Security tip: Next time you stay at a hotel, turn on your VPN

Did you know the average American spends more than 24 hours each week online? That is a considerable chunk of time.

If you’re one of many with multiple devices regularly accessing the internet, you probably know you need a secure connection to protect sensitive data. A virtual private network or VPN is the best way to do this.

But VPNs aren’t just crucial for protecting your home IP address. Here’s why Kim won’t ever leave home without our sponsor, ExpressVPN.

No more sketchy public Wi-Fi hotspots

Using public Wi-Fi hotspots is risky no matter where you go, and the potential consequences can be devastating. It doesn’t make a difference if you stay at a 5-star luxury hotel or have lunch at your neighborhood retro diner. You’re risking being victimized by cybercriminals.

Cybercriminals can intercept your connection and access your most important credentials and private data by setting up a fake Wi-Fi access point or just sitting nearby. You can feel secure logging into your banking websites and everything else with ExpressVPN. Your data stays private and secure.

Keep data private on all of your devices

An ExpressVPN subscription comes with easy-to-install apps for all of your devices. You can protect your PC, Mac, iPhone, Android and more.

You can install the app on unlimited devices and have up to five gadgets connected to one account simultaneously. That means you can protect your whole family while on the go.

It’s quick and easy to switch between gadgets. Simply disconnect one device to connect another.

Unrestricted access to all of your favorite content

After a long day of sightseeing, sometimes all you want to do is head back to your hotel room, pull up YouTube on your laptop and watch the latest video from your favorite cooking channel.

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Scam emails we got this week – Don’t fall for this junk!

Eight billion. That’s how many spam emails go out in the U.S. every single day. Komando staff (me included!) have received some real winners recently. Here’s a look at actual spam emails circulating right now. I want to keep you safe from junk like this, so read carefully!

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The web is dying ☠️

Remember where you heard it first. With AI saving a click over to a website, it’s only a matter of time until we say RIP to surfing the web.

Be the smart one at work: Download NetSuite’s free knowledge e-book, “The CFO’s Guide to AI and Machine Learning.” No matter what you do, you should know more about AI. It’s not going anywhere.

Is your phone expired?

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No matter how well you treat your smartphone, it won’t last forever. Here’s how to tell when it’s time for an upgrade.

Times are a-changin’: Atomic clocks were the most precise way to measure time for over 70 years, but not anymore. The first nuclear clock prototype is almost ready, and it’s not just more accurate; it could power faster internet, better GPS and even help unlock physics mysteries like detecting dark matter. More details here on how it works.

44 and 60 years old

When our bodies go through dramatic aging. Researchers tracked the molecules and microbes of 108 people over seven years. Most didn’t age gradually but did so in big bursts in their mid-40s and early 60s. Yup, age is an issue of mind over matter; if you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.

How to rock a remote interview: Tips for shining over the phone or on video

Remote interviews are the present and the future. Why? The pandemic forced many companies nationwide to move to a remote system nearly overnight.

Now that we’ve been operating remotely for a while, many employers have seen the positive benefits of having remote employees. Increased productivity is one of them.

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Best dashcams for 2024

Fourth of July is right around the corner, and we’re in for record-breaking holiday traffic. Some 71 million people are expected to travel over 50 miles during the week — the most on record.

I don’t mean to be a downer, but record-setting travel also means record-setting accidents, crashes and road rage. And being a defensive driver isn’t the only way to protect yourself on the road.

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How to download maps to your phone (Apple and Google Maps)

Long road trips can be stressful if you’re going through places with spotty service. This hack will help you stay on your path no matter how many bars you have.

Must-know AI info for 2025: Download “The CFO’s Guide to AI and Machine Learning, free from NetSuite, no matter what you do. You need to know more about AI; it’s not going anywhere.

Impress your boss in 2025: Download NetSuite’s free knowledge drop, “The CFO’s Guide to AI and Machine Learning.” No matter what you do, you should know more about AI. It’s not going anywhere.

Alerts that matter: You don‘t want Gmail informing you of every single email — only the ones you care about. Set it up that way. Open the Gmail app, tap Menu > Settings, and select your account. Tap Email notifications > High priority only. To set an email (and sender) as high priority, star a message or hit Mark as important.

Length matters: On Facebook, you can go up to 63,000 characters (don’t, though — that’s too long!). Mobile cuts you off at 150. On X, you have up to 280 characters; 70 to 100 tend to perform best. As for Instagram, it’s 2,200 characters max, but only the first 125 are seen. With LinkedIn, go long if you must, but the first 25 words matter most.

🇺🇸 Disinformation spreading on social media after Trump rally assassination attempt: Some posts, including those from elected officials, baselessly claimed President Biden ordered the shooting or the incident was staged. Do your best to avoid sharing unverified information. No matter which side of the political fence you’re on, it was a very sad day for our country. Prayers up for all.

🙏 Talk to your kids, I’m begging you: A 17-year-old boy from Ohio was conned into sending explicit photos to a scammer. Over 19 hours, the boy received more than 200 Instagram messages before he took his own life. Parents, share this story with your kids and tell them if this happens, you’ll help them no matter what, no questions asked.

Big Tech is tracking your emails

I have three different work email addresses — and a Gmail address I set up when it launched in 2004. I could never score the handle again today, but after 20 years, that inbox is a mess.

It’s become my disposable email address for coupon codes, free signups and newsletters — pretty much, the nonessential things in my digital life.

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Interview plus-ones? One in four Gen Zers says they’ve brought a parent to their job interview. Another 25% have had their parents submit a job application for them. PSA: If your kid asks you to join their job interview, say no. No matter how badly you want them out of the house, they’ve gotta learn to fly on their own.

5 legit ways to make extra cash on your schedule

If you’re sitting on a pile of cash sipping mai tais in Bora Bora right now, congratulations (and where’s my invite?). For the rest of us, making a little extra money never hurts.

People ask me all the time for an easy way to rake in the dough. Do those exist? Yes and no. 

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AI update: OpenAI’s ChatGPT-4o, Google Gemini 1.5 Pro and Claude iPhone app

It was a big week in the world of AI. Both Google and OpenAI released major updates. You know I’ve got your back. I cut through their marketing-speak to decipher what these updates actually mean for you and me. 

Google’s AI, Gemini 1.5 Pro, will handle tons of data. Need to summarize 1,500 pages of text? No problem. It’s pretty nuts.

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