Good Monday to you, friend! In the tech world, hitting 50 million users means you own the market. The Apple iPod took three years to reach this milestone, and Facebook did it in three-and-a-half years. Pokémon Go hit 50 million downloads in 19 days. But wait — ChatGPT smashed the record in just five days! Whoa.

Here’s another number: 752. That’s how many shady data brokers no longer have my info, thanks to Incogni. These companies sell everything from your SSN to medical details to anyone who’ll pay. Take back your privacy like I did! Don’t wait: Use this link to grab their smokin’ Cyber Monday deal and protect yourself now! — Kim

It seems like every week, there’s another disturbing story in the news about hidden cameras. Spying on unsuspecting victims is nothing new, and, thanks to today’s tech, these creeps have taken their creepiness to a whole new level. Unfortunately, it’s easier than ever to get away with these crimes. Here are some recent ones we know about.

In a church bathroom

Will Johnson, a pastor in Michigan, admitted to placing a hidden camera in the church bathroom stall and recording people for the last two years. Johnson confessed everything to police, who are now trying to find where all these recordings ended up. I bet it’s probably some sicko porn site.

In a doctor’s office

In Pennsylvania, a chiropractor was caught using hidden cameras to record patients as they undressed. Police found a hidden camera in his office disguised as a working digital clock.

In a Starbucks bathroom

A Starbucks customer in San Jose, California, noticed something unusual about the bathroom’s baby-changing station. You guessed it — a camera’s tiny lens was strategically placed to record patrons using the bathroom.

In a teen’s bathroom

You’re not going to believe this one. A Kentucky family found a hidden camera in their 13-year-old daughter’s bathroom. A man living in the apartment above them had run a borescope inspection camera through his floor and into the ceiling of the teen’s shower below.

Do a manual sweep for hidden cameras

Today’s cameras are so small, they can be hidden virtually anywhere — lamps, light fixtures, vases, flowerpots, smoke detectors, air filters, vents, decorations, TV remotes and even within water bottles. Here are a few tips for spotting them:

• Inspect your surroundings: Shine a flashlight on mirrors, smoke detectors and alarm clocks. Hidden cameras often have tiny lenses or holes that reflect light.
• Use a hidden camera detector: They detect wireless signals or infrared light emitted by many hidden cameras. Here’s one I like.
• Check Wi‑Fi networks: In hotels, rentals or offices, scan the list of available Wi‑Fi networks nearby. If you see devices you don’t recognize, they could be hidden cameras.
• Cover suspicious devices: Blocking the view is a simple way to ensure some privacy. Any hidden cameras, though, will probably still record audio.
• Report it immediately: If you find a hidden camera, don’t tamper with it. Take photos, document everything and call the police.

✅ Share this post using the handy icons below with your family and friends. It could save them from becoming the next victim of this growing trend.

The holidays should be about joy and giving, not worrying about your personal information being bought and sold. Data brokers make big money gathering your personal sensitive info and selling it to the highest bidder. That includes:

• Your phone number
• Date of birth
• The places you’ve lived
• Your location history
• Your Social Security number
• Your driving habits
• What you buy at the grocery store
• And more — much more

This year, give yourself the gift of privacy and protection. I did the research and used Incogni to remove my personal data from all broker types.

Incogni has cut my spam calls and texts to zero. It helps in the fight against identity theft and stalking, too. I negotiated an exclusive deal for you to try it. Bonus: You can include up to three phone numbers, places you’ve lived and email addresses so they find all the records related to you.

🚢 Google = The Titanic: That’s how The Wall Street Journal now describes the search engine, which is on the verge of sinking. Here’s why: AI tools like ChatGPT, Gen Z searches on TikTok and, of course, Google’s increasingly worse search results. I called this two years ago. It’s nice to see the WSJ catching up.

Criminal mastermind: A Florida mom stole from Target using a barcode trick at self-checkout. She then went full “genius” and posted the evidence on TikTok. When police shared a screenshot of the would-be thief, a tipster identified her as a social media influencer with over 356,000 followers. Her account even showed her in the very same outfit, picking out the stolen goods.

🖥️ A solid CCleaner alternative: Microsoft released a new version of its free PC Manager app for Windows 10 and 11, and it’s way better. You can view your internet speed in real time from the taskbar and delete temp and unnecessary files even faster. Bonus: On Windows 11, you can integrate it directly into your widgets. Go get it, my Windows friends.

25,000-mile project: Meta is building a $10 billion underwater fiber-optic cable to circle the globe. Why? To avoid geopolitical hotspots where subsea cables have been sabotaged in the past, like the Baltic Sea and Red Sea. Owning a global network cable gives Meta full control to prioritize traffic to its own products and services.

