It’s the last Sunday in June! Let’s kick things off with trivia. In 2015, what everyday object was banned from many music festivals and museums for and copyright concerns? Was it … cellphones, Bluetooth speakers, selfie sticks or digital cameras? Answer’s at the end, friends.

Prepare yourself for an enlightening read about the tech universe. No algorithms here — just the right amount to keep you in the game and ahead of scammers. Let’s get started! — Kim

Honestly, I’m glad I never got sucked into TikTok. I don’t need one more thing on my phone begging for attention. But I get that some of you want to use it, or your kids do. 

The problem, of course, is that TikTok sends your data back to its parent company, ByteDance, based in Communist China. That includes your searches and browsing history, facial ID, voice prints, texts, locations and even photos.

Is there a way around it? Yep, if you’re willing to put in a little work.

Browsing TikTok on the web won’t cut it

There’s still a significant amount of tracking there. Your best bet is buying a low-cost smartphone, aka a burner phone. A super basic, cheap Android phone also works just fine.

Turn on the phone and set it up, but here’s the trick: Don’t link it to any of your primary accounts.

Start fresh

Do not log into your Google account, Apple ID, company email, personal email or anything else on your new device. Certainly don’t give it access to any sensitive personal or financial information.

Create a new email account just for this phone — and your TikTok account. That way, even if TikTok (or any other app) collects data from your device, it won’t be tied to your actual personal information.

Connect the burner phone to your home’s Wi-Fi so you don’t need to purchase a cellular data plan. Most routers allow you to enable a “Guest Network” option. Definitely use that and not your main network. You’ve gotta be smart, folks.

✅ Need help setting that up? I’ve got your back.

Sound like a tech pro, even if you're not one. Try my award-winning, daily podcast. Search for my last name with "K" wherever you get your podcasts and "Go Komando!"

Listen to my podcast, Kim Komando Today, here.

Another week and another great group of folks chatting with me this weekend on my national radio show. Tune in to hear my convos with:

• Kate Kleinert, who lost her husband to cancer, her home to fire and then her savings to a scammer who charmed her into handing over nearly $40,000.
• Ron from Caldwell, Idaho, who’s looking for the best app to identify plants and help keep them healthy. I found some winners!
• Jason Crawford from Atlanta, Georgia, who sued Facebook after losing his account and actually won.

I also helped Kimberle use TikTok safely, Fran upgrade her smart home, Ken set up home-based cloud storage, Sammy transcribe a friend’s life story from French to English, Leena stop a stalker ex, Julie buy a privacy-focused computer with no Big Tech ties, and more.

✅ Don’t miss it! Find me on your local radio station or listen now in the Komando Community. If you don’t mind waiting for shows to appear, get the podcast, Kim Komando Today.

🤗 Need my help, friend? Shoot me a note.

Whether you're looking to wear your tech pride on your sleeve with a sleek polo shirt or funny T-shirt, or you're on the hunt for the perfect tech accessory, like a phone case, we've got you covered! And don't forget about our hats, travel mugs and coffee mugs for the perfect blend of style and function.

I also have backpacks perfect for carrying your tech gear and trendy fanny packs, too! Each item in the collection has been thoughtfully designed to represent the modern tech lover — that's you!

So why wait? Show off your tech-savvy style with my official merchandise, available exclusively on Etsy! Can't wait to see you there! 💻🚀🛍️

It’s not just your name and email. Big Tech companies probably know more about you than some of your closest friends.

If you’ve never taken a peek behind the curtain, do it now while you’re thinking about it. Just know it usually takes a while to get these reports back.

Google is one of the greediest

Sign in to myactivity.google.com/activitycontrol to see what Google has saved to your profile over the years. You can delete things like your search history, location tracking and YouTube watch history. 

• Select Manage all Web & App Activity. Select the Delete dropdown menu to get started.
• Select Manage history for your YouTube data and location history, and repeat the process.
• If location tracking is enabled, Google also keeps tabs on where your photos were taken. Kinda cool to look back on, but yeesh.

What about Twitter?

It’s easiest to do this from a computer. Log in and click the More icon in the navigation bar.

• Go to Settings and Support > Settings and privacy.
• Select Your account > Download an archive of your data.
• After verifying your identity, click Request data.
• When your download is ready, Twitter will send you an email. Go to Settings and click the Download data button.

✅ You should do the same for Facebook and Apple, too. Get directions here.

Ever love a car so much, you just couldn’t give it up? You have to watch this fun video.

High Mileage Reviews is a YouTube channel that finds very well-loved vehicles. This one takes the cake: A 1980 Toyota Hilux pickup with 1 million miles.

📺 The coolest part? All those miles are from one owner. That’s the equivalent of driving from New York City to Los Angeles 360 times! I don’t even want to drive from California to Arizona … Watch here.

Why can’t milk cartons walk? Because they lactose.

🤳 The answer: Selfie sticks. Don’t you just hate when you’re trying to see something and these sticks are in the air, blocking your view? In 2015, these sticks were seen as a hazard in crowded spaces and an infringement on others’ enjoyment of exhibits and performances. Thank goodness for that.

For those who still carry their selfie sticks with them on their travels, I have one thing to say: I hope you take a long, hard look at yourself. 

💗 Remember to check out my Etsy store, the only place to score exclusive merch designed by me.

Spread the love and share this email with a friend or two who wants to be as tech-smart as you. And be sure to rate this issue below so we know how we’re doing. — Kim