A tech-tastic Thursday is here, friends! I’m starting things off today with a quick brain teaser. What came first: The internet or email? Answer at the end!

✅ Before we get to the tech news. Incogni has removed my personal data from 82 data broker and people-search sites. You def need to check out this service to protect your privacy. Now, let’s get down to business. — Kim

This number blew me away: Nearly 90% of American adults are confident they can detect and prevent a scam. But 27% say they've been a victim at some point. Obviously, there’s a major disconnect.

That’s why I’m here for you. I never want you to be in that 27%. So, let’s dive into some of the most common things that trip up even the tech-savviest among us.

The scam solution

Problem 1: In a Citi survey, 55% of folks say their financial institutions are trusted fraud and scam prevention authorities. Only two-thirds of those respondents, though, routinely check their bank accounts and credit scores. OK, that means 33% of people don’t do this basic adulting task.

Fix: Sign up for fraud alerts that come by text or email. You can do this in your bank's app or through your online account. It’s a no-brainer. If your bank offers free credit monitoring, sign up for that, too. If not, try a free service like Credit Karma.

Problem 2: Americans polled say they’re familiar with standard scams like phishing (54%) and bank impersonation (51%). OK, great. On the other hand, 13% couldn't identify any of the 14 common scams presented to them in the survey. Ouch.

Fix: Spotting a scammer isn't rocket science (thank goodness). Here are four simple signs to look for from the FTC. Scammers …

• Pretend to be from an organization you know.
• Say there’s a problem or a prize.
• Pressure you to act immediately.
• Tell you to pay in a specific way.

If you get a shady feeling, chances are, it's a shady dealing.

Problem 3: 71% of adults who fell victim to a scam say it did a number on their overall financial health. No kidding. That might include a setback in savings goals, deeper debt and a lower credit score.

Fix: The key to proper damage control? Act right away. If you paid a scammer, do not give them more money. Gather all the information you can (screenshots rock for this), then block the crook from communicating with you further. File a report with your local police department and at tips.FBI.gov.

‘But Kim! What if …’

• “... I gave them my Social Security number?” Go to IdentityTheft.gov for the next steps, including how to monitor your credit.
• “... They stole my bank account or credit card information?” Immediately contact your bank or credit card issuer and report all fraudulent activity.
• "... My computer was hacked?" Update your security software, run a scan and delete anything it identifies as a problem. Change all your passwords and set up two-factor authentication.
• “... I gave someone who texted me my DOB?” Get a new one. Kidding. Freeze your credit — steps here.

🕷️ Trust your spidey senses if you suspect something “phishy.” Do your loved ones a favor and use the sharing buttons below to pass this intel along.

The most likely source of your personal data being littered across the web? Data brokers. They're using and selling your information — home address, Social Security number, phone number and more.

Incogni helps scrub this personal info from the web and gives you peace of mind to keep data brokers at bay.

Protect yourself: Before the holiday spam madness gets even worse, try Incogni. I did. It took me three minutes to set up.

Get your data off 180+ data brokers' and people-search sites automatically with Incogni. They offer a full 30-day money-back guarantee if you’re not happy … But I bet you will be.

It’s in the stars: Google says its new AI model, Gemini, handles text, images, videos and audio just as well as — or better than — ChatGPT. I’ll believe it when I see it. Want to give it a whirl? Ask Google’s chatbot, Bard, “Are you powered by Gemini?” to see if you have access. If you see twins, the answer is yes.

📺 Amazon's latest "gift" to Fire TV owners? Full-screen ads appear when you turn on the TV for devices made after 2016. Quick fix: Hit the “Home” button as fast as you can. Or go with the permanent fix: Go into Settings > Preferences and turn off Auto-Play and Personalized Ads. Now you know why those Fire devices are so cheap.

Airbnb nightmare: An Airbnb host's 51-year-old son is going to prison for filming a guest in the shower — and blackmail. A traveling occupational therapist found messages about how “sexy” she was during her stay. She then got a Facebook message with her own naked pics and 15 handwritten letters from this creep. Kevin Strutz’s dark past includes stalking, burglary and assault. Staying at an Airbnb? Take this RF detector.

Money talks, and it says, “Goodbye!” Microsoft is giving Windows 10 a lifeline with three more years of updates, but it’s not free. Extended Security Updates will allow you to keep (safely) using Windows 10 if 11 isn’t your speed. Relax, this doesn’t roll out until October 2025.

