Elon Musk’s X may have tweaked its algorithm to boost his account, along with those of other conservative-leaning users, starting around the time he announced his support of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. That’s according to a new study published by the Queensland University of Technology (QUT), which found that Musk’s posts in particular were suddenly much more popular.

The study’s authors — QUT associate professor in digital media Timothy Graham and Monash University communications and media studies professor Mark Andrejevic — first looked at Musk’s engagement before and after his July endorsement of Trump. They report that starting around July 13th, Musks’ posts received 138 percent more views and 238 percent more retweets than before that date.

Musk’s numbers “outpaced the general engagement trends observed across the platform,” they concluded. (This paper isn’t the first time it’s been suggested that X adjusted its algorithm to specifically boost Musk’s account.) The researchers also found that other Republican-leaning accounts they examined saw similar boosts that started in July, albeit to a lesser degree.

The study’s results are similar to other recently reported findings by The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post of potential right-wing bias in X’s algorithms. However, the researchers say they were limited by the “relatively small amount of data” that could be collected since the platform cut off access to its Academic API. They add that although they don’t see indications of missing data, there’s “no guarantee that 100% of posts have been collected.”

Google is probably the one online service that we all use at least once a day, whether it’s searching for a query, finding something to buy or anything else. 

It’s generally safe to use, even though the search results aren’t quite hitting the mark these days. That’s a discussion for another time. 

What we have at hand today are the hidden risks involved with Google search, which can not only compromise your device and personal data but also bring law enforcement to your doorstep. This is not an exaggeration, and below you’ll find out how.

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The hidden dangers of niche queries

Cybersecurity company Sophos issued an urgent warning on its website, asking people not to type six words into its search engines. Those who Google “Are Bengal Cats legal in Australia?” have reportedly had their personal information stolen after clicking on fraudulent links that appear near the top of the page. 

It’s unclear why hackers have launched this unusually specific campaign. The only reason I can think of is that they are targeting the Australian demographic, and the phrase “Are Bengal Cats legal in Australia?” is easy to rank for on the Google search engine results page.

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People who search about whether bengal cats are legal in Australia (they are, if you’re curious) are at risk of being targeted by GootLoader malware. This malware is spread through SEO tactics, where hackers make infected links show up high in search results. When people search for terms like legal documents or agreements, they might click on these dangerous links that lead to websites hosting a ZIP file with harmful code.

Once this malware gets onto a computer, it opens the door for a second, more dangerous malware called GootKit, which is designed to steal personal information and allow hackers to control the device remotely.

Image of Google search engine  (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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Hackers aren’t the only ones watching your Google searches

While hackers are targeting Google searches, they’re not the only ones watching what you search. Law enforcement, your workplace’s IT department and your telecom provider can also see your search activity. One couple reportedly learned this the hard way when police showed up at their door after they searched just four words, “pressure cooker bomb,” along with the word “backpack.”

Michele Catalano and her husband from Long Island, New York, were browsing online for some everyday items, but they quickly found themselves in unexpected trouble. Michele, a freelance writer, was looking to buy a pressure cooker, while her husband wanted a new backpack. They each searched for the items separately.

But two days later, her husband searched for both items from his work computer, just before leaving his job. His former employer’s IT staff flagged these searches and reported them to the local Suffolk County Police Department. Soon after, several black SUVs showed up at the couple’s house, with police wanting to make sure there were no security threats.

A person doing a Google search  (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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5 ways to stay safe when searching something on Google

1. Avoid clicking on ads and suspicious links: Be cautious of ads or unfamiliar links at the top of search results. Hackers often use SEO poisoning to place dangerous links in prominent positions. So, try to stick with trusted websites and known sources.

The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe. Get my picks for the best 2024 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.

2. Use a VPN: A virtual private network (VPN) encrypts your internet traffic, making it harder for hackers, ISPs or other third parties to track your online activity and searches. Many sites can read your IP address and, depending on their privacy settings, may display the city from which you are corresponding. A VPN will disguise your IP address to show an alternate location. For the best VPN software, see my expert review of the best VPNs for browsing the web privately on your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices

3. Enable SafeSearch: Google’s SafeSearch filters help to block explicit or potentially harmful content. It’s especially useful for filtering out unsafe links and improving search safety.

