Technology
5 phone safety tips every parent should know
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Kids today are growing up in a world where screens, apps and social platforms are part of everyday life. From homework to gaming to group chats, their digital lives can move faster than parents can keep up. But behind every app and device are settings and systems that can impact their privacy, safety, and focus.
Whether you’re trying to set healthy limits, track screen time or just understand what your child’s phone can do, knowing a few key tech terms can make parenting in the digital age a lot less stressful. Here’s a quick guide to help you stay informed, confident and in control.
Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report
Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide – free when you join my CYBERGUY.COM newsletter
Setting healthy screen time limits helps kids learn balance and keeps tech use from taking over family time. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
1) Screen time limits
The boundary that helps restore balance
Screen time limits let you manage how long your child spends on apps, games or devices each day. It’s not about punishment, it’s about setting healthy boundaries that help kids disconnect and recharge.
Why it matters: Too much screen time has been linked to reduced focus, sleep disruption and overstimulation. Setting limits helps your child create a better balance between online fun and real-world rest.
How to set screen time limits
On iPhone:
- Go to Settings
- Tap Screen Time
- Click App Limits
- Select Add Limit, choose categories or specific apps and set daily time limit
On Android:
Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer
- Go to Settings
- Tap Digital Wellbeing & Parental Controls. If you don’t see it right away, try searching “Digital Wellbeing” in the Settings search bar
- Open the Dashboard or App Timers section. On some phones (like Samsung), it may appear as “App Timers”. On others (like Google Pixel), tap Dashboard to view your app usage list
- Tap the hourglass icon next to the app you want to limit
- Set a daily time limit, then tap OK or Done
- The timer resets every night at midnight
Pro tip: Make it a family routine. Review screen time reports together so kids feel involved in the process rather than restricted.
TEENS HACK SCHOOL CELL PHONE BANS WITH CREATIVE WORKAROUNDS
2) Parental controls
Your built-in safety net
Parental controls are tools that let you manage what your child can see and do on their devices – from blocking explicit content to approving downloads and monitoring usage. Every major device, app and streaming service has its own version.
Why it matters: Parental controls can help prevent exposure to inappropriate content, manage purchases and set up age-appropriate experiences.
Built-in parental controls make it easier to guide what kids can see and do on their devices. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
How to turn parental controls on
On iPhone:
- Go to Settings
- Click Screen Time
- Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions
- Turn it on so the toggle turns green.
- Within Content & Privacy Restrictions you can go to sections like Allowed Apps, iTunes & App Store Purchases, etc, to set filters and restrict what apps the device can do.
On Android:
Settings may vary depending on your Android phone‘s manufacturer
- Go to Settings
- Tap Digital Wellbeing & Parental Controls
- Select Parental Controls, then follow the steps to set up a supervised account through Google Family Link, which lets you manage screen time on a child’s device remotely
Pro tip: Most streaming apps, like YouTube, Netflix and Disney+, also have parental settings, so make sure you adjust those separately.
3) Geolocation
The invisible map in your child’s pocket
5 SOCIAL MEDIA SAFETY TIPS TO PROTECT YOUR PRIVACY ONLINE
Geolocation allows apps and devices to track physical location in real time. It powers navigation and “Find My” features but can also share more than you intend if left unchecked.
Why it matters: While location sharing helps families stay connected, it can pose privacy and safety concerns if apps broadcast your child’s whereabouts.
How to manage location access
On iPhone:
- Go to Settings
- Click Privacy & Security
- Then, click Location Services
- Tap each app and change “Always” to “While Using the App” or “Never”
On Android:
Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer
- Go to Settings
- Tap Location (or “Location & security” or “Privacy → Location” depending on device)
- Tap App location permissions (or “Permission manager → Location”)
- Select an app from the list
- Change the app permission from, “Allow all the time” to “Allow only while using the app” or “Don’t Allow”
Pro tip: For younger kids, use “Share My Location” within Family Sharing (iPhone) or Google Family Link (Android) instead of third-party tracking apps to ensure safer monitoring.
4) Private browsing
The mode that hides – but doesn’t erase
Private browsing, also called Incognito Mode, lets users browse the internet without saving history, cookies or logins. While it may sound harmless, it can make it harder for parents to see what kids are accessing online.
Why it matters: Private browsing prevents history tracking on the device, but your internet provider, school or router may still record activity. It’s a reminder that no browsing mode is completely private.
