It’s a terrific tech Tuesday, friends! Let’s start with a little trivia. Many of today’s big tech companies have a “Chief Evangelist,” whose sole job is building a community of passionate users. Was the first company to adopt this … A.) Amazon, B.) Apple, C.) Microsoft or D.) Zoom? You’ll find the answer at the end.

😎 Do your part and keep this newsletter free by clicking the link to check a top probiotic endorsed by the Mayo Clinic, Pendulum. Gut health is essential! Now, on to increasing your tech know-how, which is so, so important in today’s digital world! — Kim

When I read this report, I knew it would be important for you to know even though you do all the right things. Today's cars are an absolute trainwreck when it comes to privacy. Mozilla recently researched 25 top car brands under its *Privacy Not Included warning-label project. Not a single vehicle passed the test, making cars Mozilla's worst privacy product category examined to date.

Here's the scoop on what was uncovered and a couple of steps to make a difference.

🎧 Btw, I interviewed super-smart Jen Caltrider from Mozilla. Watch our convo here on YouTube.

25 car brands tested, 25 car brands failed

Out of the 25 car brands studied, these companies received at least four out of five of Mozilla's privacy red flags:

• Tesla, Nissan, Hyundai, Cadillac, GMC, Buick, Chevrolet, Kia, Acura, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Lincoln, Ford, Lexus, Toyota and Volkswagen.

Tesla received all five of Mozilla's privacy "dings" thanks to its unreliable AI-powered autopilot. It was reportedly involved in 736 crashes and 17 deaths and is undergoing multiple government investigations. Big yikes.

Perhaps Mozilla's strangest finding: Nissan collects data on the super-intimate part of your life, and Kia says it can collect information about your "sex life" in its privacy policy. No joke. Maybe, uh, save "it" for when you get home.

Subaru and Nissan spell out it’s up to you to let anyone in your car know the tracking applies to them, too. Imagine that! “Hey, before you hop in to go to lunch me, my Nissan really wants to know who you’re texting.”

Driving us mad

These vehicles gather personal data based on your interactions with the car, the connected services utilized within the vehicle, the car's app (which accesses everything on your phone), and details about you from other sources, like SiriusXM or Google Maps.

Carmakers can even collect medical and genetic information. Of course, they can then use this info to create more data on you by assuming your abilities, interests and intelligence level. Mozilla also found:

• 84% of the researched car brands share your personal data with service providers, data brokers and other businesses you know nothing about.
• 76% of car brands admit to selling that personal data.
• 56% say they can share your information with the government or law enforcement upon "request."

The definition of "request" is murky. We're talking pretty informal — no court orders needed.

So, what can you do?

There’s no magical place to opt out of all this tracking. Your car’s fancy features, like GPS and the ability to text someone with just your voice, come at the cost of your privacy — and car manufacturers take advantage.

I wish I could tell you there’s a brand that protects your privacy and isn’t using your info to make a buck. Again, nope.

If you really can’t stand the idea of the data collection:

• Drive a car from 1995 or older. Seriously. In 1996, the government mandated the On-Board Diagnostics II (OBD‑II) in all vehicles sold in the U.S. This is what monitors and stores data related to vehicle performance and driver behavior.
• Don’t connect your phone. I know most of us aren’t going to do this — but it’s an option, folks. You’re handing over more data than you realize the minute you connect your phone.

🖊️ If you’re so inclined, Mozilla has a petition to stop car companies from collecting massive amounts of user data. Head here to sign your name and join the fight for drivers’ privacy.

Now, spread the word to other drivers. Hit one of the buttons below to send this research via email or social media.

True story, speaking of cars … I had to pick up some paperwork at the county offices. I found what I thought was a parking spot. A cop approached me and said, "Ma'am, you can't park there. This is where our politicians work." I said, "Oh, don't worry, I locked it." He didn't laugh.

What do you get when a probiotic company is founded by doctors from Johns Hopkins, Harvard, Berkeley and Stanford, and the Mayo Clinic is one of their first investors and continuing research partners? You get Pendulum.

‘Tis the season for gingerbread, sprinkle cookies and eggnog, which is why it’s also the season for Pendulum’s Metabolic Daily. Probiotics make a perfect present for everyone on your list … Self-gifting totally encouraged!

This multi-strain probiotic helps metabolize sugars and carbs, converts food into energy more efficiently,* and it sustains energy levels — perfect for the busy holiday season.

* Based on in vitro studies

📦 New scam spreading holiday fear: It never ends. Don’t fall for a text or call from someone claiming to be from UPS, FedEx or USPS delivering a package to your home. They’re just trying to get you to hand over your personal info or tell them when you’ll be gone so they can rob your house.

