Technology

Don’t let fake election websites fool you before 2026 midterms

Published

1 month ago

July 31, 2026

Don’t let fake election websites fool you before 2026 midterms

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You spot a campaign shirt online that makes you laugh. The site carries the candidate’s name. It also has polished product photos and a familiar checkout page. So, you assume the store supports the campaign.

A fake election website can copy enough campaign cues to make that assumption feel reasonable. Your money and personal information could then reach an operator with no verified campaign connection.

New research provided to CyberGuy by WhoisXML API, an internet intelligence company that analyzes domain, IP and DNS data, tracked 62,081 election-named domains created since September 2025. Researchers identified 13,645 addresses that read like campaign sites based on their names.

The research classifies only a portion of the domains as campaign-style addresses. Legitimate campaigns, supporters, merchants and domain investors may control many of them. However, researchers also found live storefronts that used candidates’ names while selling merchandise and accepting donation-style payments. That smaller group creates the clearest risk for you.

FAKE PASSWORD-MANAGER ALERTS COULD PUT YOUR VAULT AT RISK

Voters should verify campaign websites, donation links and committee disclaimers before entering personal or payment information. (Getty Images)

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Why fake election websites surge before the midterms

National elections create a rush for online real estate. Campaign teams want memorable web addresses before someone else claims them. Supporters may launch fan pages, while merchants see an opportunity to sell political products. Impersonators can follow the same naming formula.

According to WhoisXML API, nearly 46% of the curated campaign-style set used structures such as “[name]for[office]” or “for[state].” Domains referencing congressional races appeared most often. Senate-themed names came next. State names also appeared across about one-third of the curated set. Texas led with 537 registrations. Florida, Georgia, Ohio and Colorado followed.

Those names feel familiar because real campaigns use the same structure. As a result, a questionable domain can look credible before you open the page. Across the domains studied, researchers said 90% hid the registrant’s identity. In addition, 88% carried a one-year registration term. Privacy protection and short registration terms can have legitimate uses. Still, those details deserve more attention when a new site also copies campaign branding or asks for money.

How fake election websites copy real campaign stores

A small change in a domain can hide in plain sight. WhoisXML API highlighted massiemoneybomb[.]us, which closely resembled the established massiemoneybomb[.]com fundraising address. The main difference appeared after the final dot.

That change may look obvious on a large computer screen. However, it becomes easier to miss on a phone, especially when a text or social media post opens the page directly. Researchers also examined kenpaxton[.]us. They said the domain was 58 days old when captured, while kenpaxton[.]com dated back to 2008.

The newer site reportedly sold supportive campaign products alongside merchandise criticizing the same candidate. That unusual mix offers a clue that the store may lack an official connection. Yet many shoppers will focus on the product photos or the price. A polished checkout can make the entire operation feel established. Alexandre François, the WhoisXML API domain scam researcher behind the study, told CyberGuy that AI can help operators build convincing websites quickly and at scale. That makes it even harder to judge a campaign page by its appearance alone.

How fake election donation pages collect personal data

Political merchandise may cost you more than the price on the screen. According to the research, some storefronts allowed visitors to add donation-style payments of up to $1,000 to a shopping cart. The sites then processed the payment through their own checkout flows.

One store reportedly continued accepting a donation-style payment after the candidate’s official ActBlue page stopped taking contributions. The checkout requested a full name, street address, email address and phone number. It also collected payment card details.

A familiar payment processor can make that form feel safe. However, its presence only shows how the payment moves through the checkout. It cannot confirm that the candidate authorized the store or that the campaign receives the money.

François said the study found no direct evidence that donors lost money or had their data misused. “Only the payment platforms could see whether a donor lost money or had data misused, and their data was not part of this study,” he told CyberGuy. The findings support caution rather than a claim that every highlighted site committed fraud.

What domain records reveal about fake election websites

Domain registration records can expose useful clues before or after a website launches. Researchers can review the creation date, registrar, paid registration period and privacy status. Sometimes, the records also identify the owner or registrant country. However, each clue has limits.

Many legitimate website owners use privacy services to keep home addresses and contact details out of public databases. Campaigns may also register several defensive domains so impersonators cannot claim them first. A one-year registration term also appears across ordinary websites. Price and convenience often drive that choice.

