A bright and shiny Saturday to you! Trivia is our first order of business. The very first photo was uploaded to the internet in 1992. Was the image a … A.) Band, B.) Child, C.) Goat or D.) Phone? This is a toughie! Answer at the end.

🤑 Your personal info is for sale everywhere. Between data brokers, advertisers, stalkers and scammers, everything from your phone number and address to your Social Security number is for sale for anyone willing to pay. I used Incogni to remove it all for me. You really need to do the same. More below. — Kim

A few weeks ago, I asked if y’all would be down with my putting together a tech prep list of emergency items and ideas. I really was surprised at how many of you said, “Yes!” So, without further ado, let’s prep for cyberattacks and outages.

Tech power

• Pocket power: A portable power bank keeps your tech going when the power goes out. Here's a no-nonsense option compatible with most devices. This one ($20 off) has a built-in light. Try this one if you're on a budget.
• Save me: An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) provides backup power to specific devices. I recommend one for your desktop computer (7% off) and one for your router.
• Here comes the sun: Solar generators are nice to have around for extended outages. Spring for this one to soak up the sun or this one that's a bit cheaper.

Power generators

• If it’s just for one or two people: This generator’s a great option to run your laptop, small fridge and more. It’s both solar- and battery-powered, and it’s 31% off right now.
• Take it to the next level: This Generac gas-powered option will run 4.5 hours at a 50% load. Outdoor use only, just sayin’.
• Movin’ on up again: This indoor or outdoor generator will run the refrigerator for up to 15 hours, lights for up to 180 hours and charge your phone up to 164 times. It’s pricey, but you get what you pay for. I have two Generac generators, and they’re a good, solid choice.

Communication tools

• Oh, that's my burner: If your smartphone carrier goes down, having a device on a separate carrier could save the day. The spare doesn't have to be anything fancy.
• Mixed signals: A satellite phone still works if something happens to the regular cellular tower network. This device has all the bells and whistles. This Garmin unit doubles as a map and GPS. This two-way messenger is a great option, too.
• Roger that: To keep your family connected, stash away some walkie-talkies. They're perfect for short-range communication. These two can pair with a smartphone for chat or text and these are long-range, waterproof and 20% off.

Emergency connectivity

• On the go: If your router becomes unreliable or you have to hit the road, a mobile hotspot device (7% off) keeps you connected. Here's a budget-friendly alternative.
• In the SIM-ulation: Spotty cell service or none at all? SIM cards with prepaid data plans to rescue. Here are three options: Verizon, T‑Mobile and Infimoble.
• Emergency calls: Have a lightweight, compact satellite-connected device on hand so you can call for help. Clip this one (44% off) to your backpack.

Hardware essentials

• Back it up: Keep a spare laptop or tablet handy in case your main device kicks it. Good options: HP EliteBook, HP dy20xx‑i5, Apple iPad and Samsung Galaxy Tab.
• Drive it home: You can store encrypted copies of essential documents on a USB drive. Just make sure you know exactly where you put it.

Documentation

• Good on paper: Keep printed copies of important documents like recovery plans and contact lists on hand. Consider printing out banking, medical and other key info you wouldn't be able to access in a cyberattack or an outage. Store it somewhere safe.

I have way more I couldn’t fit here in this newsletter. Head to my site for the complete prep kit list.

📋 Make a point to check all the items in your tech kit regularly, just like you would food, water and other supplies. They won't do you any good if they don't work! I set a reminder in my cal for every six months.

Data brokers make big money gathering your personal sensitive info and selling it to the highest bidder. What’s included? Your phone number, date of birth, the places you’ve lived, your location history, your Social Security number, your driving habits, what you buy at the grocery store and more — much more.

All your data is sold over and over and over again. Best-case scenario: Companies target you with ads. Worst case: Scammers, identity thieves and stalkers know everything about you.

I did the research and used Incogni to remove my personal data from all broker types, privacy-stealing databases and creepy people-search sites. It’s time for you to do the same.

