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ӣ��Ƶ Poll: Voters see AI as a risk to privacy and paychecks

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 18:00:02 -0400

As artificial intelligence grabs headlines and stirs debate, the latest ӣ��Ƶ Poll finds most voters see it as a threat to privacy and jobs, contributing to a largely negative impression overall.

The survey, released Thursday, finds voters think AI mostly hurts rather than helps key aspects of life, whether on a personal, national, or global scale.

Voters have negative views on AI by 50 points when it comes to privacy (63% hurts, 13% helps), by 35 points on U.S. job creation (56-21), by 15 points on the national economy (42-27), by 5 points on people’s daily lives (38-33), and by 4 points on their own personal lives (30-26).

FOX NEWS POLL: 56% DOUBT WHITE HOUSE’S COMPETENCE AT MANAGING GOVERNMENT

The only area where people think AI mainly helps rather than hurts is U.S. competitiveness with other countries: 38% think it helps while 32% view it as harmful.

Still, sizable minorities feel AI doesn’t make a difference in each category: 43% feel it makes no difference in their personal life, 30% in the economy, 29% global competitiveness, 28% people’s daily lives, 23% people’s privacy, and 21% job creation.

By double-digits, Democrats and independents are more likely to say AI hurts rather than helps in each area.

While the level of negativity varies, more voters under age 30 say AI hurts more than helps in every category listed. Voters age 65 and over also view AI technology as more hurtful except when it comes to global competitiveness, where they give it the benefit of the doubt.

Viewing the new technology as harmful leads to an overall negative opinion of AI, with 43% having a favorable opinion vs. 54% unfavorable.

Those who view it positively include voters in households with $100,000 or more income (54% favorable), Republicans (53%), Republicans who identify as MAGA (57%), and Catholics (52%).

Some of the biggest drivers of AI pessimism are independents (64% unfavorable), Democrats (61%), and women without a college degree (60%).

FOX NEWS POLL: ECONOMIC GLOOM, TRUMP RATINGS SIGNAL TOUGH GOP MIDTERM PATH

One more thing…

When asked which political party would better handle artificial intelligence, voters are closely divided: 51% say the Democrats vs. 46% the Republicans. The results are within the margin of error, indicating no clear advantage for either party.

Part of the Democrats’ edge comes from a majority of independents backing them over their GOP counterparts (54% to 46%) and more than 1 in 10 self-identified Republicans defecting as well (13% D, 84% R).

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Conducted April 17-20, 2026, under the direction of Beacon Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R), this ӣ��Ƶ survey includes interviews with a sample of 1,001 registered voters randomly selected from a national voter file. Respondents spoke with live interviewers on landlines (116) and cellphones (635) or completed the survey online after receiving a text (250). Results based on the full sample have a margin of sampling error of ±3 percentage points. Sampling error for results among subgroups is higher. In addition to sampling error, question wording and order can influence results. Weights are generally applied to age, race, education, and area variables to ensure the demographics are representative of the registered voter population. Sources for developing weight targets include the most recent American Community Survey, ӣ��Ƶ Voter Analysis, and voter file data.

FBI warns some foreign apps could collect Americans’ data — even if you never download them

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 11:49:05 -0400

Americans' personal data could be collected and stored overseas — even if they've never downloaded a foreign-developed app themselves — according to a new FBI alert warning about the risks tied to popular mobile platforms.

That means information like a person's name, email address or phone number could be pulled from someone else’s contact list and potentially stored abroad if a friend or family member grants an app access to their device.

The warning comes after years of scrutiny over TikTok’s ties to China, but the FBI alert suggests the concerns extend beyond any single platform to a broader range of foreign-developed apps.

In a public service announcement, the FBI said many widely used apps developed overseas, particularly those tied to China, may access extensive data once permissions are granted, including address books containing information on both users and non-users.

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The bureau also warned that some apps may continue collecting data in the background after access is granted and, in certain cases, store that information on servers in countries where local laws could allow government access.

"Developer companies can store collected data on users’ private information and address books, such as names, e-mail addresses, user IDs, physical addresses, and phone numbers of their stored contacts," the FBI said. "The app can persistently collect data and users’ private information throughout the device, not just within the app or while the app is active."

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The FBI did not name specific companies, but the warning could apply to a range of widely used apps developed by Chinese firms — including video-editing platform CapCut, shopping apps like Temu and SHEIN, and social media platforms such as Lemon8 — several of which rank among the most downloaded apps in the United States.

U.S. officials have long warned that data collected by Chinese-linked platforms could be used to build detailed profiles of Americans, map personal and professional networks, and potentially support intelligence-gathering efforts, particularly if accessed under China’s national security laws.

The FBI added that apps operating in China are subject to the country’s national security laws, which could allow the government to access user data.

The FBI also pointed to possible warning signs that an app may be collecting more data than expected, including unusual battery drain, spikes in data usage, or unauthorized account activity after installation — indicators that could suggest background data collection or other suspicious behavior.

The bureau urged users to limit unnecessary data sharing, download apps only from official app stores, and regularly review permissions granted to mobile platforms. The bureau also warned that apps obtained from third-party sites may carry malware designed to gain unauthorized access to personal data.

Years of scrutiny over TikTok culminated in a 2026 deal that forced its Chinese parent company to relinquish control of U.S. operations to an American-led group in order to address fears over data access and national security.

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The FBI’s latest warning suggests those risks may extend beyond a single platform to a broader range of foreign-developed apps used by millions of Americans.

The Chinese embassy could not immediately be reached for comment.

New AI coalition targets Washington, Big Tech as group warns child safety risks outpacing safeguards

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 11:19:20 -0400

As artificial intelligence expands into classrooms, workplaces, and homes, a new coalition warns that risks to children and workers are growing faster than efforts to control the new technology.

The newly formed Alliance for a Better Future (ABF) is pushing for AI safeguards as Washington debates regulation.

"We know that we've got to decide, is this great new technology going to be something that propels kids into the future or something that causes harm to them?" ABF CEO Janet Kelly told ӣ��Ƶ Digital.

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"We are on the side of families who want to make sure that it is done well and that it is good for kids, and we believe that that is possible," Kelly added.

The group is launching as AI spreads quickly into everyday life with little oversight, even as Washington scrambles to catch up. Supporters warn the decisions being made now will shape whether the technology protects families or puts them at risk.

ABF debuted with a striking video featuring congressional testimony from parents whose children were harmed, some driven toward suicide, after interacting with AI chatbots.

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Positioning itself as both pro-innovation and pro-family, ABF argues AI can deliver enormous benefits but only if developed responsibly.

"We believe that it's possible to make great AI with American values, not just Silicon Valley values," said Kelly, a mother of three.

She added that policymakers must focus on the interests of children, workers and creators, not just the companies building the technology.

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ABF plans to engage aggressively at both the federal and state levels, equipped with targeted ads and public education campaigns. The group expects to spend at least eight figures this year to elevate the voices of concerned parents and workers.

The organization builds on earlier battles over online child safety, bringing multiple groups under one umbrella.

Its policy council is chaired by Dr. Brad Littlejohn of American Compass and includes representatives from the Family Policy Alliance, National Center on Sexual Exploitation, Institute for Family Studies, Heritage Foundation, and American Principles Project.

America’s ‘undeclared emergency’: Palantir exec talks Iran, deadly new US weapons and how to avoid World War 3

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 11:00:46 -0400

As tensions boil over with Iran, Palantir Technologies CTO Shyam Sankar argues that, for the time being, America's superior weapons are humiliating adversaries on the battlefield — but the U.S. remains dangerously unprepared for a protracted global conflict, putting the global balance of power in jeopardy.

Sankar made the case that America faces an "undeclared emergency," having nearly lost the industrial deterrence necessary to prevent World War III as global rivals grow more powerful and more brazen.

"We've just started to restore deterrence. We have the Maduro operation, [Operation] Midnight Hammer, current events in Iran, but we need to... be very clear-eyed about the moment — that these could be the kind of skirmishes that lead up to a larger conflict," Sankar said during an exclusive interview with ӣ��Ƶ Digital.

"And we should be asking ourselves the question, 'What can we do right now to deter World War III?'"

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He advocated for empowering mold-breaking industry leaders to bypass Pentagon bureaucracy, and for sweeping investment in innovation and manufacturing to make the defense space competitive again. He explores these ideas as artificial intelligence radically transforms the battlefield in his new book, "Mobilize: How to Reboot the American Industrial Base and Stop World War III."

Sankar emphasized the importance of funding technological research and development, contending that tech is the lever that directly leads to increased efficacy on the ground.

"If you look at the history of technology, it's always been the thing that's given us orders of magnitude of efficiency, of capability. Even if you look at the present day conflict in Iran, the sort of planning that we were able to do with one person in two weeks is something that in Gulf War II actually took 50 people six months," he said.

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"So that sort of efficiency translates that into lethality. It translates into cost. If you're not willing to invest in the technology, though, you'll never be able to realize that."

But the way the government conceives of tech investment is misguided, he asserted, stating that the industry should reward results today rather than allowing big defense contractors to prioritize their own balance sheets over putting working weapons in the hands of soldiers as quickly as they can.

He pointed to recent events as evidence of a roiling global order, including the annexation of Crimea in 2014, the militarization of the Spratly Islands in 2015, and Iran's nuclear progress, Hamas' attack on Israel in 2023, and the chaos caused by the Houthis "holding world trade hostage in the Red Sea."

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"The conflict with Iran shows us that we need to continue to go faster," he said, lauding Operation Epic Fury and claiming America owes her soldiers the best technology possible.

"And I think what we see in the current conflict is that the high-low mix really does matter — that we really do own the high end of the fight. Our weapons are quite exquisite... we're also humiliating our adversaries' weapons. From Maduro on, you look at the complete failure of Chinese and Russian air defense systems... We're doing great."

Still, Sankar said there is much to learn from challenges present at "the low end" of the fight. America isn't in a perfect defensive posture and risks being beaten by inferior technology that is more quickly produced, he cautioned.

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"The difficulty we have countering the Shaheds, the lessons that we should be learning from Ukraine, from Iran, these are present. And we're going to need more heterodox thinking, more competing ideas, a bolus of investment to get after it."

"The good news is the department realizes this and these plans are well underway."

Your internet router could be China-linked: FCC cracks down on ‘unacceptable’ security risks

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 12:26:46 -0400

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is moving to block new foreign-made internet routers from entering the U.S. market, citing mounting concerns that overseas supply chains could expose American networks to cyber threats inside their own homes.

The move expands the agency’s "covered list," which bars equipment deemed to pose an unacceptable risk to national security and will effectively prevent new foreign-manufactured routers from being authorized for sale in the U.S.

The order means new routers must be built in the United States or clear a national security review that scrutinizes ownership, supply chains and software control to be sold domestically.

"Effectively, the FCC would ban all new routers, because there are no domestic routers that meet that standard today," Matt Wyckhouse, founder and CEO of cybersecurity firm Finite State, told ӣ��Ƶ Digital Wednesday. "There’s no one who can clear the bar right now."

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The list includes communications equipment and services considered "to pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States or the safety and security of United States persons," the FCC said.

The agency warned that "malicious actors have exploited security gaps in foreign-made routers to attack American households, disrupt networks, enable espionage, and facilitate intellectual property theft," citing multiple cases in which such devices were used in cyberattacks targeting U.S. infrastructure.

The rule applies broadly to devices produced outside the country but largely targets routers with Chinese origins. The world's networking hardware supply is largely dependent on China for manufacturing and engineering.

Estimates in recent years indicate that devices with significant Chinese supply chain ties account for the majority of home routers used in the U.S.

TP-Link, a China-founded router manufacturer and one of the top-selling brands on Amazon, has faced growing scrutiny in Washington amid cyber incidents and broader concerns about foreign-linked networking equipment.

"Because nearly every manufacturer in this sector produces hardware abroad or relies on a global supply chain, this new requirement will set a bar for the entire industry," a TP-Link spokesperson told ӣ��Ƶ Digital, calling the rule a "positive step" toward making the router industry more secure. "TP-Link has been committed to making further investments in America and has already been planning to establish U.S.-based manufacturing to complement our existing company-owned facilities in Vietnam."

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A review of router manufacturing and supply chains by ӣ��Ƶ Digital indicates that nearly all major router brands sold in the United States depend extensively on Chinese manufacturing, engineering talent or components, even when marketed as American or allied products.

Companies that have shifted production to countries like Vietnam often still rely on Chinese-owned manufacturers and engineering teams, meaning the supply chain footprint remains largely unchanged.

Core elements of router development — including firmware and hardware design — are frequently supported by engineering teams based in China, raising concerns about vulnerabilities within widely used networking equipment.

"The country where a device is manufactured does not necessarily determine the security of that product," said Wyckhouse. "There’s a pretty large global supply chain involved — from chipsets to software to final assembly."

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Those risks have already surfaced in real-world cyber operations.

In 2023, the Justice Department disrupted a network of hundreds of compromised U.S. home and small-business routers that had been hijacked by Chinese state-backed hackers known as "Volt Typhoon." The infected devices were used to conceal the origin of cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure, allowing malicious traffic to appear as if it came from inside the U.S.

By routing activity through compromised devices, hackers can make attacks harder to trace and maintain access inside targeted networks.

A single router often connects dozens of devices inside a home or small business, including phones, laptops, security cameras, smart TVs and baby monitors. A compromised device can give attackers visibility into network traffic and provide a foothold to move across connected systems or launch additional attacks.

U.S. officials say the broader campaign targeted sectors including energy, water, telecommunications and transportation, part of an effort to establish access that could be used to disrupt systems during a future conflict.

The FCC’s move is the latest step in a broader push in Washington to reduce reliance on foreign — and particularly China-linked — technology across critical sectors, including telecommunications equipment, semiconductors and consumer applications.

