Travel hack: Sunday is the best day to book. The cheapest days of the week to fly are Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday — we’re talking 13% to 20% cheaper than if you fly on Friday, Saturday or Sunday.
It’s time to replace your old router
Most folks don’t know their wireless router — that handy dandy device alongside the modem that connects your devices to the internet — has a shelf life. Once it hits the three-year mark, you’re due for an upgrade.
That’s tough to swallow, I know. Routers aren’t all that cheap (though I have affordable picks for you below), and it feels like you should be able to keep using yours until it breaks.
Unfortunately, hackers bank on that. Your old model likely stopped getting most updates long ago and can’t handle the latest security standards.
‘But Kim, I just bought one!’
Hey, good for you. Now, is that shiny new router a TP‑Link? Bad news: The federal government is considering a ban on Chinese-owned tech.
Depending on which numbers you trust, about 65% of American homes and businesses use a TP‑Link router, along with the U.S. Department of Defense and other federal agencies. TP‑Link says this number is much lower, like 12% of U.S. homes. I doubt that.
The company has been tied to Chinese cyberattacks and reportedly lets security flaws slide, making them a big target. And they may be selling their routers for less than it costs to make them — a monopoly no‑no.
3 more reasons you need to upgrade
- You’re living in the Stone Age: The latest security standard is WPA‑3, released in 2018. Any router that uses WPA‑2 encryption needs to be replaced. To check, go to your router’s admin menu (steps here). Under the Wireless or Security menu, look for the encryption status.
- You’re stuck in the slow lane: If your router doesn’t support the latest and greatest Wi‑Fi standards, you can’t reap the speedy benefits. Wi‑Fi 6 uses the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, while Wi‑Fi 6e operates on the 6 GHz band. The more devices you have, the more this matters.
- You have dead spots: Your home should have a consistent, speedy network. Rather than relying on one router, a mesh network adds satellite modules around your home, blanketing the entire area with coverage. I’ve used mesh for years.
Without further ado, our picks
Komando’s resident IT genius, John, happens to be a networking genius, too. He’s picked a few solid options:
⚡ Fast: The Linksys Hydra Pro ($158) is a great base pick that covers up to 2,700 square feet and over 55 devices. The Linksys app helps with setup, so the installation isn’t painful. Mesh systems are awesome for larger homes, and this is a good option if you’re just browsing the web, working and scrolling.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Free VPN risk: Check this list of 9 infected apps
I’m cheap and try to save a buck wherever I can. I use all my credit card perks, always click the coupon boxes on Amazon, and, to my husband’s great annoyance, cancel streaming services the minute we stop watching them.
🔋 Battery-saving tip: Background App Refresh lets apps update in the background so they’re always ready when you open them. Handy, right? But it drains your battery and data. If your older phone is chugging, try turning off this feature. On iPhone, go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and switch it off for some apps or completely. On Android, head to Settings > Apps > [app name] > Battery > Background Activity and turn it off for specific apps.
Too long; won’t read: Eight sentences or longer, and 57% of people skim or ignore parts of your email. Pro tip: Put the most important info in the first line or write in bullet points to save time.
One bad click is all it takes: Hackers have so many ways to weasel into your system. EndpointLock encrypts your keystrokes when you enter usernames, account numbers and passwords so no one can copy and steal them. It’s genius. Hit this link for 10% off.
Teleportation: Two monitors are a game-changer, but it’s easy to lose track of your windows and feel a little disorganized. Here’s a handy shortcut to instantly move an open window to another monitor. On Windows, press the Windows key + Shift + the left arrow or right arrow. Mac pals, sorry, but it’s easy to just drag a window over with your mouse!
🖼️ AI image remixing tool: Google’s Whisk lets you create prompts with images instead of words. Open Whisk and drop in three photos for your subject, scene and style. Roll the dice (upper-right corner), and you’ll have your creation. If it’s not right, hover over your image and click Refine (upper-left corner) to edit it. Let me know what you create!
🚨 Keep your home safe with SimpliSafe, now 50% off! It’s easy to set up, and there are no contracts. Plus, it comes with 24/7 professional monitoring, because peace of mind shouldn’t break the bank. Don’t wait — grab this deal and protect what matters most!
iPad and Kindle trick: Next time you read a word that stumps you, press and hold down on it, then select Look Up for the definition.
Don’t just hope for the best: AI can help you stay on track. Just prompt your bot of choice with something like, “Help me create a daily habit that’ll help me reach my resolution of [your goal] with a 30-day tracker. Include tasks for weekly milestones and small rewards for consistency.” Be one of the 10% of people who stick to their 2025 goals!
📈 Facebook ad tip for small-biz owners: Use Engagement Custom Audiences to target people who’ve already interacted with your content (e.g., someone who has liked one of your posts or watched a video). This cuts the cost of getting a qualified lead. Love that! To get started, go to Ads Manager > Audiences > Create a custom audience. <a href=”https://www.komando.com/getsmallbiz/” trigger-id=”4779805″>Then, be sure to try my upcoming small-biz newsletter</a> for more smarts like this.
Screenshot with ease: On iPhone, press the side button + volume-up button. On Android, it’s usually the power + volume-down buttons.
Fear of the unknown: On a Mac, preview files instantly with Quick Look. Just select a file and hit your spacebar. This works for docs, images, videos — whatever. Windows pals, there’s a QuickLook app in the Microsoft Store so you can do the same. Nice.
If you don’t innovate, you’ll evaporate: You need to start using AI in your business before it’s too late. Find out how AI can streamline your operations. Take a free test drive of Oracle’s Cloud Infrastructure now at Oracle.com/kim.
That’s refreshing: Refresh rates (found in your computer’s display settings) control how things look on your screen. For regular work and browsing, go with 60Hz. For gaming or video editing, try 120Hz or 144Hz. Competitive gamers use 240Hz or higher. Now you know!
📊 Time travel … sorta: If you use Google Docs or Microsoft OneDrive, you can go back to earlier versions of your work (or someone else’s). In Google Docs, head to File > Version History > See Version History. In OneDrive, it’s under File > Info > Version History.
What do you mean, “only 7,203 steps”? If your smartwatch data seems way off, it might be a sizing issue. Most accuracy problems are caused by loose-fitting watches that slip around on your arm. Buy one with straps you can adjust. I like these for Apple Watches.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
🔐 5 tools to lock down your cybersecurity: I work with brands I trust to keep you secure. Hit this page to see the tools I recommend.
Look extra tech-savvy: You’re showing a pal something on your computer and need to switch to a different open program. Instead of using your mouse, use your keyboard. Alt + Tab (Windows) or Cmd + Tab (Mac) will quickly cycle through everything you have open. Smart.