Welcome to a marvelous Monday, friend. Ever wonder how your smartphone “knows” the exact time, no matter where you are in the world? Well, it syncs with one specific time zone to keep everything accurate. Make a guess and you’ll find that little tech nugget at the end of this newsletter.

💪  Wonder why some emails vanish? Big Tech’s filters are to blame. Want to keep hearing from me? Just hit reply with a quick “Got it” or “Hi,” which helps make sure my messages don’t get buried. Thanks for your support!  — Kim

This is the kind of thing that makes you wish flip phones were still a thing. The world has moved from marketing to digital profiling. We are being tracked like never before.

Advertising giant Publicis Groupe just released a video bragging that its CoreAI platform tracks a staggering 91% of all adult internet users. Yes, that probably includes you, me and everyone we know.

In the clip, they introduce “Lola.” CoreAI knows:

• What she watches and when
• Everything she purchases
• How inflation affects her shopping choices
• Where she shops in person and online
• What ads she’s seen
• Who she follows on social media
• When she’s vulnerable to switching to a cheaper brand
• Her medical issues

They’re not guessing. This is based on real-world tracking across phones, smart TVs, loyalty cards, public records, app data, cookies and more. 

🕵️‍♀️  You agreed to this

Companies like Publicis, Acxiom and Epsilon aren’t names you see on your apps. They’re behind the curtain, collecting everything they can from:

• Apps you install (especially free ones)
• Websites you visit
• Smart devices in your home
• Retail purchases and loyalty programs
• Location data from your phone
• Even your connected car’s infotainment system

🔐   What you can do about it

Start kicking creeps out of your data trail. PSA: It’s work.

• Review and clear your Google activity history. Google logs every search, site visit, voice command and more.
• Turn off ad personalization on Google, Facebook, Amazon and Instagram. These platforms track you to build ad profiles. Check these settings monthly, they often reset.
• Don’t link your accounts. Logging in with Google or Facebook sounds convenient, but it gives companies more data than you realize.
• Check app permissions. You’d be surprised how many apps have access to your location, contacts, microphone or SMS history.
• Limit location tracking. Disable “precise location” for apps that don’t need it, especially shopping apps, weather apps and games.

🛑  Publicis isn’t just buying data 

They’re weaponizing it. With AI, they’re turning what data brokers collect into scarily precise digital profiles. Then they sell it to advertisers, marketers, government agencies and players you’d never want near your personal info.

This is why I encourage you to check out Incogni. It’s a smart tool that acts as your legal representative, sending removal requests to data brokers and people-search sites on your behalf.

I use it myself and love it. They’ve removed me from over 1,110 companies. They also add you to a suppression list, so your personal data stays off those sites moving forward.

You get a dashboard to track progress, and it works quietly in the background while you get your privacy back.

✅  I’ve got a 60% off deal for you. Just use my link to learn how Incogni protects you and cleans up your digital footprint. The less of your info floating around online, the fewer scam texts, robocalls and junk emails you’ll get, too. You need this!

🚀   Trump announced Boeing will build the F-47: It’ll still have a human pilot, but it’s capable of flying autonomously with a swarm of AI-powered drone wingmen. This next-gen jet packs stealth tech, advanced sensors and hypersonic weaponry. China and Russia? Not even close. Watch more here.

Less than five years: That’s when Nvidia’s CEO says humanoid robots working 24/7 will be mainstream. They’ll show up in factories first, since the tasks are specific. Renting one could run you about $100,000 a year. So maybe don’t expect one folding your laundry just yet.

StubHub is going public: The ticket resale marketplace just filed to list on the New York Stock Exchange. Even though it pulled in $1.77 billion in revenue in 2024, it still posted a loss of $2.8 million. (How does that happen?) Anyway, wondering who else is lining up to go public? Keep an eye on CoreWeave, Klarna and Hinge Health. 

🐱 Meow you’re talking: Scientists are building the world’s largest cat database to figure out why our feline friends act the way they do. Just send in a fur sample, fill out a survey about your cat’s behavior and give a $150 donation. The team will analyze the DNA and look for links between genetics, personality and health. Want in? Sign up here. 

