Technology

Cyber-attacks against Americans at all time high over past two years

Published

2 years ago

January 21, 2024

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Cyber-attacks against Americans at all time high over past two years

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MINNEAPOLIS – Cyber-attacks against Americans have hit an all-time high over the past two years, according to Checkpoint Software research. The Office of Government Accountability says the U.S. lacks adequate cybercrime data and monitoring, leaving the country less prepared to fight cybercrime.

Cyber criminals target education and research sectors the most because of their sensitive information and lack of adequate cyber security. Checkpoint Software Global Chief Information (CISO) Officer Pete Nicoletti says there was an increase in attacks on government and military in the 4th quarter of 2023.

“I think it’s because of the ongoing conflicts that we’re seeing. The two wars that the world is involved in,” Nicoletti said.

Minnesota’s Chief Information Security Officer John Israel said people are the weakest link with most cyber events. An attack can easily start with phishing emails that trick people into clicking on a link. Israel said people should keep strong passwords, be wary of suspicious messages and use multi-factor authentication on every account if they want to prevent their data from being taken by cyber criminals. (Mills Hayes/Fox News)

The Israel-Hamas war and the Russia-Ukraine war seem far away from Steele County, Minnesota. But Steele County Director of Information Technology Dave Purscell says our screens bring the war home.

“We’re at war, and literally against other countries that are attempting to do damage here,” Purscell said. “We see a lot of activity against our firewalls that comes in from, you know, the big four, that’d be in Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea.”

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Purscell says cyber criminals target local governments because, “we have a lot of really important sensitive information. And the theory behind it is that we’re not going to have the level of protection and security that a large organization like the federal or state government would have.”

Steele County IT Director Dave Purscell says COVID forced IT professionals to come up with solutions to better protect people regardless of where they are. He says sometimes the solutions for large counties like Hennepin County (covers the city of Minneapolis) are different than solutions needed for smaller counties, like Steele county. (Mills Hayes/Fox News)

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal of 2021 designates $1 billion for states and territories over the next 4 years. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency says states have to apply through the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program. Only South Dakota has not applied and received funds.

In Minnesota, the federal government has allocated $18 million in federal funds and $5.5 million in state matched funds from the Minnesota legislature. At least 80% of that has to go to local governments and at least 25% to rural communities.

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The $1 billion will be distributed to states and territories over the next 4 years. Steele County Director of IT Dave Purscell says, “not meaning anything derogatory. It was a political statement.” He says it sounds like a lot of money, but it’s divided by states and then local goverments. “Nothing is inexpensive,” he says of cyber security. (Mills Hayes/Fox News)

CISO John Israel leads Minnesota IT Services executive branch cybersecurity teams and the Minnesota Cybersecurity Task Force. Israel says not every local government has adequate security measures. In September, the agency launched the Whole of State Cybersecurity Plan to provide and expand cybersecurity outreach to local governments statewide.

“Government entities, no matter how large or how small, collect and store manage a lot of data around presidents, about the people that they serve,” Israel said. “Not only are they holding the data, ransom and hostage for payment, they’re also trying to sell it on the black market.”

With 3,500 entities like school districts, local governments and tribal nations in Minnesota, Israel says the money goes fast.

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Checkpoint software says attempted ransomware attacks on organizations rose 33% worldwide last year. About 1 in 20 organizations in the US fell victim to attempted ransomware attacks last year. On average, a business experiences over 1,158 cyberattacks a week.

“The criminal enterprise is actually growing in size. It’s a multibillion-dollar industry. Some people think it’s the third largest economy in the world after U.S. and China, the cybercriminal environment,” Nicoletti said.

It’s not just the quantity of the cyberattacks that are increasing, but the quality. Nicoletti said the use of artificial intelligence has made phishing scams coming through email harder to spot.

Technology

YouTube made its video player easier to navigate on TVs

Published

6 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

YouTube made its video player easier to navigate on TVs

The YouTube watch screen has been given a new look on TVs. The redesign aims to provide a “more intuitive experience with easier navigation,” according to YouTube’s announcement, relocating the video title and several controls, and adding a new “Description” button to access creator information and other video features.

I’m already seeing the update on my own Nvidia Shield Pro streaming box and native Phillips TV OS, and I do think it makes it easier to find specific video features and controls. My colleague Thomas Ricker says he isn’t seeing the redesign in Apple TV’s YouTube player, however, so they may still be rolling out. These changes are pretty delayed, considering YouTube announced in April that they would arrive “this summer.”

Videos on the YouTube app for TV will now show the title in the top left corner of the screen instead of just above the video scrubber at the bottom of the page, and the title can no longer be clicked to open comments, metadata, and information about the creator. Instead, those controls are now available by clicking the new “Description” button. The channel thumbnail and subscribe function have also been separated into two buttons, with the creator’s thumbnail now taking users directly to their channel.

