Happy Monday! Here we are, starting another week together, friends. Thanks for being here! Today’s trivia question is about Amazon and money. Last year, how much did the company make in profits every single day? Was it … A.) $58 million, B.) $253 million, C.) $436 million or D.) $616 million? You’ll find the answer at the end.

🏠 I did the research on Crestron to make my home a smart home. They put together this great guide about home automation for the holidays. Now, on to the news! — Kim

There's fake news and there's fake celebrity news. Guess which one is spread the most and does the most damage on social media? You're so smart. Yup, it's fake celebrity news.

ExpressVPN's 2023 Misinformation Index includes a whole lineup of our famous friends who got caught up in a mess of fake news. Let's dig into some of the wildest, weirdest stories.

It's getting Musky in here

No surprise, Elon Musk topped the fake-news index with 157,385 engagements. Since the Tesla boss began his reign at X, he's been criticized for spreading false information so much that it even grabbed the attention of the European Union.

Musk is sometimes the subject of fake news himself. One bogus viral video says he invented a quantum AI project to solve poverty. The clip showed Musk on "Tucker Carlson Tonight," but it was debunked because the audio didn't match the video.

In too deep(fake)

Not even Taylor Swift is immune. A fake story about her went viral on Reddit, complete with an AI-generated photo showing Swift eating ice cream in front of hungry children in Africa — apparently during her Eras tour … except the tour never went to Africa. Oops.

A photo of Selena Gomez at this year's Met Gala also ran rampant online. She wasn't there, though. The deepfake creator superimposed her face onto a picture of actress Lily James at last year's Gala.

Oh, baby, baby

A video of pop megastar Rihanna went viral in November, showing her pregnant with what appeared to be her third kiddo with rapper A$AP Rocky. RiRi, however, had just given birth to their second child in August, so fans were shocked. Yeah, it was a hoax.

Then there was the Meghan Markle conspiracy that both her pregnancies were fake and she’d hired surrogates. Her husband, the royal formerly known as Prince Harry, is also a fake-news favorite. His name generated 6,048 engagements on fake news stories after his tell-all biography was released. The juiciest rumor? That he was about to get into American politics. Could you imagine? Talk about a nightmare.

Make sure you're not falling for phony headlines

• Double-check multiple sources: If it's a big story, multiple credible news outlets will be on it. See if the story is reported elsewhere by well-known media names.
• Look at the dates: Old stories can be misleadingly presented as current events. Ensure the news is fresh off the press.
• Inspect the images: Fake news loves bogus images. Use reverse image searches to check if the photo is authentic or manipulated.
• Check celebs' social media: Celebrities often set the record straight on their official social media channels. Look there for genuine updates.
• Utilize fact-checking tools: Websites like Snopes or FactCheck can be your allies in discerning truth from fiction.

Want the full breakdown? Check out the complete list here, and see if your favorite celeb made the cut. Btw, ExpressVPN isn’t a newsletter sponsor, but they do sponsor my national radio show and have for years. I use and recommend their VPN. Use this link to get three months free.

When I built my new home, I had to make so many choices. One thing was never in question: This house would be smart. I can control the lighting, sound and temperature from anywhere. I can adjust every little detail.

If you want to make your home merry, bright and cozy, check out Crestron Home® OS. Dim the lights, set the thermostat to cozy and turn up the carols with just one touch. Love that.

You can transform your outside spaces into jolly holiday displays and easily stream your favorite Christmas movies anywhere in the house. It’s all integrated into Crestron Home OS — and all you need for a very merry automated home.

Not sure where to start? The folks at Crestron have a special offer just for you.

💳 Gift card scam alert: Heads up! Scammers are tampering with store gift cards. They swipe the cards, scratch off that silver stuff to reveal the code, cut it off the card, and then they put them back on shelves. Buy one and poof! They have instant access to the value you paid for. Only buy a gift card if you can see its PIN code is still covered.

They’re just Stalin: Russians are using celebs like Elijah Wood on Cameo to spread propaganda. For a few hundred bucks, actors record "get well" videos to a fake "Vladimir" about substance abuse. The videos are then edited to include Ukraine's Zelenskyy. Guess no one told Russia Cameo is so 2020 right now — as in, it’s over.

