Lucid Motors found itself in a tough bind this week, fending off bankruptcy rumors and watching its stock price plunge as a result. The company quickly denied the report, calling it “completely false” and pointing to its available free cash flow as evidence that it has enough runway to operate into next year.
Technology
How to opt out of AI data collection in popular apps
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Every time you ask ChatGPT a question, say “Hey Siri” or let Google finish your sentence, something else may happen in the background. In many cases, you are helping train the AI that responds to you.
Most people do not realize this. However, many AI platforms use conversations to improve their systems. As a result, your questions, your voice and your habits can be stored and reused by some of the world’s largest tech companies.
That said, you are not stuck with these settings. You can turn off much of this data collection if you know where to look. Even better, it only takes about 15 minutes across the major platforms. Here is exactly how.
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5 SIMPLE TECH TIPS TO TAKE BACK CONTROL OF YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA
What AI apps are quietly collecting about you
AI assistants are designed to feel like a private conversation. But, depending on the platform, what’s collected often goes well beyond what you typed or said:
- Full conversation transcripts
- Voice recordings and audio clips
- Location data and device identifiers
- Browsing habits and search history
- Names, routines and personal details you mention in passing
- App usage patterns across your devices.
Almost none of this is turned off by default. You have to go find the switch yourself.
Think about what you’ve actually shared lately
Here’s a quick thought experiment. In the last month, have you asked an AI assistant about:
- A health symptom you were worried about?
- A financial decision you were weighing?
- A family situation you needed advice on?
- Your child’s schedule, school or activities?
Each detail seems harmless on its own. But, together, they create a surprisingly detailed picture of your life, one that could be stored indefinitely, reviewed by human contractors or exposed in a data breach.
In 2023, Samsung engineers accidentally leaked sensitive internal code by pasting it into ChatGPT. Most people don’t have an IT department watching out for them. But everyone can take a few minutes to adjust their settings.
How to opt out platform by platform
This doesn’t mean you should stop using AI tools. They can be incredibly useful. But it’s worth understanding what’s being collected and what you can turn off right now.
1) ChatGPT (OpenAI)
By default, your conversations may be used to help improve AI models, but you can turn this off at any time.
To turn this off:
- Open ChatGPT
- Tap or click your profile icon
- Select Settings
- Go to Data Controls
- Toggle off “Improve the model for everyone”
You can also go to Settings > Data Controls > Export data to download everything OpenAI has stored, or select Delete all chats to wipe your history. Note that even with training off, OpenAI retains conversations for up to 30 days for safety monitoring.
Turning off “Improve the model for everyone” stops your ChatGPT conversations from being used for training. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
2) Google (Gemini & AI features)
Google’s AI tools, including Gemini and Search’s AI Overviews, are tied to your Google account activity.
To manage this:
- Go to myactivity.google.com
- Select Web & App Activity and turn it off, or set auto-delete to three months
- Separately, visit gemini.google.com > Settings > Gemini Apps Activity and toggle it off
Keep in mind that disabling activity tracking may affect personalization across Gmail, Maps and other Google services.
DATA BROKERS ACCUSED OF HIDING OPT-OUT PAGES FROM GOOGLE
Google’s Gemini activity settings show how your AI interactions may still be stored unless you delete them. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
3) Microsoft Copilot
Copilot is built into Windows, Microsoft 365 and Edge, so it can access a wide range of your documents and activity.
To adjust your settings:
- Go to account.microsoft.com/privacy and sign in
- Click Privacy in the left-hand menu
- Scroll to App and service activity and review your recent activity
- Click Clear all activities or remove individual items
- Scroll down to App and service performance data, and clear that data if available
- Scroll further and select Copilot, then tap Manage data from Microsoft Copilot to review or delete your data
In Windows 11: Settings > Privacy & Security > Diagnostics & Feedback and turn off Optional diagnostic data
Microsoft does not offer one single switch that turns off all Copilot data collection, so you need to review settings in multiple places. Enterprise users should check with an IT administrator since organizational settings may also apply.
Microsoft’s privacy dashboard lets you review and clear app and service activity tied to your account. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
4) Amazon Alexa
Alexa stores voice recordings by default, and, in some cases, Amazon may have human reviewers listen to those recordings as part of its quality review process.
To turn off voice recording use:
- Open the Alexa app
- Tap More (upper left, three lines)
- Tap Alexa Privacy
- Scroll down and select Manage Your Alexa Data
- Tap Help Improve Alexa and turn off Use Voice Recordings
- Confirm your decision by tapping Turn off
To stop Alexa from keeping your recordings:
- Open the Alexa app
- Tap More (upper left, three lines)
- Tap Alexa Privacy
- Scroll down and select Manage Your Alexa Data
- Tap Voice Recordings and Transcripts
- Select Don’t retain
In the Alexa app, turning off voice recording use prevents Amazon from using your recordings to improve services. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
5) Apple Siri
Apple is generally more privacy-focused than other platforms, but Siri still collects data to improve its performance.
