Say hello to tech-tastic Friday, my friend! Time for a tech-flavored pop quiz. Which iconic video game franchise was so addictive, it was banned in many workplaces because employees couldn't stop playing it? Was it … Tetris, Super Mario Bros. or Pac‑Man? Make your best guess now and you’ll find the answer at the end.

👍 It’s a packed newsletter, so let’s get down to business. If you learn something, smile or slap your forehead over one of my jokes, hit the thumbs-up at the end. — Kim

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There's one holiday tradition nobody likes: Fruitcake. Even worse, somehow, are all the scams and fraud attempts. Like clockwork, they pop up yearly as we shop for gifts.

The most ambitious scammers have started creating massive shopping websites where everything is fake. The sites look real and professional, and they’re filled with products at low prices. Once you go to submit your order, though, your online cart vanishes, and now hackers have access to your bank account or card.

Don't get caught up in the holiday glitter and fall for one of these carefully crafted traps. I've got your back with all the giveaways.

Phishing emails? Sure. Fake texts? OK.

But faking an entire website? Scammers are doing just that, targeting popular brands like Best Buy, Macy's, Tiffany's, Bed Bath & Beyond, Hardaddy and Brooks Outlet.

And dang, do they have details. The fake website’s URL looks fine, the logos and slogans are there, the product pages look normal, and they'll display legit payment platforms. Some even have the trusted HTTPS certification and (faked) reviews.

How do you end up there in the first place? It starts with social media ads and emails that draw in victims with extra-low prices, special holiday discounts and free shipping.

Spoiler: You aren't getting that product you ordered, or it’ll be a cheap pile of plastic at best. You'll likely end up with a malware download that steals your personal information and can even wipe out your bank account.

Spot fake sites, fast

It's a scam Scrooge himself would think has gone too far. Here's my quick cheatsheet of things to check before making a single click:

• Is everything discounted and well below 50% off? Real sites have discounts, but you'll notice if it all feels too good to be true.
• Is the URL multiple words? Big brands have enough clout to get simple domain names, like Macys[.]com or BestBuy[.]com. Fake sites use longer, weirder titles, like "MacyOutletShop4You."
• Does this trendy boutique even exist? Many scam sites use names that sort of sound real, like "Homitage." But if you've never heard of it, Google it. You should at least come up with reviews, additional landing pages or third-party sites selling the brand. Otherwise, run before you're ghosted!
• Are there pushy pop-ups? Some websites have pop-ups for chats or discounts. But fake sites push pop-ups to ask for your contact or payment information while you're still shopping.
• Where's the service? Is there a chat or number to call for customer service? Can you easily find the return policy and privacy page? Fake sites may have a "Contact Us" email form that goes nowhere, but real sites have plenty of customer service information.
• How do images look up close? Reliable sites use high-res images that are easy to expand or open in another window to see the many-pixeled details. Bogus sites typically use low-quality, sometimes blurry photos that don't stand up under scrutiny.
• Where's the IP address from? You can use this IP address tool to look up any URL. Click the IP address when it's brought up to see where it's located. Look for suspicious signs, like an American business with an IP address from somewhere overseas that just doesn’t make sense.

I know that was a lot to cover. But think of it this way: Now you're armed to evade the dodgy websites before they give you a bad time. Trustworthy antivirus and internet security software is essential, too. My pick is TotalAV.* Full disclosure: I get no residuals or kickbacks if you buy.

🎄❓ Have you started your holiday shopping yet? Reply to this email and let me know. I’m taking a little informal poll. Thank you!

Now, I’ll be putting together buying guides, so if there’s something in particular you need help picking out, tell me that, too. And to Henry in Illinois, who asked me, “Kim, what’s the best toilet seat for my wife for Christmas?” Don’t do it. That decision is going to land you in the crapper.

🚨 Important recall alert: Over 60,000 biometric gun safes are being recalled after a 12-year-old boy died accessing a gun. The safes, produced by Fortress Safe, were sold at Bass Pro Shops, Dick's and other sporting goods stores. Double-check if you bought one from there.