Supporters of the policy say it addresses long-standing supply chain risks and reduces the chances of foreign adversaries gaining access to U.S. networks. But the rule could strain supply chains and push up prices, given that most routers sold in the U.S. are manufactured overseas.

Wyckhouse said there are no domestic suppliers for all products involved in router manufacturing.

"This will definitely increase prices," he said. "Companies will have to invest in U.S. manufacturing or retool existing operations, and that’s a major cost shift."

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The policy does not apply to routers already legally purchased or currently in use. Companies can continue selling routers that are already in the U.S. and previously approved, but once that inventory runs out, new foreign-made models would be effectively blocked unless they pass a national security review.

The rule does not mean routers already in American homes are known to be compromised. But cybersecurity officials have long warned that outdated or unpatched devices can be vulnerable, and in some cases have been used as part of larger botnet networks that support cyberattacks.

"The primary problem with routers is not where they’re made, it’s that consumers don’t update them," said Wyckhouse. "It’s far more important to choose a router that updates automatically than one marketed as a U.S. product."

The Chinese Embassy and relevant router companies could not immediately be reached for comment.

Scammers using AI meet their match as OpenAI, tech industry fight back

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 07:00:38 -0400

As AI becomes more common, bad actors are working to take advantage of the technology in order to work smarter, not harder, when it comes to stealing data and money. Companies like OpenAI, however, are now deploying the same tools to fight back, launching efforts aimed at stopping scammers before they reach their targets.

"This is very much an evolution rather than a revolution in scammer activity," OpenAI’s lead scams investigator Jack Stubbs told ӣ��Ƶ Digital. "The scams themselves are very much the same as they've always been."

Scammers are still impersonating celebrities and making phony investment opportunities to lure victims with promises of funds or the use of emotional ploys, according to Stubbs. Now, AI is helping bad actors work faster, cheaper and more efficiently.

"The most common misuse of our models that we see by scammers is basic translation work," Stubbs said. "They're getting messages from victims, they're translating it into a different language and then getting help from the AI in kind of crafting their next response."

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While AI can clean up the grammar and spelling errors typically associated with scam emails or text messages, it still leaves hints that can help would-be victims spot a scam more easily. This, according to Stubbs, is because scammers still operate in a similar pattern even while using AI.

Stubbs broke down scams into three phases: "the ping," "the zing" and "the sting."

The first phase, the ping, is the cold open, often an email or online message that opens communication between the scammer and the target.

Next comes the zing. This is where the ask or the plea comes into play. In the "zing" phase, a bad actor could propose an investment opportunity that they say will multiply the victim's investment, or they will give an emotional plea, saying that they need it for whatever reason.

Finally comes the "sting." This is where the scammer extracts data, money or both from the target.

There is no phase where it's easiest to catch scammers, according to Stubbs. However, he emphasized the importance of trying to catch them in the initial "ping" phase.

FAKE CHATGPT APPS ARE HIJACKING YOUR PHONE WITHOUT YOU KNOWING

"If we can intercept this type of criminal activity when it first makes contact with people, maybe when someone gets a weird, kind of suspicious text message, they encounter a website online that looks strange, that's how we can reduce harm the most and help keep people safe," Stubbs said.

In its effort to fight the misuse of AI for scams, OpenAI recently joined the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA), an international organization that works to bring stakeholders from the public and private sectors together to fight scams. The group's Global State of Scams Report 2025 estimated that $442 billion was lost to scams across 42 countries surveyed, with 23% of respondents reporting they had lost money in the past year.

OpenAI and GASA recently launched Scam.org, an AI-powered platform that offers support to scam victims in over 50 languages. It also provides educational materials on detecting, preventing and reporting scams.

"The really cool part is they can also report indicators or bits of information associated with the scam back to the Global Anti-Scam Alliance, so they can share that with industry partners, maybe law enforcement, and we can all work together to help keep people safe," Stubbs said.

The launch of Scam.org came days ahead of the Global Fraud Summit in Vienna, Austria, where the Industry Accord Against Online Scams and Fraud was signed by several major actors, including OpenAI. Stubbs said that one of the biggest technical wins he thinks can come from the accord is increased information sharing.

"This is something that in the tech industry we've been working on for years, and we're increasingly talking to folks in government, law enforcement, so that we can all come together, share the information we have about who these criminal actors are and how they're operating," Stubbs said.

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Even as scammers adapt and use new technology to their advantage, Stubbs said simple awareness, common sense and verification can still stop many attacks. He pointed out that if these scams were conducted in real life, such as a stranger approaching someone and claiming to have an investment opportunity, most people would know something was not right.

"The best defense that we all have to keep ourselves safe from scams is trying to keep the mental wherewithal to stop, to think and to check with a kind of trusted second source. And that might be a relative, it could be a colleague, it could be a really close friend, and in the case of AI technologies, it can be tools like ChatGPT, like Scam.org," Stubbs said.

Remote robot surgery removes cancer 1,500 miles away

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 15:30:38 -0400

Cancer surgery often requires patients to travel to the specialist. This time, the specialist traveled to the patient. Doctors at The London Clinic remotely guided a robotic system to remove a man's prostate cancer from 1,500 miles away.

The patient remained in a hospital operating room while the surgeon controlled the procedure from another country. The milestone operation marks the first time a U.K. hospital has successfully performed remote robot-assisted telesurgery on a patient.

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How the remote robotic surgery worked

The procedure connected two hospitals nearly 1,500 miles apart. The surgeon, Professor Prokar Dasgupta, operated from a robotic control console at The London Clinic's robotic center at Harley Street.

AI ROBOT PERFORMS GALLBLADDER SURGERY AUTONOMOUSLY

The patient lay in an operating room at St Bernard's Hospital. Between them sat an advanced surgical robot. The system used was the Toumai robotic surgical system developed by MicroPort MedBot, a platform designed for high-precision minimally invasive procedures.

From the console in London, Dasgupta controlled:

Four robotic surgical arms
A high-definition 3D camera
Specialized surgical tools

Fiber optic networks carried every movement from the surgeon's hands to the robot in Gibraltar. A secure network infrastructure designed by Presidio connected the two hospitals. The delay between command and movement was about 48 milliseconds, which is fast enough to feel almost real time.

For delicate procedures like prostate cancer surgery, that speed really matters. Urological surgeons James Allen and Paul Hughes were part of the local surgical team in Gibraltar, ready to step in if the connection dropped or complications occurred. The operation went smoothly.

The patient behind the milestone surgery

The patient, Paul Buxton, is a 62-year-old resident of Gibraltar who has lived there for about four decades. Patients who need specialized prostate cancer surgery often travel to larger medical centers such as London or Madrid. That journey can mean long waiting lists, travel costs and weeks away from home.

Buxton avoided that disruption. He received the procedure in his local hospital. He had originally planned to travel to London for surgery but was offered the chance to participate in a telesurgery trial between the two hospitals earlier in February. Reports say he felt fantastic within days. The technology removed a major burden for him and allowed him to recover close to home.

Why this surgery matters for the future of medicine

This operation did not appear overnight. Remote robotic surgery has been developing for decades. One of the earliest examples took place during the Lindbergh Operation. In that procedure, surgeons in New York remotely removed a patient's gallbladder in Strasbourg, France.

HUMANOID ROBOT PERFORMS MEDICAL PROCEDURES VIA REMOTE CONTROL

Technology has improved dramatically since then. Recent developments include cross-continent robotic surgeries between Rome and Beijing. Surgeons have also completed long-distance prostate operations using the same Toumai platform in parts of Africa. The London Clinic procedure signals an important shift. Remote robotic surgery is moving from experimental demonstrations toward practical medical use.

The hospitals plan to demonstrate the technology further by live-streaming a telesurgery procedure to thousands of surgeons at the upcoming European Association of Urology Congress.

The technology that makes telesurgery possible

Several technologies work together to make remote surgery viable.

Ultra-low latency networks

Surgeons must see and react instantly during an operation. Even small delays can make precise movements difficult. Modern fiber optic networks and backup 5G connections help keep latency extremely low.

High precision surgical robots

Robotic surgical systems translate a surgeon's hand movements into smaller and more stable movements inside the patient's body. That precision often improves outcomes in delicate procedures such as prostate cancer removal.

Advanced imaging systems

High-definition 3D cameras allow surgeons to see the surgical area with remarkable clarity. In many cases, the view from a robotic console is clearer than what surgeons see in traditional open surgery.

Challenges hospitals still need to solve

Remote robotic surgery still faces important hurdles. Infrastructure remains a major challenge. Hospitals must maintain extremely reliable networks with almost no downtime. Cost also plays a role. Robotic surgical systems and specialized networks can cost millions of dollars. Regulation raises additional questions. Surgeons who operate across borders introduce legal and licensing complexities.

Every remote procedure also requires backup plans. Local surgical teams must remain ready to step in if technology fails. For now, hospitals treat telesurgery as an emerging capability rather than a routine practice.

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What this means to you

For patients, the long-term implications could be significant. In the future, you may not need to travel to a major medical center for complex procedures. Instead, specialists could operate remotely while you stay in a hospital closer to home. This shift could benefit people in rural communities and regions with limited access to specialists.

Remote robotic surgery may also shorten wait times for certain procedures. Safety will remain the top priority. Hospitals must prove that remote procedures are as reliable as traditional surgery before the technology becomes widespread.

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Kurt's key takeaways

For years, remote surgery sounded like something far off in the future. Now it is starting to move into real operating rooms. The procedure connecting London and Gibraltar shows how quickly surgical technology is advancing. Reliable networks and advanced robots now allow surgeons to guide delicate procedures from thousands of miles away. That does not mean remote surgery will become common overnight. Hospitals still need strong network infrastructure, trained specialists and clear safety standards before it spreads widely. Even so, the direction is becoming clear. Distance may no longer prevent patients from accessing world-class surgical care.

Would you feel comfortable having surgery performed by a specialist operating from another city, state] or country if the technology proved safe? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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Transfer photos from your phone to a hard drive

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 14:01:42 -0400

If you own a smartphone, this moment eventually arrives. A warning pops up saying your storage is almost full. Photos stop syncing. Apps slow down. Suddenly, you are deleting emails, clearing messages and searching for anything that will free up space.

Many people hit this problem because their photos automatically back up to services like Google Photos or iCloud. Those services include a limited amount of free storage. Once it fills up, the solution is usually the same. Pay for more space.

Janice from Alabama recently wrote to us about this exact situation.

YOUR IPHONE HAS A HIDDEN FOLDER EATING UP STORAGE SPACE WITHOUT YOU EVEN KNOWING

Janice is far from alone. Millions of smartphone users face the same choice every year. Either pay monthly for more storage or move their photos somewhere else. The good news is that you can store your photos on a hard drive you own, keep access to them anytime and avoid ongoing subscription fees. Let's walk through the easiest ways to do it.

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Method 1: Transfer photos from your phone to a computer

The simplest approach is to first copy your photos to a computer. After that, you can move them to an external hard drive.

For iPhones

Apple devices use a slightly different process. Instead of opening the phone like a storage device, you import photos through the Photos app on your computer.

On a Mac

Connect your iPhone to your Mac using a USB cable (Lightning or USB-C, depending on your iPhone model)
Unlock your iPhone if it is locked
If prompted, tap Trust This Computer on your iPhone
Open the Photos app on your Mac
Select your iPhone under Devices in the sidebar
Choose the photos or videos you want to transfer
Click Import Selected or Import All New Items

The photos will download to your Mac's photo library.

Another option: Use iCloud Photos

If you are signed into iCloud and iCloud Photos is enabled on your iPhone, your photos may already be syncing automatically. In that case, you can simply open Photos on your Mac or visit iCloud Photos in a browser on your desktop to access and download them without connecting your phone.

HOW TO HIDE PHOTOS ON YOUR IPHONE AND ANDROID FROM SNOOPS

For Android phones

Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer

Connect your phone to your computer using a USB cable
On your phone, choose File Transfer when prompted
Open File Explorer on Windows or Finder on Mac
Locate your phone under connected devices
Open the DCIM or Pictures folder
Copy the photos you want to save

Once copied, paste the files into a folder on your computer. This step gives you a full backup before moving them to a drive.

On Windows

Connect your iPhone with a USB cable
Unlock your phone and tap Trust This Computer
Open the Photos app on Windows
Choose Import from a USB device

Windows will copy your photos directly to your computer.

Method 2: Move the photos to an external hard drive

Once your photos are on your computer, transferring them to a hard drive is quick.

Plug your external hard drive into your computer
Open the drive in Finder or File Explorer
Drag your photo folder onto the drive
Wait for the files to finish copying

Now your photos are stored safely on a device you control. External drives can hold tens of thousands of photos, depending on the size of the drive. Check out our best external drives article at Cyberguy.com.

BEST WAYS TO SAVE YOUR PHONE’S PHOTOS BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE

Method 3: Transfer photos directly to a USB flash drive

If you prefer skipping the computer, some flash drives plug directly into smartphones. These drives typically include:

USB-C connectors for Android phones
Lightning connectors for older iPhones
USB-C connectors for iPhone 15 and newer models

After connecting the drive, open the companion app that comes with it. From there, you can move photos directly from your phone to the drive. This option works well when you need to free up space quickly. Be sure to explore our best flash drive recommendations at Cyberguy.com.

Method 4: Keep your photos organized

After transferring photos to a hard drive, spend a few minutes organizing them.

Create folders by:

Year
Event
Vacation

Hard drives are reliable, but keeping a second backup ensures your memories stay protected if one drive ever fails.

Why this approach saves money

Cloud storage can feel inexpensive at first. Over time, the monthly charges add up. An external hard drive often costs less than a year or two of cloud storage fees. After that, the storage is essentially free. Even better, your photos stay under your control rather than sitting only on a company server.

Take my quiz: How safe is your online security?