Rebel without a Claus: Parents are complaining to Google about spilling the beans after their kids searched, “Is Santa Claus real?” Google Assistant and Alexa give better answers when asked about St. Nick, so direct your curious kiddos there this Christmas.

🌊 China intentionally sunk a 1,400-ton data center: Yep, the power of 6 million PCs is 115 feet at the bottom of the ocean. Why? Not only is it more difficult to physically sabotage the center, but it’s nearly freezing down there. Just one module can process 4 million high-definition images in 30 seconds. I can't edit a single selfie in that time. Data leaks are gonna take on a whole new meaning.

🧫 Gene Hacked-man: After a huge data breach in October, 23andMe said, “Nothing to see here. It only impacted 0.1% of customers.” Uh, nope. They just told TechCrunch there are 6.9 million victims — about half of its customers. As I told you in October, remove your 23andMe account. And like I told you years ago, don’t send your DNA to 23andMe.

Amazon’s AI isn’t ready for prime time: Q is Amazon's new business AI chatbot. Danger, Will Robinson: Q’s making things up and revealing confidential information about Amazon businesses and even unreleased features to users. Obviously, AI hallucinations are in the queue.

📀 Dust off the DVD player: If you paid to "own" a movie or show on a streaming service instead of renting it, you don't actually own it. PlayStation customers who bought Discovery shows like "Mythbusters" and "Shark Week" will soon lose access, thanks to the Discovery⁠/Warner Bros. merger. P.S. This could happen even with movies you bought on Amazon.

Do you have “rizz?” Oxford’s 2023 Word of the Year refers to someone’s “ability to attract a romantic or sexual partner.” It beat “Swiftie,” which is a Taylor Swift fan; “beige flag,” which is used to describe someone or something boring; and “situationship,” which means a relationship that isn’t really a relationship. Groovy!

📜 Cursive comeback: More than 10 years after Common Core removed cursive teaching requirements, about half of U.S. states have passed laws mandating kiddos learn it. Why? So they can read documents like the Constitution or letters from grandma. Why don’t pirates like writing in cursive? Because it’s scurvy.

Microfiber rags are household heroes, especially when wiping down electronics. Repeat after me: No paper towels — ever. They scratch delicate surfaces. It’s not worth it.

Follow these tips to get the most out of yours:

• Some microfiber cloths have two sides. The fluffy side is for picking up dust, while the scrubby side is for removing stubborn dirt.
• Use them dry to pick up dust, then dampen them to clean fingerprints, smudges and stuck-on gunk.
• Wet microfiber rags with distilled white vinegar to disinfect and sanitize surfaces.

👉 Are your cleaning rags stained and worn? Get this 50-pack of microfiber cloths for under $20 right now. Makes a great gift for your spouse — kinda like the year my sister got a vacuum cleaner. That sucked!

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!"

👉 Get my podcasts today!

One man’s trash: Microsoft's Trade-in Program turns old gadgets into green. Head to its site, pick what you’ve got (laptops, tablets, gaming consoles, whatever), and receive up to $500. Amazon has the same program, so check to see which offers you more moolah.

🍝 Al dente: Pasta night? Pour yourself a glass of something nice, then turn on the Barilla and Spotify playlist. Pick your pasta, like “Mixtape Spaghetti” or “Boom Bap Fusilli.” When the music stops, your pasta is at al dente perfection. Way more fun than just setting a timer. Now, who's up for some “Moody Day Linguine?”

🔔 Say goodbye to the same old ping: Apple iOS 17.2, currently in beta testing (and I’m using it), lets you personalize the default notification sound on your iPhone. Head to Settings > Sounds & Haptics, and tap Default Alerts to choose your tone. You can even tweak the haptic feedback now. It's the little things, right?

Wait, what’s going on with her hands? See the explanation on my Instagram!

The answer: B.) Apple. Guy Kawasaki became Apple's first Chief Evangelist in 1983, and his job was to make the world love a Mac. Yeah, he did a great job. If you’re looking for something to listen to, I was recently on Guy’s podcast, “Remarkable People.”

🍎 Speaking of privacy and people, Adam and Eve were the first not to understand Apple’s terms and conditions. (Ah, I heard you chuckle at that one!)

If you’ve been here for even a short time, you know how important health is to me. Do yourself a favor and check out Pendulum. They’re doing things the right way. Thanks for reading, friend. Back in your inbox bright and early with fresh tech news you can use. Make it an amazing day! — Kim