The risk grows when several details point in the same direction. A nearly copied domain may lead to a new storefront with an unofficial donation flow. A mismatched disclaimer adds another concern.

For federal political committees, public websites generally need a disclaimer that identifies who paid for the communication. The wording may also state whether a candidate authorized it. The FEC explains that disclaimer requirements cover political committee websites and online fundraising communications. A disclaimer cannot guarantee honesty. Still, a missing or mismatched statement gives you a strong reason to leave the page and verify the site elsewhere.

Campaigns also face limits when trying to secure every possible variation of a candidate’s name. François said they should consistently promote one official domain and one donation link. He added that “the realistic option is monitoring” because registering every possible look-alike domain would be impractical. Monitoring new registrations can help campaigns find look-alike sites during their first days online. Campaigns can then report suspicious pages to the registrar, hosting company or payment provider.

SAME-NAME CANDIDATE DISQUALIFIED FROM KEY SENATE RACE OVER ALLEGED DEM SCHEME TO CONFUSE VOTERS

Fake election websites, like the one pictured, can copy campaign branding, storefront designs and donation pages to collect money and personal information. (WhoisXML API)

Ways to stay safe from fake election websites

Before you buy campaign merchandise or make a political contribution online, use these checks to confirm that the site connects to the candidate or committee you intend to support.

1) Find the campaign through a trusted source

Avoid starting with a link from an unexpected text, email, online ad or social media comment. Instead, search for the candidate independently. Then compare the result with links from the candidate’s verified social media account or established public profile. “No single sign is enough, so it’s best to check a few together and to reach the page from the campaign’s own channel,” François told CyberGuy.

You can also use a personal data removal service to reduce the personal information available through data brokers and people-search sites. This may limit the details scammers can use to make unexpected messages, targeted ads or social media comments feel more convincing. Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting CyberGuy.com.

For federal races, use the FEC’s campaign finance database at fec.gov/data/ to look up candidates and registered committees. The database shows federal candidate and committee filings. For state or local races, check the appropriate state or local election authority. Many campaigns process contributions through ActBlue or WinRed. In those cases, the payment address should show secure.actblue.com or secure.winred.com. Some campaigns use other processors, so an unfamiliar payment provider alone does not prove the page is deceptive.

2) Read the full web address

Tap or click the address bar before entering payment information. Check the spelling and domain ending. Then look for added words or letters that imitate the campaign’s real address.

A scammer may replace “.com” with “.us.” Another operator may add words such as “official,” “store,” “donate,” or “support” to make the address feel authentic. François said the difference may also involve one word, a hyphen or an ending such as “.vote” or “.store.”

3) Look for the campaign disclaimer

Scroll to the bottom of the site and review the area around the donation form. A federal political committee website should identify who paid for the communication. Depending on the committee, the disclaimer may also explain whether the candidate authorized it.

Compare that committee name with the FEC database. Leave the page when the names conflict or the disclosure looks vague. Keep in mind that a deceptive page can copy a real committee’s name. Treat the disclosure as one clue rather than proof that the page belongs to the campaign.

4) Compare the store with the official campaign site

Open the candidate’s established website in a separate tab. Look for a direct link to the merchandise store or donation page. If the official site sends you somewhere else, use the link it provides.

Also review the store’s contact details and return policy. Be cautious if it sells products supporting a candidate alongside merchandise attacking that candidate. That unusual mix may signal the store has no official campaign connection. A page that keeps collecting contributions after a candidate withdraws also deserves closer scrutiny. The same applies when a store continues selling campaign merchandise after the official donation page closes.

5) Understand what the browser padlock means

The padlock in your browser means the site uses an encrypted connection. It offers no proof about the person or business behind the page.

CISA warns that phishing attacks may use malicious websites that impersonate trusted organizations to collect personal information. A professional design and secure connection still require you to verify the operator.

6) Slow down when the page creates urgency

Pressure can push you past obvious warning signs. Be cautious when a site claims a donation match will disappear within minutes. A countdown clock that keeps resetting should also raise concern.

The FTC’s broader donation-safety guidance recommends researching an organization and resisting pressure to give immediately.

