Hi, hi, it’s Saturday, my friend! Trivia time to start us off. When you set up your iPhone, invisible dots create a detailed map of your face so you can open your phone by looking at it. How many dots are used to map a face? Is it … A.) 7,500, B.) 18,000, C.) 30,000 or D.) 50,000? You’ll find the answer at the end of this newsletter.

Do yourself a favor. Incogni removed my personal info from 257 data-broker and people-search sites — and I haven't gotten a single spam call or text since I signed up. Total win. I’ll share more about them below. But first, some tech goodness for your digital life! — Kim

Google Workspace and Microsoft Office are built for productivity, and they work even better when you really know what you’re doing. Below are a handful of the best tricks I've picked up from years of using this software. Maybe they can unlock some extra time in your day.

🖌️ Copy and paste formatting: You picked the perfect font, size and spacing. Now copy that all over your document (or spreadsheet or presentation). Select the text and click the paint roller icon in the toolbar. Click and drag over the text you want to transform. Voila!

Roll it back: Three people and 12 versions later, you’re totally lost editing a Google Doc. Retrace your steps by opening File > Version history > See version history. Choose a time on the right, and you’ll see who did what (and when!). On the flip side, unless you save the doc as a new one with a different filename, everyone gets to see your edits.

📣 Tell it like it is: Dictate text instead of typing to save time or give your wrists a break. You don’t need to buy anything new; it’s all built in. In a Google Docs document, open Tools > choose Voice typing. In Word, go to Home > Dictate. FYI, you can use commands like "period" and "comma" for punctuation and "new paragraph" and "new line" for formatting.

Cut out the distractions: Here’s a Word trick to focus on your text and nothing else. Open the View tab on the menu, then click Focus. Presto, everything except the document vanishes and you're in a full-screen view. Move the cursor to the top of the screen or hit Esc when you're ready to be distracted again.

🖼️ Freeze frame: In Excel, it helps to keep your column and row headings stuck in place while you scroll around big spreadsheets. Select the cell where the actual data starts, and then click the View menu > Freeze Panes.

Sharing is caring: This one’s perfect for when you want to share a Google Doc as a template but you don’t want other people messing around in your file. Click Share, then change the link settings to Anyone with the link and choose Editor. Before you hit "Send," replace the text in the URL that says “edit” with “template/preview.” It’ll force recipients to make their own copies and edits, leaving your original under your full control. So smart!

🤔 What's that word again? In Word and Docs, right-click on a word and choose Define to find out what it means. You can even get guidance on pronunciation. Just do this before your big presentation, OK?

Now, to whoever stole my copy of Microsoft Office, I will find you. You have my Word. (That was a good one!)

I’ve told you about Incogni and all the ways they protect your privacy. I got this nice note from Donald about his experience:

“You are on point in regards to Incogni. Robocalls, spam texts, etc., have all but disappeared from my PC and phone. Additionally, frequent advisement from Incogni as to how many sites I have been cleared from is very encouraging.”

Donald has seen firsthand just how great Incogni is for online privacy and identity protection, and so have I. It takes just a few minutes to set up an account, and then they get to work removing you from data-broker sites and people-search databases. They make a complicated process to do on your own so easy.

🔒 They’ll thank you later: Identity theft for kids under 19 is skyrocketing. Parents, create and lock or freeze your children’s credit ASAP so thieves can’t use their info for loans or credit cards. When they’re older, you can help them unfreeze it.

Mac attack: "Cthulhu Stealer" is infecting Macs, disguising itself as popular apps like CleanMyMac and Grand Theft Auto IV. It swipes passwords, crypto wallets and anything else it can find. Only download apps from the official App Store — “free” download sites spread this junk.

You can’t spell cache without ache: (That was for my coders in the crowd!) In a leaked recording, the Amazon Web Services CEO said because of AI, programmers and developers won’t be coding much in one to two years. A great developer's role will focus on the “most innovative work.”

It’s Pelo-time to go outside: Peloton is slapping a $95 activation fee on second-hand bikes, treadmills and rowers. This fee doesn’t apply to refurbished machines bought directly from Peloton or third-party partners. Something to keep in mind if you’re shopping or selling online.

Giving up Control: Microsoft is axing the Windows Control Panel. Soon, you’ll find all the options in the Settings app. They’ve been threatening to do this since 2011, so it’s about time. RIP, Control Panel … we old-school nerds will miss you.

🩺 Fight against cancer: A 67-year-old received the world’s first lung cancer vaccine in a clinical trial. The vaccine, BNT116, activates the immune system to recognize and fight specific cancer cells. So different from chemotherapy, which damages both bad and healthy cells. Rooting for this. I hate cancer.

Slang lesson of the day: Gen Alpha (those born since 2010) is tossing around the word “Ohio,” and it’s got zilch to do with the state. They’re using it to call out something weird, cringey or random (paywall link). Spot a lawnmower on the freeway? “Only in Ohio.” Rock a polka dot and stripes combo? “You’re so Ohio.” Mew.

🤝 I want to be your secret helper and mentor: I’ve been around tech forever. My business has thrived for over 20 years without any debt or investors, and I continue to innovate or else I might evaporate. I’m a mom and have been a caregiver. If you have an issue, problem or question about your life or business, I would love to help you. Ask me your questions here on my site. I read every single note.

Instead of spending a fortune at the dentist, upgrade your toothpaste to one that whitens.

• Crest 3D White Advanced starts removing surface stains after just one use.
• Purple toothpaste counteracts yellow for instant razzle-dazzle with no sensitivity.
• Colgate Optic White Pro includes 5% hydrogen peroxide for super-quick results.
• This Burt’s Bees option is fluoride-free if that’s your preference.
• Tom’s of Maine includes nothing artificial (preservatives, colors or flavors) and is not tested on animals.

📄 Talk data to me: OpenAI paid users can upload a mountain of PDFs, data files and images. It will spit out a full analysis in moments — something that might take a human team months. It’ll even answer questions and generate charts, too.

Airplane mode for the movies: Wear an Apple Watch? Theater mode silences your notifications when you don’t want your watch to light up or make a sound. Swipe up from your control center and tap on the Theater mode button (it looks like a happy face and a sad face side by side).

👂 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.*

Permission revoked: Can't remember which permissions you've given to which apps on your Android phone or tablet? There's an easy way to check. From Settings, tap Security and privacy > Privacy > Permission manager.

See if your genius idea already exists: Google Patents has the full text of more than 120 million patents from around the world. Weird patent of the day: This one from Russia for fake cheese.

Haven’t been to the library in a while. How Dewey find the books again?

The answer: C.) 30,000 dots. Each scan completed in milliseconds converts your facial dot pattern into a mathematical model. This lets you open your phone with sunglasses or a mask. Pretty amazing, right?

Before you go: For years, I’ve been removing myself from people-search databases manually. So much work and I barely made a dent. That’s why I’m glad I let Incogni do all the work for me. Use code KIM60 to try it yourself for 60% off. You’ll be happy you did — just like I am!

📻 See you on the radio: Find your local station or hit this link to open The Kim Komando Show as a podcast on your favorite player.

I’ll be back here tomorrow with another issue of the best tech newsletter in the USA. Until then, stay your awesome self! — Kim