Good morning and happy Wednesday, my friend! I know you love a good keyboard shortcut, so that’s the topic of today’s trivia. Which company designed the first keyboard shortcuts? Was it … A.) Apple, B.) IBM, C.) Microsoft or D.) Xerox? Answer’s at the end!

🚀 Share the know-how. When you see the icons under the top story for Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and email, click one to instantly share that story with your coworkers, family and friends. No AI algorithms here! I put this newsletter together for you by hand. (Yup, even the bad jokes!) — Kim

Here’s a shocker for you: With as little as $1,000, a cyber creep can go to the Dark Web and buy your entire identity. That means they get your Social Security number, bank account info and anything else they need to pose as you — or someone you love — online.

It gets worse

A full identity package can run up to $5,000, depending on the target. Check Point Research found stolen passports can start at $1,000, but a criminal can get their hands on a copy of your actual driver’s license for as low as $200.

It’s not just your identity documents, either. Whizcase gathered prices from Dark Web marketplaces to see how much your online logins are worth, and it’s grim:

• LinkedIn: $45 — The keys to your professional network and your online reputation.
• Facebook: $14 — Years of photos, videos, conversations and private info to anyone who pays up.
• Reddit: $6 — Immediate access to your posts, comments, likes and private convos.

Your online identity is always under attack, and it’s cheaper and easier than ever to hack. Now, combine all the info about you for sale on the Dark Web with what’s being purchased and shared by data brokers and people-search sites, and you’re a prime target for stalkers, identity theft — or worse.

✅ Now is the time to check your passwords (unique for every site, please!) and turn on two-factor authentication everywhere you can. That way, you get an alert if your account is accessed from a new device.

There’s another crucial step you should take now, while you’re thinking about just how much of your info is floating around the web: Get your personal details off the internet.

Try the easy, smart tool I use

Incogni is my online privacy secret weapon. They pull your info from data-broker sites that sell it to anyone willing to pay.

Let me back up a bit and tell you why I even know about Incogni.

After finding my personal cellphone number available on a free people-search site last year, I made it my mission to scrub whatever was online about me. It was like playing Whac‑A‑Mole. There are literally hundreds of sites that sell personal info, including cellphone numbers, DOBs, physical and email addresses — you name it. These sites make it extremely hard to get your data removed. Why? Because they profit from selling your data and mine.

To remove my data, I emailed the scummy sites, filled out forms, called and even sent letters by USPS. I was tracking my time. I gave up when I hit 36 hours and didn’t make any real progress. That’s when I researched services to do this for me. I tried three, and I ultimately picked Incogni.

Incogni just works. So far, Incogni has removed me from 231 data-broker and people-search sites, and they send regular removal requests to keep my info off these sites.

Yes, Incogni puts your name on data suppression lists, which is amazing. This means they cannot sneak you back on. Since I signed up for Incogni, I get no more spam calls or text messages. My husband, Barry, says the same thing, by the way.

✅ Try it free: Right now, try Incogni for 30 days. If you’re not completely satisfied, get your money back. Use this link to get 60% off when you sign up. I don’t get any residuals or kickbacks if you choose Incogni.

• This clear case covers all the basics — raised edges to protect your screen, durability and MagSafe compatibility — and it’s on sale now for many iPhone models. The iPhone 15 Max case is $17!
• It’s a wallet, it’s a stand, it’s both. This black faux leather accessory works with most newer iPhones.
• This cute, leather pint-sized crossbody bag has room for cards, keys and your smartphone. It’s on sale in a bunch of neutral colors.
• Level up your smartphone video conference calls with this face-tracking tripod. It doesn’t require installing an app or even a Bluetooth connection — yay for privacy. It’s 91% off.
• Clean that scummy screen with microfiber cleaning cloths (pack of 12, on sale for $6). They also work great on glasses and shades. 😎

🛑 Don’t be Russian me: The Kremlin is using gullible Americans to spread false info about the U.S. presidential race. They've hired marketing firms to pump out propaganda via phony news websites and social media. Be extra cautious if you see posts from a “local” news outlet you’ve never heard of.