Help protect yourself from spam calls, spam texts, identity theft, stalkers and insurance companies raising your rates. I negotiated an exclusive discount for you.

🚨 China, Iran and Russia: Foreign TikTok accounts are spreading a ton of AI-generated voice clips and fake statements from both U.S. presidential candidates ahead of the election. About one-third of young Americans are getting their news on TikTok (paywall link). Def worth having a chat with them about what they think each side represents.

Can't trust 'em: Meta and Google secretly teamed up to target kids with ads for Instagram on YouTube. They exploited a loophole allowing personalized ads to be served to an “unknown” group, aka users whose age and parental status aren’t identified. Seriously? You can tell it’s a kid based on their search history.

Samsung recall alert: They just recalled over 1 million slide-in electric ranges. The front-mounted knobs have already caused hundreds of fires. The 30 affected models were sold between May 2013 and August 2024. Call Samsung at 833‑775‑0120 to get a free set of knob covers or locks.

💸 This is funny: Microsoft wanted to give Apple their search site, Bing, for free. Apple said no thanks because Bing sucks and doesn’t generate enough ad revenue. Instead, Apple paid Google $22 billion so their search engine would be the default on iPhones. Microsoft should’ve called theirs Bang instead of Bing; all the guys would’ve been able to say, “Hey, I Banged Margot Robbie and a few other hotties last night.”

Oh, no, Sonos: Sonos isn’t releasing new products until they can fix their buggy app. Sounds like no big deal, but they say the repair could cost as much as $30 million. Yikes! The products in question? Rumors hint at a set-top TV streaming box and high-end Arc soundbar.

🐻 Moo-ve away: A new Instagram filter, Selfie Control, warns when you’re too close when taking pics of wild animals. Right now, it’s exclusive to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and comes preloaded with distance requirements for bison, bears and moose. I mean, really, if you need an app for this, you’re just an idiot.

Hear the world: If you ever ask anyone to repeat something they said, check out the new, dual-processor, almost invisible hearing aids from Hear.com. The company has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, a 4.9 out of 5 rating with Consumer Affairs and a 100% money-back guarantee. Click here to find out today if you qualify for a risk-free trial.*

Synthetic identity fraud: That’s when scammers steal a kid’s Social Security number and add bogus names, birth dates and email addresses to create fake personas. They open credit cards, max them out and leave a trail of debt. Have a kid age 13 or younger? Fill out this form to see if they have a credit report. Freeze it if they do.

🔋 Charges dropped: Your phone has built-in settings to keep the battery healthy over the long term. On Android, open Settings > Battery > Adaptive Charging. On an iPhone, head to Settings > Battery > Charging Optimization.

Cue the James Bond music: Secret shoppers help stores assess stocked shelves, correct markings and review the in-store customer service. It won’t make you a millionaire, but you can sign up through Field Agent. I did it once! Snapped a few pics and made $20.

Quiz me: You’re trying to memorize capitals, learn a new language, whatever. Ask your favorite AI chatbot to give you a quiz. For example, “I’m learning Spanish. Please give me a quick quiz appropriate for beginners.”

📻 A face for radio: Find your local station or hit this link to open The Kim Komando Show as a free podcast on your favorite player.

Sip happens.

The answer: A.) Band. Les Horribles Cernettes was a bunch of scientists who worked at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, in Switzerland. Here’s the pic.

🎸 I started a band with friends called 999 Megabytes. It’s rough. We still haven't gotten a gig yet! (Oh, that was a good one!)

It’s time you get your privacy back. Incogni has worked in the background to get my info off scummy data-broker and people-search sites. Try it yourself with my 60% off link, exclusive for my readers. I get no more spammy calls or texts. Love that.

Thanks for being here. Hit that thumbs-up below if you smiled or learned something new. Back in your inbox tomorrow with the best newsletter in the USA! — Kim