Samsung broke your soundbar: And they know it. A bad software update they pushed last week left a bunch of soundbars unresponsive and inaccessible. It gets worse: It’s so severe, it can only be fixed with a physical repair. Samsung’s offering to fix it for free, even if you’re out of warranty. The least they can do.

🍫 A real-life Willy Wonka show? Yep, Netflix is casting for a new reality competition series inspired by Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. It’s called The Golden Ticket, and contestants face wild games and temptations in a retro-futuristic dreamscape. The best part? You can apply now. I just got over my addiction to chocolate, marshmallows and nuts. It was a Rocky Road. (I saw you smile!)

✈️  These affordable, unique accessories should be in your bag.

• Add an extra layer of security with a portable safe (17% off). Secure it with a cord when you arrive at your hotel.
• On a plane that makes you plug in your headphones? Try these wired Sony earbud headphones (50% off).
• Tidy up your wired earbuds with this pack of two cord organizers (13% off) for you and your travel buddy.
• This travel wallet can hold your boarding pass, passport, ID and cards so you have ’em on hand. 
• Organize all your cords and wires with this accessories bag.

😎  For my biggest fans: Off to somewhere hot? Snag a portable neck fan (11% off), so you can chill out in the sun.

Google’s new AI video tool: I’ve been playing around with it and wow, it’s something. It can take text and create a full-blown video. Try it out. I think you’ll be amazed.

🌐  Need a backup for your internet? Check out Starlink’s new $10 monthly plan for existing subscribers. It’s part of the Roam tier, so you can use it anywhere in the world. Sounds good, right? Well, here’s the catch: It’s capped at 10GB. Blow past that, and you’re paying $2 per extra gig. Ouch.

Stay safe: Fitness app Strava’s Heatmap feature shows popular workout routes … but it also broadcasts your location. Keep your routes private: Go to Settings > Privacy Controls > Map Visibility and uncheck Contribute your activity data to de-identified, aggregate data sets.

Lock down your device security: If you’re still browsing, shopping and working online without antivirus software, you’re making a mistake. My trusted pick is $19 for the first year.*

Erased forever: Files in your trash are still sitting around. To permanently delete a file on Windows without sending it to the Recycle Bin, hold Shift + Delete. On a Mac, select the file, click File from the menu bar, then hold the Option key. Watch as the “Move to Trash” option magically changes to Delete Immediately.

✍️  Why type when you can write? With Scribble and an Apple Pencil ($99.99, 23% off), your iPad running iPadOS 14 or higher converts your handwriting into typed text. It recognizes cursive and messy handwriting. It’s fast, natural and feels like magic. Go to Settings > Tap Apple Pencil >Toggle on Scribble.  

🔒  Privacy, please: Nearly every social media site strips metadata from photos. This shows when, where and how a picture was taken. But when you text a pic, that info can still show. Stop that. Open the image you want to send and tap the share button. Select Options and toggle off Location. Tap Done.

50% off alert: My home security pick, SimpliSafe, is having a massive sale.* Get all the gear to lock down your home. You’ll sleep better at night.

At the 2025 World Expo in Osaka, Coca-Cola unveiled the world’s first hydrogen-powered vending machines. That’s right, no power outlet needed. Just pop in a hydrogen cartridge and voilà, you get a cold drink so you don’t need to be soda pressed. (Let’s see you write jokes for free!) 

The answer: Smartphones connect to atomic clock servers synchronized to the international standard of Greenwich Mean Time, or GMT. From there, your phone adjusts based on your location. Tech magic! I once toured the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, U.K. As a geek, I was totally enthralled with the place. You should see it someday, too!

⏱️  I’ve put a lot of thought into it, and 6:30 is the best time on a clock, hands down. 

🌻  Thanks for being here. Stay your wonderful self and pat yourself on the back for all the tech know-how you get with the best free newsletter in the USA! — Kim