Hello to you, friend, on this beautiful Tuesday! Let’s start with a tech brain teaser. What does “Wi‑Fi” stand for? Is it … A.) Websocket frequency, B.) Wireless fidelity, C.) Windows firmware or D.) Nothing at all? You’ll find the answer at the end.

🌵 Ever want to take a trip to Arizona, where I live? I’ve arranged a great, exclusive deal for you. Book a home through Holiday Rental, stay for 4 nights and get the 5th night FREE! Use promo code “Kim.” If you want, drop by the studios while you’re here. On to the tech smarts! — Kim

Savvy internet surfers like us ignore obnoxious "Claim Now" pop-up ads promising “free” gift cards. We're better than that. But I’ve been getting a slew of questions about a new shopping app — specifically, whether it's a good way to make some extra cash. Let’s check it out together.

See you on the Flip side

The concept of the Flip app is simple. Create an account, buy products in the app, and, once you get your goods, earn money by reviewing your purchases in TikTok-style videos. Flip pays you when people buy items based on your reviews — or if you refer someone to the app. You can then use credits to buy more stuff on Flip or transfer the cash right to your bank account.

Flip app user Alexis Talient told Wired she got $74 worth of high-end beauty items for $4. Another user got $700 in gift cards just by referring friends. The money Talient made on Flip has funded wireless headphones, skincare products and even a new plant. Yeah, there's a little of everything in the app.

Know the downsides

The Flip app has a 4.8 rating in the Apple App Store and a 4.5 rating in the Google Play Store. Those seem promising, but I also saw quite a few complaints on TrustPilot about orders never arriving and lousy customer service.

My biggest problem is that when you install Flip, they make it difficult to skip sharing all your contacts with the app. (A teeny-tiny, barely visible, white “Skip” button is in the top right corner.) Opt out of sharing, and you’ll be asked repeatedly to do so when you’re using the Flip app.

I saw that “share your contacts” message three times in just the first 4 minutes of using the app. I get it — share your contacts to get free credits. I could’ve gotten up to $500. No, thanks. I wouldn't do that to my friends.

The app also makes it too easy to get sucked into scrolling and buying a bunch of crap you don't need. It was enough to make me decide that I don't need this app in my life — and I vote you don't need it, either.

Shake your moneymaker

There are better ways to make money without sharing your contacts and buying things.

• Become a mystery shopper: Market researchers pay top dollar to get honest consumer feedback through mystery shopping. You could make $100 or more per gig, depending on the assignment. Links here if you want to try it.
• Test websites and apps: Get paid to review a website's usability or find glitches inside an app. Payouts per task vary, but most are between $3 and $60. Pro tip: Sign up for multiple platforms. UserTesting, TesterWork and Userfeel are all good places to start.
• Better than a garage sale: It pays to sell stuff on Facebook Marketplace and eBay. Many people make a full-time living (or side hustle) photographing items, writing descriptions and arranging sales. Pro tip: Save time and let AI help. I have a free guide to get started here.
• Flip domain names: If you have a knack for spotting trends and you like researching, try domain flipping. The idea is to find a web address that's inexpensive to buy and potentially lucrative to sell, kind of like real estate. The very lucky flipper who had Cars⁠.⁠com sold it for a cool $872 million!
• Move it, move it: Put your truck or SUV to work moving oversized items for people with cars too small for that couch or lawnmower they just bought. TaskRabbit and GoShare are both good options. GoShare says its drivers make a whopping $45 to $168 an hour. Dang.

Speaking of making money … My nephew left his job to pursue archeology. His career is now in ruins. (Oh, you loved that one. I know you did!)

No, I’m not talking about new subwoofers and a paint job. A couple of inexpensive accessories and a nice cleanup can make your car feel brand new.

• Add a headset holder for all your bags (less than $6 a pair).
• A car trash can is a must, especially if you have kids or have to eat on the go.
• This reusable goop is fantastic for cleaning out vents and little crevices where crud gets stuck.
• For under $14, this Bluetooth adapter lets you listen to tunes, take hands-free calls and charge your devices.
• Wipe out stains with a cleaner that works on leather, fabric and carpet.

New on Amazon: A shopping tool that recommends parts and accessories that fit your car. They ask for your license plate number, but pick your car’s make and model instead.

🧒 Hackers’ big target: Your kids. In 2023, cyberattacks on U.S. schools doubled. Hackers are eyeing kids' info, like grades and health records. Why? To steal identities using their pristine credit. Heads up to parents: Freeze your kids' credit before they even think about their first credit card.

Next time you’re car shopping: Researchers tested vehicle brands to see how susceptible they were to hacks. The bad bunch? Acura, BMW, Ferrari, Ford, Genesis, Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Jaguar, Kia, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Porsche, Rolls Royce and Toyota. Yeah, all of them.

RIP, CAPTCHA: They’re not great at spotting bots. Some sites now use random text challenges, puzzles or even font scans to spot automated software. Hey, as long as I don’t have to find all the squares showing traffic lights.