WHAT A SCAMMER SEES THE MOMENT THEY GOOGLE YOUR NAME

Researchers found campaign-style websites selling political merchandise and accepting donation-style payments under candidates’ names. (yasindmrblk/Getty Images)

7) Pay with a credit card when possible

A credit card generally offers stronger dispute protections than a debit card. It also keeps the payment away from funds in your checking account. The FTC says legal protections for credit cards exceed those for debit cards in billing disputes.

Save your receipt and take screenshots of the product page and checkout. Make sure the full domain appears in at least one image. After you pay, check your statement to confirm the amount and make sure the site did not enroll you in recurring contributions.

8) Use strong antivirus software

A fake campaign website may try to push a malicious download or send you to another harmful page. Strong antivirus software can help detect suspicious files and block some dangerous websites. However, you still need to verify the campaign connection before you pay. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at CyberGuy.com.

9) Never reuse a password on a campaign store

If a store asks you to create an account, use a unique password. A password manager can generate and save a strong password for you, so you do not have to remember it. Reusing a password could put your other accounts at risk if the login information gets exposed. Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) when the site offers it.

What to do after paying through a fake election website

Contact your card issuer or bank as soon as you suspect a problem.
Explain what happened and ask whether it can reverse the transaction. The FTC advises consumers who paid a suspected scammer by credit or debit card to contact the issuer and request a reversal.
Next, report suspected fraud through the FTC’s ReportFraud system. If the site may have violated federal campaign finance law, you can also review the FEC complaint process.
The FEC accepts complaints about possible violations involving federal election financing. Its authority covers elections for the U.S. House, Senate and president.
Watch your statements for unfamiliar charges. Also change any password that you reused on the store.
If the website collected information that later appears in identity fraud, IdentityTheft.gov can create a recovery plan and guide you through the next steps.

Kurt’s key takeaways on fake election websites

Election season gives questionable websites a powerful disguise. A candidate’s name can create trust before you verify who operates the page. The scale of this research should make every online donor slow down. Researchers found more than 62,000 election-named domains, though many may serve legitimate purposes. The clearest concern comes from active storefronts that copy campaign-style branding and collect money outside a verified campaign path. Take an extra minute before buying a shirt or making a contribution. Find the official campaign site through a trusted source. Then confirm the web address and committee disclosure before you enter personal or payment information.

Have you ever landed on a campaign website that looked real but left you wondering who was behind it? Write to us at CyberGuy.com and tell us what raised your suspicions.

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Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

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Technology

Schools are catching on to Big Tech’s playbook

Published

8 hours ago

September 11, 2026

Press Room

Schools are catching on to Big Tech’s playbook

It’s the hot new thing in tech, and it’s where all the jobs are. Students who don’t learn to use it fall behind. And to help them catch up in time, its creators are graciously providing the resources and curriculum for learning it, often pro bono.

That’s the narrative AI companies are pitching schools on right now, but according to New York Times education technology reporter Natasha Singer, it’s also how the tech industry has built its influence in classrooms for the past 15 years.

In a new book, Coding Kids, Singer details how tech companies took a central role in promoting computers and coding skills in education, promising computer science skills were the ticket to high-paying jobs. But by the time many of those students entered the workforce, new technologies had thrown that promise into question. Meanwhile, the companies got schools to help them create a new class of would-be workers, and trained students on using their products and software, making them likely future customers.

“I worry we have collective amnesia”

Now, the AI industry is pitching itself to schools with similar force. “I worry we have collective amnesia,” Singer told me on a recent episode of The Vergecast. “Have we learned any lessons from these past tech cycles in schools that are going to inform the rollout of AI, make sure that it benefits education, and put in the safeguards now — not a decade from now?” Fortunately, in some ways, she believes the answer is yes.

Singer’s book recounts how more than a decade ago, the country’s largest tech companies embedded themselves directly into school curricula through courses for Advanced Placement Computer Science Principles classes. Apple and Microsoft each created their own curricula, featuring their own tools like Apple’s Swift or Microsoft’s Minecraft. “What’s striking about this is you can imagine that parents would not want, say, Pfizer AP Biology, or Northrop Grumman AP Physics, or ExxonMobil Environmental Science AP,” Singer says. She found that those in the medical field would likely understand why — medical students who are trained by a company on how to implant their proprietary device, one expert told her as an example, rarely choose to try another.

