Welcome to your Sunday, friend. You made it. Toast yourself with something fizzy … and get ready for something even bubblier.

Pop quiz (literally): How many Mentos would it take to make a Diet Coke bottle burst like your inbox on a Monday? A) Just one lonely mint, B) five to seven, C) 13 or D) Who cares, just wear goggles? Find the answer about to explode at the end!

🦸 Want to be my superhero? Just share this email with one friend who’ll enjoy it as much as you do. That's all it takes to help our community soar. Thanks for being awesome! — Kim

“Kim, Lifelock has gotten so expensive. Do I even need it?” — Matt in Texas

I’ve been hearing this a lot, Matt. I agree, LifeLock is pricey. My bill was $239.88 a year. Now, I’m paying $62.64 a year, that’s a 74% savings! More about that later.

Yes, you really need a service to protect your identity, more so than ever before. Number one, there have been so many data breaches, just assume the scammers and thieves have all your personal data.

Add to that today’s AI tools make it super easy for someone to create fake documents, clone your voice and put you talking in a video.

No red flags

Throw away your assumptions that you’d somehow “know” if someone stole your identity. No sirens go off. You don’t get a text from a hacker whispering, “Gotcha.”

In reality, identity theft often happens in total silence every five seconds.

Like the retiree in Florida who lost $14,000 when a thief opened a credit card in his name and drained his credit line before the bill even showed up.

Then there’s Susan, who got a collection call for a $36,000 car loan she never took out. A thief used her name and driver’s license to snag a new SUV.

Another woman had $18,000 in loans taken out using her name. She never got an alert. Not from her bank, not from her credit monitoring service.

The dark side

You find out only when you try to do something boring, like apply for a loan, get a job or file taxes. By then, you’re already in financial Hunger Games with your name attached to debt, crimes or worse.

These days, identity thieves just buy your info online from that old fitness app you forgot about or a health insurer you didn’t even know was hacked.

What I use

I use NordProtect, and I couldn’t be happier. Full disclosure: They’re now a sponsor of my show. It costs just $5.22 a month with my show’s 65% discount, which is roughly 25% of what I used to pay with LifeLock.

You get real-time alerts if your info shows up where it shouldn’t, dark web monitoring, credit and financial account tracking and a human to help if someone tries to take out a loan or credit card in your name.

It also guides you through shoring up your social media, browser settings and apps, so creeps can’t find easy ways in.

✅ Don’t wait! Get 65% off right now and protect your identity and financial life with this limited time offer.

No upsells, no endless tier plans, no nonsense. It’s simple, powerful, and works behind the scenes to keep your digital life safe.

🇺🇲 Before you hit the road, make sure your car is road-trip ready.

📅 Prime Day’s not waiting: The big day starts July 8, but early deals are already rolling in. Check ’em out and more on my storefront.

🛠️ Hacker turned pitch guy: A Missouri man hacked a gym, dropped his membership to $1 and emailed the owner, offering “cybersecurity consulting” after proving he broke in. He also posted their camera feed on social. Not the sharpest guy. He now has plenty of time to work out in prison.

AI’s voice is yours now: This is wild. People are starting to speak like AI, even when they don’t realize it. Words like “delve” and “meticulous” have surged in usage post-ChatGPT, and researchers say this is just the beginning. Our speech is getting more structured, polished and kinda robotic.

🍑 Corporate glutes in crisis: TikTok has declared war on “office chair butt,” the slow flattening of your glutes from too much sitting. The formal diagnosis? Gluteal muscle group atrophy. Symptoms include sagging cheeks, back pain and a general vibe of “my body quit.” Now people are squatting between Zooms and lifting water jugs like resistance bands.

🍏 Apple owes you? Hurry up, sweet cakes. You’ve got until July 2 to claim your share of a $95 million settlement over Siri snooping accusations. If you owned a Siri device between 9/17/2014 and 12/31/2024, you could get up to $20 per device (max five). Look for an email titled “Lopez Voice Assistant Class Action Settlement” to submit a claim. Didn’t get one? Click New Claim. I’m getting $100.

