It’s a great Monday, friend! I hate to start on a down note, but the world’s biggest ransomware gang just announced they’re back as of this morning, and you’re the target. One wrong click on a bad link or attachment, and boom, your files are locked. Scammers want you to pay up in bitcoin or kiss your files goodbye.

The group behind this nightmare? LockBit. They’ve stolen records, crippled businesses and raked in over $100 million. And now, their leader says they’re bigger than ever. I’ll tell you how to protect yourself at the end, because I always have your back.

🥴 “What’d you say?” If you find yourself asking this more and more, it’s time to make a change. Forget big, bulky hearing aids. Today’s tech is so much better. More details are below. Now, get ready for massive tech know-how to keep you tech-ahead in today’s digital world. — Kim

There are plenty of apps that reward you for doing things you probably already do. I’m sure you’ve seen ads for them. You’re not going to pay your rent from the rewards you earn, but you might get enough perks to make your otherwise pointless scrolling worth it.

A quick word to the wise: These freebies aren’t totally free. Depending on the reward programs’ rules and privacy policies, you’re handing over a lot of your data just to make a few bucks.

Cash me if you can

You’ll notice a lot of the advertised freebie apps didn’t make my list below. Anything with seriously sketchy privacy policies didn’t pass muster.

Again, I want to stress these apps collect info, so always check an app’s privacy policy and terms and conditions before using it. You might be able to opt out of having your data sold to third parties in the app’s settings or by submitting a request form. Now, on to the list!

• Shopkick: Shop at places like Best Buy and Target to earn points in the form of “kicks.” Every 250 kicks equals $1 in gift card value, and you can get extra kicks by scanning barcodes and uploading receipts.
• Upside: I groan every time I see my tank empty, and I bet you do, too. The Upside app gives you cash back on gas, groceries and dining out. Download Upside* and use promo code Kim to get an extra 25 cents back for every gallon on your first tank of gas.
• P&G Good Everyday: Procter & Gamble’s program pays out digital rewards for scanning receipts, answering surveys and quizzes, and more. Rewards vary, but 750 points will get you $5 off any P&G product.
• MISTPLAY: This one has a whole slew of games you play to earn gift cards or a payout via PayPal. Expect to make around $15 for three-and-a-half hours of gameplay.
• InboxDollars: Get cash for completing online surveys. Earn anywhere from 10 cents to $5 per survey.
• Microsoft Rewards: Get paid when you search, shop or play through your Microsoft account. Redeem for gift cards, sweepstakes entries or nonprofit donations. Around 5,000 points equals $5.

This idea is mint

Use an Android? Google Play Rewards gives you points for anything you buy in the Google Play Store, like apps, in-app items, movies, books and subscriptions. Open the Play Store app and tap your profile icon > Play Points > Join.

The Google Play Rewards program has four spending tiers. The more you spend on the platform, the higher you’ll rank and the better your weekly rewards will be. Higher tiers also get access to new mobile games before they’re released.

💰 And, finally, the Google Opinion Rewards program gives you Google Play or PayPal credit for answering surveys. Take a few in your spare time and earn a little extra pocket change. Cha-ching! Hopefully, I helped you make cents of it all.

✏️ I found some neat stuff to help you kick off your workweek:

• Put this knitted potato (30% off) on your desk for some cute motivation.
• Snag a rotating organizer ($10) to grab a pen from any angle.
• Feeling chilly in the office? Warm up with a lap blanket ($35). Click the coupon for 10% off!
• For my cat lovers, here’s an adorable note dispenser (33% off).
• Grab a memo board ($7) to keep your notes nice and organized.

🛒 Before you check out: Hit up my page for other great things you didn’t know you needed. Happy scrolling!

🚨 Still waiting on that data breach notice? UnitedHealth’s massive hack hit one in every two Americans, and some of us still haven’t been notified. Change Healthcare is offering two years of free credit monitoring if you were affected. Odds are your data was breached, so sign up now at changecybersupport.com.

Website owners, beware: There’s a war brewing between the WordPress co-founder and WP Engine, a major managed WordPress hosting provider. What does this mean for you? Fewer updates and security fixes. If your site runs on WordPress, it’s not a bad idea to consider other options. I like Wix and Squarespace.

💰 Modern gold rush: I thought you’d like this interesting analysis from the Wall Street Journal. AI will reshape the world, but the companies behind it need boatloads of cash. Just ask Nvidia, whose stock plunged $600 billion last week thanks to DeepSeek. The WSJ says big bets are now on Digital Realty, Blue Owl and up-and-comer CoreWeave (paywall link). I don’t have any opinions on these stocks, so use your best judgment.