Google has also made itself a dominant force in education through its distribution of low-cost laptops called Chromebooks. Singer tracked their ubiquitous adoption across schools through the 2010s, which she says was accelerated even further during the school shutdowns of the covid-19 pandemic. Google also introduced its Classroom app to help teachers communicate things like assignments and grades. By the time generative AI took off, Singer writes, Google was already a key platform provider for many schools, and well-positioned to promote it.

Even when companies weren’t directly involved in education, they backed nonprofit groups like Code.org. Code.org kicked off its viral education campaign with a splashy celebrity-laden video that included tech moguls like Microsoft founder Bill Gates and then-Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, urging kids to learn to code. Code.org founder Hadi Partovi took a startup-style approach to promoting computer science education, and had little planned for how to capitalize on the attention of the video once it took off, Singer writes. He ultimately funneled that attention into a similarly splashy “Hour of Code” campaign across the country, urging schools to engage in entertaining hour-long courses introducing kids to coding building blocks.

At the time, there wasn’t much pushback, Singer found — though there were some attempts at alternatives. One group of academics engaged in a more traditional, methodological approach to testing and rolling out their own computer science curriculum. It had the express goal of diversifying the kinds of students enrolled in such courses, and taught students to think about big questions around the internet and technology, and scrutinize builders’ motivations.

Eventually, backlash arrived. Some recent graduates say they feel let down that they were told to code their whole lives, just to find such entry-level jobs to be diminishing, Singer told me. Some schools are getting rid of ubiquitous Google Chromebooks, and research around the world is finding that adding technology to the classroom often doesn’t have a significant impact on actual learning.

“Most parents want more than just getting kids to learn to use tech”

“I’m not arguing against tech education or tech in schools,” Singer says. “But what I am saying is most parents want more than just getting kids to learn to use tech. They want kids to learn how to be informed citizens in a democracy, and they want kids to figure out what their passions are and who they are and what their beliefs are… And so if we let the tech industry dictate or even heavily influence what happens in schools, then the question we’re asking is, how can we get AI into schools faster? Which is a product question, and not, ‘What are the most important things we want kids to learn?’”

While the AI industry of the 2020s may be pulling from the 2010s playbook, there already appears to be one distinct difference: Parents and school districts are pushing back. Just last week, the nation’s largest school system, New York City, banned elementary and middle schools from letting students use AI in the classroom for the coming school year. A day later, Los Angeles announced an even broader restriction that included high schoolers. And unlike the few-and-far-between critiques Singer documented in the early days of tech’s coding push, there appears to be a vibrant grassroots movement fighting the screen- and AI-ification of the classroom among parents and teachers alike.

“I think schools are beginning to figure it out,” says Singer, who’s “optimistic” that teachers and students are looking for a broader kind of tech education. That curriculum could teach kids “to ask deep questions about how companies are steering us with their technology, how software and AI are designed to affect our choices, and what role students have to use the tools productively. But also to push back if they like, and to not feel like they’re in a world where AI is driving them.”

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Lauren Feiner

Technology

Floating solar panels could save cities millions. Is your town next?

Published

8 hours ago

September 11, 2026

Press Room

Floating solar panels could save cities millions. Is your town next?

Cowboy Space to launch solar-powered data centers

Fox News host Will Cain discusses Cowboy Space Corporation’s plans to launch solar-powered data centers into orbit by 2028 as demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure grows. Cain explains how the technology could use solar energy to power AI chips in space.

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What if your town could build a solar farm without giving up acres of valuable land? Lima, Ohio, is trying something different. The city has completed a 2-megawatt solar array that floats on the Twin Lakes Reservoir, its primary drinking water source.

More than 3,000 solar panels now sit on the water and feed electricity to the nearby water treatment plant. The city projects the system will save nearly $10 million in electricity costs over its lifetime. That kind of savings could get the attention of cities far beyond Ohio.

So, could floating solar panels eventually show up on a reservoir near you? Here’s how the technology works, why cities are interested and what it could mean for your community.

