The Current-Sun Plus: Google’s scam detector, Disney droids, Call of Duty cheats, tech secrets and more digital loveliness - | In partnership with NordPass | | It’s a Sunday Funday edition, friend. The Great Aluminum Foil Debate: shiny side or dull side? 🤔 The collective internet cannot decide. Let’s settle this once and for all. Turns out, it doesn’t actually matter. Both sides cook the same. The shiny vs. dull thing? Just how it’s rolled at the factory. But if you’re using nonstick foil (fancy!), make sure the dull side faces up. PSA: If you eat aluminum foil, you’ll sheet metal. (I saw you smile!) ✅ Only $1.43 a month: That’s all it costs to upgrade to my tested and recommended password app for PC, Mac, Android, iPhone and web browsers. More on that below. On to the tech smarts! — Kim 📣 Don’t keep me a secret: Share this email with friends (or copy URL here) |
TODAY'S DEEP DIVE Router went data way You never hear anyone say, “This router is amazing. It changed my life!” It’s sad because that little guy controls your entire home’s internet. If yours has a USB port (check the back!), you can unlock some surprisingly useful features. You’re gonna love this. Set up central storage Want extra space for photos, music or important files? Plug in a USB flash drive or an external hard drive, and boom, you’ve got network-wide storage. Anyone on your Wi-Fi can access the files, making it super handy for sharing family photos or documents. Not all routers support this, so check your model’s specs. A simple WD 2TB Elements USB drive ($75) is a great option. Power a device A lot of smart home gadgets, like security cameras and night-lights, can run off USB power. Instead of hogging an outlet, plug them into your router’s USB port. A USB night-light makes it easier to see when you have to reset the router at 2 a.m. (been there). Have a backup Hard drive crashes happen. If you plug an external USB drive into your router, you can automatically back up your computer’s files. Windows users: Search for Windows Backup in the taskbar. Mac users: Open Time Machine under General > System Settings. Charge your devices Need an extra charging spot? Your router’s USB port can charge your phone, tablet or even some laptops. It won’t be super fast, but it’ll free up a valuable outlet. Share a printer Tired of fighting with your printer? Plug it into your router, and anyone on your Wi-Fi can print. No messy cables needed. Many modern printers support this automatically through an app. Some even let you send print jobs remotely over the internet. Try out one of these tricks and put that little port to good use! ⛪️ Speaking of and since it’s Sunday … God said to set up a router and provide free Wi-Fi in the tabernacle. Turns out, Moses is having a little trouble finding the promised LAN. |
The smarter way to secure your passwords Passwords are the keys to your digital world. So why leave the door wide open? If you're reusing passwords or even just tweaking them slightly, you're making it easy for hackers to waltz right in. Even worse… Many shopping and service websites don’t require strong passwords, which makes them prime targets for cybercriminals. That’s why you need a solid password manager like NordPass. Unlike built-in browser managers, NordPass keeps your credentials locked behind a master password — so if someone gets hold of your device, they’re still locked out. Plus, NordPass offers advanced security features you won’t find in that regular old browser: Password Health Tool Secure Sharing Email Masking Emergency Access Stop leaving the door to your accounts unlocked and lockdown your passwords with NordPass. Take control of your digital security with my exclusive 52% off deal! → Please support our sponsors! |
MY TRUSTED ADVICE 🎙️ Every weekend on my award-winning national radio show heard on over 420 stations, I talk with interesting folks like you. Catch these convos on a station near you, or find my weekend show as a podcast in your favorite podcast player. Benjamin in Washington, D.C., started his car to warm it up, then walked away with the key fob. Someone jumped in and drove off. Jack in Denver, Colorado, is ready to win big on March Madness. He wants a little help from AI to make his picks. John in Richmond, Virginia, says his soon-to-be ex-wife tracks him. She knows who he talks to and where he is, all the time. Plus, Katie fixes a hacked Facebook, Tom makes book covers with AI, Chad reformats a hard drive, Ruben uses AI to compare insurance, Bill deals with a gold bar scam, and so much more! 📆 Let’s talk about anything digital in your life, whether it’s family matters or your business. Make an appointment to speak with me right here. |
Daily Tech Update 4 text scams sweeping the country Scammers are flooding phones with fake alerts about tolls, accounts and deliveries. Here’s how to spot the tricks before you get caught. Listen on Komando.com → |