To limit Siri data collection:
- Go to Settings
- Tap Privacy & Security
- Tap Analytics & Improvements
- Turn off Share iPhone & Apple Watch Analytics
- Scroll down and turn off Improve Siri & Dictation
To delete your existing Siri history:
Go to Settings, Tap Siri or Apple Intelligence & Siri Tap Siri & Dictation History Tap Delete Siri & Dictation History
Disabling analytics on iPhone limits how Apple collects data to improve Siri and other features. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Why AI privacy settings are only part of the solution
Adjusting these settings is an important step. But it only controls what these apps collect directly going forward. It doesn’t address the hundreds of websites that may already be publishing your personal information online, right now, without your knowledge.
Data brokers are still collecting your information
Data brokers do not need your AI chat history. Instead, they pull information from public records, marketing lists and people search databases. They also refresh these profiles constantly, which keeps your data active and easy to find.
As a result, your name, address, phone number and family members may already appear on dozens of sites you have never heard of. Unlike AI apps, these sites do not offer a single settings menu to turn this off.
While you can remove your data manually, the process takes hours and often requires repeated requests when your information gets reposted. In many cases, you need to revisit these sites regularly to keep your information from reappearing.
The goal is simple: make it much harder for strangers, scammers and cybercriminals to find your personal information online.
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.
Kurt’s Key Takeaways
Spending just 15 minutes adjusting your AI privacy settings is one of the most effective steps you can take to protect your digital privacy right now. Most major platforms, including OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, Amazon and Apple, collect data by default. However, you can opt out, even though companies often bury these settings deep in menus.
As a result, many people never find them. At the same time, AI assistants feel private and conversational, so you may share more personal information than you realize. Even if you turn off data collection going forward, companies do not erase what they have already stored. In addition, these settings only control what happens inside each platform. Data brokers still build separate profiles about you using information pulled from across the internet.
Because of this, privacy is not a one-time fix. Instead, you need to check your settings regularly and stay aware of what you share. The good news is you do not have to stop using AI tools. Instead, take a few minutes this week to review your settings and make sure the rest of your digital footprint is not working against you.
How much personal data are you willing to let big tech companies collect from your everyday AI use? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.
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Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Technology
Lucid’s bankruptcy rumor is a bad sign for the EV future
But despite the swift response, the damage was widespread. The panic immediately bled into competing automakers, pulling down shares of Rivian and Polestar as investors speculated about the long-term survival of EV-only companies in the face of slowing consumer demand and whiplash policy shifts. And it cast a harsh light on the precarity of all three companies and the future of electric vehicles.
The trouble started on Tuesday, when EV trade publication EV reported that restructuring firm AlixPartners had advised Lucid’s board to consider Chapter 11 bankruptcy or a take-private deal. The report also said AlixPartners had encouraged the board to further restructure in the US and Europe and to focus on the Gravity SUV. But while the rest of the media has since reported on Lucid’s denial, no other publication has confirmed EV’s scoop. (For what its worth, EV’s URL is “eletric-vehicle.com,” enshrining the incorrect spelling in its address.)
Lucid confirmed that it had hired AlixPartners, but denied that the firm had made any such recommendations to its board. Instead, AlixPartners would provide advice on “improving execution, strengthening operations and positioning Lucid to realize the full potential of its technology, products and innovation,” Lucid chief communications officer Nick Twork said.
Lucid went a step further, filing a cease and desist order against EV
Lucid went a step further, filing a cease and desist order against EV, claiming that the site’s report directly led to the stock crash. “In short, your actions caused serious injury to a number of investors,” Lucid’s chief legal officer and general counsel, Brian Tomkiel, said in the letter. “And they injured, and continue to injure, Lucid directly.”
Still, the timing was terrible. Lucid is genuinely not in good shape, having lost over $1 billion in the first quarter of the year. The company has also gone through two rounds of layoffs in 2026, having cut 12 percent of staff in February and then 18 percent in June. The company also reduced production at its factory in Arizona in a bid to counteract its high inventory and save money. And there’s been leadership turmoil, with COO Marc Winterhoff departing the company and his position being eliminated entirely in an effort to flatten the structure.
The report sent the stock into freefall, plummeting as much as 50 percent in one of the worst single-day drops in Lucid’s history. And with Polestar and Rivian also catching strays, it’s generally been a glum time for companies not named Tesla trying make a go of exclusively building electric vehicles. Wall Street is panicking because the rumors are aligning with the bad news coming out of these companies’ earnings reports. EV sales are stabilizing, but recovery is still a distant promise. The all-electric future seems further away than ever.