⚠️ Talk to your kids: A 16-year-old girl faked her birthdate to sign up for Tinder and matched with a 34-year-old man. The two met up, and then he drugged her and broadcast sex acts to thousands of people on an adult website. She told her therapist, who called the police. These dating apps must find better ways to verify the user's age.

Update to iOS 17.6 ASAP: It packs 35 security fixes, tackling vulnerabilities that could let hackers control your phone. Don’t wait for it to pop up. On iPhone XS or later, go to Settings > General > Software Update now. Update your iPad, too, if you have one.

📝 Writing checks is dead: The average American writes just one check per year. Get ready for instant payments, where money transfers with zero delays and no charge — different from wire transfers, ACH and apps like PayPal. Last year, instant payments made up only 1.5% of all payments in the U.S., compared to 84% in India.

OpenAI’s new model: Rumor has it GPT-5 is coming later this year or in early 2025. It’ll do a better job handling multistep tasks, and you can upload a ton more text (as in a entire book).

“Magical teleprompter”: That’s how startup Final Round AI markets its Interview Copilot app for job seekers. Their tech listens in while you complete a job interview from home and feeds you the perfect answers on screen in real time. Whether or not you think it’s “cheating,” the person interviewing for the job you want might be using it.

Meta-morphosis: Meta’s AI Studio for Instagram lets you create an AI version of yourself. The AI “you” can chat with followers on Instagram, Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp. It’s free to use at ai.meta.com/ai-studio or in the IG app. I’ll hold off on creating an AI Kim.

🔥 You are so bot: On OnlyFans, the subscription service where folks interact with their favorite sex workers, creators are using AI chatbots to handle replies and form connections before asking for that oh-so-special tip. OnlyFans doesn’t seem to care if this is against their terms of service. They take a 20% cut of their creators’ incomes, and they made $1.1 billion in revenue in 2022.

📺 Your Chromecast gets updates, too: If you have one, install the Google Home app (iOS and Android), locate your Chromecast in the app, select the device icon and tap the gear. Then, click the three dots in the top right corner and hit Reboot. Pro tip: Make sure you’re connected to the same Wi‑Fi network on your phone and the Chromecast.

Get free stuff: FreeCycle is a fantastic online community where folks give away things they no longer need or find items they want.

Lowest flight price, guaranteed: When you buy a qualifying ticket, Google Flights monitors the ticket price. If it drops before takeoff, you’ll get the difference. At flights.google.com, select a flight with a rainbow shield icon next to it. Click Book on Google and check the box next to Price Guarantee to accept the terms of service.

On the tip of your tongue: Most people don’t know you can use an asterisk in your Google search as a placeholder. For instance, if you type "* me down to the * city," Google fills in the blanks and gives results for Guns N' Roses’ "Paradise City."

Wait, it’s how much? It seems like every subscription has ticked up a buck or two. Check for increases with the app I use, Rocket Money.* They make it easy to say goodbye if it’s not worth the cash anymore.

Creep alert: Read this before you go to a store to try on clothes.

💳 Put down the debit card: Try a virtual card instead.

Sold! A secret trick to scoring what you want on eBay.

The answer: D.) Xerox. The Xerox Alto, one of the first personal computers, included the ability to cut, copy and paste. IBM came along with Ctrl + Alt + Del in the early ‘80s.

🕷️ Ugh, a spider crawled into my keyboard last night. Don’t worry, I have it under Ctrl.

Before you go: If you’ve been considering Incogni, now is the time. They just upgraded their plans to include three of your email addresses and physical addresses since we all have a few! Use this link to get 60% off when you sign up.

✨ See you back here tomorrow, my friend. We’re talking emojis! Spoiler: Stop using 👍 to respond. It makes you look old! Drop a rating below and give yourself a pat on the back for making sure you’re tech-ahead and never tech-behind! — Kim