It’s a fantastic Friday, friends! We’re going to start and end on a musical note today. For our trivia, what was the original ringtone before customizable ringtones took over our mobile phones? Was it … Beethoven's "Symphony No. 5," the theme from "Star Wars,” Nokia's "Grand Valse" or the sound of a rotary phone? You’ll find the answer at the end.

🍬 Glad to bestow upon you tech know-how that you'll use time and time again. I’ve packed in lots of goodies to share with your family and friends. — Kim

If you have a pulse and an internet connection, companies want all the details they can get on what you're willing to buy — and it's getting harder to tell where they're getting all that info.

The truth? Retailers had us under their microscopes long before we were glued to the internet. Let's look at how retail tracking works and what you can do.

The birth of retail tracking

Retailer data tracking all started when the Universal Product Code (UPC) hit grocery and department stores in 1974. Before UPCs, retailers could determine prices based on race, gender, or just how much they liked or disliked you. Could you imagine going to Walmart and hoping the cashier knows you're not a jerk? Sheesh.

Even bigger benefit: Retailers now can track what customers purchase so they can influence their buying patterns. Yep, Big Brother's had his eyes on you in Aisle 5 for decades. That was just the beginning.

The methods are many

Loyalty programs collect data on your purchases, frequency and preferences — in exchange for deals. Mobile apps take it a step further. If you’ve enabled location tracking for your retailer’s app, they’ll know when you're in their store. Nope, those coupon notifications aren't a coincidence.

Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth beacons map where you go. Ever connect to free Wi‑Fi in a store? That's the trade-off. Bluetooth beacons work similarly by pinging your phone's Bluetooth to document your path within the store.

Point-of-sale systems document purchase histories and often connect them to an email address or phone number if you’ve provided them.

Surveillance cameras aren't just to catch thieves. Some retailers use AI to analyze your shopping behaviors and habits.

We love to blame the digital age for targeted ads, but by the time the internet came around, retailers already had a ton of consumer data. It did help them step up their game, though.

Take back your (purchasing) power

Tracking is unavoidable, but there are ways to protect your privacy. Use these tips to feel less watched and more sane:

• Uninstall retail apps from your phone. If you can't part with them, disable your location permissions for each.
• Limit loyalty cards. The fewer you sign up for, the better your privacy. I find most people are willing to let me use theirs in the checkout lanes. Just be polite!
• Switch off Bluetooth if you don't use it often.
• Know your rights. If you use a retailer's website or app, there's usually a section where you can opt out of specific data collection or sharing methods.
• Browse in Incognito mode to keep your website history from being stored and reported to ad networks.
• Delete old accounts: JustDelete.me provides direct links to delete your accounts for tons of online services. You can also see how companies view and handle user data.
• Consider using a VPN to hide your IP address from retailers. Install it on your phone, too! My pick is ExpressVPN.*

🏁 And here you thought all you had to worry about was finding a good parking spot. Oh, btw, if you always lose your car, your maps apps can keep track of where you parked.

Watch what you type: Password-stealing malware is spreading through copycat password manager sites. Bitwarden is the target, and cybercriminals are setting up sites at URLs easily mistyped in place of the original — think Kommando[.]com instead of Komando.com. The pages prompt a download that silently collects username and password info. Triple-check those URLs, folks.

🚨 Major vehicle recall: Over 3 million Kia and Hyundai autos are at risk of engine fire. Internal brake fluid leaks can cause a short — so park outside, not in the garage. Recalled models include the Kia Cadenza, Forte, Sportage, Optima, Soul Rio and Rondo, as well as the Hyundai Elantra, Accent, Santa Fe and Tucson. Full list here.

Glassholes, Part 2: Meta’s new smart glasses look like a regular pair of Ray-Ban Wayfarers. You’d never know there are two tiny cameras and speakers in the arms. I'm honestly surprised it took this long to get smart glasses that don't make you look like a total dork. The downside: Giving AI controlled by Meta access to everything you see.

Net neutrality: It's at the top of the FCC’s to-do list, the idea that all internet traffic should get equal treatment. In other words, your ISP shouldn't be allowed to speed up, slow down, or block what sites or services you access. That was the law of the internet until 2017, and the FCC chair has proposed reinstating it. I'll keep you updated.

