Happy Friday, friends! Let’s kick things off with our tech world trivia. How did Elon Musk make his first $500 at age 12? Was it by … fixing bicycles, mowing lawns, programming a game or making pinewood derby cars for his scout troop? You’ll find the answer at the bottom of this newsletter.

🤗 Glad you’re here. Your clicks, shares, social media comments, replies, forwards, podcast listens, love for my show and everything else you do to support me and the team mean the world to us. Thank you! — Kim

Google it! It’s normal behavior now when you want to find out, well, anything. What about when you need a software download, a customer service number or your doctor’s website? Keep your eyes peeled.

At the top of those search results are “Sponsored Results,” paid ads businesses use to drive website traffic. Right now, you can find an Amazon ad that looks like the real thing … and redirects to a Microsoft tech support scam that will lock up your browser, take your money and more.

Criminals know how to sneak in their dangerous links. Even worse, these links also show up at the top of regular search results. Fear not; I am here to save the day and show you how to stay safe.

Be careful where you click

Google doesn’t vet everyone who buys an ad. Cybercrooks have a long history of hiding nasty malware in Google Ads, and they're getting really good at SEO, so their malicious search results are at the top.

BleepingComputer spotted the bogus Amazon ad. All you have to do is click the result and your screen is taken over by pop-ups urging you to call Microsoft. It’s a scammer on the line, of course; Microsoft has nothing to do with it.

Another recent target? Doctors, clinics and hospitals. Yep, you could end up with malware just by searching Google for your doctor’s name so you can grab the address.

Any site with a ton of traffic is risky, too. Think YouTube, Facebook, Amazon, Target and Walmart. Those are just a few companies attackers use to get you to click on their malicious results.

How to protect yourself

With more tools than ever at their disposal, scammers are good at writing things that can trick anyone. Outsmart these jerks.

• Don’t click on sponsored links or advertising when Googling something. 
• Type all web addresses directly into your browser so you know you’re going to the official or legitimate site.
• Before clicking any link, hover your cursor over it to see where it goes. Does the URL look off? Don’t click.

Want to make sure you’re protected? Antivirus is your friend.

🎸 Watch out for a new text messaging scam. It says you won $500 or VIP tickets to the Elvis show in Las Vegas. You need to press 1 for the money or 2 for the show. (Good one, right?)

🔷 Blue screen of death: Microsoft's August 2023 preview updates have some Windows PCs displaying the dreaded blue screen, with a warning about a processor error. Don't worry — after a couple of restarts, you'll be good to go.

Speaking of … 85% of folks working at the Pentagon use Microsoft Office — and their security tools are now included in a multiyear contract. Using only one IT vendor makes the nation more susceptible to hackers. Come on, Washington. You can do better.

It’s no yolk: Parents on TikTok are cracking eggs on their toddlers' heads. Natural tangle remover? No, just a prank. Doctors are not a fan of #eggprank. They're warning it could lead to bruises or spread germs. Parenting tip: Don’t.

Major Big Brother: I thought this was interesting. Police in Lexington, Kentucky, are introducing Fusus, an AI tool that syncs traffic cams, license plate readers and other data bits for real-time surveillance. Locals can volunteer their security cameras for the police to tap into. "1984" ‘twas a very good year ...

Another urgent eye drop alert: Dr. Berne's MSM Drops 5% Solution and LightEyez MSM Eye Drops Eye Repair are both dangerous. The FDA says people are getting serious infections. Toss them out now. 

🚲 Seat struggles: Over 2.2 million Peloton bikes were recalled because of scary seat issues. It's proving to be more than just a hiccup. Out of 750,000 new seat requests, only 340,000 have been fulfilled. Be careful.

Charge the iPad: Researchers tracked 18,000 people over eight years and found online engagement may help maintain cognition and fight against brain aging. Folks ages 50 to 65 who are “offline” showed a 50% higher risk of dementia. Great info if you have an older relative.

Get it while it’s on sale: Thwart porch pirates and avoid door-to-door salespeople with the Ring Video Doorbell 3. It’s $50 off right now. Pro tip: The ideal video doorbell height is 48 inches from the ground.

Got a few spare minutes during your drive? Or maybe you're chilling at home? Sounds like 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.

👉 Download an episode today!

Internet providers always push the priciest plans and do their best to convince you to spend more money. News flash: You may be overpaying. 

• 10 Mbps: Great if you only have a few devices connected to your Wi-Fi and use your network to visit websites and get email.
• 25 Mbps: Perfect if you watch lots of videos and download big files.
• 100 Mbps: Online gamers and streamers, this one’s for you.
• 500 Mbps or higher: Ideal for simultaneous streaming, online gaming and downloads on many devices. You need the speed.

If your TV buffers right when things get good on “Yellowstone” or your doorbell’s video quality is so bad you can’t tell who’s at the front door, it might be time to upgrade.

But if all the devices on your network are working quickly and smoothly, you could downgrade your plan and save money every month.

Budget accordingly: You don’t need a gigabyte plan to watch Netflix while your honey works on their computer and the kids play with tablets. The setup will slow to a crawl on a 10 Mbps plan, so aim for something in between.

Calculate how much internet you need. → 

🌊 What do you call slow internet in the ocean? Laten-sea.

When there’s too much on your screen, it’s hard to focus. Minimize clutter by shaking your active window. On Windows, you can click and hold the title bar, then shake your mouse left and right to minimize all other programs. Repeat to restore the minimized windows.

Not working? You may need to enable the feature: 

• Go to Settings > System > Multitasking. 
• Look under the Title bar windows shake section.
• Turn on When I grab a window’s title bar and shake it, minimize all other windows.

🖥️ Feeling left out, Mac users? Here’s a trick: If you tilt two fingers on your trackpad at the same time, you’ll rotate images and graphics. Cool, huh?

Picking out a new computer is stressful, but you don’t have to go it alone. That’s where the pros at Dell come in, and right now, you can save up to $750.

If you’re shopping for your small business, side hustle, new venture, you name it, you can chat with a small-biz expert to get totally free advice on the right hardware. No obligation to buy, either.

I floss religiously — every Easter and Christmas.

The answer: Elon Musk's been making money since he was 12. That’s when he and his brother, Kimbal, used a Commodore VIC-20 to create a video game called Blastar in 1984 and sold it to a magazine for $500. This was way before he got into electric cars, back when he was known as “Lon Musk.”

💻 Heads up! I’m hosting a special contest very soon. Hint: Tell your pals about my newsletter, and you’ll be entered to win a BIG prize. See you in your inbox Sunday with the best tech newsletter in the world. Until then, stay amazing! — Kim