TEENS FACE NEW PG-13 LIMITS ON INSTAGRAM
How to disable private browsing
On iPhone (Safari):
- Open Settings
- Tap Screen Time
- Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions
- If prompted, enter or set a Screen Time passcode
- Turn on Content & Privacy Restrictions (toggle to green)
- Tap App Store, Media & Purchases (or similarly named) and optionally set limits
- Click Web Content
- Choose one of the options such as, Limit Adult Websites (this will disable Private Browsing in Safari) or Only Approved Websites
On Android (Chrome):
Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer
- Open the Family Link app on your Android phone (or download it if it isn’t installed)
- Select your child’s profile
- Tap Controls
- Click Google Chrome & Web
- Choose Try to block explicit sites (or select “Only allow approved sites” for stricter filtering)
- This setting automatically disables Incognito Mode in Chrome for your child’s supervised account
- (Optional) You can also review SafeSearch and YouTube restrictions under the same section for extra protection
Conversations about online safety matter more than rules alone because openness builds digital trust. (iStock)
SCHOOLS’ SAFETY TOOLS ARE SPYING ON KIDS — EVEN AT HOME
Pro tip: Talk to your child about why transparency matters. Turning off private browsing is most effective when paired with open, ongoing conversations about online safety.
5) Digital footprint
The trail your child leaves behind
Every post, comment or photo shared online becomes part of your child’s digital footprint, a permanent record of their online presence. Even deleted posts can live on through screenshots, data archives or algorithms.
Why it matters: Colleges, employers and even peers can access public digital traces. Teaching kids to think before posting helps them build a positive and professional online reputation.
How to check what’s out there
- Search your child’s name on Google and image results
- Review old accounts or unused apps that may still contain personal info
- Help them make their social media profiles private and share selectively
Pro tip: You can also set up Google Alerts for your child’s name to get notified whenever new content appears online, a simple, free way to stay aware of their digital footprint as it evolves.
Also, you may want to consider using a data removal service to help clean up your child’s personal information that may appear on people-search sites or data-broker platforms. These tools scan the web for outdated profiles, cached pages and databases containing sensitive details like addresses, phone numbers and photos. They can automatically submit takedown requests and continue monitoring for new exposures over time.
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
Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: Cyberguy.com
Take my quiz: How safe is your online security?
Think your devices and data are truly protected? Take this quick quiz to see where your digital habits stand. From passwords to Wi-Fi settings, you’ll get a personalized breakdown of what you’re doing right and what needs improvement. Take my Quiz here: Cyberguy.com
Kurt’s key takeaways
Parenting in the digital age doesn’t mean knowing every app or trend. It means understanding the fundamentals that shape your child’s online experience. From screen time limits to digital footprints, these five terms give you the language to set boundaries, foster trust and keep your family safer online.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Want more help building healthy digital habits at home? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com
Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report
Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide – free when you join my CYBERGUY.COM newsletter
Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Technology
Skylight’s 15-inch smart calendar is down to its lowest price to date
When you’re juggling more than just your own calendar, staying organized can be overwhelming. Fortunately, the Skylight Calendar 2 can help simplify things by syncing multiple calendars in a single spot, and now through May 7th, it’s available directly from Skylight for $259.99 ($40 off), its best price to date.
Skylight’s 15-inch smart calendar improves upon the original with a brighter screen, faster performance, and a slimmer design with swappable magnetic frames. Otherwise, though, it offers the same core experience, making it easy for the whole family to see events at a glance, whether you mount it on a wall or place it on a kitchen counter using the included adjustable stand. It automatically syncs with Google, Apple, Yahoo, Outlook, and Cozi calendars, pulling them into a single shared space that updates automatically. Each household member gets their own color, too, so it’s easy to keep track of who’s doing what.
In addition to event planning, the Calendar 2 makes it easier to arrange and assign other day-to-day tasks. You can create and manage shared chore charts, grocery lists, and to-do lists directly on the touchscreen device or through the mobile app for Android and iOS, which makes it easy for everyone in your household to stay on track and contribute. Skylight also provides detailed weather forecasts for your events, so you know what to expect before heading out.
If you subscribe to Skylight’s Calendar Plus plan, the Calendar 2 takes even more of the work off your plate. You can forward emails, upload PDFs, or snap photos of flyers and automatically turn them into calendar events. You also get meal planning tools that let you plan breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks for the week, as well as the ability to assign chores and reward kids for completing them. Plus, just for fun, there’s a screensaver mode that turns the display into an ad hoc digital photo frame when it’s not actively being used as a calendar.
