Happy tech-licious Saturday, friend. Today’s brain teaser is a good one. San Francisco and Palo Alto used to be the nation’s top destinations for tech talent seeking big checks. But other U.S. cities are catching up. Which has the fastest-growing salaries in tech today? Is it … A.) Baltimore, B.) Austin, C.) Columbus or D.) San Antonio? Answer’s at the end!

📻 Listen up and do me a favor! The weekend means my national radio show is airing on over 420 stations all across the country. Now, I’d like you to do one thing: Find your local station on social media and tell them thank you for airing my show. Be sure to tag me, and I’ll pick one person on Monday to win a stylish, official $25 Kim Komando Show ball cap. Wahoo!

This is serious — your security is worth it. Free antivirus software can only do so much. That’s why it’s free. My pick, TotalAV, is only $19 for the first year. Peace of mind? Yes, please. It works on up to five of your (or your loved one’s) devices. Let’s get to it with tech tips to make your digital life better. — Kim

When you’re the tech-savvy friend, people ask for help. It comes with the territory. And who helps those people? Me!

Secret Windows restart trick

Frequent shutdowns can fix most computer issues, but you can try a Shift shutdown to close all processes and apps and clear the RAM completely.

• Hold down the Shift key before you hit restart.
• Keep holding it until your PC powers down, and choose Continue when it turns back on.

♻️ Did you know … Windows is more environmentally friendly than macOS? Windows puts your deleted files in the Recycle Bin; macOS just throws them in the Trash. (Bet you never thought of that before!)

Wipe your location from photos

Your phone stores metadata every time you take a picture, including the date you snapped the photo, your camera settings and even where you were located when the picture was taken. Yikes. Before you share a photo, send that data to the intergalactic bit bucket.

• On iPhone, open the image you want to share and tap the share button (square with an arrow pointing up). Next, select Options and toggle off Location.
• On Android, open your gallery, select the photo, then go to Details and click Remove location data.

Fix your phone’s call audio

Let’s say you’re on the phone with a pal, and your background is so noisy that your friend can’t hear you. Good news if you have an iPhone: There’s Voice Isolation mode.

• Place your call, and when your recipient picks up, swipe down from the top right of your screen to access the Control Center.
• You'll see a button labeled Mic Mode. Tap on it and choose Voice Isolation.

On a Samsung phone, open Settings > Sounds and vibration > Sound quality and effects. Here, you’ll see Adapt sound. You can customize this or choose a preset option. Super easy.

Have a newer Google Pixel? Go to Settings > Sound & vibration > Clear calling.

Remote in like an IT pro

I know how frustrating it can be to walk someone remotely through tech steps. Try Google’s Chrome Remote Desktop. Install the free browser extension on both your computer and the computer of someone you’re helping. When it’s time to remote in, go to the Remote Desktop site. Easy!

Opt out of ad tracking

Just say no to personalized advertising on your phone. This is the best tip on this list, don’t you think?

• On Phone, open Settings > Privacy & Security. Scroll down and tap Apple Advertising. Toggle left on the switch next to Personalized Ads.
• On Android, tap Settings > Google > Ads, and toggle the switch for Opt out of Ads Personalization.

🧻 Go ahead and share these tips to make yourself look like a genius — and a true genius, unlike the guy who invented one-ply toilet paper. I’d never shake his hand.

If you’re like me, you do nearly as much browsing and shopping on your phone as you do on your computer. That’s why I love TotalAV, my antivirus pick, which includes protection for up to five devices with just one subscription — including the cellphone you’re using most of the time.

Computer protection will only get you so far, and hackers are going after smartphones more than ever. Their tricks have gotten so good that some can infect your system without you even having to click a link or open anything.

That’s where TotalAV comes in. Just download their award-winning antivirus software on all your most-used devices — iPhone, Android, Windows and Mac — and you're protected. The phone app even includes easy ways to clear your browser history and cache. Sweet!