💸 Scammers no longer want gift cards or bank transfers: You get a phone call from someone claiming to be from Apple or Microsoft, and they’re saying there’s fraud on your account. Instead of the old tricks, they want cold, hard cash you put inside a magazine and send via FedEx or UPS. You know the drill: Hang up ASAP.

Windows nerds will love this: When a PC isn't working right, you can usually fix it by reinstalling Windows. It’s a slow process because you have to find, unpack and copy the backup files. There’s a faster way coming that allows you to download the backup files straight from Windows Update. Expect this update in the spring.

Find my luggage: Catherine Gavino and her family flew from Miami to the Carolinas for a vacay. When they landed in Charlotte, they couldn't find one of their suitcases at baggage claim. But because Catherine slipped an Apple AirTag into her luggage, they were able to track the bag to a thief’s house, call the police and recover the suitcase. This is why I keep telling you to drop an AirTag into your bags.

💋 Remember those phone sex lines? Now, there’s an app for that, and you can make money. Here's how it goes: You sign up to talk dirty to a stranger. When someone texts you, reply to their message with whatever you need to say. They respond, and for each message you exchange, you get a small payment of around $1.00 or $1.25. What a world!

Turning a device off and then back on again (often called "power cycling") can cure a surprisingly large number of tech problems.

• Let’s say your computer’s going really slowly. A bunch of sneaky processes are running in the background, hogging system resources. But guess what? Restart it and you've just shown them the door.
• Can't connect to the Wi‑Fi? Try a restart. It's like redialing when you've got a crappy phone connection.
• Software glitching? Little bugs can be nuked with a simple restart.
• Smart speaker sound … odd? Muffled audio is common, especially with Echo speakers. A restart typically fixes the problem.
• Bluetooth headphones won’t connect? Restart your phone and the headphones.

🔌 AT&T says you should wait 20 seconds before powering your modem back up. I say 30 seconds. Speaking of, for Valentine’s Day, Barry asked me for something that goes from 0 to 200 in a few seconds. I’m getting him a bathroom scale.

🚶‍♀️ Tracking without tracking: Your phone can track steps, but some people want to know their walking distance without carrying a phone all day. This basic pedometer has a battery that’ll last about a year, and it’s small enough to clip onto your pocket.

Mouse tricks: Zoom in or out while you work without missing a step by holding down Ctrl and spinning your scroll wheel up (zoom in) and down (zoom out). Some websites and apps, such as Google Maps, let you zoom in and out by scrolling up and down, too. Nice.

🎼 Boost productivity with some good tunes: Studies show music with 50 to 80 bpm can enhance creativity and learning. Check out this playlist. “Bohemian Rhapsody” is 72 bpm — good luck getting that song out of your head.

Made a mistake while typing a text or email? Just give your iPhone a quick shake. A prompt will ask if you want to “Undo Typing.” Tap Undo, and like magic, your last action is reversed. Cool beans!

Keep your Android phone automatically unlocked: Go to Settings > Security > Smart Lock. You can set it to stay unlocked when it's on you, in a trusted place or near a trusted device. No more constant unlocking at home or in the office. Nice.

I live in Arizona because it’s gorgeous, there are a ton of things to do, and you won't see a better sunset anywhere. You def need to come visit, and while you’re here, drop by our studios, too. My good friends Ryan and the gang at HolidayRental.com will give you the five-star treatment in Phoenix and Scottsdale. You’re worth it!

• Budget-friendly luxury: Over 30 clean and gorgeous vacation homes, with sizes ranging from small enough for your family to large enough for a big reunion.
• Stay at my house: Yup, you can cook, swim and sleep in my home that I loved for 17 years.

🌟 I’ve arranged a special deal for you. Stay 4 nights and get the 5th night FREE! Use promo code “Kim” but hurry, you need to book this exclusive offer by January 31, 2024.

Have questions or need help picking the right vacation home? Call 480‑376‑7406 to speak to Ryan and his team right now.

Or try “Beetlejuice” — but ignore the first two times they call it.

The answer: D.) Nothing at all. The Wireless Alliance needed an easy-to-remember name for the standard “IEEE 802.11b Direct Sequence.” The marketing agency they hired came up with the catchy-sounding “Wi‑Fi.” Go ahead — use this trivia question to get a free drink the next time you’re out.

😂 One more before you go: A man sits down at a bar and asks the bartender for the Wi‑Fi password. The bartender tells him he needs to buy a drink first, so the man orders a soda and asks again, “So what’s the Wi‑Fi password?” The bartender replies, “You have to buy a drink first — all lowercase, no spaces.”

☀️ Do your future self a favor and plan a post-holiday trip to Phoenix or Scottsdale. Stay 4 nights and get the 5th night free when booking at HolidayRental.com with the promo code “Kim.” While you’re in town, come visit our studios. Your support helps keep this newsletter free, so many thanks. See you back here tomorrow with the best newsletter in the USA! — Kim