Technology
This drone detection technology could have intercepted assassin’s drone 2 hours before Trump shooting
The FBI has admitted the assassination attempt on former President Trump was aided by a drone. The shooter apparently used the drone to get footage of where Trump was speaking.
This is a serious security lapse and something that could have been easily prevented if the security agencies had used drone detection technology at the location where the former president took the stage.
The harrowing incident unfolded at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13. A gunman, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, opened fire from a rooftop, hitting Mr. Trump in the right ear, killing one attendee and leaving two others badly injured.
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Drone detection system (Dedrone)
What is the drone’s role in Trump assassination attempt?
FBI Director Christopher Wray provided new details on the drone that was recovered from the gunman. While speaking before the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee, Wray noted that the shooter flew a drone over the Butler fairgrounds about two hours before Trump spoke at the rally.
Wray said Crooks flew the drone around the area, roughly 200 yards from the stage, from around 3:50 p.m. to 4 p.m. Trump took the stage around 6 p.m.
“We think – but we do not know, so again, this is one of these things that is qualified because of our ongoing review – that he was live-streaming, viewing the footage [for] about 11 minutes,” he said.
According to the FBI head, investigators have successfully reverse-engineered the drone’s flight path from the day of the rally. They believe the drone footage would have provided the shooter with a view of what was behind him, essentially acting like a rearview mirror for the scene.
Wray’s statement clearly indicates that the drone played an important role in informing the gunman of his surroundings and helping him plan the assassination attempt. At the time of the shooting, the drone was in Crooks’ vehicle, he said, adding that the device is now “being exploited and analyzed by the FBI lab.”
A drone in the air (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
THE US AIR FORCE’S XQ-67A DRONE THINKS, FLIES, ACTS ON ITS OWN
How drone detection could have prevented the assassination attempt
A drone detection system could have easily alerted the Secret Service about an unidentified drone flying in the region. Such systems are already utilized by the Army and certain police departments. For example, defense company Dedrone’s airspace security solution is currently used by the St. Petersburg Police Department in Florida and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.
Dedrone’s official website mentions that its drone detection system can not only detect the presence of a drone but also determine the drone and pilot’s location.
Drone detection systems also capture data such as the drone’s manufacturer, model, time and length of activity, video verification and flight history (including flight path). This data could have been easily used to identify suspicious activity at the Pennsylvania rally and might have led to the arrest and prosecution of the gunman even before he attempted the assassination.
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Drone detection system (Dedrone)
HOW TO REMOVE YOUR PRIVATE DATA FROM THE INTERNET
How counter-drone tech could have enhanced security at the rally
It’s known that counter-drone technology is currently restricted in use. Regulations limit its deployment to specific DoD (Department of Defense) personnel during narrowly defined events. However, the rally should have qualified as the kind of National Security Event that the regulations were designed to address.
If not drone detection tech, the Secret Service could have at least employed drones to capture aerial images of the site. Drones would have provided an unobstructed view of the building from which the shooter fired at Trump. Even if there were obstacles blocking a direct line of sight, drones equipped with thermal cameras could have scanned the building for potential threats.
BEST HOME SECURITY SYSTEMS
Drone detection system (Dedrone)
THE CRIME-FIGHTING DRONE THAT BEATS COPS TO THE SCENE
Kurt’s key takeaway
The assassination attempt on former President Trump highlights the need for drone detection technology at high-profile events. Had such technology been in place, the Secret Service could have detected the unauthorized drone activity, potentially preventing the shooter from gathering crucial reconnaissance footage.
How do you think advancements in drone technology will impact security protocols for future high-profile events? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
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Technology
Fox News AI Newsletter: 10 showstopping CES innovations
The LG CLOiD robot and the LG OLED evo AI Wallpaper TV are displayed onstage during an LG Electronics news conference at CES 2026, an annual consumer electronics trade show, in Las Vegas, Jan. 5, 2026. (REUTERS/Steve Marcus)
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Welcome to Fox News’ Artificial Intelligence newsletter with the latest AI technology advancements.
IN TODAY’S NEWSLETTER:
– CES 2026 showstoppers: 10 gadgets you have to see
– Construction giant unveils AI to help prevent job site accidents: ‘It’s essentially a personal assistant’
– Fox News gets exclusive look at company helping businesses nationwide harness AI-powered robots to boost efficiency and fill labor gaps
CES 2026 put health tech front and center, with companies showcasing smarter ways to support prevention, mobility and long-term wellness. (CES)
FUTURE IS NOW: Every January, the Consumer Electronics Show, better known as CES, takes over Las Vegas. It’s where tech companies show off what they’re building next, from products that are almost ready to buy to ideas that feel pulled from the future.