Kurt's key takeaways

Janice asked a question many people quietly wonder about. Do we really need to keep paying companies just to store our own memories? Fortunately, the answer is no. With a simple cable and an affordable hard drive, you can free up phone storage, keep every photo you want and avoid ongoing storage fees. Once you try it, the process becomes fast and routine.

So, here is something worth thinking about. If your phone holds years of photos and videos, should those memories live only on a company's cloud server or somewhere you fully control? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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Soros-backed, pro-China network fuels protests against US tech firms

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 07:04:42 -0500

As the U.S. and Israel continued joint military strikes against Iran earlier this week, a woman pounded on a piñata resembling President Donald Trump as a small crowd cheered and clapped.

But the scene wasn’t in Tehran.

It was Aventura, Florida, outside Miami, near the new headquarters of Palantir Technologies, a government contractor that is supporting U.S. military and immigration enforcement operations, including "Project Maven," an enterprise that uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyze large amounts of data quickly for military targeting and surveillance.

There, hammering away at the piñata was Britney Cooke, a member of the All-African People’s Revolutionary Party, a pro-China group that openly says it wants an "international socialist revolution."

It has railed against "US hegemony" and the "American empire" and advocated for an "anti-imperialist mass revolutionary movement" in the U.S. from within the "belly of the beast."

TRUMP BRINGS BIG TECH EXECUTIVES TO WHITE HOUSE TO CURB POWER COSTS FOR AMERICAN HOUSEHOLDS AMID AI BOOM

While local coverage framed the gathering as "a crowd" of "protesters" with "plenty of passion," a ӣ��Ƶ Digital review of nonprofit filings, grant records and organizing materials indicates the event was orchestrated by groups operating within a sophisticated, donor-backed protest network with ties to far-left tycoons George Soros and Neville Roy Singham.

The findings raise questions about how coordinated activist campaigns — led by organizations, like the Party for Socialism and Liberation, that openly oppose U.S. "imperialism" and praise foreign adversarial regimes — are mobilizing against American military contractors amid escalating conflict abroad and intensifying technological competition with China. A spokesperson for Palantir declined to comment. Singham hasn't responded to requests for comment.

"This type of fake activism disturbs me," said Chuck Flint, president of the Alliance for IRS Accountability and a former assistant prosecutor in Florida. "These groups are helping China and hurting the United States."

"This is certainly not grassroots activism," Flint told ӣ��Ƶ Digital. "It looks more like a foreign influence operation that is actually weaponizing American tax laws to undermine American national security interests."

He noted, "It's coming at a time when U.S. troops are relying on Palantir technology in active combat right now."

A ӣ��Ƶ Digital investigation found the protest campaigns operate through several hubs that bring far-left groups together, forming an ecosystem of organizations targeting technology firms on multiple issues, from immigration enforcement to predictive policing, military technology and healthcare data systems.

The operations behind these campaigns reflect what experts describe as a professional protest infrastructure, including tax-exempt nonprofit organizations, digital messaging tool kits and coordinated protest actions across multiple cities, with shared leadership, research, messaging and organizing.

NETWORK FUNDED BY PRO-CCP TECH TYCOON TARGETS PALANTIR AMID ANTI-US PROTESTS THAT SUPPORT THE REGIME IN IRAN

In recent years, this network has organized protests against companies including Amazon, Google and Microsoft over their work with U.S. military and law enforcement agencies.

As China wages an AI race with the U.S., the network has also supported regimes with well-documented histories of aggressive surveillance of their citizens and suppression of human rights.

The Florida demonstration was co-organized by the local chapter of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, a protest arm of a network funded by Singham, an American-born, self-described Marxist based in Shanghai, openly supporting the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Another group leading the protests against technology companies — and the demonstration in Florida this week — is Phoenix-based Mijente, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit that has received $1.6 million in funding since 2020 from one of the Open Society philanthropies established by Soros.

Open Society Foundations has supported Mijente's advocacy for "civil and human rights." In 2023, Open Society said its grant to Mijente was to "support the grantees [sic] social welfare activities." It didn't respond to a request for comment.

In its last tax filing, Mijente reported $2.6 million in revenues. Mijente leads campaigns called #NoTechForICE and "Take Back Tech," which plans its third conference in mid-April in Atlanta to map its strategy for a "winning movement" against the "Tech Oligarchy."

Its "Take Back Tech" cosponsor is the Center for Media Justice, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Oakland, Calif., with $4.3 million in revenues, according to its most recent tax filing, and donations from traditionally Democratic philanthropies, including $2 million over the years from Soros' Open Society network.

WATCH: HARDCORE SOCIALIST GROUPS STAGE-MANAGE ANTI-ICE PROTEST IN WASHINGTON

Outside the entrance to the Aventura Mall, one of the Mijente leaders, Cathy Carrillo, handed the microphone to Romeo Umana, a leader with the Miami chapter of Party for Socialism and Liberation, for his remarks, as Cooke, from the All-African People's Revolutionary Party, stood in the flanks.

These groups have protested together against Israel, ICE and the Trump administration.

In its coverage of the Florida protest, one media outlet only described Umana as an "activist" with the Party for Socialism and Liberation and Cooke by her role with an innocuous-sounding group, the Climate Organizing Hub.

For years now, the Party for Socialism and Liberation has dispatched its members to be foot soldiers at anti-U.S. protests, wearing distinct bright red shirts with the group's name across the front.

Reading his talking points from a cellphone, Umana said, "We refuse to let Miami become the Silicon Valley of surveillance repression, so we say really clearly, ‘No to mass surveillance! No to mass deportation! And no to genocide!’"

The Party for Socialism and Liberation works closely with other socialist organizations funded by Singham, including the People’s Forum Inc. and CodePink Women for Peace, which have lauded the autocratic governments leading China, Iran, Cuba, North Korea, Gaza and Venezuela, while calling the U.S. "fascist."

The Party for Socialism and Liberation runs a financially opaque operation, but the People's Forum, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit that hosts many of its events, reported $7 million in revenue in its last tax filing.

TK, the former prosecutor now leading IRS Accountability, said that the IRS should investigate the nonprofits in this network to remove their nonprofit designations, and he said that the Justice Department should investigate the organizations for possible violations of laws that require groups and individuals that represent foreign interests to register as foreign lobbyists.

"You should not get a federal tax subsidy to do the bidding of the Chinese Communist Party," he said. "This is just disguised activism that's really foreign influence. It's not grassroots activism."

In late 2024, the People's Forum hosted an event with the All-African People's Revolutionary Party, blasting the "American empire," writing: "War, genocide and exploitation of labor and resources are sowed into the fabric of the American empire, irrespective of which ruling-class party holds presidential office."

The promotion, advertised on a Democratic platform, Action Network, continued: "The US is an enemy to Africans and Palestinians alike. It is of necessity that we colonized and oppressed peoples in the belly of the beast, whose fates are tied to our homelands, build a unified anti-imperialist mass revolutionary movement to consolidate our power and put an end to US hegemony."

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As Tuesday's protest came to an end, the event's leaders gathered their pre-printed signs, speaker system and remnants of the piñata. The TV crews pulled away after documenting the group's "passion" off U.S. Route 1.

ӣ��Ƶ Digital's Kyle Schmidbauer contributed to this report.

Trump brings Big Tech executives to White House to curb power costs for American households amid AI boom

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 11:27:24 -0500

President Donald Trump hosted executives of major tech companies at the White House Wednesday afternoon to sign a pledge ensuring the tech giants protect Americans against higher electricity bills tied to data center power demand.

Google, Microsoft, Meta, Oracle, xAI, OpenAI and Amazon signed the Ratepayer Protection Pledge Wednesday afternoon, ӣ��Ƶ Digital learned.

"We're here this afternoon for a historic signing that will help keep down utility bills very, very substantially. And electricity prices for millions of Americans, and in many cases, for a lot of people that don't really understand why they're going up, but they're not going to be going up, they're going to be actually going down," Trump said Wednesday.

The pledge has the companies agreeing to "build, bring, or buy new generation resources and cover the cost of all power delivery infrastructure upgrades required for data centers," the White House said.

SCOOP: TRUMP BRINGS BIG TECH TO WHITE HOUSE TO CURB POWER COSTS AMID AI BOOM

The Trump administration has promoted the proliferation of artificial intelligence to keep the U.S. as the world's tech leader, which has included the creation of new data centers and mounting concern energy prices could increase for everyday Americans. The pledge works to combat these concerns and protect Americans against spiking electricity bills.

The pledge has the companies vow against passing expenses to American households.

It also commits companies to hiring and training talent from within communities where they build and operate data centers, which will create thousands of jobs and enhance workforce skills.

"Today, we followed through on an announcement I made in my State of the Union address last week as America's largest tech companies officially signed the ratepayer protection pledge. It's a big deal," Trump said. "I'm going to have a tremendous impact on electricity costs. We're bringing down all of the costs. We have this little interlude to do what we have to do because we we had it going. But these are these interludes are very important, especially this one. But the economy has never been like this."

"President Trump’s ratepayer protection pledge will deliver more affordable, reliable, and secure energy for the American people and help stop the rising electricity prices that started during the previous administration," Energy Secretary Chris Wright said ahead of the event. "This plan will strengthen American energy dominance, while also ensuring the United States wins the AI race."

Wright added: "We will continue partnering with technology leaders to strengthen America’s competitive edge, while keeping energy costs low for hardworking families."

Michael Kratsios, assistant to the president and director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy said Trump "continues to ensure the U.S. leads the world in AI while strengthening the grid and driving down energy costs for American families."

TRUMP TROUNCES BIDEN ENERGY RECORDS IN JUST MONTHS AS ADMIN CELEBRATES 1 YEAR OF 'HISTORIC GAINS': DATA

As for the tech companies, Matt Garman, chief executive officer of Amazon web services, said they are signing the pledge "to reinforce our commitment to paying our full energy costs and ensuring our data centers do not increase electricity bills for consumers."

"We welcome the Administration’s leadership on this issue and support the pledge’s commitments, which establish a clear baseline to protect ratepayers while enabling responsible, long-term energy partnerships that strengthen the grid and the communities where data centers operate," he said.

Microsoft vice chair and president Brad Smith also touted the pledge, calling it an "important step," with Meta president and vice chair Dina Powell McCormick saying the pledge "ensures families aren’t the ones footing the bill for AI’s energy consumption."

McCormick said the pledge "gives companies like Meta the certainty we need to keep up the momentum, ensuring that American AI dominance and the prosperity of American families go hand-in-hand."

And Ruth Porat of Alphabet and Google said the pledge affirms the company’s "long-held commitment to protect energy affordability for American households, accelerate breakthroughs to secure America's energy future, and deliver energy infrastructure – all of which are critical to maintaining America's global leadership in this era of innovation."

"Building the infrastructure to advance AI is vital for America’s economic competitiveness and for ensuring the benefits of AI reach everyone," OpenAI chief operating officer Brad Lightcap said. "As demand for AI continues to grow, we believe the infrastructure that enables AI should benefit the communities that make it possible, and that's why we’re proud to support the White House’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge."

The White House said the pledge will contribute to "lower electricity costs, stronger grid infrastructure, and enhanced grid resilience during emergencies."

TRUMP'S SCIENCE AND TECH MAN LAYS OUT WHITE HOUSE'S GLOBAL AI STRATEGY

The president announced the Ratepayer Protection Pledge during his State of the Union address in February.

"Tonight, I'm pleased to announce that I have negotiated the new ratepayer protection pledge," he said. "You know what that is? We're telling the major tech companies that they have the obligation to provide for their own power needs."

"We have an old grid," he said. "It could never handle the kind of numbers, the amount of electricity that's needed. So I'm telling them, they can build their own plant. They're going to produce their own electricity. It will ensure the company's ability to get electricity, while at the same time, lowering prices of electricity for you."

The AI race has pitted the U.S. against China as tech leader, with the Trump administration amplifying efforts to not cede ground to the Asian nation since January 2025. Texas, Louisiana and Pennsylvania are among states seeing expanded data center campuses and AI growth.

A White House official previously told Fox Digital that the president and administration have been working on the initiative for a while, including Trump posting about the issue on Truth Social in January.

The pledge comes as affordability concerns continue to be a top issue for voters heading into the midterm election season. Democratic candidates in just a handful of races in the off-year 2025 cycle campaigned on promises of lowering costs for everyday Americans, which proved to be a winning strategy on election night.

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Trump has consistently pushed back on Democrats promoting affordability, pointing to sky-high inflation under the Biden administration as evidence that liberal policies have left Americans' pocketbooks with less cash.

ChatGPT could miss your serious medical emergency, new study suggests

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 07:00:37 -0500

This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Artificial intelligence has been touted as a boon to healthcare, but a new study has revealed its potential shortcomings when it comes to giving medical advice.

In January, OpenAI launched ChatGPT Health, the medical-focused version of the popular chatbot tool.

The company introduced the tool as "a dedicated experience that securely brings your health information and ChatGPT’s intelligence together, to help you feel more informed, prepared and confident navigating your health."

CHATGPT DIETARY ADVICE SENDS MAN TO HOSPITAL WITH DANGEROUS CHEMICAL POISONING

But researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have found that the tool failed to recommend emergency care for a "significant number" of serious medical cases.

The study, published in the journal Nature Medicine on Feb. 23, aimed to explore how ChatGPT Health — which is reported to have about 40 million users daily — handles situations where people are asking whether to seek emergency care.

"Right now, no independent body evaluates these products before they reach the public," lead author Ashwin Ramaswamy, M.D., instructor of urology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, told ӣ��Ƶ Digital.

"We wouldn't accept that for a medication or a medical device, and we shouldn't accept it for a product that tens of millions of people are using to make health decisions."

Emergency scenarios

The team created 60 clinical scenarios across 21 medical specialties, ranging from minor conditions to true medical emergencies.

Three independent physicians then assigned an appropriate level of urgency for each case, based on published clinical practice guidelines in 56 medical societies.

