A wonderful tech Wednesday is upon us, friend. Mark Zuckerberg is having a really, really, really good week; he just became the fourth-richest person in the world. Who isn’t a member of the $200 billion club? Is it … A.) Larry Ellison, B.) Jeff Bezos, C.) Elon Musk or D.) Warren Buffet? Make your best guess, and you’ll find the answer at the end! (Spoiler: I’m not on the list.)

With Big Tech, you’re the product. Today’s newsletter is brought to you by StartMail. Their email service is built around your privacy, not collecting and selling all your data. Can’t say that for Big Tech companies or your internet provider. Check ‘em out! — Kim

True or false: If your phone's got all four reception bars lit up and it’s displaying the 5G symbol, you've got A+ service.

The answer? False. When you see “5G,” all it means is there are 5G connections nearby. Whether you're on that network is another story. I know, eye roll. Cell service bars don’t mean much, either.

The 5G hype

When you see the 5G indicator on your phone, you might really be connected to 4G or LTE. Yes, your phone will still work perfectly fine.

When you start doing something more intensive on your phone, though, like making a video call or playing an online game, your wireless network may automatically switch you to 5G for a better experience.

How do you know you’re really on 5G? Look for the letters next to the 5G icon. On Verizon, 5G UW means you're likely connected to a 5G network. On T‑Mobile, it’ll show up as 5G UC. AT&T displays 5G E, but that just means you’re close to a network.

Barhopping

If walking around looking for reception bars isn’t the solution, what is? Some of the ol’ free standbys still work.

• Keep your phone's Wi‑Fi calling option on. This way, you'll switch over to known, saved internet networks (like work and home) automatically for calls, if they’re within range. On an iPhone, open Settings, then scroll and tap Cellular > Wi‑Fi Calling. Toggle on the button next to Wi‑Fi Calling. On an Android, open the Phone app, then tap More (or the three-dot icon) to open the menu. Tap Settings and select Wi‑Fi calling. If you don’t see the option, your carrier may not support it, or the steps may vary on your phone.
• Look around. Some building materials can function like a faraday cage, killing your connection. If you’re inside, get closer to a window or go outside. Go upstairs if you’re on a lower level.
• Try a cellphone tower search site. CellMapper is easy to use and has a ton of filtering options. Set your country, provider and network speed, then enter your address in the Location Search field. Hit Enter and you’ll see the closest cell towers.

By the way, you may notice you get better cell service in the winter, when all the trees are bare. I know, you can’t make the leaves fall, but this is good to know!

Boost your signal

Let’s say your home is a cellular dead zone. A booster works in any location with an existing cell signal that needs amplification. They’re relatively easy to use and install, but they can be a little pricey, given they contain cellular radios.

One popular option is the weBoost Home Boost signal kit. It works with all U.S. carriers, including AT&T, T‑Mobile, Verizon and Straight Talk. You simply connect the booster to an outdoor antenna.

At 60 dBm max gain, the booster won’t interrupt carriers’ signals to and from the cell tower. With 20 dBm in uplink-output power and 12 dBm in downlink-output power, the booster easily reaches cellphone towers.

Alternatively, you can purchase a microcell from your carrier. It uses your internet connection to establish a better cellular connection. Make sure you have a strong internet line before getting one or you’re flushing away money.

Set it and forget it

One last thing: Let your phone automatically choose 5G when you need it. To enable this:

• On iPhone, open Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Voice & Data > 5G Auto.
• On Android phones, the process varies. Search your settings for "mobile network" and look for an "auto-connect" option. You can also visit your wireless provider's website for instructions. Here are T‑Mobile's instructions for Samsung phones.

🚀 It’d be pretty easy to send 5G conspiracy theorists to space. Just tell ‘em there's zero-G! (Sorry, had to.)

• 12-pack of streak-free cleaning cloths ($7): No home ever has too many microfiber cloths, just sayin’.
• Cable organizer bag (over 50% off): Tangled charging cables are the worst! A compact organizer keeps everything tidy.
• LED desk lamp with USB port ($16): Brighten up your workspace with a stylish lamp. This one has adjustable brightness levels and a USB port for charging. Sweet.
• Herb scissors with 5 blades ($10): Perfect for snipping parsley, basil, cilantro, mint — you name it.
• Self-adhesive cable clips ($8): Another easy way to keep your cord mess in check.

