Will from St. Paul, Minnesota, thinks his next door neighbor is out for revenge … jamming his Wi-Fi and security cams. What should he do next? Plus: China’s 1,000-mile EV, how to hide your Reddit posts, and unpaid toll text scams. Don’t miss it!
Kim’s cart: 10 genius buys that keep you (and your stuff) safe
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I test a lot of gear. Every product here solves a sneaky problem and helps you stay one step ahead of scammers, snoops and opportunists. I’ve done the digging so you don’t have to. Let’s go shopping!
✍️ 1. Pens that stop check washing
Fraudsters love “washing” checks and rewriting new amounts unless you use this pen. Its ink chemically bonds with paper, so the info can’t be scrubbed off. Get Uni-ball 207 Gel Pens ($6.08).
📦 2. Safe mailing, sealed tight
Sending something sensitive? These tough mailers make it obvious if someone tried to tamper with your package. Shop Columbian Security Envelopes ($18.89, 6% off).
🖐️ 3. Skip the shredder
It’s fast, easy and way more fun than shredding. Just roll this over addresses or barcodes to obscure them. See the Identity Theft Protection Stamp Roller ($9.99, 33% off).
📬 4. Your mailbox, upgraded
Curbside mail theft is real. This locking mailbox keeps your deliveries secure, and it’s built like a tank. Buy the Mail Boss 7506 on Amazon ($99.99).
💳 5. Block digital pickpockets
Stylish and secure, this thin wallet stops RFID scanning and looks good doing it. There’s a women’s version, too! Get the RUNBOX RFID Wallet ($21.45, 17% off).
🔌 6. Power without the risk
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
The jobs AI can’t steal (yet)
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Larry from Louisiana writes: “Kim, what jobs are safe from AI and don’t need a college degree? I’m losing sleep worrying about my future and how I’m going to support a wife and three teenagers.”
Larry, you’re spot-on to be thinking about this. Supporting a family of five in this economy is basically a full-contact sport. You’re also asking exactly the right question.
Smile, you’re streaming: Change your cam’s default password. You can watch 40,000 live security cams like Netflix, no hacking required. From U.S. data centers, hospitals, random gyms and even residential homes, the internet of things just became the internet of oops. Most of the cams were accessible through a basic browser.
Disable Microsoft ads: Windows loves promoting its own services. To turn it off, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Windows permissions > General, and toggle off all five options. Then go to Settings > System > Notifications > Additional settings, and untick Get tips and suggestions when using Windows.
Digital cash, physical threat
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Picture this: You’re worth millions in crypto. You think your money’s safe because it’s digital, anonymous and locked up behind a strong password. But there’s one security hole you didn’t count on, your physical body.
Location tracking: Your unsolicited life memoir
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Think you’re off the grid? Think again. Your phone is basically a chatty little informant. While you were living your life, grabbing coffee, sneaking off for that totally relaxing solo cabin trip, it was logging every move like a nosy aunt with a snooping addiction.
Android 16 is officially rolling out: Only for Pixel phones. But the biggest glow-up, the visual facelift of the Material 3 Expressive design, is delayed until later this year. So yes, security’s tighter. Battery’s better. But your lock screen still looks like 2021.
🚨 AT&T data leak: Hackers just exposed 86 million customer records, including names, phone numbers, emails and addresses. Worse? Nearly 44 million Social Security numbers were leaked in plain text. That’s prime info for scammers and identity theft. PSA: Stay alert for phishing attempts and keep a close eye on your accounts, folks.
Lot cop unleashed: Walmart’s testing a security robot in its parking lots. It has wheels, cameras and apparently a dude behind the mic, whispering “Yo, what you say?” to shoppers. Is it surveillance? Art? Cyberpunk cosplay? Either way, the vibes are dystopian. Next up: R2-D2 with a gun.
🔒 Garage security trick: Thieves can hack garage door openers, but there’s a clever fix. Use a smart plug to cut power to the opener. It’s like two-factor authentication when you’re away. Here’s a four-pack ($21% off). Need to open it late? Just turn the plug back on with a voice command or your app.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Online security isn’t optional, it’s essential. That’s why I recommend ExpressVPN. It keeps your online data safe, blocks trackers and lets you browse without limits. Right now, get four extra months free when you sign up. Stay secure and one step ahead!
📞 Old phone, new trick: Turn your old smartphone into a home security camera. Charge it up and download a free security cam app like Alfred Camera (iOS, Android) on both your old phone and your current one. You’ll get live video, motion alerts and even two-way talk.
Facial ID, no thanks: Airport scanners know your face before TSA even checks your ID. It’s now live at 84 airports, pitched as “frictionless.” Opting out is possible, but no one tells you how. Critics say it screams surveillance state. TSA says it’s just “enhanced security.” Next upgrade: retina scan in the TSA PreCheck mirror.
Netflix cuts off Fire TV devices: Starting June 3, first-gen Fire TV, Fire TV Stick and the Alexa remote version will stop working. Why? They haven’t received security updates in years and can’t handle newer streaming tech. If you need an upgrade, the latest 4K Max model is 33% off.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
📸 Talk about driving a point home: Rep. Nancy Mace displayed a censored still of her naked body at a congressional hearing, saying it was taken without her consent by her ex-fiancé’s security cam. She’s pushing two bills to beef up federal voyeurism laws. The ex denies it all. The Founding Fathers did not die for 4K creep shots.
23andMe sold your DNA. Can you stop it? — May 24th, Hour 1
Your DNA, your family tree, your most personal data … now in the hands of Big Pharma. Also this hour: Meta refuses to stop scam ads, AI clones, and the viral “invisible phone.” Plus, Anthony from Spokane says someone hacked the neighborhood security cameras.
⚠️ Use Apple AirPlay? Be careful. Researchers found security flaws that could let hackers take over compatible devices like speakers if they’re on the same Wi-Fi. They can control them remotely and possibly use mics to spy. Reminder: Keep your Apple gadgets updated, and turn off AirPlay when you’re not using it.
☁️ When performance, security and reliability matter, businesses turn to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. OCI delivers blazing-fast speeds, built-in AI and rock-solid security without the sky-high cost. See if you qualify to get your cloud bill cut in half today!
Never tell the truth on security questions
If a hacker can find your mom’s maiden name or your first pet on social media, your accounts are easy targets.