A beautiful Sunday is here, friends! Let’s start with our trivia. How does the cost of printer ink measure up against other liquids? Is it … A.) More expensive than a gallon of luxury perfume, B.) Roughly the same price as a gallon of milk, C.) Less than olive oil per gallon or D.) More expensive than vintage wine per gallon? You’ll find the answer at the end.

🥰 Do your part to keep this newsletter totally free to you by checking out today’s sponsor, RYSE. They’re a game-changer in the smart home biz. Now, on to increasing your tech-savviness! — Kim

I saw this coming. I’ve been warning about the shopping app Temu since April, when its sister app, Pinduoduo, was caught planting malware. It was spying on other apps, reading notifications and messages, and even changing users’ settings.

Back then, the U.S. government accused Temu of data risks … and now the lawsuits are here. A class-action filed in Illinois says the Chinese app collects more info than it needs — and more than it discloses.

Why in the world are people still using it? The deals, of course!

On a slow boat from China

An HD Wi‑Fi security cam for $6.98. An Android fitness watch for $8.38. A $7.99 wedding dress feels like bad vibes, with even the cake in tiers.

In exchange for those cheap goods and prices, Temu makes money with your data. The app requests 24 permissions on your device, including access to your Wi‑Fi network info, Bluetooth, photos and videos, contact info, and payment details. Yikes.

What about the website?

If the app is off-limits, is the website safe to use? Sorry, but no. You’re still handing over (at a minimum) your full name, physical address, phone number, email address and payment details.

The more permissions an app requests …

… the more you should consider whether it’s truly worth having. Think about all you do on your phone: Have private conversations with friends, log into your banking app, type in passwords, enter your credit card info and so much more.

🦺 Keep these security smarts in mind before you hit “install” on Temu:

✅ It’s hard to tell what’s legit and what you should avoid. I’ve got your back. I compiled a list of Communist China-based apps you should get off your phone now.

Use the links below to share this with family and friends who don’t see the big deal.

Venture capitalists know how difficult it is to spot promising early investment opportunities.

Even the all-knowing Sharks from “Shark Tank” passed on buying 10% of Ring for $700,000 — a decision they would regret when Amazon acquired Ring for $10M! What made Ring blow up and change doorbells forever? Retail distribution.

You’ve heard me talk about RYSE and their deal to launch in 100+ Best Buy stores. But did you know they pitched on Canada’s “Shark Tank” and received two offers?

Exits in the smart home industry have shown to yield massive returns for early investors (look at Ring and Nest's billion-dollar acquisitions) and the Sharks think they’ve spotted a winner in RYSE.

🦈 Making waves at 82: Forget retirement. Bob Legg grabbed the “Shark Tank” spotlight with the Krapp Strapp, a weatherproof strap designed to make relieving yourself outdoors easier. The 400-pound-friendly innovation reeled in a five-figure deal with Lori Greiner and Daymond John. Who knew the deuce could be so lucrative?

Fake AirPods unmasked: Lumafield’s CT scans expose knockoffs that mirror Apple’s iconic style but cut corners internally — think shoddy wiring, missing magnets and puny batteries. Brace yourself if you buy cheapies: Beneath the surface lies not a symphony but a comedy of deception.

⚠️ Attention Gmail users: Google’s account-deletion spree hits in December. If your Gmail, Docs, Drive, Calendar or Photos accounts haven’t seen action for two years, they’re at risk. Why the purge? Google says inactive accounts are prime targets for criminals. You should see a notification before anything is wiped out, so log in pronto!

LinkedIn upgrade: A recruiter says to stand out on the job site, upload your resume (go to Jobs > Application settings) and select “yes” to Share your resume data with recruits. Fill out your entire career history and add as much as possible to the “Skills” section. If you’re hiring, use my link to post a job for free.*

🚀 Vision quest: NYU surgeons performed the world’s first whole-eye transplant for injured veteran Aaron James. Six months in, the transplanted eye has well-functioning blood vessels and a promising retina. He can't see yet, and only time will tell if communication between the eye and his brain occurs. Wouldn’t that be just incredible?

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.

Choose your platform below to listen:

Be the James Bond of Windows: There’s a secret version of the Start menu. Hold down the Windows key and click the letter X, and you’ll access an advanced menu with Device Manager, Task Manager and Disk Management options. You can also right-click on the Start button to access this menu.

🎁 Don’t spoil it, Alexa: Before buying holiday gifts on Amazon, make sure your Echo devices won’t alert everyone in the house about what you purchased.

You’re wasting money: I know because I was, too. I was paying for subscriptions I totally forgot about and never used. Rocket Money* finds everything you’re paying for, searches for lower rates and cancels what you don’t use. No kidding, I saved $456.76 in 5 minutes. Try it and let me know how much you save.

Every week, I get to talk with interesting folks and those who could use a little help with something tech. Catch these convos this weekend on a station near you or as a podcast.

(Psst, I keep getting requests for The Kim Komando Show merch. Grab your very own fanny pack, tote, hoodie or earbuds case!)

Plus, Aimee asked about burner phones for travel, Ken questioned Big Tech’s AR/VR obsession, Katie wanted the scoop on Apple Watch health features, Steve wanted better budgeting software and much more!

Shop: Get in the holiday spirit. I love this fun reindeer doormat. This 2-foot pre-lit Christmas tree is sweet. And a great throw blanket is perfect for watching holiday movies!

Cook: Bake something delicious to have with your morning coffee this week, like pumpkin bread.

Watch: If you’re in the rom-com mood, I’ve heard great things about “No Hard Feelings” on Netflix with Jennifer Lawrence.

I’ll drink to that!

The answer: A.) More expensive than a gallon of luxury perfume. Printer ink is around $10,220 per gallon, far exceeding luxury perfume, which goes for about $7,570 per gallon. I know — oh, sheet!

🌅 Don’t forget to help keep this newsletter free and click the link to today’s sponsor. RYSE is changing the smart shade game, and you can be one of their investors. See ya tomorrow bright and early with the best tech newsletter in the USA! — Kim