Whether or not Lucid is actually weighing Chapter 11, it’s a sure sign of more turbulent waters ahead. Polestar getting strong-armed out of the US over its Chinese ties has left a lot of EV owners and dealers scratching their heads. Rivian is in an increasingly precarious position thanks to its huge, expensive bet on becoming a mass-market car company with the production of the R2.
All of these companies are increasingly reliant on big stakeholders — Lucid with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Polestar with Geely, and Rivian with Volkswagen — for their future survival. If any of these big backers get cold feet, the future could get really dark really fast.
Technology
Insurance breach exposes 7M driver’s licenses
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AssuranceAmerica, an auto insurance provider that works through a network of independent agents, has disclosed a data breach affecting nearly 7 million people. The exposed information includes driver’s license numbers and other personal details tied to auto insurance customers.
The company said it detected suspicious activity on March 17, 2026, after malicious activity targeted one of its employees one day earlier. Investigators later found that an unauthorized third party accessed parts of AssuranceAmerica’s IT environment and copied certain data files.
According to an Indiana Attorney General breach listing, the incident affected 6,998,886 people. A California Attorney General notice also says AssuranceAmerica began notifying affected individuals after completing its file review on June 15, 2026.
AssuranceAmerica sells auto, renters and commercial auto insurance through independent agents. So even if the company name does not sound familiar, your information could still be involved if your policy, quote, claim or driver details passed through its systems.
ADT DATA BREACH EXPOSES CUSTOMER INFORMATION
AssuranceAmerica says a March cyberattack exposed personal information tied to nearly 7 million people, including driver’s license numbers and insurance data. (Felix Zahn/Photothek via Getty Images)
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What happened in the AssuranceAmerica data breach
AssuranceAmerica said the breach started with malicious activity that targeted one employee. The company did not explain exactly how the employee was targeted. However, it said it later disabled compromised credentials and unauthorized sessions.
That detail should get your attention. Many breaches start with one stolen login, one convincing message or one infected device. Once attackers get inside, they can move quickly and look for files worth stealing.
In this case, AssuranceAmerica said an unauthorized third party copied certain data files from its IT environment. The company then reviewed those files to identify affected individuals.
What information was exposed in the AssuranceAmerica breach
AssuranceAmerica said the stolen files contained names plus one or more other types of personal information. That information may include contact details, auto insurance policy or account information, driver or vehicle information, claims-related information and driver’s license numbers. The California notice also says some files may have included Tax ID information and/or Social Security numbers.
That mix can create real risk. A scammer with your name, license number and insurance details may sound much more convincing. They could pretend to be from your insurer, a repair shop, a claims department or a state agency. This follows other identity-document breaches, including the Texas data breach that hit 3 million license customers. Once driver’s license numbers leak, the risk can last much longer than a stolen credit card number.
How AssuranceAmerica responded to the breach
AssuranceAmerica said it took affected server devices offline and hired external forensic specialists to investigate. The company also said it reset passwords, deployed enhanced monitoring and threat detection tools and gave employees more cybersecurity instruction. It also notified law enforcement.
AssuranceAmerica is offering 12 months of complimentary credit monitoring for affected individuals. That can help spot some suspicious activity. However, you still need to watch your insurance account, financial accounts and mail.
Why the AssuranceAmerica breach puts drivers at risk
A driver’s license number can help an imposter build a more believable scam. Insurance information can make that scam feel personal.
For example, a caller may mention your policy, your vehicle or a claim. Then they may ask you to “verify” more information. That is where the damage can grow.
Also, stolen breach data can be matched with public records and data broker profiles. That can give criminals a fuller picture of your life. We have seen the same pattern in scams tied to travel accounts, phone accounts and other breaches, including the Booking.com breach that exposed traveler data to scams.
BEFORE YOU CONNECT ANOTHER SMART TV, TABLET OR PHONE, LOCK IT DOWN
State officials say the breach involved Medicaid, Medicare Savings Program and rehabilitation services records spanning multiple years. (Photo by Silas Stein/picture alliance via Getty Images)
Ways to stay safe after the AssuranceAmerica data breach
If you receive a notice or think your information may be involved, take these steps now to make the stolen data harder to use.
1) Read the breach notice closely
If you receive a notice from AssuranceAmerica, read it carefully. Check what information the company says may have been exposed in your case. Do not assume every affected person had the same data stolen. Some people may have had driver’s license numbers exposed. Others may also have had Tax ID information or Social Security numbers involved.
2) Use the credit monitoring offer safely
AssuranceAmerica says it is offering 12 months of complimentary credit monitoring. Use the instructions in the official notice. Be careful with emails or texts that claim to offer enrollment links. Scammers often copy real breach language to trick you.
