Hi there, friends, and welcome to a marvelous Monday! We start with our trivia. Which tech company made headlines in 2018 for airing a TV commercial in which someone repeatedly said the device's wake word and ticked off everyone watching it? Was it … Google, Amazon, Apple or Samsung? Make a guess, and you’ll find the answer at the end.

🛟 Have tech troubles? Curious about the latest gadget? Drop your questions in my members-only Q&A Forum, and let me and my team of tech wizards guide you! And, because you’re a Tech News reader, enjoy a 30-day free trial of the Komando Community on me! After that, it's just $3.75 a month. Thank you for your support of all we do! — Kim

When you want to find a scammer, follow the money. Remember back in February, when Microsoft rolled out Microsoft Bing Chat, supported by OpenAI's GPT‑4? Microsoft wanted to shake things up and go head-to-head with Google. (Yeah, that’s when I first used the words “Microsoft Bing” without laughing.)

It was your typical AI chatbot until Microsoft decided to splash in ads. But guess what? Some sneaky cybercriminals have also jumped on their ad wagon, using it as a golden opportunity to spread malware. That’s right, scammers are buying ads from Microsoft to steal your data and money.

Here’s the nitty-gritty

Bing’s AI-based chat replies to your prompts more like a buddy than a search engine. It's friendly and that's the catch — this personal touch can make you lower your guard, so when an ad pops up in the chat, you’re more inclined to consider it trustworthy.

But these ads, sometimes disguised as actual download sites, can be downright nasty.

Malwarebytes caught one especially wicked ad pretending to be a download link for a legitimate tool called Advanced IP Scanner. Click on the ad, and you’ll find yourself directed to a dodgy site that checks if you're human (yes, scammers are that clever). It will then redirect you to a fake version of the actual site.

Oh, and that download? You’ll get it, all right — packed with malware scripts to steal your info or give hackers a free pass to your banking, shopping and other online accounts.

🚨 Be on your guard

Stay on your toes when using any AI app or platform, whether it’s Bing Chat, Bard or ChatGPT.

• Trust but verify: Just because it's chat-like doesn't mean it's your friend. Always double-check links and download sources.
• Watch for mistakes: “Advenced” isn't just a misspelling; it's a trap! Always check URLs for crafty typos.
• Ads in chat: If you see a promoted result or ads, hover and inspect before clicking.
• Protection first: Make sure your antivirus solution is always updated. I recommend TotalAV* for an extra layer of protection. It's just $19 for the first year.

This isn't the last time hackers will get creative. Stick with me and you'll always be up to date on the latest cybersecurity threats. Stay sharp and surf safely, techies!

🐮 Speaking of AI … I asked my sister, “Did you know Old McDonald’s farm has been taken over by artificial intelligence?” Her: “AI?” Me: “AI.” Her: “Oh.”

🕶️ Sunglasses for stalkers: Mark Zuckerburg announced the newest version of Meta’s $329 Ray-Ban smart glasses. They’re, well, creepy. They have little cameras at each temple, a tiny microphone, and can stream live to Facebook and Instagram. Nothing like walking into a room and announcing you’re recording everything and everybody … nothing to see here.

Website owners: Tell Google not to index your website’s content for Google Bard and its future AI models. A new tool called Google-Extended lets sites be indexed by web crawlers but keeps your hard work out of the AI’s database. Get the deets here.

Social media in session: The U.S. Supreme Court is about to rule on whether social media companies can remove certain political posts and accounts. Why? Texas and Florida passed laws in 2021 aiming to control how these companies moderate content. Of course, Big Tech wants to pick and choose what graces our feeds.

Router raiders: With an OK from the Chinese government, hacker group BlackTech is cracking into Cisco routers to swipe your data. They're also tinkering with the firmware to create a secret backdoor. Your best defense? No matter your router brand, make sure you always have the latest firmware.

📱 AI meets iPhone: ChatGPT-maker OpenAI is reportedly working with Sir Jony Ive, former chief designer at Apple, to build an “iPhone of artificial intelligence.” SoftBank’s founder has offered more than $1 billion in funding for the venture. Imagine, a good-looking phone that’s a real AI personal assistant. I’d put my money into this venture, too.

Windows update: Microsoft says no more activating new Windows 10 or 11 installs with old Windows 7 or 8 product keys. This primarily affects future versions of Windows, so if you have an old key, use it soon. Still using Windows 10? You should be able to update to 11 for free.

