Monday is here! And, whoa, July is almost over. Something big happened on Aug. 6, 1997. Which tech giant invested $150 million in Apple to help keep the company afloat? Was it … IBM, Google, Microsoft or Oracle? Make your best guess, and you’ll find the answer at the end. 

💬 Psst! Are you getting my Tech Hacks email? Here’s one of my favorite recent reviews: “Just keep giving us what you do every day. Such a great read.” Dang, thanks! Get on the list — it’s free!

We’re coming in heavy today, folks. Prepare to be tech-infused! — Kim

You: “Sweet! ChatGPT just wrote that nasty email to my landlord for me.” A hacker: “Sweet! ChatGPT just wrote a great phishing email for me.”

I wish I was kidding, folks. New tech tools don't just mean something useful for you and me. The bad guys get access, too, and you’d better believe they're using chatbots to create even savvier campaigns to trick you.

Robots for bad guys

Security researchers dived deep into how scammers use chatbots to level up their shady games and uncovered WormGPT and FraudGPT.

Think of these as ChatGPT without a moral compass. All chatbots are trained on large pools of data. WormGPT and FraudGPT are specifically trained on malware-related data. No bueno. 

WormGPT makes a bogus email sound like it's coming straight from your bank or employer. FraudGPT gives hackers tips on the best websites to target for credit card fraud and spits out bank identification numbers to make crimes even easier.

ChatGPT, Bard and other "good guy" chatbots won’t respond to prompts that could be used for not-so-good purposes. The hacker chatbots don't have the little (digital) angel on their shoulder, so they'll whip up whatever illegal or immoral content a criminal needs.

Arm yourself with info

Just when you thought you had your brain wrapped around online scams … Here are the AI-related tricks you need to know about:

• Fake ChatGPT websites and apps look just like the real thing. Here's the legit link for iPhone and Android.
• AI social media scams use sponsored ads and posts to get you to download malware.
• AI phishing scams are usually emails with a shady sense of urgency, pretending to be a legitimate company or bank. They'll ask for money or your personal info ASAP and include malicious links. 
• AI voice-cloning scams fool you into thinking a loved one is hurt, in jail or in an emergency situation that requires money.
• AI investment scammers pose as cryptocurrency gurus and promise huge returns on fake investments.

It's the Wild West out there, folks. That's why I'm glad you're here. The more you know, the less likely you’ll fall for this stuff.

🍪 Did you hear about the new AI Oreo? It’s one smart cookie!

🚨 Police surveillance drones: Law enforcement is hustling to launch drone programs, with some even seeking FAA rule exemptions. Get this: 1,400 departments already use drones, and only 15 requested FAA approval for long-range flights. Departments are hiring drone pilots, by the way.

Get a call from DirecTV? You might qualify for a $16.85M class-action lawsuit claim. They allegedly broke federal law by contacting folks on the Do Not Call (DNC) list. File here. You've got till Aug. 7. Yup, the DNC list sure does work, right?

Does Facebook stoke the political divide? It's complex, but new studies in publications Science and Nature suggest so. Analyzing 208 million adults on FB — sans algorithm access — researchers found liberals and conservatives tend to get stuck in news bubbles. See? It’s not just that crazy relative of yours.

🥜 Peanut allergies are serious: There could be an answer: A skin patch. At Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, researchers found after testing the patch on toddlers for a year, the tots were able to tolerate more peanuts. Isn't science great?

🧑‍🚀 Astronaut blooper reels: NASA's hopping on the streaming bandwagon with NASA+, set to launch later this year. Unlike Disney+ or Paramount+, NASA+ won't make your wallet weep — it’s free. Personally, I think NASA is missing out on a money-making venture here.

Flip off the switch: If Elon Musk renaming Twitter to X didn't make you do a double take, his new plan sure will. He wants to turn out the lights — on light mode, that is. Musk claims X "will soon only have dark mode" because it's "better in every way." It’s either the Musk way or no way.

Don't say I didn't warn you: A NordVPN survey claims 58% of folks who use mental health apps share personal info like email addresses, names and even health data. Check out my eye-opening report on what these apps are secretly storing.

❤️‍🩹 Too far with AI: Netflix's latest reality show, “Deep Fake Love,” is taking AI to a whole new level — and relationships may not survive the trip. It uses AI to generate images that make loved ones look unfaithful, then the cameras turn on so we can watch the couple deal with it. “My 600-Lb. Life” would be more interesting.

Every morning, brush your teeth to my Daily Tech Update. You get fresh breath and fresh tech know-how in a minute.

Listen to my podcast, Daily Tech Update, here.

I get this question often enough that I thought I'd share it with you here. The answer, of course, depends. I'll walk you through a few of the best options out there — and who they're best for.

Wait, do I need one?

Your TV might be smart enough that all the apps you need are built in. That's not true for a lot of TVs, though, and honestly, streaming boxes and sticks are easier to use.

• Solid choice for Android folks ($30): Google’s Chromecast is a breeze to set up and intuitive to use.
• Best value for 4K ($50): Roku Streaming Stick 4K.
• If you like using Alexa ($55): Prime members, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max works well and you can control it with your voice.
• Just works with iPhones and Macs ($125): Is it pricey? Yeah, but AppleTV 4K is slick and syncs up with the rest of your Apple gear.
• Best bargain ($40): The Roku Express 4K is probably the best value and is more than enough for most folks.

📺 I’ve decided to watch all of Sylvester Stallone's movies this summer. Unfortunately, I’m off to a “Rocky” start.

I sincerely hope you never find yourself locked inside the trunk of a car, but, just in case, you need to know the way out.

• First order of business: Keep your cool. Easier said than done, but being calm will let you think straight and increase your odds of getting out. A quick way to slow your heart rate and reduce stress is to take two breaths in, followed by one breath out. Repeat.
• Hunt for that trunk release. Most vehicles, especially those made after 2002 in the U.S., are equipped with this lifesaver. You're looking for something that glows in the dark, like a cord or a handle.
• Don’t see a release? There's usually a tire jack or a lug wrench stashed there you can use to bust through the backseat. Yep, it's a last resort.

🚨 Do your part. I truly think everyone should know about this. Share it with your loved ones, and you never know who it could help one day.

Same goes for a tablet, router, smart speaker, whatever. The tech support pros at GetKimsHelp.com are patient, smart and available 24/7.

My team can remote into your device and do it for you, so no trying to figure out complicated steps when something goes wrong. They can fix tech you already have in place, too, like that printer that never prints.

Get unlimited help for just $14.99 a month. Call them as much as you want! That’s hard to beat, friend. And if they don’t fix your problem, you don’t pay!

Had to be a tourist …

The answer: Microsoft, led by CEO Bill Gates, invested $150 million into Apple and received 150,000 non-voting shares. Microsoft also committed to a five-year deal for Microsoft Office for Macs. By 2005, Microsoft had sold all its Apple shares for $550 million. Yup, it takes money to make money!

Speaking of … Microsoft is working on software for self-driving vehicles. I can't wait until my car suddenly stops in the middle of the highway and reboots to install updates.

Hope you learned a few new things today. I will see you tomorrow morning with another issue of the best tech newsletter in the world! — Kim

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