3) Freeze your credit
A credit freeze makes it harder for someone to open a new account in your name. You need to place a freeze separately with Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. It is free, and you can lift it when you need to apply for credit.
4) Add a fraud alert
A fraud alert tells lenders to take extra steps before opening credit in your name. You can place a fraud alert with one credit bureau, and that bureau should notify the others. This adds another layer of protection if your personal information was exposed.
5) Watch your insurance account
Log in to your insurance account and check for changes you do not recognize. Look for unfamiliar claims, new contact details or strange policy updates. If something looks wrong, call the company using a number from your policy documents.
6) Protect your devices from malware
Credential theft often starts with malware, a bad link or a fake download. Strong antivirus software can help block malicious files and phishing links before they cause damage. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com
CARNIVAL BREACH MAY PUT YOUR TRAVEL DATA AT RISK
Strong passwords protect your accounts, but they do not stop data brokers from collecting public records and selling personal information to people-search sites. (Photographer: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
7) Clean up your online personal data
Breached data becomes more useful when scammers can match it with your address, relatives, phone number or public records. A data removal service can help reduce what data brokers display about you. That will not undo a breach, but it can make you a harder target. 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.
8) Be suspicious of insurance-related calls
If someone calls about your policy, claim or payment, slow down. Do not share verification codes. Do not confirm sensitive details during an unexpected call. Instead, hang up and call the company back through an official number.
9) Check your DMV options
If your driver’s license number was exposed, review your state DMV’s fraud guidance. Some states may offer replacement options or identity theft guidance. The rules vary, so check directly with your state agency.
10) Use a password manager
Create strong, unique passwords for your insurance account, email and financial apps. A password manager can also help you spot fake login pages. If it will not autofill, you may be on a scam site. Check out the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2026 at CyberGuy.com.
11) Turn on two-factor authentication
Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) for your insurance account, email and financial accounts when available. Use an authenticator app when you can. Text codes are better than nothing, but scammers often target them.
Kurt’s key takeaways
The AssuranceAmerica data breach is a reminder that your driver’s license number has become a high-value target. You may not be able to control how every company stores your information. However, you can make stolen data harder to use. Start with your credit. Then check your insurance account and watch for imposters who know just enough to sound convincing. Also, clean up the personal data already floating around online. The bigger issue is trust. Companies ask for sensitive information because they need it to do business. When that information leaks, you are the one left checking statements, freezing credit and worrying about what comes next.
What should a company owe you when it loses the ID number you use to prove who you are? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.
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Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Technology
Google and Epic give up fighting — third-party Android app stores are coming next week
Epic Games and Google have just jointly withdrawn their attempt to retroactively settle the lawsuit that’s changing how Android app stores work in the United States — and that means Google will be forced to carry rival app stores inside of its own. In fact, Google tells the court, it’s ready to begin carrying third-party app stores on Wednesday, July 22nd. Does that mean it’s time for Microsoft to launch an Xbox game store on Android?
But Judge James Donato was skeptical he should abandon his original permanent injunction in favor of Google’s proposed “Registered App Stores” that users would have to sideload — instead of simply downloading third-party stores directly through Google Play. On Thursday, July 16th, both parties were set to appear in court to argue it again, but that may no longer be necessary.
Here’s is Google’s full statement on withdrawing its proposed modifications to Judge Donato’s permanent injunction, via Google spokesperson Dan Jackson:
We’ve agreed with Epic to withdraw our motion to modify the US Court’s injunction rather than prolonging this process which creates uncertainty for the ecosystem. This allows us to focus on executing our recently announced global business model evolution to deliver greater app store choice, lower prices, and more opportunities for developers and users. We remain committed to maintaining Android’s industry-leading security and fostering a competitive ecosystem where every app store and developer has the freedom to compete. In parallel, we continue to comply with the US Court’s injunction.”
Google had previously announced that it would launch its sideloaded Registered App Store program in the rest of the world, beginning with the new version of Android later this year. That means there may be two different tracks for Android: stores-within-a-store in the United States, and Registered App Stores everywhere else.
It’s not yet clear if there will be a parallel “program” for third-party app stores inside of the Google Play Store, or if companies will simply submit them the way they’d submit any other app. Technically, the court’s permanent injunction states that Google “may not prohibit the distribution of third-party Android app distribution platforms or stores through the Google Play Store,” not that it has to proactively invite them in.
For access to the Google Play catalog of apps, Google will charge stores an annual fee of $5,000 for “security and policy reviews,” and it has many additional requirements, including: stores can’t distribute apps outside of the US, have to be open to all eligible third-party developers, have “clear, non-discriminatory” trust and safety policies, and no more than 1 percent of “install attempts” can be malware.
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