🗞️ Hey, that's fake: Researchers say X’s feature to report misleading information has vanished. You can still report content based on other violations, like hate, abuse and harassment, and violent speech. X hasn't said anything official. Rough timing right before election season, Elon.

Artificial what? Researchers at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia are seeking approval for human clinical trials of what’s essentially an artificial womb. EXTEND, or the Extra-uterine Environment for Newborn Development, would be used to improve outcomes in extremely premature babies. Amazing stuff.

Sharing was caring: It seems Netflix was really on to something with that crackdown on password sharing. Disney+ is banning account sharing in Canada starting in November. If they're testing it there, you know it'll be in the U.S. soon.

Only in it for the lute: An SEO whiz spotted Google indexing links to shared Bard conversations in its search results. If you asked Bard something and shared the link with a pal, your convo with the bot might be there for all to see. Google says, “Oops, we’re fixing it.” (My words, not theirs.)

✈️ People act differently when they’re being recorded: The FAA warns filming someone having a meltdown or medical incident on a flight will probably make things worse. How? Some people want to be Insta-famous, so they act up on purpose. I bet rules for filming others are coming to a plane near you.

In my no-nonsense, straight-talking podcast, I serve up everything tech in digestible, fun-sized pieces. New to the tech scene? Or maybe you're a pro? Doesn't matter. I’ve got you covered.

👉 Get my podcasts today!

This is so cool, and it's happening this Sunday. ESPN and Disney are teaming up for a one-of-a-kind NFL experience.

While you've got your usual Falcons versus Jaguars action from London happening in Week 4 on ESPN+, local channels and the NFL+ mobile app, a new twist comes from the magical world of "Toy Story."

What's ‘Buzz’-ing?

Picture this: Inside Andy's room, every move of the Falcons and Jaguars gets animated with beloved "Toy Story" characters. Each play, tackle and touchdown happens right there in real time, transformed into the "Toy Story" universe using snazzy tech from the NFL's Next Gen Stats and Beyond Sports.

• On the mic: Drew Carter, Anthony “Booger” McFarland and 12-year-old star Pepper Persley will be the animated commentators, all brought to “life” using motion-capture tech.
• In the room: Apart from Woody and Buzz, expect appearances from Bo Peep, Rex, Jesse and other “Toy Story” faves.
• Halftime thrills: Duke Caboom's revving up for a motorcycle jump!

When and where to tune in

Toy Story Funday Football streams live on Oct. 1, 2023, at 9:30 a.m. ET/6:30 a.m. PT on Disney+ and ESPN+.

Missed it? No worries — replays will be up on Disney+ and NFL+ for a bit.

😂 I asked Rick Astley to lend me some Pixar movies. He said you can take “Cars,” you can take “Toy Story,” but I’m “Never gonna give you up.”

Depending on your hearing and the layout of your home, some sounds might get past you. Your phone can help by alerting you to noisy things like barking dogs, crying kids or broken glass.

Don’t rely on it to tell you if the baby is crying or to keep your dog safe, but it’s a nice fallback.

Turn on Sound Recognition on your iPhone:

• Go to Settings > Accessibility > Sound Recognition, then enable Sound Recognition by sliding the toggle to the right.
• Tap Sounds and turn on the sounds you want your phone to recognize.

Turn on Sound Notifications on your Android phone:

• Go to Settings > Accessibility > Sound Notifications.
• Tap Open Sound Notifications, then Turn on. You’ll need to allow permission to record audio.
• Tap the cog icon. You can choose what sounds you want to be notified of and how.

🚽 Did you hear the news? There was a break-in at the police station today and the toilet was stolen. The police have nothing to go on.

Every day, my team and I work hard for you. We scour the internet, talk to smart folks all around the world, and find those hidden tips and tricks to make your digital life better.

🙏🏻 Here’s another way to support our work, like this free newsletter. Join the Komando Community.

You not only get this free newsletter, but you'll also get my show as a commercial-free podcast and answers to your tech questions from my team of superstar IT geniuses.

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Oh, jumpin’ jack flash drive!

The answer: “Grand Valse.” During its peak popularity in the late ‘90s, the Nokia Tune was heard an astounding 1.8 billion times per day worldwide. That's about 20,000 times per second!

Thanks for being here. Have a beautiful weekend, catch my national radio show, and I’ll be back in your inbox Sunday! Be sure to rate this issue below. — Kim