Happy Tuesday! I’ve got big news coming later this week, and judging by my inbox, you’re really going to like it. No spoilers yet!

⌛ Quick privacy tip: Use Ctrl + Shift + N (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + N (Mac) to open an incognito or private browsing window in most web browsers. Incognito mode doesn't save your browsing history, cookies or form data. It does not mean everything you do is truly private. — Kim

I’ll never forget the look on my neighbor’s face when people gathered in front of his house, smiling, calling my name and taking photos. Yeah, they thought it was my place.

One day, he got so annoyed that he called me and said, "I swear I am going to put a blow-up doll of a blond woman with a nametag that says 'Kim' on my porch!" Fortunately, I was able to convince him otherwise with a nice cabernet.

Don’t want your house and address number visible to anyone online? You can request a privacy blur over pictures of your home and car. I did it and so should you.

Hide your home on Google Maps and Apple Maps

Google makes it pretty easy.

Apple Maps makes it more of a pain. Get this — you actually have to email them. (At least it’s not a fax!)

✅ Living in a new home? Do yourself a favor and get all those pics off the internet. Here’s how to wipe them from Zillow and the other major real estate sites.

Biometric bandwagon: Unlock your Amazon app with your fingerprint or face. On the web, open Amazon account settings, click Login & security, then click Set up next to Passkey. Once it's ready, you can use your passkey with the iOS app. Sorry, Android peeps, you have to wait.

✔️ Verification nation: Provide your government ID to third-party platform CLEAR, and you'll get a checkmark next to your name on LinkedIn. Why bother? LinkedIn says verified profiles get more views, comments and messages — so the slight hassle could help you get your next job. P.S. You can post a job for free with my link.*

Fry-day: McDonald’s is passing out free medium fries with any purchase over $1 every Friday till the end of the year. What’s the catch? You need to create an account on the McDonald's app. Unhealthy life hack: Dipping McDonald's fries in the McFlurry is so good, but you’ll end up paying in other ways.

What’s the Matter? One of the main complaints about smart home devices is they don’t connect with one another. Matter is trying to fix that. With the new open-source Matter 1.2 specification, you can use Apple Home, Amazon Alexa and other devices to do things like check the temperature of your fridge, turn on your robot vacuum and see if the laundry is done yet. I’m waiting for the version that can fold it for you, too.

🎃 Candyland: Nextdoor is ready for Halloween. Log into the app or Nextdoor online to see which houses near you are giving away the best candy, post pictures of your decorations and even create a treasure hunt in your neighborhood. Cute, but be careful what you post; you never know who’s watching.

I make the complex world of tech simple and approachable. From explaining the latest gadgets in plain English to offering easy-to-follow cybersecurity advice, I’ve got you covered.

Choose your platform below to listen:

🎁 Hide-and-seek: You’re shopping for your honey’s birthday present and they stroll into the room. Quick! Hide your open windows. On a PC: Windows key + M. (Use Windows key + Shift + M to reopen.) On a Mac: Cmd + Option + H + M. Works for more than gift-giving … just sayin’.

Never pay for this: The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act requires the three credit reporting agencies (TransUnion, Experian and Equifax) to provide you — yes, you — with a free annual credit report. Get it at AnnualCreditReport.com or call 1‑877‑FACTACT (1‑877‑322‑8228).

A safe phone is a locked phone: If yours locks after 10 seconds (too fast) or 2 minutes (too long), change that. On iPhone: Go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Auto-Lock and choose a length of time. On Android: Go to Settings > Display and look for a Timeout, Screen Timeout or Sleep option. I recommend 30 seconds — it’s ju‑u‑u‑st right.

🔗 Influential: Supporting a cause or promoting your side hustle? Add the link to your Instagram bio, no extra plug-ins required. Log in and enter your account settings. Choose Edit profile (top left corner, under your pic), then Add link. While you’re there, add me!

Get more cred: Don’t let your LinkedIn posts get lost in the digital abyss. The best time to post is a weekday during business hours, especially lunchtime between noon and 1 p.m. Bonus points for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

A virtual private network, or VPN, is a great place to start. A VPN encrypts your data and hides your IP address, giving you an extra layer of protection from snoops, advertisers and Big Tech companies looking to profit off you.

Some VPNs slow your connection or, worse, track your internet activity and compromise your security. Not ExpressVPN.

ExpressVPN’s servers run on RAM, or volatile memory, that’s cleared each time the server is reset — meaning they don’t save your data. You can connect in just one click from a Windows PC, Mac, iPhone, Android, iPad, you name it.

🚨 Deal alert: Get an extra THREE months free since you subscribe to my newsletter.

❓ Have a question for me? Drop it right here, or leave me a voicemail at 602‑381‑8200 ext. 290.

GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a pro-grade photo editor that looks and works like Adobe Photoshop. Unlike Photoshop, it doesn’t cost $9.99 a month. It’s the closest thing to Adobe’s software you can get without a subscription. Plus, the online instructions are easy to follow if you’ve always wanted to learn how to use Photoshop.

Download for Windows or Mac →

If the earth was flat, cats would’ve already knocked everything off the edge.

I know you laughed and I bet you’ll share that one. Thanks for being here! Drop a rating below so we know how we’re doing. — Kim