Google’s busted: You know that Google demo of its new Gemini AI doing live tricks? Well, they lied. Turns out, Google staged the video. Hard to believe a company that size would do that, right?

Android's latest update: It lets you share medical details with 911 during emergencies — think allergies, meds or contacts. Head to Your info > Emergency info access > Share during emergency call. Like most things Android, it may or may not work on your phone, depending on the make and model.

Send in the drones: In Sweden, they're testing using drones to deliver defibrillators. Get this: They're beating ambulances to the scene 67% of the time. Learn more here.

Got a secret? WhatsApp's “View Once” voice notes are your new best friend. Press and hold the mic, spill the beans and tap the “1” icon. After one play, it's gone for good. Not really. Remember, someone can always make a recording on the other end while listening.

Baby, it’s cold out there: After a frosty nine-month period, SpaceX's Starlink satellites completed military tests in the arctic. This opens up SpaceX to land some large contracts with the Pentagon. Say what you want about Musk, but the guy gets things done.

The perfect sandwich, according to ChatGPT: The Daily Mail asked the AI chatbot to create the ultimate Christmas sandwich. Roast turkey? Check. Add some sage stuffing, cranberry sauce and gravy. Then, AI says to add ham, bacon and a layer of Brussels sprouts. Wait, what? I’ll stick to a tuna fish sandwich made with apples and almonds. No AI needed — just taste buds.

Are you that person who's famously hard to buy gifts for? Build a wish list for your buddies and family to look at. Since everyone’s shopping on Amazon, start with Amazon Lists.

• Log into Amazon, hover your mouse over Accounts & Lists, and click Create a List. Name it something fun and tap Create List to get started.
• Start adding your favorites by clicking Add to List under the "Buy Now" button on product pages.
• When you're ready to share, open your list and hit Send list to others. Decide if you want your friends to look or add their own suggestions.

😂 Wife: "You always get the worst Christmas gifts." Husband: "You didn't say 'over.' Over."

Whether you have a few minutes to spare during your drive or you're just chilling at home, it's the perfect time to tune in to The Kim Komando Show podcast! I keep it real, breaking down the latest tech trends, cybersecurity tips and gadget reviews into snack-sized, easy-to-understand episodes.

👉 Get my podcasts today!

📃 It sure beats scrolling: Next time you have a long document open in Word or Google Docs, use this trick. On Windows, press Ctrl + Home to jump to the beginning or Ctrl + End to jump to the end. On a Mac, it’s Cmd + Home and Cmd + End.

OK, this is smart: Your computer's search bar isn't just for finding files. Type in math equations or use it to convert units, open apps and find specific information within documents.

⚰️ For your eyes only: If you passed away suddenly, would you want someone to look at your browser history? If that’s a no, browser Opera GX now has "Fake My History." If you don't use your browser for 14 days, it swaps out your real search history with mundane stuff.

I love to cook, and I love to shop for kitchen gear. These may or may not be on my wishlist …

• Eating low-carb or keto? Get this top-rated Japanese rice cooker that strips out unhealthy starch by 37%. I love mine!
• Gift fun with the kids and grandkids. This indoor s’mores maker is fantastic.
• Make smoothies at home the easy way with the Magic Bullet Blender.

Stuck finding a gift for the cook in your life? Here’s a link to the most-loved kitchen items on Amazon. You’re bound to find something great!

Also satisfying: This upcoming Jan. 1 falls on a Monday.

The answer: D.) $616 million. Based on last year’s numbers, Amazon made $616,438,356.16 in profit every single day. Those numbers will be higher this year; the company reported making $64,809,782.60 every hour in Q3 2023. In other words, $1,080,163.04 per minute or $18,002.71 every second! Yeah, we’re both in the wrong business.

✅ You made it all the way down here? Yes! My day is complete! Do your part to keep this newsletter free to you and click this link to check out Crestron. They made my house super smart. See you back here tomorrow — same time, same place!

Thank you for letting me in your inbox. I hope you’re enjoying my free newsletters! — Kim