Hey, tech pal. How’s it going on this fine Wednesday? Let’s get to today’s trivia. The most popular game app of all time is Candy Crush. But what was the very first mobile game app? Was it … A.) Solitaire, B.) Bricks, C.) Snake or D.) Tetris?

Color me impressed. So many of you hopped over to the new Komando Reddit page! I don’t run it but def love that someone cooked this up as a place to hang out and talk to other Komando readers. Check it out if you haven’t already. Now, on to an important privacy tip just about everyone needs to read. Be a pal and pass it on! — Kim

In today's episode of "I always feel like somebody's watchin' me," our “close friend” Google is recording our voices. And, of course, they're being sneaky about it.

Yep, a hidden feature in your Google account is snatching up audio recordings from your web and app activity, interactions with digital assistants, and more.

Worry not, friend. I’m looking out for your security and privacy — because we all know Big Tech companies aren’t.

Who’d a thunk it?

Google says they're only listening in for commands and to boost marketing efforts (eye roll). But this breach of your privacy isn't an innocent one.

If a cybercriminal hacks into your Google account or smart devices, they can get their hands on your stored audio and voice data — and it's all downhill from there. We’re talking AI voice clones that can gain access to your sensitive accounts, scam your loved ones or worse.

Luckily, there's a way you can stop the madness. Here's how to block Google from eavesdropping.

Digital earmuffs

Google is smart, but we're smarter. Follow these steps to protect your privacy. It’s easy on your phone:

• Open the Google app on your smartphone.
• Click Manage Your Google Account and select the Data and Privacy tab, then scroll to History Settings.
• Select Web & App activity. You may notice a blue checkmark next to the voice and audio activity setting. Uncheck it.

Now, like magic, audio recordings from your interactions with Google Search, Assistant and Maps aren’t saved to your Google account. They won't get saved on Google's servers, either. Phew.

But this won't wipe any previously saved audio recordings. You'll have to take care of that separately. Here’s how.

Do not disturb

While you’re at it, check for other apps that might be listening in. Let’s start with iPhone:

• Open Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone.
• On the next screen, review the list of apps. Toggle the switch off to block an app from accessing your mic.

Got an Android? Follow these steps:

• Swipe down from the top of the screen to go to Settings.
• Tap the gear icon > Privacy > Permission Manager.
• Review the list and turn off anything you don’t want using your mic.

Phew. A few clicks and now you can rest a little easier. See, aren’t you glad you read this free newsletter?

👂 The other day, Barry looked at me and said, "You weren't even listening, were you?" And I thought, "Huh, that's a pretty weird way to start a conversation." (Was that a groan I heard?)

I have a new plant on my desk at work — a little pothos. I can’t let it sit there parched all weekend, so I went looking for a solution. Found some good ones!

Water pots: These ingenious little plastic pots ($13.99 for five) have a water reservoir at the bottom, a cotton wick that sucks up the water and a watering hole for top‑ups.

Electric: Be an indoor irrigator with this automatic watering system (40% off). This seemed like overkill for my little pothos, but maybe not for your indoor garden or a big plant!

Bulbs: Fill up these pretty hollow glass lollipops ($13.99 for two), flip ‘em over quickly, stab them into the soil, and your plant will slowly siphon out the water. This is the one I got!

🪟 Patch Tuesday: Updates for Windows 11 versions 23H2, 22H2 and 21H2 just dropped. Top of the list? A fix for that annoying bug that caused VPN connections to fail. Your PC should handle this update automatically, or go DIY if you’re feeling antsy: Start > Settings > Windows Update > Check for Updates.

Update your iPhone, too: iOS 17.5 is here and it’s a big one — 1.5GB, to be exact. What’s new? An offline mode for Apple News+ and a notification when an unknown Bluetooth device is traveling with you. And you can finally send your phone in for repairs without having to turn off Find My — nice! Hit Settings > General > Software Update, and tap Download and Install.