SAFER SITES: Construction equipment giant Caterpillar has unveiled a new artificial intelligence (AI) tool designed to improve job site safety and boost efficiency as the industry grapples with labor shortages.
FUTURE OF WELLNESS: The Consumer Electronics Show, better known as CES, is the world’s largest consumer technology event, and it’s underway in Las Vegas. It takes over the city every January for four days and draws global attention from tech companies, startups, researchers, investors and journalists, of course.
FUTURE OF WORK: As artificial intelligence is rapidly evolving, Fox News got an exclusive look at a company helping businesses nationwide harness AI-powered robots to boost efficiency and fill labor gaps. RobotLAB, with 36 locations across the country and headquartered in Texas, houses more than 50 different types of robots, from cleaning and customer service bots to security bots.
The LG CLOiD robot and the LG OLED evo AI Wallpaper TV are displayed onstage during an LG Electronics news conference at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, Jan. 5, 2026. (REUTERS/Steve Marcus)
COMPUTE CRUNCH: The price tag for competing in the artificial intelligence race is rapidly climbing, fueling demand for advanced computing power and the high-end chips that are needed to support it. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) CEO Lisa Su said demand for AI computing is accelerating as industries rush to expand their capabilities.
AI GONE WRONG: A California teenager used a chatbot over several months for drug-use guidance on ChatGPT, his mother said. Sam Nelson, 18, was preparing for college when he asked an AI chatbot how many grams of kratom, a plant-based painkiller commonly sold at smoke shops and gas stations across the country, he would need to get a strong high, his mother, Leila Turner-Scott, told SFGate, according to the New York Post.
DR CHAT: ‘The Big Money Show’ panelists weigh in on a report on people turning to ChatGPT for medical and healthcare questions.
‘FUNDAMENTALLY DEFLATIONARY’: OpenAI Board Chair Bret Taylor discusses artificial intelligence’s potential to change traditional work and its increasing use in healthcare on ‘Varney & Co.’
MIND TRAP ALERT: Artificial intelligence chatbots are quickly becoming part of our daily lives. Many of us turn to them for ideas, advice or conversation. For most, that interaction feels harmless. However, mental health experts now warn that for a small group of vulnerable people, long and emotionally charged conversations with AI may worsen delusions or psychotic symptoms.
A California teenager sought drug-use guidance from a ChatGPT chatbot over several months while preparing for college, his mother told SFGate, according to the New York Post. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
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Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future with Fox News here.
Technology
Meta expands nuclear power ambitions to include Bill Gates’ startup
These AI projects include Prometheus, the first of several supercluster computing systems, which is expected to come online in New Albany, Ohio, sometime this year. Meta is funding the construction of new nuclear reactors as part of the agreements, the first of which may come online “as early as 2030.” These announcements are part of Meta’s ongoing goal to support its future AI operations with nuclear energy, having previously signed a deal with Constellation to revive an aging nuclear power plant last year.
Financial information for the agreements hasn’t been released, but Meta says that it will “pay the full costs for energy used by our data centers so consumers don’t bear these expenses.”
“Our agreements with Vistra, TerraPower, Oklo, and Constellation make Meta one of the most significant corporate purchasers of nuclear energy in American history,” Meta’s chief global affairs officer, Joel Kaplan, said in the announcement. “State-of-the-art data centers and AI infrastructure are essential to securing America’s position as a global leader in AI.”
Technology
Why January is the best time to remove personal data online
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January feels like a reset. A new calendar. New goals. New habits. While you clean out your inbox, organize paperwork or set resolutions, however, scammers also hit reset, and they start with your personal data.
That is because January is one of the most important months for online privacy. This is when data brokers refresh profiles and scammers rebuild their target lists.
As a result, the longer your information stays online, the more complete and valuable your profile becomes. To help address this, institutions like the U.S. Department of the Treasury have released advisories urging people to stay vigilant and avoid data-related scams.
For that reason, taking action early in the year can significantly reduce scam attempts, lower identity theft risks, and limit unwanted exposure for the rest of the year.
