Hello to a sensational Sunday, friend! Today’s trivia is a toughie, so you’d better put on the ol’ thinking cap. What percentage of homes in the USA have at least one security device? Is it … A.) 39%, B.) 43%, C.) 72% or D.) 91%? Take your best guess — the answer’s at the end!

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Smart speakers tell you the weather, play music, answer trivia questions, help you prank your spouse (more on that at the end), and they just might save your life one day.

Make sure you know these commands to get help in an emergency by heart. Be a pal and tell your friends and family members about them, too.

Let’s start with the most popular

Amazon’s Echo line of smart speakers and voice assistant Alexa cannot call 911 for you. They won't reliably report your location and don't offer a callback number, so they don't meet the standard requirements. You have two options:

1. Set up an emergency contact to get notified if something is wrong. In the Alexa app on your phone, tap More > Communicate, then tap the two-person icon (top right). This takes you to your “Contacts” screen. Here, tap the three-dot icon at the top right, then tap Emergency Contact to pick one. Now, to use this feature, just say, “Alexa, call for help” or “Alexa, call my emergency contact.”
2. Pay for it. Alexa’s Emergency Assist plan costs $5.99 a month or $59 for a year if you have a Prime membership. Add up to 25 emergency contacts, and it’ll put you through to an agent who can call emergency services for you. The command is the same: “Alexa, call for help.”

If you’re in the Google‑verse

Google Nest speakers don't let you specify an emergency contact, but you can call anyone in your Google Contacts list.

• From the Google Home app on your phone, tap the gear icon, then Communication > Video & Voice Apps to make sure everything's set up. You can then just say, "Hey, Google, call [name of the person you want to speak to].”

With Nest Aware ($8 a month or $80 a year), you’ll get direct 911 access, but the feature’s really designed to serve more as a security system for when you're out.

• In your Google Home app, tap the gear icon, then Subscriptions > Nest Aware > Emergency calling.
• You can then reach 911 from any speaker screen in the app. Tap the three-lined menu button (top left) > E911 > Call Emergency Services.

And if you’re an Apple person …

You can tell the Apple HomePod, "Hey, Siri, call 911." Here’s the caveat: The speaker must be connected to an iPhone for this feature to work. If the HomePod can't find the iPhone used to set it up, it'll look for any other iPhones on the same Wi‑Fi network to do the job.

Now that we have the serious stuff out of the way, a prank

Say, “Hey, Alexa, speaker slower,” while no one’s around, then give it the same command again. Enjoy watching the rest of your household wonder what the heck is wrong with Alexa. Say, “Alexa, speak at your default rate” to return to normal.

My fave Alexa prank of all time is training it to respond to specific questions a certain way:

• When my husband, Barry, asks Alexa about the weather outside our home in Santa Barbara, she says, “Look out the window. You live in a glass house.”
• I told my son, Ian, to ask Alexa, “Who’s the best mom in the world?” Alexa now replies, “I would say Mother Theresa, but, in looking at traditional mothers, there is no doubt that person is Kim Komando. Now, go empty the dishwasher.”

🫶 Take a minute to think about how far we’ve come. Today’s top story is a great example of how tech can literally save your life — if you know how to adjust those settings. Do the people you care about a favor and pass this along.

Imagine waking up in the middle of the night to an intruder in your home. A burglary happens every 30 seconds in the U.S., and homes without a security system are three times more likely to be targeted.

✅ Right now, get 50% off and get a free indoor camera when you buy a SimpliSafe system.

Here’s why you need SimpliSafe:

• Peace of mind 24/7: Professionally monitored security to protect your home and loved ones day and night, with agents who can help stop intruders in real time.
• Easy to use: Set it up yourself in no time, or have it professionally installed. Either way, support is a phone call away.
• No contracts: Unlike the other guys, there’s no long-term commitment or hidden fees.
• Built-in backup systems: Stay secure even during power outages or internet disruptions.
• Comprehensive protection: From break-ins to fires and floods, safeguard your home with sensors and cameras designed to meet your unique needs​.

🚨 Watch out for election hallucinations: Cybercriminals are using ChatGPT to influence the upcoming U.S. elections, whipping up fake articles and misleading comments. OpenAI says, “Whoa, whoa, whoa, none of it has gone viral or built a real audience.” Yeah, right. Facebook is practically drowning in AI-generated clickbait crap.

Sucking up dirt: A prankster is targeting Chinese-made robot vacuums inside American homes. A Minnesota lawyer’s Ecovacs Deebot X2 app showed someone accessing the live camera feed, then racial slurs and a few f‑bombs blasted through the speaker. In Los Angeles, another vacuum chased an owner's dog. Ecovacs says to change your password. I say you should do a factory reset and toss your Ecovacs. This Roomba is on sale.

💔 It’s not you; it’s me: Apple iOS 18 will now summarize your texts. A guy is going viral on X after receiving this summarization following an argument in a bar with his girlfriend: "No longer in a relationship; wants belongings from the apartment." Hey, at least it didn’t beat around the bush.

