📬 Did someone forward this to you?Sign up here. Tomorrow’s newsletter: how to sweep your car and bags for hidden trackers. Yea, you need to know this.
Happy Sunday to you, friend.Remember when the internet told us the tiny padlock meant everything’s OK? For years, we treated that little icon like a digital bouncer checking IDs at the door. But lately, scammers have been wearing fake mustaches and walking right past velvet ropes.
🔒 What does the padlock icon next to a website’s address really guarantee? A) The website is legitimate and safe to use, B) Google has personally verified the site, C) Your connection to the site is encrypted, nothing about whether the site is trustworthy, D) A tiny digital security guard is on duty. Lock in your guess, the answer’s waiting at the end.
A reader swears he’d know if his identity got stolen because he checks his bank account daily. He wouldn’t.
Thieves open new accounts in your name elsewhere. None of it touches the account you watch.
The FTC found the longer fraud hides, the more crooks steal. Florida ranks #1 in the country for identity theft reports.
📖 Read time: 2 minutes
“I keep seeing ads here for Coveron identity theft protection, but isn’t it a waste of money? If someone stole my identity, I’d know right away. I check my bank account every day. Why pay every month for something I’d catch myself?” — Chris, Naples, Florida
Great question, Chris. I get the logic. The trouble is, it’s built on a myth. Sorry to be so blunt but that’s what you get after growing up in New Jersey.
🕵️ The damage you can’t see
The identity theft that wrecks your life never shows up on your bank statement. Thieves don’t drain the account you’re watching. They’re smarter than that.
They use your name and Social Security number to open new accounts you’ve never heard of. A car loan. A store credit card. A second mortgage. None of it touches the checking account you look at every morning.
Here’s the part most people miss. Long before any of that, your stolen details get bought and sold on the dark web. That’s the hidden layer of the internet you can’t google, where your SSN goes for a few bucks and your full profile sells for the price of a pizza.
That’s where the setup happens, weeks before the first fake loan lands in your name. Thieve know you’re not looking there.
⏱️ So when will you find out?
When a debt collector calls about a loan you never took. When your tax refund bounces because someone already filed using your SSN. When you’re denied for a real loan and learn your credit is shredded. By then, the thief is long gone, and the cleanup lands on you.
The numbers back this up.
The FTC found that when fraud goes undiscovered for six months or longer, the thief walks off with $5,000 or more in 44% of cases. Catch it inside five months, and the loss stays under $5,000 in 82% of cases. Speed is everything. And you can’t move fast on a crime you can’t see.
💸 This isn’t only a Florida problem
Florida tops the country for identity theft reports, the leaderboard nobody wants to win. But don’t read that as a Florida thing. In 2024, Americans filed more than 1.1 million identity theft reports and lost over $12.5 billion to fraud, in every state and zip code. Naples or Nebraska, the thieves don’t care.
This is exactly why monitoring matters and where Coveron, formerly NordProtect, comes in. It’s what I use and recommend.
It monitors your SSN, your credit and the dark web around the clock, then alerts you the second someone tries to open an account in your name. If a thief does strike, you get identity theft insurance and dedicated recovery specialists who handle the cleanup, so you’re not left untangling the whole mess alone.
Click your favorite podcast player below to listen now or later:
🎧 Or search “Komando” wherever you get your podcasts. I’m everywhere.
WEB WATERCOOLER
☎️ Receipts bite back: So Shopify has been pushing its own app, Shop, and over 50 million people downloaded it. Scammers are slipping fake order receipts into the app, so phony charges show up right next to real purchases. The receipt even lists a “support” number to dispute charges. Call it, and a fake agent talks you into handing over card details or installing remote-access software. Watch out for this one.
Yes, problem: The Wall Street Journal dug through chatbot logs and found cases where ChatGPT fed people delusional, otherworldly claims, and they believed it. Psychiatrists are calling it AI psychosis (paywall link). The problem isn't brains, it's flattery. These bots are built to agree, so they amplify whatever you bring them, even a spiral. One man spent nearly five hours inventing fake physics while the bot cheered him on. Watch out for this when you use AI, OK?