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January is when data brokers refresh profiles and scammers rebuild target lists, making early action critical for online privacy. (iStock)
STOP DATA BROKERS FROM SELLING YOUR INFORMATION ONLINE
Why personal data does not expire and keeps compounding online
Many people assume old information eventually becomes useless. Unfortunately, that’s not how data brokers work.
Data brokers don’t just store a snapshot of who you are today. They build living profiles that grow over time, pulling from:
- Public records (property sales, court filings, voter registrations)
- Retail purchases and loyalty programs
- App usage and location data
- Past addresses, phone numbers, and relatives
- Marketing databases and online activity.
Each year adds another layer. A new address. A changed phone number. A family connection. A retirement milestone. On its own, one data point doesn’t mean much. But together, they create a detailed identity profile that scammers can use to convincingly impersonate you. That’s why waiting makes things worse, not better.
Why scammers ‘rebuild’ targets at the start of the year
Scammers don’t randomly target people. They work from lists. At the beginning of the year, those lists get refreshed.
Why January matters so much:
- Data brokers update and resell profiles after year-end records close
- New public filings from the previous year become searchable
- Marketing databases reset campaigns and audience segments
- Scam networks repackage data into “fresh” target lists.
Think of it like the upcoming spring cleaning, except it’s criminals organizing identities to exploit for the next 12 months.
If your data is still widely exposed in January, you’re far more likely to:
Once your profile is flagged as responsive or profitable, it often stays in circulation.
As personal information accumulates across databases, digital profiles grow more detailed and more valuable to scammers over time. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Why taking action in January protects you all year long
Removing your data early isn’t just about stopping scams today; it’s about cutting off the supply chain that fuels them. When your information is removed from data broker databases:
- It’s harder for scammers to find accurate contact details
- Phishing messages become less convincing
- Impersonation attempts fail more often
- Your identity becomes less valuable to resell.
This has a compounding benefit in the opposite direction. The fewer lists you appear on in January, the fewer times your data gets reused, resold, and recycled throughout the year. That’s why I consistently recommend addressing data exposure before problems start, not after.
Why retirees and families feel the impact first
January is especially important for retirees and families because they’re more likely to become targets of fraud, scams, and other crimes.
Retirees often have:
- Long addresses and employment histories
- Stable credit profiles
- Fewer active credit applications
- Public retirement and property records
Families add another layer of risk:
- Relatives are linked together in broker profiles
- One exposed family member can expose others
- Shared addresses and phone plans increase visibility
Scammers know this. That’s why households with established financial histories are prioritized early in the year.
Why quick fixes don’t work
Many people try to “start fresh” in January by:
Those steps help, but they don’t remove your data from broker databases. Credit monitoring services alert you after something goes wrong. Password changes don’t affect public profiles. And unsubscribing doesn’t stop data resale. If your personal information is still sitting in hundreds of databases, scammers can find you.
The January privacy reset that actually works
If you want fewer scam attempts for the rest of the year, the most effective step is removing your personal data at the source.
You can do this in one of two ways. You can submit removal requests yourself, or you can use a professional data removal service to handle the process for you.
Removing your data yourself
Manually removing your data means identifying dozens or even hundreds of data broker websites, finding their opt-out forms and submitting removal requests one by one. You also need to verify your identity, track responses and repeat the process whenever your information reappears.
This approach works, but it requires time, organization, and ongoing follow-up.
Using a data removal service
A data removal service handles this process on your behalf. These services typically:
- Send legal data removal requests to large networks of data brokers
- Monitor for reposted information and submit follow-up removals
- Continue tracking your exposure throughout the year
- Manage a process that most people cannot realistically maintain on their own
Removing your data at the start of the year helps reduce scam attempts, phishing messages and identity theft risks all year long. (iStock)
Because these services handle sensitive personal information, it is important to choose one that follows strict security standards and uses verified removal methods.
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.
RETIREES LOSE MILLIONS TO FAKE HOLIDAY CHARITIES AS SCAMMERS EXPLOIT SEASONAL GENEROSITY
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.
Kurt’s key takeaways
Scammers don’t wait for mistakes. They wait for exposed data. January is when profiles are refreshed, lists are rebuilt, and targets are chosen for the year ahead. The longer your personal information stays online, the more complete-and dangerous-your digital profile becomes. The good news? You can stop the cycle. Removing your data now reduces scam attempts, protects your identity, and gives you a quieter, safer year ahead. If you’re going to make one privacy move this year, make it early-and make it count.
Have you ever been surprised by how much of your personal information was already online? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.
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