Welcome aboard the Komando Tech Train! Let’s kick things off with trivia. Blockbuster had around 9,000 video-rental stores worldwide at its peak. When it filed for bankruptcy in 2010, it had just 1,700 stores. How many are open today: One, 10, 18 or 30? Answer’s at the bottom, friends. (Oh, and if you also know the Blockbuster and Netflix connection, give yourself a pat on the back.)

🙏🏻 I need your help. Do me a huge favor and reply to this email. You can say “OK,” send an emoji or tell me what you think of my free newsletter. Heck, I'll take a blank email. Why? This one gesture tells your email provider you want my messages in your inbox, not your junk folder. Thank you for your support. Now, on with the tech know-how! — Kim

So you accidentally booked the wrong nights for an upcoming hotel reservation. Hey, it happens.

You do a quick Google search to find the hotel's phone number, call the one at the top, and a representative answers right away. You give them your info, read off your card number, and they hang up. Something feels … off. My friend, you may have been scammed.

Over 91% of people rely on Google for information every single day, and crooks know this. No wonder they're hijacking Google search results to scam you.

I’ve got the scoop on how they do it and how you can stay safe. I’ve got your back!

Suspicious searches

Bad news for you and me: Today’s cybercriminals use tools like ChatGPT to create insane amounts of content at lightning-fast speeds. Their goal? To snag your personal and financial information.

Google's algorithms haven't fully caught on, ranking bogus content at the top of your search results. Instead of reputable companies and sources popping up first, we're seeing more and more poor-quality websites and suspicious targeted ads.

Scammers get around Google's BS detectors by posting content on established sites, like Reddit and LinkedIn. It doesn’t stop there.

Tricks of the trade

Here are a few of the most common tricks scammers use to get to the top of your search results.

Bogus bots: Crooks create fake personas and make them look like authority figures online. They might even have a complete LinkedIn page and a trail of written articles on their area of "expertise."

💡 Pro tip: Do a reverse image search of their profile pic and a little digging into their background. They may be 100% made up.

Sly snippets: Snippets are highlighted webpage sections that Google ranks as popular and deems an authority on the subject. You'll often see snippets when you Google phone numbers for airlines, tech support sites and hotlines.

💡 Pro tip: The major red flag is speed. You’ll usually get right through to a representative if you call these numbers, which (almost) never happens when you call an airline, for instance. The rep may also ask for personal information, like a credit card number, right away.

Sketchy ads: Searches often begin with a sea of sponsored ads. Sometimes, it can take a while to scroll down to the actual results.

💡 Pro tip: Keep scrolling until you get to results that don’t say “Sponsored.” Scammers are good at sneaking into this section.

You’ll find more tips for safe, smart searching on my website. Be careful out there!

🤣 Bono from U2 says he's given up on alternative search engines like Bing and will just use Google from now on. He still hasn't found what he's looking for. (Yes, I agree — that joke’s so bad, it’s good!)

Forget hacking networks: Now, cybercriminals are using genuine logins stolen from real people. Info-theft malware is already up 266% in 2024. Keep all your usernames and passwords safe, and don’t give them to anyone. And you really need solid antivirus software. Get TotalAV* for $19 for the first year on up to five devices.

Hare today, gone tomorrow: Meet Rabbit R1, a small, AI-powered device. Press a button and voila, your takeout is on its way, the Uber is scheduled, and your vacation is booked. Sounds cool, but when our phones become just as smart, do we really need another device? Nope.

⚠️ Facebook funeral scam warning: Scammers have hit a new low, creating fake funeral livestreams. They use real details from obituaries to trick grieving families into giving their credit card info for a "service." These scams are blatantly obvious. Why hasn’t Facebook done anything to shut them down? Oh, I forgot … It doesn’t care.

Apple did what? Apple just doubled the battery life for iPhone 15 models to a whopping 1,000 cycles with a free update. Translation: Your phone’s battery stays fresher for longer. Check your battery health in your phone settings. Apple must have a lawsuit coming over battery life to have made this change.

