Ouch.
Windows 10 drama: Microsoft fixed a bug that stopped people from signing up for extended updates. ICYMI, support ends Oct. 14, 2025, but you can stick around for an extra year. The cost? Trade 1,000 MS Rewards points, back up your PC with OneDrive (free), or pay $30. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. Fun times.
Focus pocus: Have any Axis security cameras? A security researcher hacked the cameras (professional-grade systems used by governments, hospitals and Fortune 500 companies) plus their servers, giving him control of live feeds across thousands of organizations. Axis fixed it, but only if you get the firmware update. Otherwise? Someone else could be watching you watch them.
The new scams that know you by name
ChatGPT
Ever get a text that feels … a little too real? You know the ones: “Your account has been locked. Click here to verify.” Most of us roll our eyes and delete them.
But the new generation of scams? They’re scarier and a whole lot smarter.
Big Windows update: Yup, Microsoft rolled out fixes for over 100 security flaws, including critical ones that let hackers remotely run malicious code on your PC. The Black Screen of Death is now official, and a new Quick Machine Recovery feature will try to fix your PC if there’s a boot problem. Go to Settings > Windows Update to get it.
Your phone is tracking you even when you think it’s not
ChatGPT
You know that little GPS icon that pops up when an app is using your location? That’s the polite part. The tip of the iceberg. The warm handshake before your phone whispers your every movement to Big Tech behind your back.