A new way in: “Syncjacking” starts when you install a Chrome extension that secretly logs you into a hacker-controlled Google account. Later, a pop-up (think a fake Zoom update) appears. Hit “Install” and you’re downloading malware.

🔊 Say no to Sonos: Last summer, Sonos dropped a redesigned app that bricked half its speakers. Since then, they’ve pushed out 20 updates, their market value has tanked $500 million, and their CEO just got the boot. Somehow, the software is still unstable and key features are missing (paywall link). What a mess.

Free AI test drive: You need to start using AI in your business before it’s too late. Take a free test drive of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure now at Oracle.com/kim.*

Think you’re being cheated on? I told you to check the Notes app a year ago. Now, a private investigator is going viral on TikTok with the same advice. Yes, the Notes app is the same one for grocery lists. PSA: Cheaters also use a password-protected Google Doc, too.

Attention, parents: New research says 77% of educators think kids are losing their fine motor skills because of tech. Kids aren’t playing outside as much or using their hands to draw and build, so they’re having trouble holding pens, turning pages and tying shoelaces (paywall link). Remember, Play‑Doh is cheap, fun and doesn’t need Wi‑Fi.

🪑 Fidgeting at your desk? Science says that’s your body’s way of telling you to get off your butt. Even if you feel comfortable, sitting too long can cause pain and mess with your concentration. Every 30 minutes, stand up and stretch, or at least switch your seating positions. You’ll boost your blood flow, lower stress and even keep your brain sharp. And no more cankles!

If you or someone you know keeps repeating, “Huh?” or “What was that?” it’s time to check out the latest and greatest in hearing aid technology.

The Horizon IX hearing aids are packed with two state-of-the-art computer chips for the clearest result possible. They process speech and background noise independently, then recombine them for crystal-clear sound. The tech nerd in me thinks this is so cool.

But that’s not all. The Horizon IX hearing aids connect to your smartphone via Bluetooth so you can take calls, listen to podcasts and stream music right through your hearing aids. They don’t look like the bulky hearing aids you might be picturing, either. They’re designed to be sleek and discrete.

🎮 Gamify your goals: Let an AI chatbot motivate you to make some extra cash. I have just the prompt: “Turn my side hustle goals into fun tasks. Ask me about my objectives, then break them down into tiny steps. Set a goal and a reward for finishing each one. Make a list of five tasks for this month.” You’ll feel like the winner.

Did you know you can do it online? Setting up term life insurance, that is. Fabric makes it fast and easy* to do online. Answer a few questions and you’re on your way to checking this off your list.

Save $3 a month: Switch to Microsoft 365 Classic if you don’t want the new AI tools. On your account dashboard, select Subscriptions > Manage subscription > Cancel subscription. Scroll past the warning about losing your OneDrive storage to find the Classic plans. Click Switch plan > Confirm your new subscription > Buy.

📸 Snap and convert: Apple’s HEIC photo format saves space but is a headache to open on a Windows PC. Switch your iPhone camera settings to JPG to fix it. Go to Settings > Camera > Formats and pick Most Compatible. Then, head back to Settings > Apps > Photos and choose Automatic (under Transfer to Mac or PC) so it’s always compatible.

New font, who dis? Change your Kindle’s font to match your book’s vibe. Look for the toolbar (top of the screen) and hit the Aa icon. Select Font > Font Family and pick the style you want.

🌡️ Thermostat myth: Turning it up won’t heat your home faster. Say you’re freezing and want to heat things to 70 degrees. Cranking it to 80 will make your HVAC unit run longer instead of working harder. It’s just an on/off switch. My husband keeps insisting we try 69, but I think we should keep the thermostat at 72 degrees this winter.

How about a pair of AI robotic skates? You’ll move 7 mph with the effort of walking. Will you look like a dork? Yeah. The cost of these Moonwalkers? $1,199.

Ransomware 101: If your important files are backed up, you’re in the clear. If they aren’t, imagine how much damage it’d cause if someone broke in and stole them. This kind of incident can cripple or shut down a successful company, so get those steps here if you need help on your PC or Mac. And here’s a link I hope you never need: A free ransomware decryptor.

🚓 How did the hacker get away from the police? He ransomware. (Yeah, it was so bad, it was good!)

Live a better life. Hearing aids aren’t expensive and bulky like they used to be. See if you qualify for a 45-day risk-free trial* of tiny hearing aids that make conversations crystal clear again. Take care of you!

📥 Drop me a note if there’s something digital you need help with. I’ll see you right back here tomorrow with another edition of the best tech newsletter in the USA. The next time you look in the mirror, say out loud, “I am tech-smart and go Komando!” — Kim