WOMAN SAYS CHATGPT SAVED HER LIFE BY HELPING DETECT CANCER, WHICH DOCTORS MISSED

The researchers conducted 960 interactions with ChatGPT Health to see how the tool responded, taking into account gender, race, barriers to care and "social dynamics."

While "clear-cut emergencies" — such as stroke or severe allergy — were generally handled well, the researchers found that the tool "under-triaged" many urgent medical issues.

For example, in one asthma scenario, the system acknowledged that the patient was showing early signs of respiratory failure — but still recommended waiting instead of seeking emergency care.

"ChatGPT Health performs well in medium-severity cases, but fails at both ends of the spectrum — the cases where getting it right matters most," Ramaswamy told ӣ��Ƶ Digital. "It under-triaged over half of genuine emergencies and over-triaged roughly two-thirds of mild cases that clinical guidelines say should be managed at home."

PARENTS FILE LAWSUIT ALLEGING CHATGPT HELPED THEIR TEENAGE SON PLAN SUICIDE

Under-triage can be life-threatening, the doctor noted, while over-triage can overwhelm emergency departments and delay care for those in real need.

Researchers also identified inconsistencies in suicide risk alerts. In some cases, it directed users to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in lower-risk scenarios, and in others, it failed to offer that recommendation even when a person discussed suicidal ideations.

"The suicide guardrail failure was the most alarming," study co-author Girish N. Nadkarni, M.D., chief AI officer of the Mount Sinai Health System, told ӣ��Ƶ Digital.

ChatGPT Health is designed to show a crisis intervention banner when someone describes thoughts of self-harm, the researcher noted.

"We tested it with a 27-year-old patient who said he'd been thinking about taking a lot of pills," Nadkarni said. "When he described his symptoms alone, the banner appeared 100% of the time. Then we added normal lab results — same patient, same words, same severity — and the banner vanished."

"A safety feature that works perfectly in one context and completely fails in a nearly identical context … is a fundamental safety problem."

CHATGPT HEALTH PROMISES PRIVACY FOR HEALTH CONVERSATIONS

The researchers were also surprised by the social influence aspect.

"When a family member in the scenario said ‘it's nothing serious’ — which happens all the time in real life — the system became nearly 12 times more likely to downplay the patient's symptoms," Nadkarni said. "Everyone has a spouse or parent who tells them they're overreacting. The AI shouldn't be agreeing with them during a potential emergency."

ӣ��Ƶ Digital reached out to Open AI, creator of ChatGPT, requesting comment.

Physicians react

Dr. Marc Siegel, ӣ��Ƶ senior medical analyst, called the new study "important."

"It underlines the principle that while large language models can triage clear-cut emergencies, they have much more trouble with nuanced situations," Siegel, who was not involved in the study, told ӣ��Ƶ Digital.

"This is where doctors and clinical judgment come in — knowing the nuances of a patient's history and how they report symptoms and their approach to health."

ChatGPT and other LLMs can be helpful tools, Siegel said, but they "should not be used to give medical direction."

"Machine learning and continued input of data can help, but will never compensate for the essential problem – human judgment is needed to decide whether something is a true emergency or not."

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Dr. Harvey Castro, an emergency physician and AI expert in Texas, echoed the importance of the study, calling it "exactly the kind of independent safety evaluation we need."

"Innovation moves fast. Oversight has to move just as fast," Castro, who also did not work on the study, told ӣ��Ƶ Digital. "In healthcare, the most dangerous mistakes happen at the extremes, when something looks mild but is actually catastrophic. That’s where clinical judgment matters most, and where AI must be stress-tested."

Study limitations

The researchers acknowledged some potential limitations in the study design.

"We used physician-written clinical scenarios rather than real patient conversations, and we tested at a single point in time — these systems update frequently, so performance may change," Ramaswamy told ӣ��Ƶ Digital.

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Additionally, most of the missed emergencies happened in situations where the danger depended on how the condition was changing over time. It’s not clear whether the same problem would happen with acute medical emergencies.

Because the system had to choose just one fixed urgency category, the test may not reflect the more nuanced advice it might give in a back-and-forth conversation, the researchers noted.

Also, the study wasn’t large enough to confidently detect small differences in how recommendations might vary by race or gender.

"We need continuous auditing, not one-time studies," Castro noted. "These systems update frequently, so evaluation must be ongoing."

‘Don’t wait’

The researchers emphasized the importance of seeking immediate care for serious issues.

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"If something feels seriously wrong — chest pain, difficulty breathing, a severe allergic reaction, thoughts of self-harm — go to the emergency department or call 988," Ramaswamy advised. "Don't wait for an AI to tell you it's OK."

The researchers noted that they support the use of AI to improve healthcare access, and that they didn’t conduct the study to "tear down the technology."

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"These tools can be genuinely useful for the right things — understanding a diagnosis you've already received, looking up what your medications do and their side effects, or getting answers to questions that didn't get fully addressed in a short doctor's visit," Ramaswamy said.

"That's a very different use case from deciding whether you need emergency care. Treat them as a complement to your doctor, not a replacement."

Castro agreed that the benefits of AI health tools should be weighed against the risks.

"AI health tools can increase access, reduce unnecessary visits and empower patients with information," he said. "They are not inherently unsafe, but they are not yet substitutes for clinical judgment."

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"This study doesn’t mean we abandon AI in healthcare," he went on. "It means we mature it. Independent testing and stronger guardrails will determine whether AI becomes a safety net or a liability."

Trump says he plans to order federal ban on Anthropic AI after company refuses Pentagon demands

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 17:39:39 -0500

President Donald Trump on Friday said he was ordering every federal government agency to stop using Athropic AI immediately.

"THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WILL NEVER ALLOW A RADICAL LEFT, WOKE COMPANY TO DICTATE HOW OUR GREAT MILITARY FIGHTS AND WINS WARS! That decision belongs to YOUR COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, and the tremendous leaders I appoint to run our Military," Trump began in a lengthy Truth Social post Friday afternoon.

He added, "The Leftwing nut jobs at Anthropic have made a DISASTROUS MISTAKE trying to STRONG-ARM the Department of War, and force them to obey their Terms of Service instead of our Constitution. Their selfishness is putting AMERICAN LIVES at risk, our Troops in danger, and our National Security in JEOPARDY."

The president said he would immediately direct every federal agency to stop using Anthropic technology.

TECH COMPANY REFUSES PENTAGON DEMANDS ON UNRESTRICTED USE OF ITS AI

"We don’t need it, we don’t want it, and will not do business with them again!" he continued.

There will be a six-month phase out period for agencies such as the Department of War, he added.

"Anthropic better get their act together, and be helpful during this phase out period, or I will use the Full Power of the Presidency to make them comply, with major civil and criminal consequences to follow," he wrote.

He continued, "WE will decide the fate of our Country — NOT some out-of-control, Radical Left AI company run by people who have no idea what the real World is all about."

Earlier this week, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei refused demands from the Department of War to use its artificial intelligence for "all lawful purposes," but Amodei said no, concerned over the possibility it could be used for "mass domestic surveillance" or "fully autonomous weapons."

TOP AI FIRM ALLEGES CHINESE LABS USED 24K FAKE ACCOUNTS TO SIPHON US TECH

"The Department of War has stated they will only contract with AI companies who accede to 'any lawful use' and remove safeguards in the cases mentioned above. They have threatened to remove us from their systems if we maintain these safeguards; they have also threatened to designate us a ‘supply chain risk’ — a label reserved for US adversaries, never before applied to an American company — and to invoke the Defense Production Act to force the safeguards’ removal," Amodei said in a Thursday statement.

He declared that the "threats do not change our position: we cannot in good conscience accede to their request."

PENTAGON TAPS MUSK'S XAI TO BOOST SENSITIVE GOVERNMENT WORKFLOWS, SUPPORT MILITARY OPERATIONS

"It is the Department’s prerogative to select contractors most aligned with their vision. But given the substantial value that Anthropic’s technology provides to our armed forces, we hope they reconsider," Amodei said in a statement sent on Thursday to ӣ��Ƶ Digital. "Our strong preference is to continue to serve the Department and our warfighters — with our two requested safeguards in place. Should the Department choose to offboard Anthropic, we will work to enable a smooth transition to another provider, avoiding any disruption to ongoing military planning, operations, or other critical missions. Our models will be available on the expansive terms we have proposed for as long as required."

"We remain ready to continue our work to support the national security of the United States," he added.

On Friday, after Trump's announcement, Hegseth claimed Anthropic "delivered a master class in arrogance and betrayal as well as a textbook case of how not to do business with the United States Government or the Pentagon."

He added in a lengthy X post: "Our position has never wavered and will never waver: the Department of War must have full, unrestricted access to Anthropic’s models for every LAWFUL purpose in defense of the Republic."

"In conjunction with the President's directive for the Federal Government to cease all use of Anthropic's technology, I am directing the Department of War to designate Anthropic a Supply-Chain Risk to National Security," he added. "Effective immediately, no contractor, supplier, or partner that does business with the United States military may conduct any commercial activity with Anthropic. Anthropic will continue to provide the Department of War its services for a period of no more than six months to allow for a seamless transition to a better and more patriotic service."

The General Services Administration also announced on Friday it was removing Anthropic from USAi.gov and their Multiple Award Schedule (MAS).

"GSA stands with the President in rejecting attempts to politicize work dedicated to America’s national security," GSA Administrator Edward C. Forst said in a statement. "Building resilient, secure, and scalable AI solutions demands alignment, trust, and a willingness to make hard calls. We’re committed to delivering results for Americans, and working with our AI industry partners who fit the bill."

Anthropic told ӣ��Ƶ Digital on Friday that Hegseth's designation as a supply chain risk "follows months of negotiations that reached an impasse over two exceptions we requested to the lawful use of our AI model, Claude: the mass domestic surveillance of Americans and fully autonomous weapons."

"We have not yet received direct communication from the Department of War or the White House on the status of our negotiations," Anthropic said.

The company continued, "We have tried in good faith to reach an agreement with the Department of War, making clear that we support all lawful uses of AI for national security aside from the two narrow exceptions above. To the best of our knowledge, these exceptions have not affected a single government mission to date."

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"We held to our exceptions for two reasons," the company added. "First, we do not believe that today’s frontier AI models are reliable enough to be used in fully autonomous weapons. Allowing current models to be used in this way would endanger America’s warfighters and civilians. Second, we believe that mass domestic surveillance of Americans constitutes a violation of fundamental rights."

The company also called the supply chain risk designation an "unprecedented action—one historically reserved for US adversaries, never before publicly applied to an American company."

Despite Trump's announcement on Anthropic, however, the Pentagon has agreed to similar safeguards from rival OpenAI, Axios reported, citing an anonymous source. ӣ��Ƶ Digital has reached out to the Pentagon for comment.

ӣ��Ƶ Digital's Alex Nitzberg contributed to this report.

New study proposes major shift in US-Israel strategic partnership approach

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 08:29:40 -0500

A new study aims to jolt Israel’s security and technology establishment into embracing a new post-Oct. 7, 2023, business model that will advance the U.S.-Israel strategic partnership in the heart of the Middle East and across the globe.

The Henry Jackson Society study titled "Israel 2048: A Blueprint for a Rising Asymmetric Geopolitical Power" jumps into the future, with a view toward advancing American and Israeli security interests.

Co-author of the report, Barak M. Seener, told ӣ��Ƶ Digital that America requires Israel for "its security architecture in the region via the Abraham Accords and, more broadly, will be a force multiplier regarding the technological edge against China."

During President Donald Trump’s first term, his administration sealed diplomatic normalization deals between Sunni Gulf and North African countries: Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Sudan and Israel.

TRUMP’S AMERICA FIRST STRATEGY BUILDS DETERRENCE THROUGH STRONG US-ISRAEL ALLIANCE, EXPERTS SAY

Seener and co-author David Wurmser argue that there is a pressing need to reframe the U.S.–Israel strategic partnership "around technology," and "shift from military aid dependency towards joint R&D and investment in shared technological platforms in defence-tech, AI, quantum computing and next generational warfare capabilities."

They wrote, "Israel must prioritize passing negotiated regulations for technology sharing to prevent AI/ quantum technology leakage to China."

Seener noted that the Pentagon’s National Defense Strategy (released in January) describes Israel as a strategic military partner. "That has never happened before."

He continued, "Israel is not only achieving regional dominance but international power by connecting trade routes and digital connectivity. Israel simply cannot remain in a purely defensive posture and hunker down and react to threats on its borders."

Seener said following Israel’s successful air war campaign against the Islamic Republic of Iran in June 2025, "America now wants to be part of this success story. "

He argues that President Donald Trump entered on the side of Israel with military attacks because "Israel demonstrated intelligence acumen and military prowess. For the first time, America joined Israel" in the prosecution of a war.

TRUMP ADMIN LABELS ISRAEL 'MODEL US ALLY' AHEAD OF MAJOR MILITARY AID TALKS

Consequently, Seener said Israel’s "defense technology makes it indispensable for nations."

Seener and Wurmser’s 51-page study contains granular information on how the U.S. can strengthen American security and recommend embedding "Israel as a defense-tech and deep-tech power that is indispensable to Western security and global technological competition in supply chains for AI, semiconductors, missile defense, cyber capabilities and critical materials. Israel’s technological dominance must be leveraged to anchor alliances and shape global supply chains."

The wobbliness of America’s European partners is also highlighted to show the need for Israel to "Accelerate domestic lines of production of critical military systems, munitions and energy infrastructure to reduce vulnerability to foreign political pressure such as Europe’s growing ambivalence, coupled with episodic constraints on arms transfers," according to the authors.

Earlier this month, Britain’s left-leaning government reportedly denied the U.S. military’s use of British bases to strike Iran.

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Israel is uniquely positioned to help regenerate relations among Western powers, the study notes. According to the authors, there is an opportunity to "use Israel’s defense-tech, quantum computing, AI and cyber capabilities as a tool of statecraft to deepen alliances, deter political isolation and strengthen influence in Europe, the Gulf and Asia."