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WHO PAYS FOR US POWER BOOM? BLUE, RED STATES OFFER STARKLY DIFFERENT WAYS TO LOWER UTILITY BILLS AMID AI SURGE

An Ohio city is using floating solar panels on its drinking water reservoir to power its water treatment plant and cut millions in projected energy costs. (D3Energy)

Ohio puts 3,120 solar panels on a drinking water reservoir

Lima officially celebrated the completion of its Twin Lakes Floating Solar Project on Aug. 12. The final system includes 3,120 solar panels spread across about 3.6 acres of water, according to developer D3Energy. The 2-megawatt array sits on Lima’s primary drinking water reservoir. That reservoir serves roughly 35,000 residents.

Next door, the city’s water treatment plant processes about 14 million gallons of water each day. It also consumes more electricity than any other city facility. That makes the plant an obvious place to look for energy savings. Lima projects the floating solar system will save nearly $10 million in electricity costs over its lifetime. Earlier city estimates put first-year savings at roughly $200,000. For a city utility, that is serious money. Actual lifetime savings will depend on factors including future electricity prices and how the system performs over time.

How floating solar panels work

Instead of attaching panels to racks planted in the ground, engineers mount them on floating platforms. Anchors and mooring lines keep the array in position.

Lima uses Ciel & Terre’s Hydrelio floating system. Its anchoring setup connects to the banks and reservoir bottom. The design also allows the array to move as water levels change. The project uses bifacial solar panels, which can capture light on both sides.

Electricity travels from the array to eight inverters onshore. From there, the electricity helps power the water treatment plant. The result looks a bit like a traditional solar farm that traded grass for water.

Why cities may want solar panels floating on water

Here is where the idea gets particularly interesting. Land costs money. It also competes with housing, businesses, agriculture and other development. Reservoirs already occupy space. Lima’s floating array covers about four acres.

A land-based system producing the same amount of electricity would reportedly need at least 10 acres. That could make floating solar attractive to cities with limited open space. The panels can also sit near the facilities that need the electricity. In Lima, the water treatment plant sits right beside the reservoir. That reduces the need to find a distant solar site and then figure out how to move the electricity where the city needs it.

Researchers have also studied whether floating solar can help reduce evaporation by shading portions of the water surface. Of course, every reservoir comes with different conditions. Water depth, changing levels and recreational use can affect whether a project makes sense. Federal researchers also consider existing dam operations when evaluating potential sites.

LAWMAKERS TARGET ENERGY AFFORDABILITY THROUGH SWEEPING PERMITTING OVERHAUL IN NEW HOUSE BILL

Floating solar could help cities generate clean energy without using valuable land, but questions remain about long-term costs and water safety. (D3Energy)

What about putting solar panels on drinking water?

This was one of my first questions. These panels are floating on the same reservoir that provides drinking water to about 35,000 people. Lima’s system uses Ciel & Terre Hydrelio floats made from high-density polyethylene, or HDPE.

Ciel & Terre says its floating system complies with the BS 6920:2000 standard for nonmetallic materials that come into contact with water intended for human consumption. Still, communities considering floating solar have more to evaluate than whether the structure can float safely.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has examined environmental and regulatory questions surrounding floating solar. Its research notes that projects can affect water bodies differently depending on the location. That means a system that works well on one reservoir may require a different design somewhere else.

The project cost millions before it could save millions

There is another number worth paying attention to. The Lima project cost about $5.3 million. Federal support played a substantial role in making the numbers work. The city received a $2.4 million Department of Energy grant. Combined with almost $900,000 in federal direct-pay tax credits, that support helped offset roughly half of the project’s cost.

Those incentives covered a significant share of the upfront expense. That context is important when another city looks at Lima’s projected $10 million in savings. A town considering floating solar would need to look at construction costs, financing and expected electricity production. Available incentives could change the calculation as well.

Lima began considering the project years before crews put panels on the water. City Council approved moving forward with the project in 2023. Construction began in 2025 before the system came online this August.

Could floating solar panels spread across America?

Lima may look unusual today, but floating solar has substantial room to grow. Ohio already has more than one project. D3Energy and ARP Solar completed a 1.5-megawatt floating array for Del-Co Water in Delaware, Ohio, in 2024. A 6-megawatt system in Monroeville is expected to come online before the end of 2026.