Breakup camera problems: Going through a recent breakup? You might want to check who’s still on your Ring. A San Diego woman pleaded guilty after authorities said she got into her ex-husband’s Ring account and watched him inside his home after they separated. You thought Big Brother was bad, wait until you meet Big Ex-Wife. Don’t let the porch pirate gadget become an indoor eye in the sky. Before you split the couch, split the logins. Cameras, door locks, thermostats, all of it.
📘 NetSuite is finally free to try: AI is moving faster than anyone can keep up with, and the companies pulling ahead all have one thing in common. They can see their whole business at once, finances, inventory, hiring, in real time, instead of stitching together five apps that don't talk to each other. That's what NetSuite does. And for the first time ever, you can try NetSuite Next without paying a dime. It won't cost you a thing.*
Tiny wrist medic: I’m starting to feel like my wrist has EMT credentials. Google’s Android 17 Pixel drop, announced this month, adds Pixel Watch safety tools that can detect a car crash, a hard fall or even a missing pulse, then call emergency services and ping your chosen contacts automatically. The Apple Watch has caught hard falls since 2018 and severe car crashes since the Series 8, both auto-dialing 911 and texting your people if you go still. But that no-pulse trick? Google beat Apple to the punch.
🌊 Mickey’s bot army: Disney looked at a park full of exhausted families and said, “Let’s throw some robots in the mix.” The next upgrade wave includes underwater bots and Star Wars droids (paywall link) roaming around with food, which is both adorable and slightly how an empire starts. The why is simple: Make the parks feel futuristic enough that you forget a pretzel costs a mortgage payment.
🎤 PODCAST: DIGITAL LIFE HACK
AI restores family photos
That crumbling picture in your grandparents’ photo album? Gemini can bring it back to life for free. Takes 15 seconds. Plus, Ruth shares what it’s like to train Hollywood chatbots to do their jobs.
Hauling out the big vacuum? Skip it. This one’s strong suction pulls pet hair and crumbs from every crack in your car. The LED lights up hidden dirt. Flip it to air duster mode for keyboards and vents.
Image: MONOZEL
🧹 Crumb and get it: This broom & dustpan set(15% off, $23) stays upright on its own. Built-in teeth pull crud off the bristles as you sweep.
Funky fix: Drop a refrigerator deodorizer(15% off, $22) in your fridge, and it quietly kills mystery smells. Takes up less space than a to-go box.
🧽 Detail-oriented: These edgeless microfiber towels(16% off, $12, six-pack) are soft and soak up spills fast. Great for buffing any surface to a shine.
Screen saver: iRoller’s reusable screen cleaner(19% off, $13) lifts smudges without a drop of liquid. Like a lint roller but made for your tech.
📦 Haul, yeah: Score more bargains for $20 or less on Amazon Haul.
Prices and deals were accurate at the time of publication.
DEVICE ADVICE
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Find any setting without digging. Stop hunting through twelve menus. On iPhone, swipe down on the home screen and search the setting name, like "AirDrop" or "battery." On Android, open Settings and tap the search bar at the top. The exact toggle you want pops right up. The menu maze was never the only way in.
Guest wants Wi-Fi? No need to crawl behind the router because you forgot the password. On iPhone, go to Settings > Wi-Fi > tap the i next to your network > Password and authenticate. On Android, it’s even easier. Open Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi > your network > QR code to share.
🎧 I tested the expensive brands against Raycon: People ask me if the $200 earbuds are worth it. My honest answer is no. Raycon Everyday Earbuds deliver the same premium sound and deep bass for half the price. They actually stay in your ears, and the battery lasts all day. Don’t pay extra just for a logo. Save 20% sitewide right now.*
Create Instagram folders: You can organize recipes, wardrobe ideas or workout Reels into separate collections. Tap the bookmark icon on a post, then hit New collection. Name it and save. You can add others to collaborate. To view them all, head to Settings > Saved > Collections. And yes, they’re private.