Technology
Anthropic’s Mythos AI found over 2,000 unknown software vulnerabilities in just seven weeks of testing
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
There is a new AI model called Mythos. Anthropic built it for defensive cybersecurity research. It is so effective at finding software vulnerabilities that Anthropic decided the general public cannot have it.
Instead, it is letting a small circle of trusted partners like Microsoft and Google experiment with it first under controlled conditions, while researchers figure out what guardrails need to exist.
That decision alone should tell you something. When the company that built a tool decides the world is not ready for it, you pay attention. And when you understand what Mythos actually did during testing, that caution starts to make complete sense.
WINDOWS PCS AT RISK AS NEW TOOL DISARMS BUILT-IN SECURITY
Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report
- Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox.
- For simple, real-world ways to spot scams early and stay protected, visit CyberGuy.com — trusted by millions who watch CyberGuy on TV daily.
- Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide free when you join.
Anthropic’s Mythos AI uncovered more than 2,000 unknown software vulnerabilities in just seven weeks, showing how fast AI can now expose hidden weaknesses. (Gabby Jones/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
How Anthropic’s Mythos AI found 2,000 vulnerabilities in seven weeks
Seven weeks. One AI model. One team. More than 2,000 previously unknown software vulnerabilities were found. If you need a moment with that, take it. John Ackerly, CEO and co-founder of Virtru, a data security company, put that figure into perspective in a way that is hard to shake.
“Mythos is absolutely a turning point for cybersecurity. Think about it. Mythos didn’t pick a lock; it found thousands of locks that were never locked in the first place (that no one even knew existed) in software that the best human security researchers had studied for decades.
The math is staggering. One AI model, and one team, in seven weeks, found more than 2,000 zero-day vulnerabilities. That is 30% of the world’s entire annual output prior to AI. When thousands of researchers get access to AI models like Mythos, a single year will surface exponentially more zero-days than the 360,000 recorded in all of software history.
Mythos and other AI models like it can now find and exploit software flaws at a speed and scale that is beyond containment. This means that the old approach of building stronger walls around systems and hoping they hold is becoming much less reliable. It also means that the manual “find a vulnerability, patch the vulnerability” process is not going to keep pace with a threat landscape bolstered by the speed and scale of AI.
The threat surface is now expanding faster than any wall can contain it. The only answer to this new dynamic is to protect the data itself, rather than prop up perimeter protection around it.
Thirty percent of the world’s annual output in seven weeks changes the game entirely.
What makes Mythos AI different from other AI security tools
Cybersecurity teams have used AI tools for years. So, what makes this different?
Ackerly explains it this way: “What makes this different is the level of autonomy and speed it enables. Mythos is being described as a system that can discover vulnerabilities and even generate working exploits much faster than traditional human-led workflows. This model could make it easy for a bad actor to identify and exploit vulnerabilities in software, even if that bad actor isn’t knowledgeable or trained.”
That last part matters most. Before a tool like this, exploiting a serious software vulnerability required real technical skill. Mythos AI lowers that barrier significantly. A person with bad intentions and no technical background could potentially use a model like this to cause serious damage. The expertise gap that once offered some natural protection is closing.
FAKE PAYPAL EMAIL LET HACKERS ACCESS COMPUTER AND BANK ACCOUNT
Security experts warn that tools like Mythos could shrink the time it takes to find and exploit flaws from weeks down to minutes. (Patrick Sison/AP Photo)
Why Anthropic’s Mythos AI is breaking down perimeter security
Most cybersecurity spending, the overwhelming majority of it, goes toward what experts call perimeter defense. Think firewalls, network monitoring, endpoint security and intrusion detection. The entire strategy is built on one core idea of keeping the bad actors out, and the data inside stays safe.
Ackerly describes how that model is now breaking down.
“The perimeter is the digital wall around your systems and the information you possess. For decades, cyber strategies have primarily focused on the idea that if you protected the perimeter well enough — if you built a strong enough wall — the sensitive data on the inside would stay safe,” Ackerly said.
“The industry has poured hundreds of billions of dollars into firewalls, endpoint detection, network security, application security and other perimeter defenses. Traditional security architecture by itself cannot keep pace in this new world.
“The Mythos development from Anthropic is making a hard truth very apparent: Time is running out for companies to prepare for this new reality. Shifting focus from ‘protecting the perimeter’ to ‘protecting the data’ is critically important to mitigate data loss or compromise.”
