Say hello, hi and howdy to a tech-utopia Thursday, friend. Let’s start with some nerdy word trivia. What does a sphygmomanometer measure? Is it … A.) Ocean waves, B.) Humidity, C.) Blood pressure or D.) Bird vocal range? Answer’s at the end!

🚀 Welcome aboard the Komando spaceship. I’m proud to say no algorithms do the heavy lifting here. I handpick every single item in these newsletters so you’re not left behind. Come on and hang out at the space bar with me by your side! — Kim

My inbox is flooded with folks asking about an email they got from the Social Security Administration. I mentioned it earlier this week, and, nope, it’s not a scam — it’s legit. But this change is big enough that we need to spend more time talking about it.

Social Security scoop

The new home for all things Social Security online is Login.gov. The idea was to make signing in easier, but they also needed to comply with federal authentication standards.

Even if you don't collect welfare checks or SSA retirement benefits, it's worth updating your account. This way, it’s easy to order a replacement Social Security card, estimate your future retirement benefits, and say what benefits you want and when.

If you already have a Login⁠.⁠gov or ID.me account, you're good to go.

If you registered for a my Social Security online account before Sept. 18, 2021, do this:

• Go to SSA.gov and sign in with your existing credentials. You'll be prompted to change over to Login⁠.⁠gov.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to create a Login⁠.⁠gov account. At the end, you'll receive a confirmation screen.
• Log in and access your account. That’s it!

Keep it extra secure

The new process requires a password and two-factor authentication. Yes! The government recommends biometrics like face or touch unlock or an authenticator app.

An authenticator app generates six-digit codes every 30 seconds or so, replacing texts that send you a one-time login. There are lots of options, but I use Google Authenticator (Android and iOS).

Here's how to make an authenticator app work with Login⁠.⁠gov:

• Download and install an authenticator app on your phone.
• Open your computer’s browser and sign into your Login⁠.⁠gov account at https://secure.login.gov.
• Select Enable next to Authentication app. Follow the instructions to scan or enter a code to link your authentication app to your account.

Just follow the steps on your screen, and you’ll be sitting pretty.

🤗 Now, let’s all be nice humans and pass this along to someone who could use it. I’m sure you know at least one person who’s feeling totally confused by this switch or knows nothing about it.

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.

🚨 Hide and C:/Seek: Hackers grabbed the personal info of more than 400,000 Life360 users, including names, phone numbers, emails and more. Life360’s location-sharing app is used primarily to help parents keep an eye on their kids. More bad news: Life360 owns tracker company Tile, which hackers also breached, nabbing not only personal info, but also device IDs. Don't wait to change your passwords, and be on alert for phishing, phone and texting scams.

An 82-year-old woman almost lost $3 million in a gold bar scam: First, she was swindled out of nearly $1 million of her life savings. A pop-up ad on her PC scared her into calling a fake federal agent. The “agent” said her money was in danger and would only be safe if she converted it to gold. Good news: Just as she was ready to hand over another $2 million in gold bars, they caught the 19-year-old scum behind this.

🍔 Manipulation marketing: A study shows junk food is promoted online and in video games to appeal specifically to parents, children and young men. Fast-food chains tell moms they’ll save time spent cooking and keep kids quiet. Kids like the commercial’s characters. As for young guys? Special app-only deals with free delivery.

Elon’s smiling: The Tesla Cybertruck is now the bestselling electric truck in America, dethroning Ford's F‑150 Lightning. There were 3,907 Cybertrucks registered in May, compared to 2,353 F‑150s. Chopping fingers aside, it looks like folks don’t mind paying that $100,000 price tag after all.

Reading for dummies: A new app, Magibook AI, says it simplifies classic books using AI. Really, it strips away the original text and creates something lame. Case in point: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” becomes “It was a time when things were very good and very bad.” FYI: The app's website was flagged for security for me, so I’m not passing it along.

🎾 My pickleball skills are kind of a big dill: Pickleball, the fastest-growing sport in the United States, is now a video game. PPA Pickleball Tour 2025 is available on Xbox, PlayStation and Steam. No word yet on whether the video game helps your real game.

🎵 Work hack? Studies show surgeons work faster and more accurately when listening to classical music. For those of us not in the operating room, the best tunes are those that put you in a better mood. The three most popular tracks on work-related Spotify lists: “Drops of Jupiter” (Train), “Dreams” (Fleetwood Mac) and “Don’t Stop Believin’” (Journey). Did I just hear you humming a tune?

TikTok double-take: YouTube Shorts has copied yet another TikTok feature: AI voice-overs. Now, when you write video captions, you’ll see an option to add a voice. And if TikTok gets banned in the U.S. because of its ties to Communist China? YouTube’s ready to capitalize.

App intrusion: Stop apps from listening by turning off access to the mic. On iPhone, open Settings > Privacy & Security. Locate the menu labeled Microphone and tap it. Find the app you want to turn off the mic for and toggle off its switch. Steps for Android here.

⚡️ Check how much you’re paying: Everywhere you turn, it’s a buck or more a month here and there. Check your subscriptions for increases with what I use: Rocket Money.*

Wonder if an app is safe? Some 98% of kids’ education apps share data with third-party advertisers. AppMicroscope.org sifted through almost 1,800 apps to let you know which ones are good or bad for privacy.

🏡 It’s on the house: Want to sell your home faster? Send in the drones! A study shows drone photos can speed up sales by 68%. Bonus: Listings with videos get 403% more inquiries.

Just how I like my house before the weekend!

• Cleanup is so much easier with a microfiber mop with a built-in spray bottle (33% off).
• You can never have too many microfiber cloths. This 12-pack is 51% off.
• Silicone kitchen utensils won’t scrape your pots and pans (20% off).
• Grab an air fryer to make crispy food without the extra oil (23% off).
• Grab a handheld Dustbuster to remove pet hair, dirt and junk from just about any surface (20% off).

It looks like she’s bread y to go!

The answer: C.) Blood pressure. The name "sphygmomanometer" is derived from the Greek words "sphygmos," meaning "pulse," and "manometer," meaning "pressure meter." Use that the next time you go to the doctor, and I bet they’ll smile.

😂 Ya know, my poor knowledge of Greek mythology has always been my Achilles' elbow. (Oof, even I groaned at that one.)

Have a question you’d like to ask me? Reply to this email or drop me a line here. I read every single note you send. Thank you for letting me in your inbox, and I’ll see you tomorrow with another issue of the best tech newsletter in the USA! — Kim