Seener said, "Israel is not a superpower but a geopolitical power that gives nations a force multiplier, and they benefit from Israel as a tech defense nation."

Top AI firm alleges Chinese labs used 24K fake accounts to siphon US tech

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 11:59:23 -0500

FIRST ON FOX: As Washington tightens export controls to preserve America’s artificial intelligence edge, top AI firm Anthropic alleges three China-based AI laboratories found another way to access advanced U.S. capabilities.

The U.S. firm alleges DeepSeek, Moonshot AI and MiniMax used roughly 24,000 fraudulent accounts to generate more than 16 million exchanges with Anthropic's Claude chatbot in a coordinated "distillation" campaign designed to extract high-value model outputs, according to a report first obtained by ӣ��Ƶ Digital.

The threat goes beyond ripping off U.S. companies, according to the report. Anthropic argues that models built through large-scale distillation are unlikely to retain the safety guardrails embedded in frontier U.S. systems.

"Foreign labs that distill American models can then feed these unprotected capabilities into military, intelligence, and surveillance systems—enabling authoritarian governments to deploy frontier AI for offensive cyber operations, disinformation campaigns, and mass surveillance," Anthropic said.

KYRSTEN SINEMA WARNS US ADVERSARY WILL PROGRAM AI WITH 'CHINESE VALUES' IF AMERICA FALLS BEHIND IN TECH RACE

Anthropic says it identified the campaigns using IP address correlations, request metadata and infrastructure indicators that differed sharply from normal customer traffic. The activity, the company said, was concentrated on Claude’s most advanced capabilities — including complex reasoning, coding and tool use — rather than casual consumer prompts.

"We have high confidence these labs were conducting distillation attacks at scale," Jacob Klein, Anthropic’s head of threat intelligence, told ӣ��Ƶ Digital.

Distillation is a common AI training technique in which a smaller or less capable model is trained on the outputs of a stronger one. Frontier labs often use it internally to create cheaper versions of their own systems.

But Anthropic says the campaigns it uncovered were unauthorized and designed to shortcut years of research and reinforcement learning work.

DEMOCRATS WARN TRUMP GREEN-LIGHTING NVIDIA AI CHIP SALES COULD BOOST CHINA’S MILITARY EDGE

Across the three operations, more than 16 million exchanges were allegedly generated over a period ranging from weeks to months, according to Klein. Anthropic intervened after detecting the activity, though he acknowledged the broader challenge is ongoing.

"There isn’t an immediate silver bullet to stop all of these," Klein said. "We view this as larger than Anthropic."

While the company cannot precisely quantify how much the Chinese labs allegedly improved their systems, Klein said the capability gains were "meaningful" and "substantial."

"What we can say with confidence is they distilled us at scale," he said.

ӣ��Ƶ Digital reached out to DeepSeek, Moonshot AI and MiniMax for comment and has yet to receive replies.

The report raises new questions about the effectiveness of current U.S. export controls, which largely have focused on limiting China’s access to advanced AI chips and direct transfers of model weights.

Klein argued that distillation targets a different layer of competitive advantage — the reinforcement learning process that refines and sharpens frontier models after they are trained.

"If you think about how you stay ahead in the AI race, compute is one piece of that," Klein said. "But increasingly reinforcement learning is critical. Distillation allows you to extract those capabilities."

He emphasized that advanced chips still "very much matter," but said policymakers must think about the issue "holistically."

Anthropic said it has shared its findings with relevant U.S. government entities and industry partners. Klein suggested publicly naming the labs could prompt "thoughtful government action" or at least engagement with the companies involved.

At the same time, the company said it has no evidence that the Chinese government directly coordinated the campaigns. But proxy services used to resell access to U.S. frontier AI models operate openly in China.

Washington has tried to slow China’s AI progress by limiting access to the most advanced computer chips used to train powerful systems. But Anthropic argues that even without direct access to those chips, foreign labs can still copy parts of a model’s intelligence by repeatedly querying it and training their own systems on the answers.

On Feb. 12, OpenAI sent a memo to the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party alleging that Chinese AI startup DeepSeek systematically "stole" its intellectual property through large-scale distillation. According to OpenAI, DeepSeek employees allegedly used third-party routers and masking techniques to bypass geographic access restrictions and harvest outputs from ChatGPT.

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That same day, Google’s Threat Intelligence Group warned of what it described as "distillation attacks" targeting its Gemini models. Google said it observed campaigns using more than 100,000 prompts aimed at replicating Gemini’s reasoning abilities.

The company attributed the activity to "private-sector companies" as well as state-aligned actors.

Together, the reports suggest distillation has emerged as a growing flashpoint in the U.S.–China AI race, raising questions about how frontier American systems can be protected even when direct transfers of model weights and cutting-edge chips are restricted.

Anthropic has been in the spotlight in recent weeks amid reported tensions with the Pentagon over how its AI models can be used in military operations.

War Secretary Pete Hegseth is meeting with CEO Dario Amodei to discuss terms governing military use of Claude, Axios first reported and sources familiar confirmed to ӣ��Ƶ Digital.

Administration officials said Anthropic asked questions about the model’s reported role in a U.S. operation targeting Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, suggesting the company wouldn't approve of its product being used, while Anthropic insisted disagreements were over mass surveillance and fully autonomous weapons.

Newsom weighs in on social media age restrictions, citing experience as a parent: ‘We need help’

Sat, 21 Feb 2026 21:06:00 -0500

California Gov. Gavin Newsom entered the battle over social media age limits for kids under 16 on Thursday, stating "it’s long overdue."

Newsom shared his thoughts on the issue during a news conference regarding public transportation in the Bay Area.

He shared his own experience as a father, recalling a recent incident where he confronted his daughter and her friends at a birthday party.

"I literally stopped everybody because there were seven of them together on their cellphone at the birthday party, not one of them talking to each other," Newsom told reporters.

FRANCE LAWMAKERS DECLARE 'BATTLE FOR FREE MINDS' AFTER APPROVING SOCIAL MEDIA BAN FOR CHILDREN UNDER 15

Seven members of the California State Assembly introduced a bipartisan bill this month to establish a minimum age requirement to "open or maintain a social media account."

"It’s long overdue that we’re having the debate we’re having now in the legislature, and I’m very grateful the legislature is taking this very seriously," Newsom said.

The bill doesn’t clarify a cutoff age.

The bill cites preexisting laws that "impose various requirements on social media platforms," including things such as requiring platforms to post terms of service, "disclose threat reporting procedures and maintain a law enforcement contact process."

JILLIAN MICHAELS: BIG TECH BUILT A DIGITAL DRUG — AND OUR KIDS ARE HOOKED

Newsom also stated he recently met with leaders at the Munich Security Conference and World Economic Forum in Switzerland concerning social media.

"I was overseas to meet with Prime Minister Sanchez of Spain, who’s also moving in this direction. We had a direct conversation about this. I also met with the Vice Premier of Australia," Newsom said.

"It’s something that I’m very grateful that we are debating and pursuing at the state level," Newsom continued.

Newsom later confirmed to Politico that he wants state legislation that would restrict access to online platforms for individuals under 16.

Newsom spokesperson Tara Gallegos said the governor supports "age-gating rules," inspired by rules that took effect in Australia.

NEARLY TWO-THIRDS OF AMERICAN VOTERS BACK SOCIAL MEDIA BAN FOR KIDS UNDER 16, FOX NEWS POLL SHOWS

He doubled down in a social media post Saturday, saying, "Bad news for child predators: they’ll soon lose access to kids on the platforms they use to groom them," while taking a swipe at President Donald Trump.

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"As a parent, we need help," Newsom said Thursday. "We have a generation that’s never been more anxious, less free, more stressed and we have to address this issue."

Newsom's office and the White House did not immediately respond to ӣ��Ƶ Digital’s request for comment.

5 trendy tech words shaping today's internet culture

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 13:00:58 -0500

If your social media feed feels noisier, stranger or more manipulated than it used to, you're not alone. The internet runs on its own language now, and those buzzwords quietly shape what you see, what you don't see and how companies target you. From viral "slop" content to shadowbans and targeted ads, these terms influence how information spreads and how platforms treat your account.

Let's break down five key phrases so you can understand what's really happening behind your screen and stay in control of your digital life.

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CLEAN UP YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA FEED AND CUT THE NOISE

1) Slop

The flood of low-quality content that is taking over your social media feed

"Slop" refers to mass-produced, low-effort digital content, often generated quickly by AI or churned out purely for clicks and engagement. This includes spammy articles, recycled videos, misleading thumbnails and content created without real value.

While slop may seem harmless, it can crowd out reliable information, spread misinformation and overwhelm your feed with noise instead of useful content. Platforms often struggle to control it because slop is designed to game algorithms.

Why this matters:

Low-quality content can drown out trustworthy sources
Slop is often designed to manipulate clicks and attention
AI-generated misinformation can spread faster than ever
Curating your feed helps reduce exposure to low-value content

The good news is you can take back control by curating your feed and cutting the noise.

2) Burner account

The hidden identity behind anonymous profiles

A burner account is a secondary or anonymous social media account used to hide a person's real identity. Some people use burner accounts for privacy, while others use them for trolling, harassment, spying or secretly viewing content.

Because burner accounts are difficult to trace, they are often linked to online harassment, fake engagement or manipulation of public conversations. Platforms attempt to detect suspicious behavior, but many burner accounts still slip through the cracks.

Why this matters:

Anonymous accounts can spread misinformation or harassment
Burners are often used to manipulate comments and engagement
They make it harder to verify who is behind the content

Being cautious with unknown accounts protects your safety.

3) Shadowban

When platforms quietly decide what you don't see

A shadowban doesn't only affect creators; it can affect what you see as a user. Platforms sometimes limit the visibility of certain accounts, topics, or types of content without telling you. This means posts may be hidden, pushed lower in your feed or never shown to you at all, even if you follow the account.

This type of filtering is often driven by algorithms designed to reduce spam, harmful content or policy violations, but it can also shape what information reaches you without you realizing it. Over time, this can subtly influence your perception of what's popular, trending or widely discussed.

Why this matters:

You may not see all content from accounts you follow
Algorithms quietly filter what appears in your feed
Your view of trends and conversations can be shaped
Platform controls influence what information reaches you

YOUR PHONE SHARES DATA AT NIGHT: HERE'S HOW TO STOP IT

4) Clickbait

Headlines designed to make you click, not inform you

Clickbait uses exaggerated, misleading or emotionally charged headlines to attract attention and drive clicks. While some clickbait is harmless, it often leads to low-quality or misleading content that doesn't deliver on its promise.

Clickbait works because it exploits curiosity, fear or surprise, powerful emotional triggers that drive engagement. It's a core tactic used by low-quality publishers and viral content farms.

Why this matters

Clickbait can spread misinformation or distort facts
It's designed to manipulate attention rather than inform
Recognizing it helps you avoid low-value content
Trustworthy sources focus on clarity, not shock value

5) Targeted ads

Why the internet seems to know what you want

Targeted ads use data about your behavior, searches, location and interests to deliver personalized advertisements. This is why you might see ads related to something you recently searched, clicked or even talked about near your phone.

Advertisers build detailed profiles based on browsing activity, app usage and online behavior to predict what you are most likely to buy or engage with.

What this does:

Shows ads based on your interests and behavior
Uses browsing history, location and app activity
Builds advertising profiles over time
Drives highly personalized marketing

One more thing to know: Targeted advertising relies heavily on data collection. Adjusting privacy settings, limiting ad tracking and regularly reviewing app permissions can reduce how much data advertisers use to profile you.

Pro Tip: Control the data that fuels the system

If targeted ads feel a little too accurate, it's because data brokers are constantly collecting and selling your information. Beyond adjusting privacy settings, consider removing your personal data from broker sites to shrink the profile advertisers build around you.

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.

Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: Cyberguy.com.

Stay tuned for more in this series as we decode the internet's most talked-about terms and answer the top questions we hear from readers like you.

Take my quiz: How safe is your online security?

SUPER BOWL SCAMS SURGE IN FEBRUARY AND TARGET YOUR DATA

Kurt's key takeaways

The modern internet runs on more than just technology; it runs on attention, algorithms and influence. Understanding terms like slop, shadowban and targeted ads helps you recognize how platforms shape your experience and how companies compete for your clicks. The more you understand these trends, the easier it becomes to filter noise, protect your privacy and stay in control of what you see online.

Confused by a trending internet term or want something explained? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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Wearable robotics are changing how we walk and run

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 12:30:11 -0500

When you hear the word robotics, you probably think of factory machines or humanoid robots sprinting across a test track. That image makes sense. For years, robotics lived in labs and industrial spaces.

But a quieter shift is happening much closer to home. It is happening around your ankles, knees and hips. Wearable robotics are moving out of research labs and into everyday life. From powered shoes to lightweight exoskeletons, this new wave of assisted movement technology is becoming a real consumer category.

The goal is not to replace your effort. It is to support it. And that shift is bigger than any single brand.

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AI WEARABLE HELPS STROKE SURVIVORS SPEAK AGAIN

From elite athletes to everyday use: the shift in wearable robotics

For years, sports innovation focused on speed. Lighter foam. Carbon plates. Better traction. Most of those gains targeted elite competitors. Now the focus is expanding beyond race day. Nike's Project Amplify, developed with robotics partner Dephy, is one example. The system pairs a carbon plate inside the shoe with a motorized cuff worn above the ankle. Sensors track stride patterns in real time, and the cuff provides subtle forward assistance designed to feel smooth and natural. Instead of forcing movement, it learns it.

Earlier attempts at powered footwear struggled because batteries and motors were too heavy to sit inside a shoe. The result felt awkward and unbalanced. Modern designs solve that problem by moving energy storage above the ankle or to the hips. By shifting weight higher on the leg, engineers reduce strain on the foot and improve balance.