23andWe: Now you know why I was never a fan of sending your DNA to 23andMe. A hacker who goes by “Golem” released the personal details of 4 million 23andMe users. That included health and DNA info. If you have an account, change your password, or, better yet, delete your account. Watch out for phishing, texting and mail scams. Your personal info is out in the wild, folks.

🚚 Even billionaires make mistakes: A trucking startup backed by Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates is laying off most of its employees. Convoy execs are trimming the so-called "Uber for trucking" so someone will buy it — most likely an established trucking company in the industry Convoy was trying to disrupt. Ironic, eh?

Slow and steady gets second place: It’s taken Windows 11 twice as long as its predecessor, Windows 10, to surpass 400 million monthly active devices. At this point after its launch, Windows 10 had 600 million active monthly users. This data was leaked, by the way; Microsoft definitely wasn’t bragging.

Realtors need closure: About 50% of all homebuyers find the home they want online. So, why do agents still get a 5% to 6% commission? Two class-action lawsuits (WSJ, paywall link) could change that. Not that this is a shocker … If a listing agreement doesn’t mention the commission or if it’s low, that house sells significantly slower and for less money. Expect a shakeup in commissions.

No news is good news: Big social media platforms are breaking up with news. X removed headlines from news stories shared on its platform, Facebook gave up on Facebook News and Instagram's X clone, Threads, said it won't amplify news stories. Want to guess why? They don’t want to be held liable.

School apps get an “F”: They’re overwhelming parents with apps. For instance, some teachers use ClassDojo to track class participation. Another app called IXL is used only for kids’ math skills. To access IXL, though, parents also need Clever. Other subjects have different apps. And then there’s Schoology, which is required at some schools for parents to interact with their child’s teacher. Each of these apps is per child. I know … Try to think like a proton — always positive.

🐐 Robot goat with rocket launcher: No, that's not an ad-lib. Militaries worldwide are experimenting with robotic fighter dogs, and the U.S. Marines recently shared a video of troops testing its four-legged foe. It's unclear why they called it a goat, but it looks ba‑a‑a‑a‑a‑d a$$ for sure.

While you're brushing your teeth, waiting for your toast or sipping your first coffee of the day, I deliver the top tech news story and a digital life hack, all within two minutes. No rambling, no fluff — just straight-to-the-point tech talk.

Choose your platform below to listen:

Amazon Prime isn’t cheap. That $139 a year adds up. Here’s a secret: You can share your Amazon Prime account with anyone in your home. That includes two-day shipping, streaming movies and TV shows, music, free photo storage, and other perks for just one membership fee.

• Sign into Amazon.
• Hover your cursor over Account & Lists and select Account.
• Tap the Prime button and then Update, cancel and more.
• Under Membership Sharing, select Manage your household and follow the onscreen instructions.

🍊 It's a great way to squeeze the most juice from your Prime membership. And don't worry — the other person won't see your purchases, like that new nose-hair trimmer you really love.

Free marketing help: ChatGPT can write social media posts for your biz. Know the secrets to get the most out of it.

⛔ Ring, ring: Is your phone safe to use? This free site tells you if yours is cut off from important updates.

Warn your fam: I’m seeing more and more stories of creeps using smartphones to spy in bathrooms and dressing rooms.

🍃 Plants, please: Scientists figured out the best things to have in your video meeting background. Safe to say dirty dishes and empty Amazon boxes are a no.

It wasn’t me: A reader asked what to do when a new program mysteriously popped up on their PC. Spoiler: Not a great sign.

Well done.

The answer: Tetris. In the late ‘80s, the game was so absorbing that it spawned the term "Tetris effect." Players would see falling blocks in their thoughts or dreams after playing. By the way, if you’re looking for something to watch on Apple+, the movie "Tetris" is really good.

🤔 You know, playing Tetris has taught me a valuable life lesson. If you try to fit in, you'll disappear.

You = Tech smart. Me = So glad you’re here. See you later this afternoon with my Tech Hacks free newsletter. Hit this link to sign up now. Otherwise, I’ll be back in your inbox Sunday morning with my weekend edition. You don’t want to miss it! I’ll share how to cut big bucks off those streaming bills. Until then, stay your awesome self! 😎 — Kim