World's first flying car: Alef Aeronautics’ Model A debuted at the Detroit Auto Show two months after receiving FAA approval. It can go 200 miles on the road and lift vertically into the air. Price tag? $300,000. You know, we’ve always had flying cars, depending on how hard you hit the curb.

Bringing down the mouse: Disney+ is clamping down on password sharing in Canada, so it’s likely only a matter of time before it hits the U.S., too. No more password sharing outside your family. Disney+ lost nearly 12 million subscribers last quarter. When Netflix ended password sharing in May, it immediately gained 6 million paying subscribers.

Sound like a tech pro, even if you're not one. Try my award-winning, daily podcast. Search for my last name with "K" wherever you get your podcasts and "Go Komando!"

Listen to my podcast, Kim Komando Today, here.

A wacky background might get you a chuckle on your video call, but it's not doing any favors for your first impression. In fact, most of the frame in a video call is all about your backdrop — not just your spiffy outfit or new haircut.

Paddy Ross, an associate professor of psychology at Durham University, and his team took 72 snaps of 18 men and 18 women, each showcasing their best grin or best poker face. These faces were then digitally placed over six unique backdrops: A cozy living room, the same room but blurred, a scholarly bookcase, plants neatly arranged, a plain ol' wall, and — for some fun — a walrus scene.

Using only those images, 167 participants then had to rank the trustworthiness and know-how of the people in the photographs on a scale of one to seven.

The results?

Those framed by books or plants earned top marks. Meanwhile, our walrus-background pals and those in living room settings didn't fare so well. Somewhere in the middle were participants in front of the blurred room or basic wall backdrops.

Interestingly, women in the unblurred living room were seen as equally as competent as those in front of plants or books. Men? Not so much. Oh, and if you're wondering whether to smile or stay serious, go with the grin. Both men and women who smiled seemed more competent and trustworthy — probably, as Dr. Ross suggests, because it oozes self-assurance.

😀 What do you call Mondays without Zoom meetings? Meet-less Mondays. (Oh that was a good one!)

If you like to read, it’s hard to beat an Amazon Kindle. My favorite is the Paperwhite. Imagine tucking thousands of books into one slim device that’s no heavier than a notebook. And it's not just about sheer volume.

The Kindle’s e‑ink display is a blessing for your eyes. It also boasts an impressive battery life that means you're not hunting for a charger every other day, as well as adjustable fonts. Let's dive into some more lesser-known features to level up your reading game:

• WhisperSync magic: If you also have the Audible version of a book, WhisperSync will let you switch seamlessly between reading and listening. So, you can listen during your commute and pick up reading right where you left off once you're home.
• Explore X‑ray: If you ever find yourself wondering, "Who's that character again?" use the X‑ray feature. It provides a quick overview of characters, terms and even locations mentioned in the book, so you're never lost within a complex plot.
• Easy screenshots: Want to capture a memorable quote or illustration? Simply press the top-right and bottom-left corners of the screen simultaneously, and voila! Your screenshot will be saved in the Kindle's root directory.

📕 Years ago, my messy, always-late-paying-rent roommate was reading “The Exorcist.” She said it was the most evil book she’d ever read — so evil, in fact, she couldn't finish it. Instead, she took it to the beach and threw it off the pier. I bought another copy, ran it under the faucet and left it beside her bed. She moved out after that.

Don’t lose all your photos, videos, documents and memories if yours bites the dust. You need to back things up the right way. My pick is IDrive.

It’s safe, fast and easy. You can back up all your devices — iPhone, Android, Mac, PC — to one account and access your stuff from anywhere.

What did you see first? If you saw the skull, you're brave and willing to step out of your comfort zone. If you spotted the little girl first, it suggests hesitancy in taking risks due to fears and not wanting to push boundaries.

The answer: Google. A Google Home commercial had actors repeatedly saying, "Hey, Google," which triggered devices in viewers' homes and caused chaos. Oops! That's why I'm careful not to say “Siri” or “Alexa” too much on my national radio show. I don't want your devices to freak out!

In the pic above, I def saw the skull first. Reply and let me know what caught your eye!

Did you miss my show this weekend? That's OK. Catch up with the podcast version, “Kim Komando Today.” It's 30 solid minutes of laughs and tech smarts. Take me on your next walk — I promise not to go too fast!

Be sure to rate this issue below and leave a comment. I read them all myself! — Kim