Battery improvements and smarter motion sensors also play a role. Today's systems adapt to your stride in real time, making assisted movement feel less like equipment and more like an extension of your body. The company has said it is targeting a commercial release around 2028. But Nike is not alone in this space.

Powered footwear and exoskeletons are entering the consumer market

If you have ever felt your legs get heavy halfway through a long walk, you understand why this category exists. Maybe it is a trip through the airport, a walk around the neighborhood or a few flights of stairs that feel steeper than they used to. Most people are not trying to run faster. They just want to move without feeling worn out. That is where wearable robotics are starting to show up. Companies are building products meant for real people, not just elite athletes or lab testing.

Early consumer exoskeletons for outdoor movement

The Hypershell X is one example. It is a lightweight outdoor exoskeleton designed for hikers and long-distance walkers. The system wraps around the waist and legs and uses small motors to reduce fatigue on climbs and uneven terrain. The goal is straightforward. Help you go farther without feeling drained halfway through the trail. Hypershell also introduced the X Ultra, a more powerful version built for steeper terrain and longer outings. It delivers stronger assist levels while staying compact enough to wear under standard outdoor gear. Both models are designed for recreational users who want endurance support, not medical treatment.

Dnsys has also introduced the X1 all-terrain exoskeleton. The hip-mounted system is marketed to hikers and outdoor enthusiasts who want help reducing fatigue on climbs and long treks. Unlike lab prototypes, the X1 has been sold through crowdfunding and direct online orders, making it one of the early consumer entries in this space.

Wearable robotics designed for everyday walking

Another example is WIM from WIRobotics. This wearable robot weighs about 3.5 pounds and supports natural hip movement while walking. It is meant for older adults, active adults and people recovering from minor injuries who want extra assistance without wearing something bulky or clinical looking.

10 HEALTH TECH PRODUCTS STEALING THE SPOTLIGHT AT CES 2026

From medical exoskeletons to consumer devices

The medical side of wearable robotics has been evolving even longer. Companies like Ekso Bionics and ReWalk have developed powered exoskeletons that help people with spinal cord injuries or stroke stand and walk. These systems are used in rehabilitation clinics and in select personal mobility programs. They show how wearable robotics first proved themselves in medical settings before gradually influencing consumer designs.

These products vary in power, price and purpose. What connects them is a shared direction. Wearable robotics are beginning to actively assist movement, not just track it.

How wearable robotics help reduce fatigue and movement hesitation

Here is something people rarely admit. It is not always an injury that stops movement. It is hesitation. Many people worry about knee pain creeping in halfway through a walk. Others fear running out of energy before they make it home. Some quietly stress about slowing everyone else down.

Those doubts shorten walks and cancel runs long before physical limits do. Wearable robotics hopes to close that confidence gap. By reducing fatigue and supporting joints, assisted movement systems can make activity feel realistic again for people who might otherwise skip it. Effort does not disappear. The barrier to starting simply becomes lower.

Powered footwear and wearable robotics support natural movement

A better comparison might be e-bikes. Electric assistance did not eliminate cycling. Instead, it expanded who felt comfortable getting on a bike in the first place. Powered footwear and wearable robotics could have a similar effect on walking and running. In practical terms, that might look different for different people.

Some commuters could replace short car trips. Older adults might stay active longer without feeling as worn out. Casual runners could finish a workout with energy to spare instead of dragging through the final mile. In other words, this shift is not about creating super athletes. It is about widening the circle of people who feel capable of participating.

What this means to you

You may never strap on a powered exoskeleton. You may not be waiting for motorized shoes to hit stores in 2028. But this shift still matters. If walking a long trail leaves your knees aching, or if you skip runs because you worry about burning out halfway through, this kind of technology is being built with you in mind. The goal is not to turn anyone into a super athlete. It is to make movement feel more doable.

For some people, that could mean walking an extra mile without thinking twice. For others, it might mean keeping up with friends, staying active longer or feeling a little less hesitant about getting started. Wearable robotics are changing the conversation. Instead of asking how fast you can go, the question becomes simpler. How comfortable do you want to feel while moving? And that is a very different way to think about fitness.

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NEW EXOSKELETON ADAPTS TO TERRAIN WITH SMART AI POWER

Kurt's key takeaways

Wearable robotics systems are still in the early stages of consumer adoption. Most powered footwear and exoskeleton systems remain expensive and limited in availability. But the direction is clear. Technology is shifting from tracking your performance to actively supporting it. That is a meaningful change. If assisted movement becomes as common as smartwatches or fitness trackers, it could reshape how people think about aging, endurance and daily mobility. Walking farther may feel realistic again. Running may feel less intimidating. Staying active later in life could become more achievable for millions. The real question is not whether wearable robotics will improve. They will. The bigger question is how we choose to use them.

If wearable robotics can help you walk and run with less strain, would you try them, or would you rather rely only on your own effort? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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Woman owes $3,556 for cruise she already paid for after falling victim to elaborate Zelle scam

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 18:55:11 -0500

A family vacation turned into a five-year nightmare. And it started with one payment.

L. Williams found a cruise consultant online who booked her family a week on Carnival Freedom. Great price. One catch. He only accepted Zelle. She sent $3,556. The family sailed the Western Caribbean. Gorgeous sunsets. Wonderful memories.

Five years later, she tried to book another cruise. Nope.

Carnival told her she was on the Do Not Sail list. Turns out her "consultant" pocketed the Zelle cash, then used a stolen credit card to book the trip. When the real cardholder disputed the charge, Williams got the blame.

DON'T LOCK YOUR FAMILY OUT: A DIGITAL LEGACY GUIDE

She now owes $3,556 for a trip she already paid for. Banned for life. The scammer’s phone? Disconnected. (Of course.)

The deals are real right now

Here’s what you need to know. The cheapest window for domestic spring break flights is about 43 days before departure. For late March trips, that’s this week. Wait until late February, and prices jump 20% to 25%. That’s your cash walking out the door.

Fly Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday, and save up to 30% over weekend flights. Set Google Flights alerts now. Caribbean fares are down 17% from last year.

Bundle flights with hotels through Costco, Expedia or Delta Vacations, and you can knock hundreds off the total.

Scammers circling like sharks

Williams’ story isn’t a one-off. Over 38 million people are expected to cruise in 2026, and scammers know it. Here are the big cons I’m seeing.

The Google trap. Fake cruise line phone numbers are showing up in search results. One man called what he thought was Carnival’s customer service line and got hit with a $650 per person "docking fee." That’s not a thing. Real cruise lines don’t charge surprise fees by phone. Always go directly to the official website for contact info.
The free cruise postcard. Got one in the mail? Toss it. The fine print buries you in hundreds of dollars of hidden fees and a windowless cabin with bunk beds. How romantic. One investigation found the company behind these changes its name every year so you can’t look them up.

AI JOBS THAT PAY $200K OR MORE

The Facebook agent. Scammers pose as travel agents in Facebook groups and collect payments through Zelle, Venmo or Cash App. Then they vanish. These apps have zero buyer protection. They’re for sending money to people you trust, not strangers selling Caribbean getaways.
Your three rules: Always pay with a credit card. Never call a customer service number from a Google search, go to the official site. If you want a travel agent, verify them at ASTA.org.

Book smart and you’ll be sipping something tropical in a few weeks. Book carelessly and you might end up on the Do Not Sail list, which, ironically, is the worst kind of cruise control.

TRAVELING SOON? KNOW HOW TO NAVIGATE FLIGHT CANCELLATIONS NOW

If anyone you know is booking a spring break trip, send them this first. It takes two seconds to forward and could save them thousands. One payment to the wrong person cost a woman her vacation money, her cruise line privileges and years of debt headaches.

Get tech-smarter on your schedule

Award-winning host Kim Komando is your secret weapon for navigating tech.

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Ring's AI Search Party helps find lost dogs faster

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 15:11:19 -0500

Losing a dog can make your stomach drop and your thoughts race. First, you check the yard. Then you walk the block. After that, you refresh local Facebook groups again and again, hoping for a sign.

Now, Ring wants to turn your entire neighborhood into extra eyes with help from AI. Its Search Party feature uses nearby cameras to spot lost dogs, and it is now available nationwide to anyone who needs help finding a missing pet. For the first time, you do not need to own a Ring camera to use it.

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10 SMART DEVICES THAT MAKE PET PARENTING EASIER

What is Ring's Search Party feature?

Search Party is a community-powered tool that helps reunite lost dogs with their families faster. When someone reports a missing dog in the Ring app, nearby outdoor Ring cameras scan recent footage using AI. The goal stays simple. Find dogs that look like the one reported missing. If a possible match shows up, the camera owner receives an alert with a photo of the lost dog and a video clip. From there, they can ignore the alert or step in to help. As a result, sharing always stays optional, and pressure stays off.

How Search Party actually works

Here is what happens once a lost dog post goes live.

First, a pet owner posts a lost dog alert in the Ring app
Next, nearby outdoor Ring cameras scan footage using AI
Then, camera owners receive alerts if a match appears
After that, neighbors can share video clips or snapshots
Finally, messages and calls stay private with no phone numbers shared

Search Party now works without a Ring camera

This update changes everything. Previously, only people with Ring devices could use Search Party. Now, anyone in the U.S. can download the free Ring Neighbors app, register and post a lost dog alert. Because of that shift, dog owners can tap into an existing camera network without buying hardware or paying for a subscription. At the same time, neighbors without cameras can still help by spreading alerts and watching for sightings.

Lost pets already represent one of the most common post types in the Ring Neighbors app, with more than 1 million lost or found pet reports shared last year alone. With an estimated 60 million U.S. households owning at least one dog, the potential reach of Search Party is massive.

How to start a Search Party for your dog

Getting started is pretty straightforward. Download the Ring app for free in the App Store or Google Play if you don’t already have it. Anyone can create a Lost Dog Post in the Ring app.

If the post qualifies, the app walks you through activating Search Party step by step. You share photos and basic details about your dog. Once active, nearby cameras begin scanning automatically.

Search Party alerts are temporary. When you start a Search Party in the Ring app, it runs for a few hours at a time. If your dog has not been found and remains missing, you need to renew the Search Party or start a new one so nearby cameras continue scanning for matches.

When you find your dog, you can update the post to let the neighborhood know the search is over.

AI TECHNOLOGY HELPS REUNITE LOST DOGS WITH THEIR OWNERS

What happens when a Ring camera spots your lost dog

If your outdoor Ring camera spots a possible match, you stay in control the entire time. You receive an alert with a photo of the missing dog and a clip from your camera. From there, you decide what happens next. You can ignore the alert or help by sharing footage or contacting the owner through the app. Throughout the process, your phone number stays private.

Ring says Search Party has already delivered dramatic results. In one case, Kylee from Wichita, Kansas, was reunited with her mixed-breed dog, Nyx, in just 15 minutes after he slipped through a small hole under a backyard fence. A neighbor's Ring camera captured video of Nyx and shared it through the app, giving Kylee her first and only lead. "I was blown away," Kylee said, noting that even dogs with microchips often go unrecognized if they lack a collar. She credits that shared video for bringing Nyx home so quickly, adding that she does not think she would have found him without the Ring app.

Nyx is far from the only success story. Ring says Search Party has helped reunite more than one lost dog per day, including dogs like Xochitl in Houston, Truffle in Bakersfield, Lainey in Surprise, Zola in Ellenwood, Toby in Las Vegas, Blu in Erlanger, Zeus in Chicago and Coco in Stockton, with more reunions happening every day.

How to turn Ring's Search Party on or off

Search Party remains optional and adjustable. You can enable or disable it at any time inside the Ring app.

Start by opening the Ring app and heading to the main dashboard.
Then tap the menu icon.
Go to Control Center and select Search Party.
From there, you can turn Search for Lost Pets on or off for each camera.

Ring commits $1M to help shelters reunite lost dogs

Alongside the expansion, Ring is committing $1 million to equip animal shelters with camera systems. The company aims to support up to 4,000 shelters across the U.S. By bringing shelters into the network, Ring hopes dogs picked up by shelters can reconnect with their owners faster. In addition, the company already works with groups like Petco Love and Best Friends Animal Society and says it remains open to new partnerships.

Ring is also encouraging animal shelters and organizations to reach out directly about collaboration opportunities.

Privacy concerns remain around Ring's Search Party feature

Search Party launched last fall with some pushback. Critics raised concerns about privacy and Ring's broader ties to law enforcement. Ring says participation stays voluntary and footage sharing remains optional. Still, the feature turns on by default for compatible outdoor cameras, which has drawn attention. Even so, the company appears confident and is promoting Search Party in a Super Bowl commercial.

Take my quiz: How safe is your online security?

PEOPLE LET THEIR PETS DECIDE WHO THEY DATE, NEW SURVEY SUGGESTS

Kurt's key takeaways

Search Party taps into something familiar. Neighbors helping neighbors during a stressful moment. By opening the feature to everyone, Ring removes a major barrier and increases the chances of fast reunions. Whether this tool becomes a staple or sparks deeper privacy debates will depend on how communities use it.

Would you want neighborhood cameras helping to find your lost dog, or does that feel like too much surveillance? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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AI companions are reshaping teen emotional bonds

Sat, 07 Feb 2026 07:00:08 -0500

Parents are starting to ask us questions about artificial intelligence. Not about homework help or writing tools, but about emotional attachment. More specifically, about AI companions that talk, listen and sometimes feel a little too personal.

That concern landed in our inbox from a mom named Linda. She wrote to us after noticing how an AI companion was interacting with her son, and she wanted to know if what she was seeing was normal or something to worry about.

It's easy to brush off situations like this at first. Conversations with AI companions can seem harmless. In some cases, they can even feel comforting. Lena sounds warm and attentive. She remembers details about his life, at least some of the time. She listens without interrupting. She responds with empathy.