“Moana” is now the No. 1 movie in streaming history: It just clocked over 1 billion hours of viewing time. The twist: It flopped in its 2016 box office release. Theories for its comeback range from its catchy songs to our love of island life (paywall link). A groaner for the kids: What is Moana’s cat called? Meowui.

🥳 I’m gonna live to 94: That’s according to the viral Death Clock app that’s all over social media, with people sharing eerie “save the date” results. Drawing from over 1,200 life expectancy studies with 53 million participants, the app analyzes your diet, cholesterol, blood pressure, exercise, stress and sleep to calculate your expiration date. PSA: After you answer the questions, the app tries to sell you a membership. Just click the faint gray “X” in the top left corner to see your results for free.

🪄 I did the digging so you don’t have to!

• 50% off clean floors? Yes, please! This voice- or app-controlled Shark robotic vacuum is a deal ($299.99, 50% off). It makes an easy gift for anyone who loves spotless spaces and doesn’t want to do the work (or doesn’t have the time).
• Salon style at home: Darling, you look marvelous! This Revlon one-step volumizer ($31.75, 55% off) dries and styles hair at the same time, giving it volume quickly and easily. It’s also perfect for traveling!
• Wrap her feet in cozy luxury: These fuzzy slippers ($15.99, 56% off) with memory foam will have her feeling like she’s walking on clouds, keeping her feet toasty and supported.
• Santa, I’d use this: This lightweight heated jacket delivers up to 10 hours of adjustable warmth, and it even warms your hands, too. Grab it for men or women ($104.99, 38% off). It’s perfect for chilly commutes, walks, outdoor work or freezing offices.
• HEYDUDE! Yup, the comfy shoes he’ll wear all the time are deeply discounted for a limited time ($38.99, 41% off).
• Rev up his style: This quality, stylish leather jacket ($134.38, 77% off) is the ultimate year-round staple, ideal for layering from fall to spring. It’s so nice!
• Brighten their space: This Amazon Echo Spot smart speaker and color-changing smart bulb bundle ($44.99, 51% off) lets you play music, get the news and ask Alexa set the mood for you, with 16 colors and schedules. Perfect for any age, really!
• Up to 60% off Amazon devices: Whether it’s a kid’s tablet, Fire TV Stick or outdoor security cam, this is the secret Cyber Monday link to use!

👉 Shop all Cyber Monday deals: Gifts under $10 | Electronics | Toys and games | Cooking and baking | All deals

Travel Tuesday is tomorrow: It’s like Black Friday and Cyber Monday but for travel deals. On Google Flights, search for your destination, look under the Top departing flights results, and toggle on Track prices (graph icon) for specific dates (or any dates) to see when the lowest prices hit. Visit your favorite airline sites for any deals, too.

⭐️ Thanks, Microsoft: Super-high-res pictures make your Word document or PowerPoint presentation files so much larger. Save a ton of space with this trick: Lower the images’ resolution by compressing them. Word and PowerPoint will do it for you. Just search the program’s help using the phrase “compress pictures.” Lovely.

Drowning in debt? Take a deep breath and use this free debt analysis tool. It takes just 30 seconds. No commitment, no hassle — just clarity.*

🚀 Speedy scrolling: Ignore the mouse next time you read a long article on a website. Use the spacebar to scroll down and Shift + spacebar to scroll up.

Add these to your shortcut repertoire: Use Ctrl + T (Windows) or Cmd + T (Mac) to open a new tab and Ctrl + Shift + T (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + T (Mac) to reopen a recently closed tab. Hit Ctrl + Tab (Windows) or Cmd + Option + right arrow (Mac) to quickly switch between open tabs. Sweet.

NASA nerds’ version of the Yule log! Get all four hours here on my site.

Since I kicked off today’s newsletter with a number, here’s another one. Doug Drury, a professor at Central Queensland University, did some number-crunching on flights that, well, didn’t go so well. He found aisle seats at the back of the plane were the safest. The fatality rate for those in a crash is around 28%. I have a ton of airplane crash jokes, but none of them ever land.

🚨 Left wide open: SL Data Services, a background-check company, leaked private info on over 600,000 people. We’re talking full names, employment details, social media accounts and more, all just sitting there, unencrypted and without a password. Cybercriminals have already gotten their hands on it. Another reason to get Incogni, folks — especially their limited-time Cyber Monday deal! These background-check outfits can’t leak data they don’t have in the first place.

You’re the best for letting me in your inbox. I hope you learned something new today that’ll make your life a little better. Be sure to hit the ratings below, and I’ll see you tomorrow with another issue of the best tech newsletter in the USA! — Kim