Hey, hello, it’s Monday, friend! Let’s boot up your week with a brainteaser. Which of these is not one of Merriam-Webster’s 2024 words of the year? Is it … A.) “Totality,” B.) “Skibidi,” C.) “Polarization” or D.) “Allision”? You’re not the only one wondering what the heck that last one means. The answer’s at the end!

🤑 Your Social Security number is for sale online. Between data brokers, advertisers, stalkers and scammers, there’s too much personal info of ours out there, free for the taking. I used Incogni to remove it all for me. More about them below. Glad you’re here and ready for massive tech know‑how! — Kim

Tech should make life easier, not harder. With the right tips and tools, it can do just that. These hacks are designed to make 2025 your most efficient and stress-free year yet. Ready to level up? Let’s dive in!

1. Ctrl + Z (undo) isn’t just for Word docs

Did you accidentally delete an email, close a browser tab or move a file? Ctrl + Z on a PC (Cmd + Z on a Mac) is the universal lifesaver. Use it everywhere, from editing spreadsheets to undoing changes in most apps. It’s a superpower.

2. Screenshots for the win

Forget scrambling for a pen and paper — just take a screenshot! Whether it’s a recipe, directions or an annoying error message, capturing your screen can save time and frustration. On your PC, hold down your Windows key + Shift + S. On a Mac, it’s Cmd + Shift + 4.

3. When you don’t know which tab is playing music

I love the free OneTab browser extension for keeping my browser organized and running smoothly. It takes all your open tabs and turns them into a list, saving your device’s memory and your sanity.

4. Use your voice more

You’ll be surprised by what you can tell your phone to do. For starters, forget fumbling for an app. Just say, “Hey, Siri, open Instagram” or, for Google Assistant, “Open Spotify.” You can also tell your assistant to call someone in your contacts, set a reminder, take a photo, convert milliliters to ounces, turn on the flashlight, flip a coin — the list goes on.

5. Track the kids

Apple AirTags (iOS) or Tile trackers (Android) let you keep tabs on your little ones. Attach a tracker to their backpack, shoelaces or belt loop. Pro tip: At somewhere very public, like a Disney park, give your child’s tracker a unique name, like "Buzz Lightyear." That way, if someone gets a “Tracker Nearby” alert, your child’s name won’t pop up.

6. Every mail has its day

It’s a game-changer for staying organized. In Apple Mail on your iPhone or iPad, compose your email as usual, then tap and hold Send. You’ll see options like “Send Later,” where you can select a specific date and time for delivery. In Gmail, after drafting your email, click the small arrow next to the Send button and select Schedule Send.

7. Let tech handle the little things

Start by setting up smart home routines: Use commands like “Good night” to turn off lights, lock doors and adjust the thermostat all at once with your smart assistant. Next, download apps like IFTTT (for iOS and Android) or Shortcuts (iOS only) to automate tasks, such as saving photos from text messages to a specific album or turning on your porch lights at sunset.

Bonus: Unlock the potential of AI

Pick your favorite bot (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude or Gemini), then ask it to plan a weeknight dinner menu based on what’s in your fridge, write a speech, draft compelling emails, brainstorm marketing ideas or analyze industry trends. Your chatbot can help you find new workout routines, learn about dietary plans or even understand complex medical research in simple terms. My point: Start using AI in your daily life next year. Googling things is dead.

✅ Knowledge is better when shared! Use the share icons below to spread the know-how with your friends and family, and help them make 2025 their easiest and most productive year yet.

Search for your name online. It’s a quick and easy way to see just how much is out there, floating around for anyone to find. The scary part is there’s even more info anyone willing to pay a few bucks can access.

I don’t just mean your phone number and address. I’m talking relatives, legal documents, your kids’ information and even your Social Security number. I went searching for the best company to help remove all this for you and found Incogni.

Incogni scrubs your private details from data-broker and people-search sites. Once they get you removed, they make sure you stay off. You’ll love this, too: Since I signed up, my spam calls and texts are down to zero.

🧽 Let’s face it, the holidays turned your house into a disaster zone.

🚨 Heads-up, drivers: Scammers are sending fake phishing texts claiming you need to pay your FasTrak bill to avoid late fees or you’ll be in big legal trouble. Don’t fall for it! It's a ploy to trick you into clicking a bogus link to steal your personal info and drain your wallet.