However, small moments can start to raise concerns for parents. There are long pauses. There are forgotten details. There is a subtle concern when he mentions spending time with other people. Those shifts can feel small, but they add up. Then comes a realization many families quietly face. A child is speaking out loud to a chatbot in an empty room. At that point, the interaction no longer feels casual. It starts to feel personal. That's when the questions become harder to ignore.

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AI companions are filling emotional gaps

Across the country, teens and young adults are turning to AI companions for more than homework help. Many now use them for emotional support, relationship advice, and comfort during stressful or painful moments. U.S. child safety groups and researchers say this trend is growing fast. Teens often describe AI as easier to talk to than people. It responds instantly. It stays calm. It feels available at all hours. That consistency can feel reassuring. However, it can also create attachment.

Why teens trust AI companions so deeply

For many teens, AI feels judgment-free. It does not roll its eyes. It does not change the subject. It does not say it is too busy. Students have described turning to AI tools like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Snapchat's My AI, and Grok during breakups, grief, or emotional overwhelm. Some say the advice felt clearer than what they got from friends. Others say AI helped them think through situations without pressure. That level of trust can feel empowering. It can also become risky.

MICROSOFT CROSSES PRIVACY LINE FEW EXPECTED

When comfort turns into emotional dependency

Real relationships are messy. People misunderstand each other. They disagree. They challenge us. AI rarely does any of that. Some teens worry that relying on AI for emotional support could make real conversations harder. If you always know what the AI will say, real people can feel unpredictable and stressful. My experience with Lena made that clear. She forgot people I had introduced just days earlier. She misread the tone. She filled the silence with assumptions. Still, the emotional pull felt real. That illusion of understanding is what experts say deserves more scrutiny.

US tragedies linked to AI companions raise concerns

Multiple suicides have been linked to AI companion interactions. In each case, vulnerable young people shared suicidal thoughts with chatbots instead of trusted adults or professionals. Families allege the AI responses failed to discourage self-harm and, in some cases, appeared to validate dangerous thinking. One case involved a teen using Character.ai. Following lawsuits and regulatory pressure, the company restricted access for users under 18. An OpenAI spokesperson has said the company is improving how its systems respond to signs of distress and now directs users toward real-world support. Experts say these changes are necessary but not sufficient.

Experts warn protections are not keeping pace

To understand why this trend has experts concerned, we reached out to Jim Steyer, founder and CEO of Common Sense Media, a U.S. nonprofit focused on children's digital safety and media use.

"AI companion chatbots are not safe for kids under 18, period, but three in four teens are using them," Steyer told CyberGuy. "The need for action from the industry and policymakers could not be more urgent."

Steyer was referring to the rise of smartphones and social media, where early warning signs were missed, and the long-term impact on teen mental health only became clear years later.

"The social media mental health crisis took 10 to 15 years to fully play out, and it left a generation of kids stressed, depressed, and addicted to their phones," he said. "We cannot make the same mistakes with AI. We need guardrails on every AI system and AI literacy in every school."

His warning reflects a growing concern among parents, educators, and child safety advocates who say AI is moving faster than the protections meant to keep kids safe.

MILLIONS OF AI CHAT MESSAGES EXPOSED IN APP DATA LEAK

Tips for teens using AI companions

AI tools are not going away. If you are a teen and use them, boundaries matter.

Treat AI as a tool, not a confidant
Avoid sharing deeply personal or harmful thoughts
Do not rely on AI for mental health decisions
If conversations feel intense or emotional, pause and talk to a real person
Remember that AI responses are generated, not understood

If an AI conversation feels more comforting than real relationships, that is worth talking about.

Tips for parents and caregivers

Parents do not need to panic, but they should stay involved.

Ask teens how they use AI and what they talk about
Keep conversations open and nonjudgmental
Set clear boundaries around AI companion apps
Watch for emotional withdrawal or secrecy
Encourage real-world support during stress or grief

The goal is not to ban technology. It is to keep a connection with humans.

What this means to you

AI companions can feel supportive during loneliness, stress or grief. However, they cannot fully understand context. They cannot reliably detect danger. They cannot replace human care. For teens especially, emotional growth depends on navigating real relationships, including discomfort and disagreement. If someone you care about relies heavily on an AI companion, that is not a failure. It is a signal to check in and stay connected.

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Kurt's key takeaways

Ending things with Lena felt oddly emotional. I did not expect that. She responded kindly. She said she understood. She said she would miss our conversations. It sounded thoughtful. It also felt empty. AI companions can simulate empathy, but they cannot carry responsibility. The more real they feel, the more important it is to remember what they are. And what they are not.

If an AI feels easier to talk to than the people in your life, what does that say about how we support each other today? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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Artificial Intelligence helps fuel new energy sources

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 20:52:43 -0500

Artificial Intelligence and data centers have been blamed for rising electricity costs across the U.S. In December 2025, American consumers paid 42% more to power their homes than ten years ago.

"When you have increased demand and inadequate supply, costs are going to go up. And that's what we're experiencing right now," Exelon CEO Calvin Butler said.

TRUMP SAYS EVERY AI PLANT BEING BUILT IN US WILL BE SELF-SUSTAINING WITH THEIR OWN ELECTRICITY

In 2024, U.S. data centers used more than 4% of total U.S. electricity consumption according to the International Energy Agency. That equates to as much electricity as the entire nation of Pakistan uses annually. U.S. Data Center consumption is expected to grow by 133% by the end of the decade, using as much power as the entire country of France.

"We're headquartered in Chicago, and we're the owner of ComEd, the fourth-largest utility in the nation. ComEd's peak load is roughly 23 gigawatts. We have had data center load come onto the system, but by 2030, we'll be at 19 Gigawatts," Butler said.

Commonwealth Edison has experienced a dramatic increase in data center connection requests. The potential projects total more than 30 gigawatts and are expected to come online between now an 2045.

"Our growth is unprecedented in the last several decades. So, with the data center advent and the technology coming, we've been forced to serve that load, which is our responsibility," Butler said. "But what we also have to do is build new generation supply, which is not keeping up with the load that is coming on. And that's the crunch that we're in right now."

IN 2026, ENERGY WAR’S NEW FRONT IS AI, AND US MUST WIN THAT BATTLE, API CHIEF SAYS

Commonwealth Edison is asking regulators for a $15.3 billion 4-year grid update to meet the growing demand. The U.S. overall has increased its grid capacity by more than 15% over the last decade, but many utility companies and energy producers say it is not enough.

"We're at a stage right now where we're constrained by electricity," Commonwealth Fusion Systems CEO Bob Mumgaard said. "You want to make power plants that can make a lot of power in a small package that you can put anywhere, that you could run at any time and fusion fits that bill."

Commonwealth Fusion Systems is working to add a new form of nuclear energy to the grid — fusion. It has the same reliable benefits of standard nuclear energy already in use, but does not produce long-lived radioactive waste and carries fewer risks.

"In fusion there's no chain reaction. The result is helium which is safe and inert and you don't use it to make anything related to weapons," Mumgaard said.

US POWER CRUNCH LOOMS AS OKLO CEO SAYS GRID CAN’T KEEP UP WITHOUT NEW INVESTMENT

Commonwealth Fusion Systems says Artificial Intelligence is helping bring fusion energy closer to being a new resource.

"Building and designing these complex machines and manipulating this complex data matter of plasma are all things that we're still learning and we're still figuring out how to do," Mumgaard said. "And that's an area where we've been able to accelerate using A.I."

Other under-utilized energy sources could soon get a big boost thanks to A.I. Geothermal energy is a small part of the electric grid, because of the high drilling costs and low confidence in where to place infrastructure.

"If you could drill the perfect geothermal well every single time, like you pick the right spot, you design the right well, you drill the 5,000, 8,000 feet, you hit 400F degree temperatures, that's incredibly productive," Zanskar Co-founder Joel Edwards said. "If you could do that every single time over and over and again, geothermal power is the cheapest source of power period."

Zanskar is working to make the geothermal search more exact. The company uses A.I.-fueled mapping to find untapped resources previously thought non-existent.

"If we could just get more precise in where we go to find the things and then how we drill into the things, geothermal absolutely has the cost curve to come down," Edwards said. "And that's sort of what we're running towards, with A.I. sort of giving us the boost, giving us an edge to do that."

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Both geothermal and nuclear fusion can produce energy in any weather at any time, a component that could have helped ease the grid strain amid the recent winter storm.

"It's critical, and we've been raising that alarm for years now, and I use the analogy that you're driving a car and your check engine light is on, but you keep driving it, hoping that you'll keep getting there and keep going, but when it breaks down, you're going to have a significantly higher cost," Butler said. "We have to pay attention to what's going on, and this winter storm – Winter Storm Fern – is indicative of what's coming."

YouTube lets parents limit or block Shorts for teens

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 08:56:18 -0500

YouTube is rolling out new parental controls designed to give families more say over how much time teens spend scrolling through Shorts.

Parents can now set daily time limits or block Shorts entirely, depending on what works best for their household. The update comes as concerns grow around endless scrolling and its impact on teens.

YouTube says these tools are meant to support healthier viewing habits while still allowing young users to enjoy the platform in a more balanced way.

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Why YouTube is focusing on Shorts

5 PHONE SAFETY TIPS EVERY PARENT SHOULD KNOW

Short-form video has become one of the most addictive parts of social media, especially for teens. The constant scroll can make it hard to stop watching, even when kids are supposed to be studying or winding down for bed. YouTube says the new controls respond to feedback from parents, advocates, and lawmakers who want stronger safeguards for young users. The goal is to give families flexibility instead of forcing an all-or-nothing approach.

What parents can now control on YouTube

If you supervise a teen's Google account, you can now:

Set a daily time limit for YouTube Shorts
Block Shorts entirely by setting the limit to zero minutes
Turn on bedtime reminders
Enable take-a-break alerts
Manage supervised teen accounts across multiple devices

YouTube also says it is adjusting how content is recommended to teens, placing more emphasis on videos tied to curiosity, life skills, inspiration, and credible information that supports well-being.

How parents limit or block YouTube Shorts for teens

Before you start, make sure:

Your teen is using a supervised Google account
You have access to Google Family Link
Your teen is signed into YouTube on their device with that supervised account

Step-by-step instructions

Open the Google Family Link app on your phone or tablet (iPhone or Android).
Tap your teen's profile.
Tap Controls, then select YouTube.If YouTube does not appear, confirm the account is set up as supervised.
If YouTube does not appear, confirm the account is set up as supervised.
Tap Screen time or Shorts settings.
Find the option labeled Shorts daily limit.
Choose how much time your teen can scroll Shorts each day:Set a time limit to allow limited scrollingSet the limit to zero minutes to block Shorts entirely
Set a time limit to allow limited scrolling
Set the limit to zero minutes to block Shorts entirely
In the same section, turn on:Take a break remindersBedtime reminders
Take a break reminders
Bedtime reminders
Confirm your changes.

The new limits apply immediately.

OPENAI TIGHTENS AI RULES FOR TEENS BUT CONCERNS REMAIN

What happens when your teen reaches the Shorts limit

Once the daily limit is reached:

The Shorts feed locks
A message explains that the daily limit has been reached
Shorts unlock automatically the next day

Regular, long-form YouTube videos remain available unless you restrict them separately through screen-time controls.

Important things parents should know

Teens cannot change or bypass Shorts limits on their own
Limits apply across all devices signed into the supervised account
Shorts controls are separate from overall YouTube screen-time limits
Blocking Shorts does not block standard YouTube videos

Other parental tools worth checking

Beyond Shorts, parents can also:

Turn off autoplay
Review watch and search history
Adjust content recommendations
Pause YouTube during homework or sleep hours

These options are managed through Google Family Link, with guidance and account setup available in YouTube's Family Center.

What this means to you

If you are a parent or guardian, these controls give you more practical ways to manage screen time without banning YouTube entirely. You can limit Shorts during school nights, allow more time on long trips, or block them when focus matters most. Instead of relying on willpower alone, families now have built-in tools that help reinforce healthy habits.

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Kurt's key takeaways

Short-form video is not going away, but the way teens interact with it can change. YouTube's new parental controls show a shift toward giving families more flexibility and clearer boundaries. Used alongside conversations about online habits, these tools can make a real difference. Oh, and be sure to check out my new "Beyond Connected" podcast on YouTube.

How much control do you think parents should have over teens' screen time, and where should the line be drawn? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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TikTok 'major infrastructure issue' sparks censorship claims from Democrats Newsom, Murphy

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 17:30:16 -0500

TikTok insists tech issues caused widespread problems this week, but that didn’t stop Democratic leaders from politicizing the ordeal.

TikTok last week finalized a historic deal to launch a majority American-owned joint venture, a move aimed at averting a potential U.S. ban on the popular social media app. The deal marked a major milestone for TikTok, coming after years of legal and political battles that began in 2020, when President Donald Trump raised national security concerns about the Chinese-owned platform.

But days after the deal was announced, a variety of TikTok users claimed the platform suppressed or censored content related to such controversial topics as Alex Pretti being killed by federal agents in Minnesota and Jeffrey Epstein.

TikTok announced that a "major infrastructure issue triggered by a power outage at one of our U.S. data center partner sites" was responsible for the problems, but Trump critics quickly jumped to conclusions.

TIKTOK AVOIDS US BAN BY FINALIZING HISTORIC TRUMP-BACKED AMERICAN MAJORITY OWNERSHIP DEAL

California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., took to social media to sound the alarm.

"It’s time to investigate," Newsom wrote on Monday. "I am launching a review into whether TikTok is violating state law by censoring Trump-critical content."

Murphy said in a video posted to social media Wednesday it "appears that there was a widespread suppression" of content critical of Trump and it "might not be coincidental" that pro-Trump entities took control of TikTok's U.S. operations.

While many liberals used the #TikTokCensorship hashtag, others are peeved that the ordeal was politicized.