WEB WATERCOOLER 🌐 Protecting undersea internet cables: I’m not sure if you know that they carry 95% of the world’s internet traffic and are a known target for sabotage. Now, there’s new tech that can “listen” for vibrations in the cable’s light signals — like if a diver touches it or a ship drags an anchor too close. Space advertising: Imagine stepping outside to look at the stars … and seeing a giant glowing billboard in the sky. That could soon be a reality, with Russian companies planning to launch swarms of laser-equipped satellites to project light into Earth’s low orbit. The kicker? There’s no global ban on this yet. Apple’s shiny new modem: The iPhone 16e is the first iPhone to feature Apple’s own C1 modem, marking a move away from Qualcomm. So how’s it doing? Depends on your carrier. On AT&T and Verizon, the 16e had better download and upload speeds than the regular iPhone 16. But on T-Mobile, the iPhone 16 still had slightly better upload speeds. Tasting digital food in virtual reality: Scientists are developing tech that detects taste molecules, converts them into electrical signals and sends them to a mouthpiece that releases chemicals to mimic flavors. They can already transmit these signals from California to Ohio. Penne for your thoughts? 🎮 Game over, cheaters: You’ll be banned forever if you’re caught selling your Call of Duty account. This is a big problem, so Activision is adding new anti-cheat tech before Season 3 of Black Ops 6 and Warzone starts. Scam alert: Google’s new call-scanning feature tells you in real time if you’re getting swindled on the phone. AI analyzes conversations, and if something sketchy happens, you get an audio, vibration and visual warning. It’s for Pixel 9 or later only. Go to the Phone app > Settings > Scan Detection. PSA: Google says they’re not saving your calls. Yea, right. 🐭 Coming to Disney next year: This is freakin’ awesome. Real Star Wars droids roaming around. They’re working with Google DeepMind and Nvidia’s new Newton model to bring them to life. This will help them walk around the parks, be more expressive and do tricky tasks on their own. What do you call a pirate droid? Arr-2 D2. (Good one, right?) |
DEALS OF THE DAY 👍 Tech upgrades $10 or less Score! Little things can make a huge difference. A criminal with the right gear can copy the signal from your key fob. Toss it in a Faraday bag (two for $10) to block them out. Earbuds get crusty. Use an $8 kit to keep yours gunk-free without damaging the speakers. Can’t remember keyboard shortcuts you want to try? Slap a cheat sheet sticker on your computer. Here’s one for Mac; this one’s for Windows. Are they watching? Know for sure with a $7 cam cover you can use on your phone, tablet or computer. I keep my phone on a stand while working at my desk. Nice in the kitchen, too. I’ve got a whole page packed with goodies under $10. ✅ Not tech, but I take two scoops of collagen a day: It’s good for bone density, makes your nails and hair stronger, and can help smooth wrinkles. Use this link for 45% off* if you want to try it, too. |
DEVICE ADVICE 📱“Can I use your iPhone?” Sure, but let’s keep it to a single app, no snooping around. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access to toggle it on. Open the app, triple-tap your right-side button and press Start. When they’re done, triple-click the side button again to enter your passcode or Face ID to unlock it. 🤖 Sharing your Android? It’s easy to lock it to one app so your stuff stays safe. Open Settings > Security > Advanced Settings, toggle on App Pinning and Ask for PIN Before Unpinning. Swipe up to see your recent apps, tap the app icon and press Pin. Swipe up and enter your PIN to get it back to normal. These steps might vary by the brand you own. ⏩ 10-second shortcut: You don’t need your mouse to rewind or fast-forward on YouTube. Press K to pause or play, J to rewind 10 seconds, and L to fast-forward 10 seconds. Be sure to subscribe to my channel so you never miss my podcast or radio show. Do you bank on your phone? What about checking email and shopping? If you said “yes” to any of those, you’re a target. A keylogger captures everything you type, including your account numbers and passwords. Encrypt your keystrokes with EndpointLock. Hit this link for 10% off.* From zero to hero: Microsoft’s Clipchamp free video editor is perfect for beginners. Plus, it has advanced features for cutting, cropping, resizing, screen and webcam recording, green-screen editing and even AI voiceovers. Give it a whirl. Swinging into AI: Intel released AI Playground, a free tool to make images, upscale photos and answer questions with a chatbot. The catch? It only works on Intel’s latest Core Ultra processors. Check it out here. Feeling left behind? Download NetSuite’s free knowledge drop, “The CFO’s Guide to AI and Machine Learning.”* No matter what you do, you should know more about AI. It’s not going anywhere. |
LOGGING OUT ... How about a final quick tip to free up some space on your computer? On a Mac, open Finder > Downloads. Click on the Size column header and sort from largest to smallest. On a PC, open File Explorer > Downloads, then click the Size column header. By default, it’ll sort from largest to smallest. 👋 Delete any big files you don’t need. My computer had files so massive, I probably should’ve been charging them rent. Remembering passwords is a losing battle. Letting your browser do it for you isn’t smart, either. What happens if someone steals your computer? Get your security buttoned up with NordPass. It’s easy to use, replaces weak passwords with strong ones and autofills everything for you. Hit my link for 52% off while you’re thinking about it. Wowsie, today’s issue was jam-packed. I’ll be back tomorrow with another issue of the best tech newsletter in the USA. Here’s to a day full of good vibes and zero tech fails!— Kim |
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