Catfish crackdown: Tinder's new ID verification system could slow scammers. You get a blue checkmark by submitting a video selfie with your driver’s license or passport. Not keen on ID show-and-tell? A video selfie alone earns you a blue camera icon. Better than nothing, I suppose.

🔊 Fun fact: AirPods can stand up to stomach acid for at least 9 hours. That’s how long it took to remove one from a gal named Moe Kennedy, who swallowed the earbud in her sleep. Get this: It worked just fine in her stomach and after her emergency endoscopy to remove it.

💰 Small wins, big drama: AMC is forking out $8.3 million because it got too share-happy with customers’ personal deets. If you were a subscriber between January 2021 and 2024, grab a slice of the settlement pie. Don’t get too excited, though; you might be looking at less than $1. Everyone gets a free week of AMC+, too. Gee, thanks.

Fabulous health news: Emily Hollenbeck, who suffers from treatment-resistant depression, found a new lease on life with deep brain stimulation (DBS). It involves placing thin metal electrodes in a part of the brain that regulates emotional behavior. The results? She could actually taste food, and music moved her again. The FDA is pushing to bring this miracle tech to more people in need. Amazing, right?

👉 Have a laugh on us: Andrew, Allie and I will be doing our YouTube, Rumble and Facebook video stream today at 10:30 a.m. Pacific. Be sure to leave a comment (or two) wherever you watch live or on demand!

Instead of giving guests your Wi‑Fi password, post a QR code they can scan with their phones. It’s a secure shortcut with your password hidden inside.

QIFI.org is a free online QR code generator for Wi‑Fi access that works with Apple and Android. You need three pieces of info to use it:

🛜 Print your unique code, put it in a nice frame and your guests will just need to scan it to join the network. Smart idea to use at your home or if you run a coffee shop or another biz with Wi‑Fi access!

⚾ iSports: OK, it’s called Apple Sports, and it’s a new way to track scores for your favorite teams via iPhone. It’ll support MLB, NFL, NCAA football, WNBA, MLS, NBA, NCAA basketball (men’s and women’s), NHL, and lots more. Download it here.

A swipe away: On a Chromebook, gestures can do a lot. Swipe up with three fingers to see open windows. Tap a link with three fingers to open it. Close a Chrome tab with a three-finger tap.

Small-biz lifesaver: Need help finding customers? Take advantage of the Small Business Administration's free tools to pinpoint industry trends, master demographics and more.

🎬 Want to watch a movie on YouTube? Search for the title and the word “movie,” like “Oppenheimer movie.” You’ll get the option to buy or rent if it’s not available for free.

If you hate FaceTime or have Android users in your crew, WhatsApp for Mac is a solid group call option. You can add eight people on a video call or 32 for an audio-only call. It also works for Windows PCs.

Need help with something tech? Let’s talk. Fill out this form to chat with me on my national radio show. I would love that!

A little birdie told me prizes are changing soon for my referral program. When you hit 1,000, you get something big. It's easy to share.

🔗 OK, OK — I'm giving away too many iPad minis, so prizes are changing soon. This is your last chance to get an iPad mini, so earn one while you can! Just copy your link, share it and you’re good to go. We’ll keep track of your referrals for you. Thank you!

The Wizard of 28 Grams.

🎞️ The answer: One. The last Blockbuster is located in Bend, Oregon, about 160 miles south of Portland. At its peak in 1994, Blockbuster was valued at $8.4 billion. In 2000, Blockbuster turned down an offer to buy Netflix for $50 million. What a mistake!

I went to Blockbuster and asked if I could rent “Batman Forever.” The clerk said, “Yes, but only for three days.” (Get it?)

Thanks for all you do to support me and the team behind the radio shows, podcasts, newsletters and website. Now, go look in the mirror, smile and say, “I am a tech smarty-pants!” See you tomorrow with the best tech newsletter in the USA! — Kim