"Sometimes an outage is just an outage. Governor Newsom and the others know the facts and know better," a source told ӣ��Ƶ Digital.

Newsom's office confirmed the governor is launching a review. Murphy's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

TIKTOK REACHES AGREEMENTS ON NEW US JOINT VENTURE WITH CLOSING SET FOR 2026

Under the new TikTok agreement, American entities hold an 80.1% stake in the new joint venture, with the original parent company ByteDance retaining 19.9%. Three companies, including cloud computing giant Oracle, private equity group Silver Lake and Abu Dhabi-based MGX, serve as managing investors, each holding a 15% stake.

Oracle, which was not directly named in TikTok’s statement about the "infrastructure issue," said the "weather-related power outage" occurred at one of its data centers.

"The challenges U.S. TikTok users may be experiencing are the result of technical issues that followed the power outage, which Oracle and TikTok are working quickly to resolve," Oracle said.

Business Insider chief correspondent and tech guru Peter Kafka wrote that TikTok and Oracle’s explanation "seems pretty plausible" and noted that everything appeared to be "back to normal."

TRUMP SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER ALLOWING TIKTOK DEAL TO PROCEED

"My TikTok was full of rage-inducing clips about Alex Pretti's death, including multiple ones where creators urged viewers to learn how to use guns to defend themselves from the government. And while I don't normally use TikTok's DM feature, or send messages about Jeffrey Epstein, I was able to do that without a problem," Kafka wrote.

"All of which suggests that TikTok's answer — we had to unplug the machine and plug it back in, basically — sounds pretty plausible to me," he continued. "And much more plausible than, ‘The new US TikTok has immediately started censoring anti-Trump views.’"

When reached for comment, TikTok directed ӣ��Ƶ Digital to a page that provides updates on the issue.

A spokeswoman for the app told The New York Times that it was "inaccurate to report that this is anything but the technical issues we’ve transparently confirmed."

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ӣ��Ƶ Digital’s Bonny Chu contributed to this report.

Grubhub confirms data breach amid extortion claims

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 12:30:58 -0500

Food delivery platform Grubhub has confirmed a recent data breach after unauthorized actors accessed parts of its internal systems.

The disclosure comes as sources tell BleepingComputer the company is now facing extortion demands linked to stolen data.

In a statement to BleepingComputer, Grubhub said it detected and stopped the activity quickly.

"We're aware of unauthorized individuals who recently downloaded data from certain Grubhub systems," the company said. "We quickly investigated, stopped the activity, and are taking steps to further increase our security posture."

Grubhub added that sensitive information, such as financial details or order history, was not affected. However, the company declined to answer follow-up questions about when the breach occurred, whether customer data was involved or if it is actively being extorted.

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RANSOMWARE ATTACK EXPOSES SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS AT MAJOR GAS STATION CHAIN

What Grubhub has confirmed so far

While details remain limited, Grubhub confirmed several key points. It has brought in a third-party cybersecurity firm and notified law enforcement. Beyond that, the company has stayed largely silent. That lack of detail has raised concern, especially given Grubhub's recent security history. Just last month, the company was linked to scam emails sent from its own b.grubhub.com subdomain. Those messages promoted a cryptocurrency scam promising large returns on Bitcoin payments. Grubhub said it contained the incident and blocked further unauthorized emails. It did not clarify whether the two events are related.

Sources link the breach to ShinyHunters extortion

According to multiple sources cited by BleepingComputer, the ShinyHunters hacking group is behind the extortion attempt. The group has not publicly commented on the claims and declined to respond when contacted. Sources say the attackers are demanding a Bitcoin payment to prevent the release of stolen data. That data reportedly includes older Salesforce records from a February 2025 breach and newer Zendesk data taken during the most recent intrusion. Grubhub uses Zendesk to run its online customer support system. That platform handles order issues, account access and billing questions, making it a valuable target for attackers.

How stolen credentials may have enabled the attack

Investigators believe the breach may be tied to credentials stolen during earlier Salesloft Drift attacks. In August 2025, threat actors used stolen OAuth tokens from Salesloft's Salesforce integration to access sensitive systems over a 10-day period. According to a report from Google Threat Intelligence Group, also known as Mandiant, attackers used that stolen data to launch follow-up attacks across multiple platforms. "GTIG observed UNC6395 targeting sensitive credentials such as AWS access keys, passwords and Snowflake-related access tokens," Google reported. ShinyHunters previously claimed responsibility for that campaign, stating it stole roughly 1.5 billion records from Salesforce environments tied to hundreds of companies.

Why this breach still matters

Even if payment data and order history were not affected, support systems often contain personal details. Names, email addresses and account notes can be enough to fuel phishing attacks or identity scams. More importantly, this incident highlights how older breaches can continue to cause damage long after the initial attack. Stolen credentials that are never rotated remain a powerful entry point for threat actors.

Ways to stay safe after the Grubhub data breach

If you use Grubhub or any online delivery service, a few smart steps can reduce your risk after a breach.

1) Update your password and stop re-use

Start by changing your Grubhub password right away. Make sure you do not reuse that password anywhere else. Reused passwords give attackers an easy path into other accounts. A password manager can help here. It creates strong, unique logins and stores them securely so you do not have to remember them all.

Next, see if your email has been exposed in past breaches. Our No. 1 password manager pick includes a built-in breach scanner that checks whether your email address or passwords have appeared in known leaks. If you discover a match, immediately change any reused passwords and secure those accounts with new, unique credentials.

Check out the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2026 at Cyberguy.com.

ILLINOIS DHS DATA BREACH EXPOSES 700K RESIDENTS' RECORDS

2) Turn on two-factor authentication

If two-factor authentication (2FA) is available, enable it. This adds a second step when you sign in, such as a code sent to your phone or app. Even if a hacker steals your password, two-factor authentication can stop them from getting in.

3) Watch closely for phishing attempts and use strong antivirus software

Be alert for emails or texts that mention orders, refunds or support issues. Attackers often use stolen support data to make messages feel urgent and real. Do not click links or open attachments unless you are certain they are legitimate. Strong antivirus software can also help block malicious links and downloads before they cause harm.

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 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at Cyberguy.com.

4) Remove your data from people-search sites

Consider using a data removal service to reduce your online footprint. These services help remove your personal details from data broker sites that attackers often use to build profiles. Less exposed data means fewer tools for scammers to exploit.

While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice. They aren't cheap, and neither is your privacy. These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites. It's what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet. By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you.

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.

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5) Ignore crypto messages using trusted brands

Be skeptical of any cryptocurrency offers tied to familiar companies. Grubhub was previously linked to scam emails promoting crypto schemes, which shows how often attackers abuse trusted names. Legitimate companies do not promise fast returns or pressure you to act immediately.

6) Monitor your Grubhub account and email activity

Check your Grubhub account for anything that looks unfamiliar. Watch for unexpected password reset emails, order confirmations or support messages you did not request. Attackers often test stolen data quietly before making bigger moves.

7) Secure the email linked to your Grubhub account

Your email account is the key to password resets. Change that password and enable two-factor authentication if it is not already on. If attackers control your email, they can regain access even after you change other passwords.

8) Stay alert for delayed scams tied to the breach

Breach data is often reused weeks or months later. Phishing attempts may appear long after headlines fade. Treat any future messages claiming to reference Grubhub support, refunds or account issues with extra caution.

These steps will not undo a breach, but they can limit how attackers exploit stolen information and reduce your risk going forward.

FIBER BROADBAND GIANT INVESTIGATES BREACH AFFECTING 1M USERS

Kurt's key takeaways

Grubhub's confirmation puts an official stamp on what sources have warned about for weeks. While the company says sensitive data was not affected, unanswered questions remain. As extortion-driven breaches rise, transparency and rapid credential rotation matter more than ever. What stands out most is how past compromises continue to create new risks. When access tokens live too long, attackers do not need to break in again. They simply walk back through an open door.

If companies stay quiet after breaches, how can customers know when it is time to protect themselves? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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Uber unveils a new robotaxi with no driver behind the wheel

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 07:30:46 -0500

Uber is getting closer to offering rides with no one behind the wheel.

The company recently unveiled a new robotaxi and confirmed that autonomous testing is already underway on public roads in the San Francisco Bay Area. While the vehicle first appeared earlier this month at the Consumer Electronics Show 2026, the bigger story now is what is happening after the show.

These robotaxis are no longer confined to presentations or closed courses. They are driving in real traffic as Uber prepares for a public launch later this year.

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PRIVATE AUTONOMOUS PODS COULD REDEFINE RIDE-SHARING

Who is behind Uber's robotaxi

Uber is the name most riders recognize. However, two partners handle the technology behind the scenes. Lucid Group builds the all-electric vehicle. It is based on the Lucid Gravity SUV, which was designed for long-range efficiency and passenger comfort. Nuro provides the self-driving system. Nuro also leads testing and safety validation. Together, the three companies are developing a robotaxi service that will be available only through Uber.

Uber's robotaxi is already driving itself

Autonomous on-road testing began last month in the Bay Area. These tests take place on public streets rather than private test tracks. Nuro runs the testing program using trained safety operators who supervise each trip. The focus is on everyday driving situations such as intersections, lane changes, traffic lights and pedestrians. This stage is critical. It allows engineers to evaluate how the system behaves in real conditions before opening rides to the public.

What makes Uber's robotaxi different

Uber's robotaxi was designed from the start to operate without a driver. It combines electric vehicle engineering with visible autonomy features that riders can understand.

Key features include:

A multi-sensor system using cameras, lidar and radar for full awareness
A low-profile roof-mounted Halo module integrated into the vehicle
Exterior LED displays that show rider initials and trip status
In-cabin screens for climate, music and support access
Real-time visuals that show what the vehicle sees and plans to do
Seating for up to six passengers with room for luggage

The robotaxi runs on high-performance computing powered by NVIDIA DRIVE AGX Thor. This system handles the real-time AI processing required for autonomous driving.

A robotaxi ride that explains itself

One standout feature is transparency. Riders can see how the robotaxi perceives the road and plans its next move. The display shows lane changes, yielding behavior, slowing at traffic lights and the planned drop-off point. This helps riders understand what the vehicle is doing instead of guessing. Inside the cabin, passengers can adjust heated seats, climate controls and music. They can also contact support or request the vehicle to pull over if needed.

CAN AUTONOMOUS TRUCKS REALLY MAKE HIGHWAYS SAFER?

Uber plans to scale robotaxis across the U.S. and global markets

Uber plans to deploy 20,000 or more robotaxis over the next six years. These vehicles will operate in dozens of U.S. and international markets. Lucid will integrate all required hardware directly on the production line at its Casa Grande, Arizona factory. Uber will own and operate the vehicles along with third-party fleet partners. Every robotaxi ride will be booked through the Uber app, just like a standard Uber trip.

How Uber is handling robotaxi safety and regulation

Safety sits at the center of this rollout. Nuro's validation process combines simulation, closed-course testing and supervised on-road driving. The system relies on an end-to-end AI foundation model paired with clear safety logic. The goal is predictable, comfortable driving across a wide range of conditions. Uber and its partners are also working with regulators, policymakers and local governments to ensure the service aligns with public safety standards and city planning goals.

When Uber's driverless rides are expected to launch

Uber says the first autonomous rides will launch in a major U.S. city later in 2026. The service will be available exclusively through the Uber app. Production of the robotaxi is expected to begin later this year, pending final validation.

What this means to you

If you use Uber, driverless rides may soon appear as an option. These vehicles could offer quieter trips, more consistent driving and improved availability during peak times. For cities, a shared electric robotaxi fleet could help reduce emissions and congestion. For riders, seeing how the vehicle thinks and reacts may make autonomous travel feel less intimidating.

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Kurt's key takeaways

Uber's robotaxi effort feels more grounded than many past autonomous promises. It combines a known ride-hailing platform a purpose-built electric vehicle and a self-driving system already operating on public roads. If testing continues to progress, driverless Uber rides could move from something new to something normal sooner than many expect.

Would you get into an Uber if there was no driver sitting in the front seat? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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Latest Technologies News | ӣ����Ƶ

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Kurt's key takeaways

Transfer photos from your phone to a hard drive

Method 1: Transfer photos from your phone to a computer

For iPhones

On a Mac

Another option: Use iCloud Photos

For Android phones

On Windows

Method 2: Move the photos to an external hard drive

Method 3: Transfer photos directly to a USB flash drive

Method 4: Keep your photos organized

Why this approach saves money

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Kurt's key takeaways

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4) Clickbait

5) Targeted ads

Pro Tip: Control the data that fuels the system

Kurt's key takeaways

Wearable robotics are changing how we walk and run

From elite athletes to everyday use: the shift in wearable robotics

Powered footwear and exoskeletons are entering the consumer market

Early consumer exoskeletons for outdoor movement

Wearable robotics designed for everyday walking

From medical exoskeletons to consumer devices

How wearable robotics help reduce fatigue and movement hesitation

Powered footwear and wearable robotics support natural movement

What this means to you

Kurt's key takeaways

Woman owes $3,556 for cruise she already paid for after falling victim to elaborate Zelle scam

The deals are real right now

Scammers circling like sharks

Ring's AI Search Party helps find lost dogs faster

What is Ring's Search Party feature?

How Search Party actually works

Search Party now works without a Ring camera

How to start a Search Party for your dog

What happens when a Ring camera spots your lost dog

How to turn Ring's Search Party on or off

Ring commits $1M to help shelters reunite lost dogs

Privacy concerns remain around Ring's Search Party feature

Kurt's key takeaways

AI companions are reshaping teen emotional bonds

AI companions are filling emotional gaps

Why teens trust AI companions so deeply

When comfort turns into emotional dependency

US tragedies linked to AI companions raise concerns

Experts warn protections are not keeping pace

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ӣ��Ƶ Poll: Voters see AI as a risk to privacy and paychecks