4. Limit personal data on Google: Adjust your Google account’s privacy settings to minimize data collection, including search history, location tracking and ad personalization. You can access these settings in the “My Activity” section of your Google account.

5. Use private browsing or clear your history: Using Incognito Mode or clearing your browsing history regularly can help reduce tracking of your searches. While it doesn’t hide your activity from ISPs or law enforcement, it limits the data Google can store on your device.

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Kurt’s key takeaway

Bad actors are always trying to exploit any digital medium you use, whether it’s social media or a Google search. It’s concerning how malicious websites that put users at risk are readily available on the first page of Google. Although the search giant has claimed to prioritize helpful content this year, the ease with which hackers manipulate search results suggests Google is doing quite the opposite. I’m not holding out much hope for Google to improve its platform, but you can stay safe by avoiding suspicious links and being extra careful.

Do you feel like Google’s search results have become more or less trustworthy over the years? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact

For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter

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We’re in a pretty good moment for sprawling, complex role-playing games. New releases like Metaphor: ReFantazio and Dragon Age Absolution, along with older titles like Elden Ring (including this year’s expansion), Cyberpunk 2077, and Baldur’s Gate 3 have sucked millions of people into their expansive worlds. They can be all-consuming experiences, offering players all kinds of freedom to explore their worlds and characters. But honestly? Sometimes I don’t want to fuss with conversation wheels or make difficult, narrative-altering choices. I just want to go on a big adventure and slowly turn into an overpowered hero fighting monsters — and that’s where the excellent new remake of Dragon Quest 3 comes in.

The game originally came out way back in 1988 (it was initially called Dragon Warrior 3 in North America) and it has a refreshingly straightforward premise: you’re on a quest to kill a great evil that your father failed to destroy many years before. There are a few colorful characters, but there isn’t a whole lot else to it beyond a quest for revenge. This isn’t a game you play for the story. Instead, it’s about going on adventures, exploring strange and dangerous locations, and killing lots of cute blue slimes.

That simplicity has stood the test of time rather well, with systems that are easy to grasp while still offering a challenge (even if the regular battles can eventually get tedious). This is a good thing, because the remake doesn’t change all that much. The exploration and turn-based battles all still feel largely as they did. This means that the game follows a largely predictable path, as you go from one dungeon to the next, visiting towns in between to rest and gear up for the next challenge. There are some additions, like a new character class that lets you collect monsters, along with additional story scenes to flesh out the barebones narrative.

Though it’s mostly the same as the original, there are major changes to the presentation and some notable quality of life features. To start, this version of Dragon Quest 3 looks incredible. It uses the same visual style as games like Octopatch Traveller and Triangle Strategy, which Square Enix awkwardly calls “HD 2D.” Basically, these are still games with pixel art characters, but they explore incredibly detailed worlds. The developers then throw in a tilt-shift effect that gives the whole thing a diorama-like appearance. The result is a game that looks decidedly old-school, but in a slick, modern way. I especially love the adorable monster animations in battle. There’s also an updated orchestral score performed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony, along with all-new voice acting.

It’s more than just an aesthetic overhaul, though. The Dragon Quest 3 remake also makes some very smart tweaks that often make it less frustrating to play. These include a more useful map that makes it easier to find where you’re headed, an option to speed up battles so you can grind quicker, and a handful of difficulty options. These may sound small, but they’re the kind of modern conveniences that can make many older games difficult to play, especially ones built around repetitive combat like a classic RPG. Smoothing out those few rough edges has a big impact on the overall feel of a game like Dragon Quest 3.

Even though it’s technically the third game of the series, this version of Dragon Quest is also a great place for newcomers to see what the series is all about (and really, things haven’t changed all that much over the years). It’s a pretty, approachable way to experience an epic quest without getting overwhelmed by story or features. It’s just you, some swords and magic, and a whole lot of monsters to defeat. Sometimes, that’s all you really need.

Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D is available now on the Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.