Tag, you're it: Watch out for tagged posts from random people on Facebook. You can’t stop the tags completely (thanks, FB), but you can turn on “tag review.” That lets you review tags before they’re posted to your feed. Go to your Profile > Settings & privacy > Settings > Privacy > Profile and Tagging > Review tags. Hope you like Whac‑A‑Mole. 

🌾 Mow problems: Honda is recalling lawnmowers and pressure washers after nearly 5,000 reports of failures and 38 injuries. That means you if you have a model HRN216 or HRX217K6 lawnmower and/or a GCV170 or GCV200 G5B power washer. Stop using it immediately, then call Honda toll-free at 888‑888‑3139 for a free inspection and repair.

🤳 You do you, boo: Women on Reddit are asking guys to rate their nudes. Whether it's just for the thrill or an honest opinion, r/RateMyNudeBody enforces strict rules — no insults, nothing "overly sexy." FYI: Men can upload theirs, too, but they typically don’t get as many comments. Ya think?

Put down the phone: People with psychopathic traits are more likely to use their phones while driving. Why? They just feel less guilty about it. A study also found these folks have likely racked up at least one traffic offense within the past year. Zoom‑zoom!

🍗 Free nugs: Get six free chicken nuggets from Wendy’s every Wednesday for the rest of the year. What’s the catch? You need to sign up for Wendy’s Rewards and buy something on hump day through their mobile app (iOS and Android).

Between a rock and a creeper: A family in Southern California found a camera disguised as a rock pointed at their home. Footage showed the scooter-riding culprit planting it — while wearing garden gloves and a motorbike helmet. Theories range from someone casing their house for a burglary (or worse) to someone trying to watch the family’s kids walking home from school. Scary.

Just the facts, ma’am: Consensus is an AI search engine for finding gems in research papers. A free account includes unlimited searches. Neat!

Looking for a specific part in a YouTube video? Frustration no more! In the phone app, swipe up to see the vid frame by frame. You can look for exactly what you want. Lift your finger to play from there. On a desktop, hover your mouse over the video timeline to see each frame.

Screen cleaning 101: Don’t use paper towels or tissues that scratch and leave behind particles. Use a damp microfiber cloth with a small amount of rubbing alcohol, or if you have a 100% cotton cloth, that works, too. Here’s an affordable pack of reusable microfiber cloths I’ve purchased a few times.

What are you doing in there? Open the Google Maps app and tap your profile. Tap Location sharing. If you’re sharing your location with anyone, you’ll see their names here. Tap a profile, then tap Stop to quit sharing with them.

🛫 Get me outta here: Sharing this again because I always get a hearty "Thank you!" from someone who saved money on a flight. Based on average round-trip ticket prices, you can save up to 15% when you book on a Sunday. The cheapest day of the week to travel is Wednesday.

In every place I’ve lived, a security system is a must. It’s super easy to configure the best system for your home in just a few clicks.

Take SimpliSafe’s helpful quiz to find out exactly what you need to protect your home. Then, you can order everything online and install it yourself — or SimpliSafe will send out a pro to do it for you if you’d rather someone else handle that part.

• Professional monitoring for under $1 a day, with the first month free.
• No contracts and no cancellation fees.
• No risk — Get a 60-day money-back guarantee with free return shipping.

You don’t need to live in fear. Take advantage of this limited-time deal.

The person who invented autocorrect walks into a barn. He orders a bear.

The answer: C.) Snake was the first phone game app ever. Back in 1997, it was included on the Nokia 6110. I can still hear that phone’s ringtone, which, as we know from Wikipedia, was from Spanish classical guitar player Francisco Tárrega's “Gran Vals” in A major.

🫡 One for the road: The phone rings, and the dad asks his son, “What does the caller ID say?” Son: “It's a private caller.” Dad: “Don't answer that. We only pick up for lieutenant callers and higher ranks in this house.”

Thanks for reading, my friend. Tomorrow, I’ll be back in your inbox with smart ways to avoid all those extra hidden fees when you buy things online. Until then, glad you’re here with me on this tech journey. Stay awesome! — Kim