💊 Killer online pharmacies: Cybercriminals set up online pharmacies selling counterfeit pills disguised as prescription drugs. Adderall, Xanax and oxycodone knockoffs were laced with deadly synthetic opioids like fentanyl. At least nine people have died. Please, please stick to real pharmacies for all your medications.

Drone on: U.S. officials have a bright idea to defend military bases from drone attacks — defensive drones. This comes after months of deadly drone strikes on U.S. bases in the Middle East by Iran-linked groups. For now, U.S. troops will need to rely on electronic jamming and anti-aircraft guns; defensive drones could take another two years to roll out.

🔥 Jeeps recalled: Nearly 200,000 plug-in hybrid SUVs can catch on fire, even with the ignitions off. Yikes! If you have a 2020 to 2024 Wrangler 4xe or 2022 to 2024 Grand Cherokee 4xe, call your dealership ASAP. Don’t charge it, and be sure to keep it outside, away from all structures.

🛡️ Microsoft offers built-in ransomware protection for Windows PCs: The catch? You must use OneDrive to back up your data. Keep in mind it’s not 100% foolproof, either. If you want to try it, open the Windows Security app > Virus & threat protection > Manage ransomware protection, and turn on Controlled folder access. It’s free for now, but I’ll bet they’ll start charging for this soon.

Honesty is the best, honestly: Some unemployed Gen Zers are putting a #Desperate banner on their LinkedIn profiles. They’re applying for jobs, barely getting responses, and they figure there’s no harm in being totally transparent. Remember: “He who mentions price first loses.”

A U.S. senator was deepfake duped: Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Ben Cardin, D‑Md., had a Zoom call with a scammer posing as Ukraine’s former foreign minister. The deepfake looked and sounded just like the real guy, and the scammer pressed for Cardin’s opinions on sensitive foreign policy and the upcoming election. Cardin got suspicious and the call ended. It's still unclear who was behind it.

🥽 So long, farewell: Microsoft is pulling the plug on its HoloLens headsets, once promised to power the future of virtual worlds. Womp, womp. The HoloLens 2 will receive security and software updates until the end of 2027. If you own the original HoloLens, software support ends Dec. 10. Don’t buy one if you see it on sale.

🍕 Slice, slice, baby: Pizza Hut is giving away 1 million pizzas for National Book Month. Order online or through the Pizza Hut app, spend at least $8, and use the code BOOKIT40. The offer runs until the end of October … or until the free pizzas run out. This alone is worth the price of my newsletter. Oh, wait, it’s free!

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🙃 Bingo, bang-o! It’s National Cybersecurity Month. The National Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (what a mouthful!) made a bingo card for businesses.

Hands off my Kindle: You can set a passcode. Go to the home screen and tap the three dots in the upper right. Now, tap Settings > Device Options > Device Passcode. Sweet.

🤐 Respectfully, be quiet already: You remembered to mute your phone, but now, your Apple Watch is buzzing every 10 seconds. Open Settings > Focus > Do Not Disturb > Add New to activate or set up a schedule.

So smart: Instead of just one smart plug, upgrade to a smart power strip. This one is 40% off and has six outlets you can control individually. Looks like a home office home run to me.

👕 I’m so picky about my clothes and Barry’s: I like basics for both of us that we can dress up or down, that last, and don’t cost a ton. Bonus if I can throw ‘em in the washer. Quince has washable silk tops and $50 cashmere. Go to quince.com/kim for free shipping and 365-day returns.* They offer awesome men’s styles, too! He’s still raving about the shirts I got him for his birthday months ago.

ICYMI: Next time you need a loyalty number, try 867‑5309 (with your area code in front). It usually works!

The answer: D.) Warren Buffet. Surprising, huh? Depending on the day, the 94-year-old Berkshire Hathaway CEO is worth around $144 billion. I’d say he’s getting by just fine.

Inbox a mess? Sometimes, you just need to start fresh. My pick for privacy-first email is StartMail. Keep your old address and spin up a new one for only your fave folks and emails (like mine!). You’ll be glad you did when you can read in peace without all the spam and junk.

Talk to me: I’m trying something new! Record a voice memo with a question about anything digital and send it to me. I’ll play it and answer my favorites on my podcast. Send it to podcasts@komando⁠.⁠com. Thank you!

👋 That’s a wrap! I’ll be back in your inbox tomorrow. I’m diving deep into the mess that is 23andMe. Don’t miss it, especially if you ever sent them your DNA info or know someone who’s used it. — Kim