A fine techy Tuesday to you, friend! Let’s start with trivia. Google’s Street View relies on cars with multiple cameras for its pics. What was the first animal Google hired to capture a place they couldn’t access by car? Was it a … A.) Bird, B.) Camel, C.) Gorilla or D.) Penguin? The answer is at the end!

If something in today’s newsletter makes you laugh, shake your head or groan (talking about my jokes there), do me a solid and share it with a friend. After all, if you don’t have tech smarts, you’ll be left in the dust! — Kim

Staying safe and secure can feel like a full-time job. That’s why you have me! Below, I’m sharing nifty gadgets to keep your personal information, devices and even your car safe from prying eyes and sneaky thieves.

If you charge on the go

Scammers can rig public outlets to extract data from your device or upload malware onto it. This is known as “juice jacking.”

The PortaPow USB Data Blocker is a barrier between your USB cable and charger that blocks data transfers and syncing. The two data wires inside the USB‑A connector have been removed, making it physically impossible to move data.

Is Big Tech listening?

The only sure way to know is a physical solution, and that’s where the Mic‑Lock Microphone Blocker comes in. Mic‑Lock tricks your devices into thinking you plugged in a headset. FYI, it connects through a 3.5mm headphone jack, so you may need an adapter.

Instead of hiding your keys in the freezer …

Thieves can use a device to boost your keyfob’s signal and drive away with your car without breaking into it. The Faraday Key Fob Protector Box safely stores your car keys (and spares!) and blocks RFID signals.

For all the hikers and campers

Don’t chance having no phone service when you need it most. If you own a newer iPhone, you’re all set with Emergency SOS mode. Otherwise — or if you spend a lot of time outdoors — consider a satellite-connected GPS device like the Garmin Spot X.

Feel safer, no matter where you are

Personal security alarms are a no-brainer for certain folks. I gift them to young people in my family when they start driving or move off to college. She’s Birdie devices include 24/7 access to emergency help and can instantly alert your emergency contacts with your exact location.

Cheaper option: Six-pack of alarm keychain sirens. The batteries last a year, and they sound at 140 decibels. (That’s really loud.)

Protect your checks

Check-washing and theft are rampant. These pens use special ink so criminals can’t erase the amount you wrote in and put in their own. A four-pack is around $10 (26% off!).

Buzz off

Do what banks do and get a privacy screen for your computer. This brand has highly rated options for Windows laptops, MacBooks and standard monitors starting around $30. Pro tip: Use this page to find the right size.

For all the mail with your info on it

Identity theft protection rollers are sweet. Roll the ink across documents that contain things like your account numbers and address, pill bottles, glossy envelopes, whatever. It makes it impossible to read what’s below — no hassle, no mess and no loud noises.

Here’s a three-pack (sharing is caring) or a single roller.

Or shred it instead

You probably don’t need a fancy-pants shredder. I have the Amazon Basics model that handles 12 sheets at a time and credit cards. This thing is a complete workhorse!

📜 Did you hear the CEO of the world’s largest paper shredder company just died? Rip. Sorry, I had to …

🧈 This gold scam panned out: A 74-year-old Maryland man bought gold bars with his life savings and handed them over to a fraudster to “protect his bank account.” After, he saw a story on the local news about a woman losing a million dollars to this same scam. He contacted the police, who set up a trap and arrested the scammer. Unfortunately, the gold was long gone.

Another health care data breach: This time, it’s HealthEquity, a tech company that runs health savings accounts. Criminals got their hands on 4.3 million people’s names, numbers, addresses and payment info. What’s strange, though, is that no malware was spotted during the investigation, and there’s been no ransom demand yet.

🏎️ A Ferrari exec slammed the brakes: A Ferrari C-level exec got a text from his CEO, who wanted to chat on WhatsApp. They were texting about possible mergers when the CEO said, “Let’s talk.” And they did. The C-level exec said it was someone posing as the CEO (paywall link). He tested the caller, asking for the name of a book the actual CEO had recommended the exec read the week before. Surprise, the scammer hung up.

This doesn’t make cents: Honda, Hyundai and GM sold driving data for pennies. A letter to the FTC revealed data broker Verisk paid Honda 26 cents per car and Hyundai 61 cents per car. The info was then sold again to auto insurers. Hello, higher premiums. Opt out by going into your infotainment system’s Settings and looking for Data Privacy or Data Usage.

Water + electricity = Bad: Tesla is warning about a “charging hack” going around on social media. Folks are wrapping damp towels around Supercharger handles, claiming it increases the charging rate. It doesn’t. You’ll just interfere with the system’s temperature monitors.

💉 No butts about it: The FDA approved a new blood test to screen for colon cancer. With FDA approval, Medicare and insurance companies are more likely to cover the $895 Shield test. It won’t mean the end for colonoscopies, but it’s a way less invasive way to see if cancer is present.

What wood you do? A Georgia man lost his phone at night in the woods, and, while looking for it, he fell down a 50-foot well. He called for help but spent a long, cold night in the well. Rescuers took almost two hours to get him out using special equipment. PSA: Don’t walk around alone at night in the woods.

🤠 Did you hear Elon Musk is moving X and SpaceX to Texas? Yup, now all his X‑es live in Texas. (Oh, good one there!) Speaking of Musk, right now, you can spot Starlink’s massive train of 6,219 satellites in the sky. Go to FindStarlink.com and type in your city to see when and where it’s visible near you over the next five days.​​

“Alexa, Wikipedia [topic]”: If you’re the type of person who loves to settle arguments on the spot, try this. Ask Alexa to “Wikipedia” it, and she’ll read a preview of the full article aloud.

Keyboard shortcut smarts: Attach a keyboard to your iPad (I use this one), and you’ll get a list of shortcuts. Just hold down Cmd while using the app to view shortcuts for that app.

📲 Like a free assistant: Use a Google Pixel 3 or newer? Open the Phone app > More > Settings > Hold for Me. Turn it on. Next time you call a business or organization with long wait times, tap Hold for me > Start. You’ll get an alert when a rep is ready to talk.

Surveillance capitalism at work, right in your “free” Big Tech inbox. All your details are packaged up, used to target you with ads and sold to whoever wants to buy it. Check out StartMail* for secure, private email.

Kids love Roblox: Unfortunately, so do pedophiles.

🎶 Call me maybe: Set any song as your iPhone ringtone.

Listen up: Miss my weekend radio show? Catch up on your schedule.

The answer: B.) Camel. In October 2014, Google engineers strapped the Street View cameras on a camel in the Liwa Oasis. The 62-mile scenic desert near Abu Dhabi has some of the world’s biggest dunes.

🐪 How do camels learn to mate? They read the “Llama Sutra.” I know … Alpaca my bags and go.

Need my help? Reply to this email or drop me a line here. I read every single note you send. Thank you for letting me in your inbox, and I’ll see you tomorrow with a deeper look at just how much you’re worth on the dark web. — Kim