🤔 AI’s dumbing us down: A study found that students using ChatGPT to write SAT essays showed lower brain activity and focus compared to those who didn’t. Over four months, they went from asking for some help to copy-pasting entire sections. Maybe the future shown in WALL-E isn’t that far off.

Want real home protection without the hassle? I love this system! No wires, no contracts, and setup takes just 30 minutes. It comes with sensors, cameras and 24/7 monitoring. Snag this deal while it lasts. For a limited time, get 50% off!*

I’ve got something you’ll want to hear. From Silicon Valley tech execs to cutting-edge anti-aging labs in Japan, collagen is the go-to for anyone serious about living longer, looking younger, and feeling better.

And the one I trust? NativePath Collagen.

It’s the secret to smoother skin, stronger joints, and better focus, all from one to two daily scoops. Whether you're noticing creaky knees, thinning hair, or fine lines that showed up out of nowhere, this stuff helps fight it from the inside out.

I take it and yes, I recommend it too. It’s clean and easy to mix.

NativePath Collagen: because aging is inevitable, but looking and feeling older doesn’t have to be.

⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Let’s turn off ad tracking on your phone. On iPhone, open Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking. For Android, go to Settings > Google > All services > Ads > Ads privacy.

🍏 iPhone manuals still exist: New iPhones don’t come with printed guides, but you can still find them online. Just go to Apple’s website and look up your model (they’ve got everything from the original iPhone to the latest iPhone 16). You’ll find the user guide, info sheet and even the official repair manual.

Share your location on WhatsApp: Open the chat, tap the Paperclip icon, choose Location, then Share Live Location and hit Send. They’ll get a live-updating map showing where you are.

🐶 Calm your pup: Leaving an anxious dog at home? Try playing soft, low-volume music. Classical music is best. It helps the space feel less empty and can ease separation anxiety. FYI: Start the habit while you’re home, so they link it with comfort.

Finders keepers: Looking for a file? Hit the Windows key and start typing its name. That’s it. On a Mac, hit Cmd + space bar and start typin’. So simple and saves so much time.

📝 Need to brush up? Microsoft offers free online training for its Office programs, including video tutorials, interactive guides and practice exercises.

Biometric bandwagon: Unlock your Amazon app on your phone with your fingerprint or face. On the web, open Amazon account settings, click Login & security, then click Set up next to Passkey.

Plus, Shirley asks for laptop recs, Kim writes an e-book, Robbie’s hubby falls for an $80K scam, Rich looks for copyrighted pics online, David wants to background check his tenants, and so much more!

⚡️ Watch so you don’t get scammed: The Antenna Man, known for helping people ditch cable, reveals how he got duped by a Ponzi scheme and lost a big chunk of his life savings.

Mix it up: Two scoops of collagen* into your coffee, tea or smoothie. It’s an easy way to strengthen your joints and get extra protein. Bonus: It smoothes wrinkles, too.

🖼️ Take a museum tour in your PJs: Explore world-class museums in 360º without ever having to find parking.

See if your genius idea already exists: Google Patents has the full text of more than 120 million patents from around the world. Weird example of the day: this one from Russia for fake cheese.

🎙️ Clone your voice with scary accuracy: I want you to try this out. Talk for 20 seconds, and this AI can mimic your voice. After the AI does it, the site wants $9.99 a month. There’s no need to do that part. Just see how it works. Oh, use a disposable email address when you sign up, too.

Friend me: I’m on Instagram, X, YouTube, Facebook and everywhere else!

💥 Answer: C) Five to seven Mentos for optimal blast. That’s the magic number for most 2-liter Diet Coke eruptions. The real secret? Surface area. Mentos are coated with tiny pits (aka nucleation sites), which rapidly force carbon dioxide out of the soda, turning a calm bottle into a caffeine-fueled geyser. Try with the kids!

Speaking of… What kind of doctor is Dr. Pepper? A fizzician!

📻 See you on the radio: Find your local station or hit this link to open my award-winning national show as a podcast in your favorite player.

The vibes don’t lie. This is the top tech newsletter in the nation, and you’re officially in. Tomorrow, we’re talking about the quiet automated driver takeover. Talk soon with more tech tips so good, even your kid might ask for help! 😄 — Kim

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