Controls have been reorganized into distinct groups under the video scrubber: Channel, Description, and Subscribe on the left, Previous, Pause/Play, and Next in the center, and Like, Dislike, Comment, Save, Closed Captions, and Settings placed into two groups on the right. YouTube says the Subscribe button will remain visible to subscribers, adapting to flag pay-gated content or alert users to new live streams. A “Multiview” control has also been added for live sports content, while Music and Premium subscribers will see a new “Display Mode” control.

Technology

Android Emergency Live Video gives 911 eyes on the scene

Published

6 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

Android Emergency Live Video gives 911 eyes on the scene

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Holiday travel and winter storms create risky moments for drivers and families. Stress rises fast during emergencies, and describing the scene to 911 can feel overwhelming.

Now, a new Android feature closes that gap by providing live visual information that helps responders act with speed and accuracy.

If you use an iPhone, Apple offers a similar tool through its Emergency SOS Live Video feature. You can learn how it works right here.

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Android Emergency Live Video gives 911 a secure live view of the scene, so responders understand what is happening right away. (Cyberguy.com)

What Android Emergency Live Video does

Google is rolling out Android Emergency Live Video to give dispatchers a secure view of the scene during an active call or text. A dispatcher can request a live video stream through your phone when it is safe for you to share it. With a single tap, you can stream real-time video that helps responders understand what is happening.

This can help during car accidents, medical emergencies or fast-moving hazards such as wildfire conditions. Live video can also help dispatchers guide you through steps that save lives, such as CPR, until responders arrive.

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How the Android Emergency Live Video feature works

Android designed this tool to work with no setup. When you call or text 911, the dispatcher reviews the situation. If they decide video would help, they will send a request to your phone. You see a clear prompt that lets you choose whether to start the secure stream. The feature uses encryption and gives you full control. You can stop sharing at any moment.

The feature works on Android phones running Android 8 or newer with Google Play services. It is rolling out across the U.S. and select regions in Germany and Mexico. Google plans to expand coverage with more public safety partners.

How to use Emergency Live Video on Android

You cannot turn this feature on in advance. It appears only during an active 911 call or text.

1) Call or text 911 on your Android phone. The dispatcher reviews your situation.

2) Watch for a request on your screen. If the dispatcher decides live video will help, they send a prompt to your device.

3) Tap the notification that appears. You will see a clear message asking if you want to share live video.

4) Choose Share video to start streaming. This opens your camera and begins a secure live feed.

5) Tap Stop sharing at any time. You stay in control the entire time and can end the video at any time.

With one tap, you can choose to share real-time video during a 911 call or text which gives dispatchers the clarity they need to guide you. (CyberGuy.com)

Why Emergency Live Video on Android matters now

Emergencies create confusion. Sharing details verbally takes time and can lead to miscommunication. Video removes guesswork. Responders gain clarity in seconds, which can speed up help and improve outcomes. This tool builds on Android’s safety features, including Satellite SOS, Fall Detection and Car Crash Detection.

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Alastair Breeze, a Software Engineer for Android, tells CyberGuy that the team built this feature with one goal in mind. “Providing people peace of mind is at the core of Android’s safety mission. Android Emergency Live Video gives you the ability to securely share real-time video to provide dispatchers the critical eyes-on-scene context they need to assist in emergencies.”

What this means to you

If you carry an Android phone, this feature adds another layer of protection during moments that demand quick action. You stay in control of when the video is shared. You also get a simple way to show the situation when describing it feels impossible. Faster clarity can lead to faster help, which can shape how an emergency ends.

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The feature works on Android phones running Android 8 or newer and helps responders act faster during emergencies when seconds matter. (Tony Giberson/tgiberson@pnj.com / USA TODAY)

Kurt’s key takeaways

Android Emergency Live Video brings real-time awareness to moments when every second matters. It gives responders a clear view, so they can guide you through urgent steps if necessary. Most of all, it adds peace of mind during situations no one plans for.

Would you feel comfortable sharing live video during an emergency if it helped responders reach you faster? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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

Technology

The Game Awards 2025: all the news and announcements

Published

18 hours ago

December 11, 2025

Press Room

The Game Awards 2025: all the news and announcements

The Game Awards are back once again to showcase a metric ton of commercials, provide the gaming public with their monthly dose of Muppets, and validate gamers’ opinions on which title should be named the Game of the Year. I don’t wanna say it’s a foregone conclusion what this year’s GOTY will be — Silksong may surprise us — but it’s pretty obvious that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is the frontrunner and for good reason. It’s netted 12 nominations, the most out of this year’s contenders, including all five craft awards (Direction, Art, Music and Score, Narrative, and Audio Design).

On the announcements side, Crystal Dynamics and Amazon Games are planning something related to the Tomb Raider series. Keighley also probably had plans to reveal big news about Resident Evil: Requiem, but unfortunately it got spoiled early thanks to some leaked key art on the PlayStation Store. Here’s all the news, announcements, and trailers from The Game Awards 2025.