📬 Gmail safety net: Want backup copies of important emails? Forward them to another account automatically. In Gmail on desktop, click See all settings > Forwarding and POP/IMAP > Add a forwarding address. Verify the link sent to the new inbox, then return to Gmail and choose that address for forwarding.
💸 Missed the Prime Day deals?Amazon Renewed could be your backup plan for a bigger discount on the MacBook you wanted. It’s where you’ll find open-box and pre-owned tech that’s been tested and cleaned. FYI, before buying, always check for “Premium” or “Excellent” condition. You’ll also get a guarantee or warranty coverage.
WHAT THE TECH?
Image: Honor
Say hello to my little lens
Honor has created the rare phone feature that sounds fake even after you explain it: a camera that physically extends on a robotic arm.
The Robot Phone uses a three-axis stabilized gimbal and AI subject tracking, so the camera can follow you around without a tripod, camera operator or your most patient friend slowly losing the will to live. Fixed wide and telephoto lenses round it out for livestreams, automatic framing and night-sky shots.
🔜 Tomorrow: If you keep “running into” the same person or your gut says you’re being followed, you might be carrying a $30 tracker without knowing it. How to find it, what your phone misses and what to do before you touch it.
The answer: C) Only that your connection to the site is encrypted, nothing about whether the site is trustworthy. That little padlock means your data is scrambled while it travels between you and the website, so random snoops can’t peek at it mid-trip.
🔒 That’s the whole promise. It doesn’t mean the site is legit, safe, approved by Google or run by angels with cybersecurity degrees.
Scammers can get those security certificates for free. Today, over 90% of phishing sites show the padlock. Guess how many people Google says understand this? 11%. That’s why it started removing the lock altogether. Trust the actual web address, not the icon.
🎸 I got locked out of my account this morning. The site said I’d had too many unsuccessful Loggins attempts. Somewhere, Kenny is dancing. (lol)
Here's what you learned today. That padlock icon only promises your connection is scrambled, not that the site is honest, which is why scammers love it. The identity theft that wrecks you never shows up on the bank account you watch every morning, so speed and monitoring matter. Fake receipts are sneaking into the Shop app with phony support numbers attached. Your ex can still be watching if you never split the smart-home logins. Your Pixel or Apple Watch call for help if you go still. And the next time you need a setting, search for it instead of digging. Phew, all of that for free!
🌳 Thanks for being here. Spending part of your Sunday with me means more than you know, and I don't take a single one of you for granted. See you tomorrow and if you have questions? Ask me here.— Kim
Kim Komando • Komando.com • 510+ radio stations • Trusted by millions daily
🏆 THE KIM CHALLENGE:Forward this to ONE person who needs to hear it today. Pick the person who popped into your head while reading. You know who it is.
😎 SHARE THE CURRENT
Your referrals get you great rewards!
Send your unique link below to friends and family.
👉 Your link is: thecurrent.komando.com/subscribe?ref=MRjCg0GwZI
They get tech-smart. You get prizes. Win-win. The more referrals, the more prizes. (Yes, even a meet and greet with me. I’d love that!)
Your referral count is: 0. FYI: This only changes if the people you refer actually click to sign up for this free newsletter.
You’re 3 referrals away from Kim's AI Prompt Hack Pack - 12 prompts Kim actually uses. Yours instantly at 3 referrals.
Companies and products denoted by an asterisk (*) within this publication are paid sponsors or advertisements. As an Amazon Associate, the publisher earns from qualifying purchases. Statements regarding products denoted by a double asterisk (**) have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration; such products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This newsletter is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, medical, or professional advice of any kind. Readers should consult with a qualified professional before making any decisions based on this content. The publisher disclaims all liability for any loss, damage, or injury resulting from the use of or reliance on the information contained herein.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Keep a civil tongue.