This trend is going to take off: Competitive short takeoff and landing, aka STOL, looks like a lot of fun. It’s one of aviation’s fastest-growing sports, thanks, in part, to Microsoft Flight Simulator. Watch how it works here. I’d love to try this!

Meta’s new AI tool jams: If you run ads on Facebook or Instagram, you can now turn still images into videos. I like this example: A simple jar of strawberry jam upgraded with floating, animated strawberries. The feature is live but not for everyone yet.

This is a crazy story: A jaguar cub spent the first few months of its life passed between an OnlyFans model and drug dealers. The adult creator rented him out for $1,000 an hour for photo ops, then sold him for $25,000. The full story is a long one that’s worth reading. Spoiler: The cub eventually found a forever home at a sanctuary in California, thank goodness.

💣 War drones need specially trained operators: Well, they did. The U.S. Marine Corps is testing a new AI-powered strike drone. Select any target, and Bolt‑M follows autonomously, even if it loses connection. To attack, choose the direction, angle and height, and it does the rest. Just … wow.

Substitute student: A new robot, AV1, helps sick kids stay on track. The little guy acts as their eyes, ears and voice, complete with a rotating camera, mic and speaker, all controlled via an app. It even has a “raise hand” feature and emoji eyes. It’s just under $5,000 (plus $1,000 a year in fees). Give it a year, and it’ll be half that price.

• A handy hanging rack (20% off!) for sweaters that just can’t go in the dryer. Speaking of sweaters, if you’re looking to update your fall wardrobe, these $50 washable cashmere sweaters are amazing.*
• This is genius: Fluffy insoles ($13 or $20 for two pairs) that can turn any shoe into wannabe UGGs.
• Make this the year you deal with that drafty door. This popular stopper is 29% off. It’ll be more expensive once it’s cold out!
• A classy candle warmer (26% off) so you don’t have to remember to blow out that wick at night.
• Friendly reminder to burn a chimney-cleaning fire log before starting that first real fire of the season.

Zoom’s post-pandemic Hail Mary: Now that many folks are back in the office, Zoom wants to stay relevant. Their new AI Companion 2.0 has an avatar that can talk for you and adds a panel in all your meetings with notes about previous convos, plus related emails, calendar items and uploads. If it works, it sounds pretty sweet.

🛑 Step away from Netflix: It’s easier when it doesn’t autoplay the next episode of a show you're watching. On the web, click your profile picture and Manage Profiles. Click your profile picture again, then uncheck Autoplay next episode in a series on all devices.

I’m a health nut: But some nutrients are hard to get in the right amounts without high-quality supplements. Magnesium Breakthrough from BIOptimizers combines all seven kinds of magnesium. I use magnesium for better sleep. Use this link and code KK10 to get an additional 10% off.*

⛈️ Tell me the weather: Type "weather" into the address bar at the top of Chrome on the desktop to see a mini forecast — you don't even need to hit Enter. Want to see the conditions somewhere else? Just add a place name after "weather."

Leave the oversharing to your aunt on Facebook: Some apps share your data with other people, not just advertisers. This includes big names like Google Maps and Venmo. Here’s how to change the privacy settings. (I wish I had room for all the steps here!)

• Lauren Albrecht in Miami was about to close a deal on a vacant lot but felt weird about it. She set up a video call to confront the seller. Spoiler: Her instincts were spot on.
• John in Portland, Oregon, wants to self-publish his memoir on Amazon. It’s about a girl he saw for a few seconds who came back into his life years later. Total heart‑melter!
• Doug in Chicago works from home and wonders just how much his boss can see on his PC. Is he giving away the whole kit and caboodle?

Plus, Mike preserves his family history, Katie finds a way to contact someone without cell service, Greg records online classes, John talks about pig-butchering scams, Joan asks about Temu dangers and so much more!

🙋🏻 Ask me: Whether it’s help with your business or something digital, I want to be your go-to. Drop your questions here. I read every single one.

Stargaze: Here’s how to find the 10 brightest stars in the sky.

Snuggle: On the couch with a cozy blanket. This one’s a lot like the Barefoot Dreams blanket that costs $150, but for $32.

🍅 Simmer: A pot of soup. Lots of healthy, yummy recipes here. I want to make the roasted red pepper tomato soup. Yum.

Smile: Here’s how to take the perfect profile pic for social media.

Find your next superstar employee: I’ve had the best luck on LinkedIn. Use my link to post a job for free.*

The answer: C.) 72% of homes have at least one home security device. Get this: 83% of burglars check if there’s an alarm before they attempt a break-in, and 60% rule out a house with an alarm system immediately.

🔒 You know what those numbers tell me? You need a solid, honest-to-goodness home security system. With my pick, SimpliSafe, you’ll have no long-term contracts or annoying extra fees. Use my link to get up to 50% off and a free camera, too. This sale won’t last long!

Don’t forget to get your free e-book: My new one is packed with 50 stellar AI prompts. Get it free when you refer my newsletter to a pal. Scroll down here and use your unique referral link. Have a fantastic Sunday, and I’ll be back in your inbox tomorrow with the best tech newsletter in the USA! — Kim