The bigger opportunity stretches far beyond Ohio. National Renewable Energy Laboratory researchers studied federally owned or regulated reservoirs across the U.S. They estimated those reservoirs have technical potential for 861 to 1,042 gigawatts of floating solar capacity.

That figure represents technical potential rather than a prediction that thousands of reservoirs will soon disappear under solar panels. Plenty of locations would never make sense.

Still, the scale helps explain why energy developers and local governments are taking a closer look at water. CyberGuy has covered this idea before on a much larger scale. India’s Omkareshwar project showed how enormous floating solar installations can become. We have also seen developers rethink the shape of solar installations on land. One Texas company is building vertical solar towers designed to produce more power from a smaller footprint.

AMERICA’S BROKEN PERMITTING SYSTEM IS QUIETLY RAISING YOUR COST OF LIVING

Cities across the U.S. are exploring floating solar as a way to reduce utility costs while making use of existing reservoirs. (D3Energy)

Will floating solar panels lower your utility bill?

Here is the part I would keep an eye on. Lima expects to save nearly $10 million in electricity costs over the project’s lifetime. But that does not mean residents will suddenly see a cheaper water bill. The city could use those savings in different ways. Lower energy costs could help cover other expenses, pay for infrastructure upgrades or ease pressure on future rate increases.

So, if a floating solar project comes to your town, there is one question worth asking: Will any of those savings eventually make their way back to you? That answer could determine how much this technology really helps the people paying the bills.

What this means to you

You probably do not spend much time thinking about how much electricity your local water plant consumes. Yet you ultimately help pay for that electricity through taxes, utility rates or both. Floating solar gives cities another way to attack that expense without buying a huge parcel of land.

It also raises questions you should ask before cheering on a project. How much will it cost? How much electricity will it realistically generate? What happens to the savings? You should also ask what testing and monitoring will protect the water supply. Those answers will tell you whether a floating solar project makes financial sense for your community.

Kurt’s key takeaways

What I like about Lima’s floating solar project is how practical the idea feels. The city already owns the reservoir, and its water treatment plant right next door uses a huge amount of electricity. So instead of finding another piece of land for solar panels, Lima put them on the water. Then there is the projected $10 million in savings. That certainly gets my attention. I want to see whether those savings hold up over time and, more importantly, whether residents eventually benefit from them. Lima also gives other cities something real to look at. We are seeing communities experiment with new ways to generate and store energy, from floating solar to massive battery projects. And who knows? The next solar project in your town may end up floating right on the water.

Would you be comfortable with thousands of solar panels floating on your town’s drinking water reservoir if officials said the project could save millions, or would you need to see more long-term evidence first? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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Technology

Slack can now vibe-code interactive charts and reports inside chats

Published

18 hours ago

September 10, 2026

Press Room

Slack can now vibe-code interactive charts and reports inside chats

A new feature coming to Slack will allow you to build interactive reports, polls, dashboards, presentations, microsites, and other tools directly inside a chat. With Slackforce Surfaces, you can describe to Slackbot what you need, and it will use AI to gather information from relevant conversations and connected apps, like Google Drive or Salesforce, to create it.

Once Slackbot creates a Surface, you can share it with colleagues and pin it to channels, allowing other people to view it, interact with it, and leave comments. In one example shared by Slack, a user asks Slackbot for help creating an arcade-themed visualization of AI token usage. The AI assistant then generates an interactive dashboard showing token usage across different divisions, such as sales, design, and engineering.

“You’re not exporting your data to some other tool to make sense of it, you’re asking Slackbot to build the dashboard, the deck, the report right where the conversation already is, and your whole team can act on it together,” Ryan Gavin, Slack’s chief marketing officer, tells The Verge in an email.

It seems like there are many other ways to use Surfaces, too, like building a live dashboard for a customer support queue that other workers can view, or creating a weather-themed financial forecast that pulls in data from connected apps. Slack notes that the feature will only pull information that you’ve given its AI tools permission to access.

Slackforce Surfaces is available to all customers — including those who use it for free — with Slackbot enabled in their workspace. You’ll be able to use it with live data starting in October.