Hundreds of billions of dollars. And now the model those dollars were built on is becoming unreliable. It forces a full rethink.
Does Anthropic’s Mythos AI give attackers the advantage?
This is the question everyone wants a straight answer to. Ackerly offers one that is more nuanced than a simple yes or no.
“I wouldn’t frame it as attackers automatically having an advantage. But, over time, it does mean that ‘bad guys’ and ‘good guys’ will have access to essentially the same tools. As a result, I do think defenders absolutely need a different strategy. If you assume the outer wall may fail, then the smarter move is to protect the data itself so it stays controlled even after a breach.”
The playing field is leveling. And that may sound fair until you remember attackers only need to succeed once, while defenders have to succeed every time.
How fast is Mythos AI changing the cybersecurity threat landscape?
Speed is what makes Mythos AI genuinely alarming. Traditional cyberattacks move through a lifecycle. Reconnaissance takes time. Finding the right vulnerability takes more time. Building an exploit takes more time on top of that.
Ackerly explains what happens when AI compresses all of that.
“AI is accelerating the threat. A model that can find and exploit vulnerabilities autonomously compresses the attack lifecycle from weeks to hours, or even minutes. Every layer of the traditional security stack now has to operate at machine speed. Manual security architectures cannot keep up.
“But AI also makes data-centric security more powerful, not less so. When every piece of sensitive data is protected at the object-level, AI agents can enforce governance at scale by checking entitlements, applying attribute-based access controls, and auditing data flows in real time. The same capabilities that make Mythos a dangerous tool in the hands of ‘bad guys’ make it a valuable tool in the hands of ‘good guys.’”
The question organizations should be asking shifts from “how do I build higher walls?” to “when the walls fail, is my data still protected?” That is the question worth sitting with.
What Mythos AI means for regular people’s personal data
Most of the Mythos coverage has focused on corporate risk. But your bank account and medical records sit in those same vulnerable systems.
“For everyday people, the first change is that breaches and scams could become more frequent, more targeted, and harder to spot. If AI makes it easier to uncover weak points in the systems we all rely on, that can translate into more pressure on the services that hold our personal data, from email and cloud storage to health, banking, and retail platforms.
Consumers shouldn’t assume a company is doing the right thing with their data. Now, they really can’t assume a company’s outer defenses are enough to protect their information.
This also highlights the importance of basic cyber hygiene like unique passwords and MFA, so that when breaches happen, the scope of impact on your own personal data is contained.”
Your bank account, your medical records, your tax documents, your private messages. All of it already lives across dozens of platforms you trust to protect it. If those platforms’ outer defenses are no longer reliable, what exactly is standing between your data and someone who wants it?
Ackerly goes further on where the exposure actually lives. “Data now travels across clouds, devices, partners, and borders. The risk isn’t just one hacked server in one building anymore. It’s all the places your data passes through or gets copied to along the way.
Was Anthropic right to keep Mythos AI restricted?
Anthropic made a choice that is rare in the AI industry. They built something powerful and then decided not to release it widely.
On that decision, Ackerly is direct. “Anthropic’s decision to withhold Mythos from general release is unprecedented and, frankly, responsible. Time will tell what these partners are able to do with regard to safety, but releasing it to the general public would certainly have been ill-advised and dangerous.”
Unprecedented. That word deserves weight here. In an industry that races to release new tech, Anthropic stopped. That speaks volumes.
We reached out to Anthropic for a comment, but did not hear back before our deadline.
THIRD-PARTY BREACH EXPOSES CHATGPT ACCOUNT DETAILS
As AI accelerates cyberattacks, the focus is shifting from protecting networks to protecting the data itself. (Kury “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
How to stay safe as cybersecurity shifts
The perimeter model is deteriorating, but that does not mean you are helpless. Individual behavior still matters, and it matters more now than it did before.
Ackerly’s recommendation is this: “Stop assuming the app, platform, or company perimeter can always protect your information, or that they will do the right thing with your data. People should be much more deliberate about what data they share, where they store it, and who can access it. Protection needs to travel with the data, not just sit at the edge of a network. For you, that means choosing services that give you stronger control over your information and being more cautious about oversharing sensitive data in the first place. The data owner should always have governance over said data.” So where do you start?
1) Use unique passwords for every account
A password manager makes this realistic. If one platform gets breached, unique passwords keep the damage isolated to that one account.