This bytes: Security camera apps are some of the biggest data hoarders, collecting payment details, location info, and image and audio recordings. The top offenders? Deep Sentinel, Lorex, Nest Labs, Ring and Arlo. Once they grab your data, it’s used for targeted ads or sold to third parties. Protect yourself: Always review and limit your app permissions.

🛂 All you need is love a passport: In just a few years, say goodbye to paper passports. All your passport info, including your facial data, will go digital and link to your phone. At airports, you’ll just show your phone, and facial recognition cameras will authenticate you. I sure hope they’ve thought of privacy breaches, false rejections and lookalike frauds.

Watt? This is shocking: AI data centers are popping up everywhere in the U.S., devouring massive amounts of electricity. Beyond driving up energy bills, they’re putting intense pressure on the grid and disrupting the normal flow of electricity. The consequences include damaged home appliances, blackouts, flickering lights and, in some cases, fires caused by voltage surges.

🎮 Couples unite: A mom says her husband called her selfish for refusing to buy their son a skin in his League of Legends video game. She was fine with spending $25 or maybe $50, but $300? Nope. Dad argued she should lighten up because it’s Christmas. The twist? Their son didn’t care.

YGTR (You Got That Right!): A Stanford study says abbreviations in texts make you come across as insincere. Sure, you might think you’re being laid-back, but others see it as being lazy. Bonus cringe: People who use abbreviations are less likely to get replies. So, if you’re being ghosted, maybe ditch the “IDK” and try a full sentence, just sayin’.

😴 A pill for sleep apnea: The FDA just approved the weight loss drug Zepbound for obstructive sleep apnea, marking the first-ever drug approved to directly treat the disorder. Originally developed for Type 2 diabetes, new trials show it works in patients with moderate to severe sleep apnea. Speaking of … what's a Scandinavian with sleep apnea called? A Snore-wegian! (I heard you laugh!)

Microsoft Quick Assist: I’ll bet you don’t know this tool’s built right into Windows 10 and 11. It makes it easy to share your screen with someone remotely, aka no installations needed (love that!). This is perfect in case you ever need to help someone — or get help from someone — on your PC. Steps here!

Your PC's monitor went blank: Before you hold down the power button, hit the Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + B. This tells your computer, “Hey, the display is messed up. Can you fix it?” Just like that, this key combo will refresh or reset your graphics driver.

📁 Use a Mac? Batch-rename your files in Finder. This is handy for organizing photos or documents where consistent naming is important. Select all the files you want to rename, right-click and choose Rename [number] Items. A window will pop up, offering options to replace text, add text or completely format the names. Done!

Free smiles: Check out Explore⁠.⁠org’s beluga cam. That smile is so dang cute! They have live feeds of other animals and places, too. There’s a bald eagle cam, an aurora borealis cam, a cat rescue cam and lots more.

LinkedIn upgrade: To stand out, upload your resume (go to Jobs > Application settings) and select “yes” to Share your resume data with recruits. Fill out your career history and add as much as possible to the “Skills” section. If you’re hiring, use my link to post a job for free.*

How to ditch a timeshare: My pal, money expert Clark Howard, says timeshares are a defective product. If you’re stuck in a timeshare and you’re ready to get out, you have options to sell, cancel, give it back, give it away or donate it. Subscribe to Clark’s free newsletter* to receive more must-have money tips every day.

🎮 Free games: Your Amazon Prime membership includes games through Amazon Luna. Play Fortnite, Trackmania and others on devices you already own for no extra charge. If you really get into a game, add more to play with Ubisoft or Jackbox Games. Game on.

These are pics taken by a trail cam. The remote tribe of 200 to 300 lives deep in the Amazon rainforest. Amazing.

The answer: B.) “Skibidi.” These weird viral YouTube videos feature an animated head in a toilet. As for words that made it into the dictionary, we all had “totality” on the brain during the April eclipse. “Polarization” describes the election talk, and “allision” describes when a boat hits a stationary object. Canoe believe that?

⏲️ The clock is ticking! I’m giving away a $500 Amazon gift card in a few days. Be a pal and share this link with your friends, family, coworkers or neighbors. There’s no purchase necessary; all they have to do is try this free newsletter. Yes, you can enter, too.

Get your privacy back. Incogni works in the background to get my info off scummy data-broker and people-search sites. Try it yourself for 60% off, exclusively for my readers. I get no more spammy calls or texts. Love that.

See ya tomorrow with the best tech newsletter in the USA. Be sure to hit the ratings below and leave me a word or two. I read every single comment! — Kim