Subscription overload: Despite overwhelming evidence we all hate it, BMW and Mercedes are moving forward with subscriptions. Get a load of this: They say charges for stuff like heated seats and a little extra speed will fund electric vehicle development. Uh, right. We already own these features, but now we have to rent them back.

🎮 Heads up, gamers: Offers for “free” or “leaked” versions of GTA 6 are malware in disguise, ready to swipe your personal and banking info. Cybercriminals are sprinkling bogus download links all over the internet. The game won’t be out until 2025.

Ink antics: I bet HP execs are patting themselves on the back for their Instant Ink service that's "locking in" customers. Plans range from 99 cents to $25.99 a month. But it's not all sunshine and profits. HP is in hot water for blocking third-party cartridges and, oh, that lawsuit surrounding forced ink refills for things that didn't require ink. Oops?

🚨 Android alert: I must warn you about a new batch of infected apps with a whopping 12 million downloads on the Google Play store. SpyLoan malware swipes personal and financial info to threaten and blackmail people. ESET Research flagged 18 copycats of legit financial apps super popular in other countries that all come loaded with this stuff. PSA: Visit your bank's official website for secure links to their actual app.

Online shopping is great, but you might find yourself at a mall or shopping center with a giant parking lot and realize, “Uh-oh, I have no idea where I parked.” I can help!

• Check your phone's Bluetooth history. It logs when you disconnect your phone from your car and can give you an idea of where you parked. It's no GPS, but it could jog your memory.
• If you haven't turned off location history in your Google Account, your phone tracks your movements. Open Google Maps, tap on your profile, and hit Your Timeline. Go back to about when you parked your car. Boom, there it is.

📍 What about next time? Google and Apple Maps will let you mark a location when you park. Better yet, go the easy route and throw an Apple AirTag or Tile tracker in your car so you never lose it again. Remember, once you’ve seen one shopping center, you’ve seen the mall.

Whether you have a few minutes to spare during your drive or you're just chilling at home, it's the perfect time to tune in to The Kim Komando Show podcast! I keep it real, breaking down the latest tech trends, cybersecurity tips and gadget reviews into snack-sized, easy-to-understand episodes.

👉 Get my podcasts today!

Quick Windows tip: Click and hold on an open window’s title bar and shake it back and forth to minimize all other open windows. Click, hold and shake it again to bring them all back. Simple and fun!

iStream: ExpressVPN just added support for Apple TV. That means you can log in, change countries and access content locked for U.S. streamers. You can get 3 extra months free with my link, then download the ExpressVPN app on your streaming device. Works with Android TV, too.

🎆 Two thumbs-up … could equal a really embarrassing video call. iOS 17 and macOS Sonoma auto-enabled emoji reactions based on hand gestures. Say you’re on a video call with your boss and do a double thumbs-up. Virtual fireworks will explode all over the screen. To disable this on your phone, start a video call, and swipe down from the top right to open Control Center > Video Effects > Reactions. On a Mac, start a test call, then click the green camera icon > Reactions.

Update for Google Files: You can now search for text and images inside PDFs. Say you saved a work presentation to your phone. Search “November sales” and it’ll pop up, even if the filename is totally different. Big upgrade — and a reminder Big Tech is analyzing your files.

Perfect for iPhone 8 and newer, and most Samsung Galaxy and Pixel 4 models that support wireless charging. Let’s upgrade!

• A sleek, inexpensive option ($14) that comes in lots of colors.
• An official Apple MagSafe version for the iPhone person in your life ($10 off).
• The gorgeous valet tray and charging station I bought for Barry and Ian. They’re gonna love it!

😂 Just bought the new Dodge Hornet EV and ended up with two cars. The dealer said I also needed a Dodge Charger.

Try it on both hands!

The answer: Email predates the internet. One of the early versions was used on campus at MIT. The program, “MAILBOX,” let users leave messages for others who logged in. Email as we know it today, with @ in the username, came in 1971. Jan. 1, 1983, is considered the internet’s official birthday.

👃 Did you know perfume and cologne can now be transferred via email? They go into your scent folder. (Yeah, that was a bad one!)

✅ I can almost guarantee your Social Security number is for sale online. We need all the help we can get when it comes to privacy. That’s why I tried Incogni and you should, too. They wipe your info from 180+ people-search databases. See you here tomorrow with more tech smarts. I appreciate you! — Kim