🚀 Growing your team in 2025? Post your next job for free on LinkedIn and use their tools that make sorting through the pile of resumes that come in so easy.
Free VPN risk: Check this list of 9 infected apps
I’m cheap and try to save a buck wherever I can. I use all my credit card perks, always click the coupon boxes on Amazon, and, to my husband’s great annoyance, cancel streaming services the minute we stop watching them.
There’s one place where free will harm you: Your online privacy and security. Let’s take a deeper look at what happens if you trust the freebies, sponsored by the virtual private network (VPN) I’ve used for years.
The numbers paint a scary picture
One of the main benefits of a VPN is anonymity. With the click of a button, you can cloak your browsing history and pretend you’re somewhere else in the world.
Use a free VPN, though, and you’re essentially agreeing to some kind of shady behavior. At best, the app that promises to keep your online activity “private” is selling it off to anyone willing to pay. At worst, it’s a front for malware that steals everything from your bank login to your phone contacts.
👉 It’s not just a few sketchy VPN apps, either. Data shows about 80% of free VPNs embed tracking features and 60% sell data to third parties. Free Android VPNs are an especially big target, with an estimated 39% hiding malware.
Use one of these? Get it off your phone
Some free VPNs are built primarily to serve malware. Others become infected when hackers target them. Either way, it’s bad news for you.
- MaskVPN, DewVPN, PaladinVPN, ProxyGate, ShieldVPN and ShineVPN: All infected with the same strain of malware that compromised 19 million IP addresses in 190 countries.
- Big Mama VPN: It’s just a front for selling access to your home internet and network.
- LetsVPN: A target for hackers using SEO poisoning and phishing to lead people to fake download pages. It’s a dangerous option to search for right now.
- Connect Secure VPN: This is another hacker target, and it’s actively spreading malware.
When it comes to a VPN, it’s all about trust
I’ve tried so many VPNs over the years and ditched most after a few days. My pick, ExpressVPN, won’t slow you down, and it’s so easy to use.
ExpressVPN encrypts your online activity so no one — not even your ISP — can see which sites you visit or what apps you use. It’s a must if you’re using public Wi-Fi, and it masks your IP address to prevent tracking.
How to run a 5-minute privacy check on your phone
We’ve all got a lot of sensitive info on our phones — texts with loved ones, banking details, passwords and family photos. You don’t want anyone snooping around, whether it’s an app maker on the other side of the world or the guy sitting behind you at the coffee shop.
Looking for a job? How to get past ATS and hiring AI
I was talking with Joey, our new podcast producer, and he mentioned the tricks I pass along to get past the AI-powered applicant tracking systems (ATS) help a ton of people.
Humans no longer filter resumes at most companies. It’s inefficient when AI can review over 100 resumes per minute.
A New Jersey family is living a nightmare
It started back in September. Dan in Bridgewater, New Jersey, had his bank account hacked. Their first step was to withdraw money and apply for a loan. In October, he got a letter from TD Bank notifying him of an address change on his account.
Own a Kindle? Amazon’s Send to Kindle page rocks. Use it to upload a file from your computer to your e-reader, or use the tabs on the right for instructions to email or send just about any other way you can think of.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
If you always have to help your robo-vac find its home: Your base station is probably in the wrong spot. For the best results, put it against a wall on flat ground with two to three feet of clearance to either side and about five feet of clearance in front. Those little vacs need space!
💬 Netflix search is smart: You don’t have to know the name of the show or movie to find it. You can type in an actor, genre or term, too — or go total spy mode and check out the secret Netflix category codes.
⚠️ “Evil twin” attacks: That’s when scammers set up a public Wi‑Fi network where folks are already logging on, like an airport or coffee shop. The goal is to get you to connect so they can intercept everything you type — social media logins, credit card numbers and personal data. Always ask staff for the exact Wi‑Fi network, and use a VPN to encrypt your internet traffic. My pick is ExpressVPN.
Free templates: The ones built into Google aren’t lame anymore. Really! Start a new Google Doc. (Shortcut: In your browser’s address bar, type doc.new and hit Enter.) Then, click Templates, Meeting Notes or Email Draft to browse the options. Once you choose one, hit the menu in the upper left to see all the pages and options.
👍👎 AI can’t read your mind: Use “do” and “don’t” in your prompts to get the results you want. Say you’re cooking for friends, and some have allergies. Say, “Create a recipe for six people. Do include protein, fruits, vegetables and carbs. Don’t include dairy products, shellfish or nuts.” Easy-peasy.
⭐ Gold star: You take a picture, thinking, “Wow, this is a winner,” and you never see it again. In your photo app, look for the heart or star icon. This adds an image to your favorites. It works with your music apps, too.
So you want to get up earlier: Instead of relying on self-control, disable the snooze option altogether on your phone. All you need to do is tap on an alarm in the Clock app. Toggle off the Snooze option. Rise and shine!
Butt out, Big Tech: Sick of Gmail’s tracking? Your ISP does it, too, if you use their email. StartMail is my pick for privacy-first email. It’s super easy to switch over your contacts and mail. Save 60% with my special link.
Saving car rental evidence: My pal Clark Howard always recommends taking pictures of a rental car before you drive away from the lot to prevent false damage claims. But when is it safe to delete them? Clark suggests keeping them for two months. Subscribe to Clark’s free newsletter to receive more must-have money tips every day.
📈 Turn your text into visuals: Napkin.ai turns words into flowcharts, infographics and diagrams. Just paste your text and click the lightning icon to generate a few options. Pick one you like, make tweaks and hit Export. FYI, all their plans are free while it’s in beta, but you may have to deal with some bugs. Triple-check numbers if you’re using this for work.
Best wildfire app: I’m praying for everyone in California near the wildfires. I went looking for the best source for folks dealing with wildfires and found the nonprofit Watch Duty. I talked with CEO John Mills after reading their story. They’re totally volunteer-run and deliver real-time updates across 13 states. Get their app on iPhone, Android or in your browser.
Happy news: After I shared about Barry’s hearing loss, a few of you reached out to tell me how much better your new hearing aids are making life. If you could use a pair, too, hit this link to see if you qualify for a 45-day no-risk trial. It makes a huge difference!
Get your business up to speed: AI isn’t going anywhere, but using it in your operations can get expensive. Take a free test drive of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure now at Oracle.com/kim to see if they can cut your bill in half.
How does everyone get their IG posts so fancy? I’ve gotcha! Add text to photos by tapping the text button, or throw in stickers via the gallery. For Reels, you’ve got the text, animations and effects buttons.