Welcome to Wednesday! Let’s go back in time for today’s trivia question. Which major tech company made a significant shift in its business on July 19, 2000, by discontinuing a popular product? Was it … A. Microsoft with MS-DOS, B. Apple with Newton PDAs or C. IBM with typewriters? You’ll find the answer at the end!

😀 Happy you’re joining me for this bountiful tech feast. Let’s dig in! — Kim

How many internet-of-things (IoT) devices are in your house? Think about Wi-Fi-connected cameras, appliances, doorbells, pool pumps, sprinkler systems, blinds, lights … baby monitors.

One terrified mom discovered her Owlet baby monitor was hacked by strangers with a lot of time on their hands. They did way more than just watch her son. They started talking to him through the camera, too.

Here’s the problem: The IoT device industry is like the Wild West. “Security? We don’t need no stinkin’ security! Let’s just bring all these products to market.” Now, the government is getting involved.

We've got (cyber) trust issues

They're calling it the "U.S. Cyber Trust Mark." The idea is that devices that "adhere to best practices that make them less vulnerable to hackers and cybersecurity threats" earn the distinction.

There will be a QR code and an identifiable mark on an approved product and its online listing. You can scan the QR code to get more details about a device's security, including security updates or patches.

It's like the Energy Star program for appliances. Instead of rating energy efficiency, the U.S. Cyber Trust Mark rates an IoT device's level of cybersecurity.

'You can do it!'

Smart refrigerators, microwaves, televisions, climate control systems and fitness trackers top its list. Now, don’t expect to see this certification in stores next week. The program will be up and running by the end of this year — they hope.

Here’s the catch: Companies aren't required to submit their products for certification. The FCC is encouraging major retailers to participate in the program, though. Amazon, Best Buy, Google, LG Electronics, Logitech and Samsung have all signed on.

My take: It’s not enough

I tried encouraging my son to eat his vegetables, but he didn’t until there was a penalty — like no Xbox. My wish is for these IoT makers to realize we want and need security with these devices in our homes and lives. But, as my wise mother would tell me, “Wish in one hand and crap in the other. Which one are you holding?”

In other words, don’t fall for this panacea. While the government requires cars to have seat belts, securing your internet-connected devices from hackers and scammers will always be up to you. But hey, it keeps me in business!

Border-crossing goes high-tech: Migrants seeking asylum used to ask for a hearing if they were caught by a Border Patrol agent. Now, there’s an official government app for that called CBP One. From May to June, the number of asylum-seekers (who now need to use the app on a smartphone at the U.S.-Mexico border) fell 50%.

😬 Sorry, Zuck: Meta's Threads (a Twitter look-alike) isn't doing so hot. After just one week, half of the app's daily users evaporated. It's simple: There's nothing new and nothing better about it. Silver lining … It was cheaper than the failed metaverse.

How AI got so smart: Artificial intelligence trained on billions of copyrighted articles, videos, blog posts, books, images and videos. Shocker: Google, OpenAI, image-generator DALL-E and the rest never paid a dime. Enter the lawsuits. Two class actions were filed against OpenAI and Google, and 5,000+ authors have signed a petition asking tech companies to get their permission first. I’d like a cut for all my hard work, too.

🐎 Cell network speed battle: A new report from Ookla puts T-Mobile* on top for speed, consistency and latency. In real-world tests, T-Mo’s 5G network is two times faster than Verizon and AT&T. Giddy-up!

Game console miracle: A 15-year-old girl met 28-year-old Ethan Roberts online. Roberts forced her to do child p*rn at his home. While there, the girl watched a movie on her Nintendo Switch and a smart friend notified police she was online. Nintendo turned over Roberts’ IP address and the cops arrested him. He got 30 years in federal prison. I hope he likes brooms.

🤓 Test your AI knowledge: Fancy yourself an AI whiz or think you can tell an AI-generated image from the real deal? Put your skills to the test with this fun quiz from the BBC. I got a perfect score. Can you?

Another streaming price jump: If you're hooked on “The Office” reruns on Peacock, the monthly price is going up to $6 with ads and $12 sans ads. It starts August 17. Cable is starting to look cheaper than streaming.

📺 Every single parent and grandparent needs to see this. You think it’s OK to post pics of the kids online. Maybe you’ve only done it a few times. As soon as I saw this video, I shared it with my immediate family. You need to watch this and share it with your loved ones, too. Be the difference.

I turn tech complexity into simplicity with my Daily Tech Update podcast. I’ll give you the top tech news and a useful digital life hack, all in under two minutes. It's the perfect match for your daily routine — no tech expertise required.

👉 Your journey to tech confidence is a click away!

Ah, the summer lull. Your shows are done, actors are striking and it’s too hot to spend much time outside. I’ve got your back. Below are the most popular streaming shows from last week.

I admit it …

I’ve only seen two of these top shows. Go through the list and try to guess which ones.

📺 Anything on your watchlist these days? Reply to this email and let me know. The two shows I watch are “Outlander” and “Only Murders in the Building.”

Printer ink is expensive. You can save a ton of cash by picking the correct font.

And finally, a few fonts that people will secretly make fun of you for using: Comic Sans, Brush Script and Papyrus. You’re welcome!

Stop fighting with spreadsheets and trying to figure out what the heck you did with last year’s inventory list. I have the solution: NetSuite by Oracle.

You get visibility and control of your financials, inventory, HR, planning, budgeting and more, all from one easy dashboard. Don’t just take my word for it — over 33,000 businesses already use NetSuite.

Lower IT costs, less work and higher profits? Yes, please. Right now, you can get started with NetSuite with no payments and no interest for six months. (Big deal alert: They’ve never had an offer like this before!)

What did you see first in this viral post? If it was mountains, you're ambitious and love new experiences. Now, if you first saw the crocodile (like me!), you’re confident but also sensitive (I am!).​

📠 The answer: IBM stopped selling typewriters and got into the PC business. Did you know that actor Tom Hanks collects typewriters? Here’s a great video of him talking about his extensive collection.

You’re just my type! Be sure you’re on the list and set to get our new afternoon newsletter that’s loaded with tech tips and tricks. Hit this link to get VIP status. And I’ll see you tomorrow with the best tech newsletter in the universe! — Kim