2) Turn on multi-factor authentication wherever it is available
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds a layer that survives even when a password is compromised. It is one of the highest-impact steps an individual can take.
3) Run strong antivirus software and keep devices updated
Outdated software is one of the most common entry points attackers use. Strong antivirus software catches threats your instincts might miss, and keeping apps and operating systems current closes the gaps that models like Mythos are built to find. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com
4) Be selective about what you share and where
Every app that holds your data is a potential exposure point. The less you overshare, the smaller your footprint becomes.
5) Use a data removal service
Data brokers collect and sell your personal information, often without you ever knowing. Data removal services find where your data is listed and request its removal. You cannot control every place your information travels, but you can shrink the trail it leaves behind. 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
6) Choose services that offer real data control
Not all platforms treat your data the same way. Look for services that let you see, manage and limit how your information is used and where it goes.
7) Monitor your accounts and credit
Catching a breach early limits the damage significantly. Set up account alerts wherever your bank or financial platform allows it. A credit freeze costs nothing and stops new accounts from being opened in your name without your knowledge.
8) Stay skeptical of phishing attempts
Ackerly warned that scams will get more targeted and harder to spot as AI lowers the barrier for bad actors. Scrutinize every link before you click it and treat unexpected emails or texts asking for login information as suspicious by default. If something feels off, it probably is.
9) Assume breaches will happen
The goal is to limit how much damage they can do. When you operate with that assumption, your decisions about data hygiene get sharper, and your exposure gets smaller.
Take my quiz: How safe is your online security?
Think your devices and data are truly protected? Take this quick quiz to see where your digital habits stand. From passwords to Wi-Fi settings, you’ll get a personalized breakdown of what you’re doing right and what needs improvement. Take my Quiz here: Cyberguy.com
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Kurt’s key takeaways
Mythos did not create the vulnerability problem. It made the scale of it visible in a way that is no longer ignorable. The foundation of modern cybersecurity, the idea that strong enough walls will keep data safe, is being tested in real time by a technology that moves faster than any human team can. That is a consumer story as much as it is a corporate one. Your data lives in systems built on that old model.
And the moment to think differently about how it is protected is now, not after the next major breach makes the headlines. Anthropic made a responsible call by limiting access to Mythos. But the model exists. The capability is real. Other versions of it are being developed. The question for every organization and every individual becomes the same one Ackerly keeps returning to.
When the walls fail, and experts are telling us they will, what is actually protecting your data on the other side? Let us know your thoughts by writing to us at Cyberguy.com
Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report
- Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox.
- For simple, real-world ways to spot scams early and stay protected, visit CyberGuy.com – trusted by millions who watch CyberGuy on TV daily.
- Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide free when you join.
Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Technology
Trump fires the entire National Science Board
Multiple sources are reporting that the Trump administration has dismissed the entire National Science Board (NSB). The NSB advises the president and Congress on the National Science Foundation (NSF), which has already been funding research at historically low levels and has seen significant delays in doling out that funding. The NSF has been fundamental in helping develop technology used in MRIs, cellphones, and it even helped get Duolingo get off the ground.
In a statement, Zoe Lofgren, the ranking Democrat on the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, said:
“This is the latest stupid move made by a president who continues to harm science and American innovation. The NSB is apolitical. It advises the president on the future of NSF. It unfortunately is no surprise a president who has attacked NSF from day one would seek to destroy the board that helps guide the Foundation. Will the president fill the NSB with MAGA loyalists who won’t stand up to him as he hands over our leadership in science to our adversaries? A real bozo the clown move.”
-
Nebraska2 minutes agoSoutheast Nebraska neighbors: Obituaries for April 26
-
Nevada8 minutes agoRotten Tomatoes gives Cornish director’s new film unbelievable rating
-
New Hampshire14 minutes ago6 from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, California charged in alleged Cali to Mass drug trafficking conspiracy after 12 kilos of cocaine, 1 kilo of fentanyl seized
-
New Jersey20 minutes agoIs Team USA playing in NJ? What to know about World Cup schedule
-
New Mexico26 minutes ago
New Mexico Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 Day results for April 25, 2026
-
North Carolina32 minutes agoHenri Veesaar Says Goodbye to North Carolina
-
North Dakota38 minutes agoNorth Dakota lawmaker killed in Minnesota plane crash
-
Ohio44 minutes agoHighway work projects starting Monday in Ohio County