🤦🏼‍♀️ Heads-up, news hounds: Gone are the days of Googling a news story and picking your preferred news outlet to read it. Google’s AI will now read all news stories for you and give you one version it creates, complete with its own biases. Yup, Google’s AI once told me it couldn’t provide me with a Bible verse I’d requested because it was “controversial and against its policies.”

🤖 AI is coming to our military in a big way: Palantir's mixed-reality headsets let soldiers see the battlefield in 3D, while new software can spot hidden cargo ships in shipping lanes. Older weapons aren’t going anywhere, though — just getting more efficient.

Humans produce enough saliva to fill two swimming pools in their lifetimes: That’s a fact — and so is the fact 23andMe made billions promising disease prevention based on genetic testing from a saliva swab. Fast-forward and all we got was that your family came from Eastern Europe or wherever. In 2023, the company reported a $522 million loss. What goes around comes around.

🍏 The clock is ticking: Get your slice of Apple’s $35 million settlement. You’re eligible if you owned an iPhone 7 or 7 Plus between Sept. 16, 2016, and Jan. 3, 2023, and reported microphone or audio issues to Apple or you paid them for repairs or a replacement. Submit your claim by June 3, 2024. Payouts range from $50 up to $349.

⚙️ Shifting gears: Mercedes is scrapping the entire division that was working on a 750-mile range EV. They’re still making EVs, but they’re not selling well. You can snag one at a darn good price right now. Oh, and Hertz is dumping 30,000 of its Teslas, if you’re looking for a deal on one of those.

Old dog: Social media apps get new tricks all the time. Try these.

Butt out: Google, stop listening. Change this setting now.

This happens too often: Cyberstalking is easier than ever with today’s tech. Protect yourself.

Screentime = Zero: That’s how much Stacy Liberatore, my editor at the Daily Mail, gives her daughter. Listen to our convo here, starting at the 22-minute mark.

Dinner is served: For free, if you’re a mystery diner. Here’s how.

Stop trying to remember passwords: It’s a losing game. Keeper Security can do the dirty work for you, creating and keeping track of all your logins. It’s so much safer than just letting your browser do it. I don’t want Google to have all my passwords, just saying.

🛌 True story I have to share: A friend was having trouble with his teen son playing video games too much. He decided to take the door off the kid’s bedroom. When his son came home and asked what was going on, he told him, “Son, we’ve updated the privacy policy in our home.” Classic.

Secret customer service numbers: Head to this site to find the correct number to call. They list everything from airlines to theme parks to electronics. Let me tell you, you need to bookmark that website right now. Here are 15 more handy sites I’ve rounded up.

All signs point to yes: Want to find out if you’re a data breach victim at this very moment? Here's one option — and another. Type in your email address to check.

Find cheaper gas: Don’t get screwed by high gas prices on your next road trip. GasBuddy is a free app for iOS and Android that helps you find the cheapest price near you.

Mike wrote in to ask me for stud finder recommendations. I told him to look in the mirror. Then, I asked around and found three I can confidently recommend.

Old reliable: The price is steep (29% off, $52.95), but this one’s 13 sensors track stud locations and 13 LED lights show you the center and edges of your studs. It reads depths up to 1.6 inches and runs on two AA batteries.

Cheap: Find the edges of wood and metal studs with this no-frills model from Craftsman. It scans up to a 0.75-inch depth and requires a 9V battery (not included). It’s 9% off ($10.97).

Magnetic: Run this little guy ($11.95) along the wall, hit the metal stud, and pop! goes the super magnet. This is the one for me. Maybe for you, too?

Oh, the iron‑y!

The answer: D.) San Antonio. Austin was one of the original tech hubs, but now that the city’s cost of living is sky-high … not so much. Philadelphia is the second fastest-growing tech hub, followed by Orlando and Columbus. If you work in tech, now you know where to get the 💰.

😂 One for the road: When a group gathers to make fun of “Walker, Texas Ranger,” it's a Chuck roast.

Prices are out of control. That’s why I hunt for great deals on the tech you need to protect your digital life. For $19, TotalAV is your antivirus, antimalware and anti-hacker protection. Thanks for your support, and I’ll see you right back here tomorrow with a crazy story that impacts your wallet. — Kim