One of my readers was shocked I gave this as an idea to save some money renting a car abroad. What do you think?
Does clearing your browser really lower flight prices?
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I got a great question from Danielle in Austin: “Kim, every time I search for a flight and go back later, the price has gone up. Are airlines tracking me? If I clear my browser history or use incognito mode, will I get a cheaper deal?”
You’ve probably wondered the same thing. And there’s no shortage of online advice telling you to delete cookies, browse privately or even switch devices to avoid so-called price hikes.
So what’s the truth? Let’s break it down.
🧐 Is it a scam?
Airlines and booking sites aren’t raising prices just because you searched for a ticket. Prices change constantly based on demand, seat availability, time of day and, yes, your luck.
So if you search for a flight in the morning, then again at night, and the price has jumped, that’s not because of your cookies. It’s because someone else booked, or the algorithm adjusted based on how seats are selling.
Dynamic pricing is real, but it’s not personal. Now, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t protect your privacy.
I still recommend using incognito mode or clearing cookies. It gives you a cleaner browsing experience without ads following you across the internet. Plus, it prevents “session fatigue” where your browser remembers your old searches and doesn’t refresh options.
💸 Find the lowest airfare
- Use flight comparison tools like Google Flights, Kayak and Skyscanner.
- Set alerts for routes you want. Prices often drop midweek.
- Search one-way tickets separately. Sometimes it’s cheaper than booking round-trip.
- Fly midweek, early morning or late at night.
- Don’t obsessively search for the same flight. You’re not being tracked. Prices change fast, and rechecking every 10 minutes will just stress you out.
- Use a VPN and you may get a lower price. See below.
🔮 Sorcery actually worked
A friend was renting a car in the U.K. Total? $900. I told her to turn on her VPN and pretend she was already in London like the cheeky traveler she is.
Security tip: Next time you stay at a hotel, turn on your VPN
Did you know the average American spends more than 24 hours each week online? That is a considerable chunk of time.
If you’re one of many with multiple devices regularly accessing the internet, you probably know you need a secure connection to protect sensitive data. A virtual private network or VPN is the best way to do this.
“Kim, how is EndpointLock different from a VPN?” A VPN encrypts your internet connection and hides your web activity. EndpointLock encrypts your keystrokes so no one can copy what you type. It’s a must for me. Hit this link for 10% off.
How to add a VPN to your TV
Unlock streaming shows from around the world. Here’s the easy way to watch anything you want.
👁️ Check your Chrome extensions: Some “helpful” Chrome extensions with over 1.7 million installs were secretly tracking your browser moves and even rerouting clicks. They looked benign, like color pickers or VPN tools. Spoiler: They weren’t. Google’s still cleaning up the mess, but some are still live. Time to check your browser like it’s the bedsheets at a seedy motel.
Safe Wi-Fi anywhere: Using public Wi-Fi is risky no matter where you go. It doesn’t make a difference if you stay at a five-star luxury hotel, have lunch at your hometown diner or you’re at the airport. The easy way to protect yourself? Turn on a VPN.
Why you can’t access some sites while you’re on a VPN and what to do
Photo © Tero Vesalainen | Dreamstime.com
Let’s say you’re browsing the web with a VPN. You’re protecting privacy, so you’re confident hackers and advertisers can’t track you. Then you try to go to a site, and it just won’t load.
This can throw a wrench into productivity when working. Or it can ruin your mood when trying to have fun online.
How to stay safe on public Wi-Fi
You don’t leave your front door unlocked. So why would you use public Wi-Fi networks without protection? Defend your private data from cybercriminals in public places with these five tips.
If you listen to The Kim Komando Show and Kim’s podcasts, you know about digital dangers. Accessing the internet via public Wi-Fi networks can heighten these risks even more.
Safe Wi-Fi anywhere: Using public Wi-Fi is risky no matter where you go. It doesn’t make a difference if you stay at a five-star luxury hotel, have lunch at your hometown diner or you’re at the airport. The easy way to protect yourself? Turn on a VPN.
Safe Wi-Fi anywhere: Public Wi-Fi is public for a reason, anyone can jump on it, and that includes hackers. Doesn’t matter if you’re at a fancy hotel, your favorite local diner or waiting at the gate at the airport. Want to stay safe? Just flip on a VPN. I’ve got a link where you can get four months free.
Safe Wi-Fi anywhere: Using public Wi-Fi is risky no matter where you go. It doesn’t make a difference if you stay at a five-star luxury hotel, have lunch at your hometown diner or you’re at the airport. The easy way to protect yourself? Turn on a VPN.
Safe Wi-Fi anywhere: Using public Wi-Fi is risky no matter where you go. It doesn’t make a difference if you stay at a five-star luxury hotel, have lunch at your hometown diner or you’re at the airport. The easy way to protect yourself? Turn on a VPN.
Don’t use a free VPN: Many log your keystrokes, track your activity and even sell your data, making you less secure, not more. Stick with a trusted, no-log VPN instead. Get four months free from the VPN I trust.
Safe Wi-Fi anywhere: Using public Wi-Fi is risky no matter where you go. It doesn’t make a difference if you stay at a five-star luxury hotel, have lunch at your hometown diner or you’re at the airport. The easy way to protect yourself? Turn on a VPN.
How a VPN saved my friend $600 on a rental car
Retailers change prices based on location, but a simple trick can unlock hidden discounts. Use a VPN, clear your cookies, and try these other hacks to save big.
🪦 Microsoft is killing off its free VPN: Not enough people use it, and they want to “invest in new areas.” Funny how they can’t do both after hiking their subscription prices. Need a new VPN? Never go looking for free options — too risky. Try my pick.
“Kim, how is EndpointLock different from a VPN?” Lots of you smarties asked! A VPN encrypts your internet connection and hides your web activity. EndpointLock encrypts your keystrokes so no one can copy what you type. It’s a must for me. Hit this link for 10% off.
Dear Kim: Thomas wrote in to ask me for the “best VPN that doesn’t slow down my Wi-Fi connection.” Hey, that’s ExpressVPN! Most of the time, I forget it’s turned on, which is high praise, really! Some VPNs slow you down to a crawl. Use my link for an extra four months free.
Why you need a VPN (even if you're not tech-savvy)
When surfing the web, you might encounter a few confusing acronyms. Take VPN, for example. You might shrug and scroll past it if you don’t know what it means. Just like that, you could miss out on the best internet privacy tool.