In 1986, electronic music pioneer Laurie Spiegel created Music Mouse, a way for those with a Mac, Atari, or Amiga computer to dabble in algorithmic music creation. Music Mouse is deceptively simple: Notes are arranged on an XY grid, and you play it by moving a mouse around. Back in 1986, the computer mouse was still a relatively novel device. While it can trace its origins back to the late ’60s, it wasn’t until the Macintosh 128K in 1984 that it started seeing widespread adoption.
Technology
Legendary composer Laurie Spiegel on the difference between algorithmic music and ‘AI’
By then Spiegel, was already an accomplished composer. Her 1980 album The Expanding Universe is generally considered among the greatest ambient records of all time. And her composition “Harmony of the Worlds” is currently tearing through interstellar space as part of the Voyager Golden Record, launched in 1977. But she is also a technical wizard who joined Bell Labs in 1973 and was instrumental in early digital synthesis experiments and worked on an early computer graphics system called Vampire.
Spiegel was deeply drawn to algorithmic music composition and this new tool, the home computer. So, she created what she calls an “intelligent instrument” that enables the creation of complex melodies and harmonies with minimal music-theory knowledge. Music Mouse restricts you to particular scales, and then you explore them simply by pushing a mouse around.
Spiegel gives the user some control, of course. You can choose if notes move in parallel or contrary to each other, there are options to play notes back as chords or arpeggios, and there is even a simple pattern generator.
Despite being available for purchase until 2021, Spiegel never updated it to work on anything more current than Mac OS 9. Now, 40 years after its debut, it’s getting reborn for modern machines with help from Eventide.
While it would have been easy for Eventide and Spiegel to overload the 2026 version of Music Mouse with countless modern amenities and new features, they kept things restrained for version 1.0. The core feature set is the same, though the sound engine is more robust and includes patches based on Spiegel’s own Yamaha DX7. There are also some enhanced MIDI features, including the ability to feed data from Music Mouse into your DAW or an external synthesizer.
Laurie Spiegel answered some questions for us about the history of Music Mouse, algorithmic composition, AI, and why she thinks the computer is a “folk instrument.”
What were the origins of Music Mouse? Was there something specific that inspired its creation?
When the first Macs came out, the use of a mouse as an input device, as an XY controller, was altogether new. Previous computers had just alphanumeric keyboard input or maybe custom controllers. The most obvious thing I immediately wanted to do was to be able to push sound around with that mouse. So, as soon as the first C compilers came out, I coded up a way to do that. Pretty soon, though, I wanted the sound quantized into scales, then to add more voices to fill out the harmony. Then I wanted to have controls for timbre, tempo, and everything else I eventually added.
How did you connect with Eventide for this new version?
I first met Tony and Richard of Eventide all the way back in the early 1970s. They are longtime good friends. I’d been involved in various music tech projects at Eventide over the years. Tony knew that I really missed Music Mouse and that I still get a fair number of requests for the 1980s versions from people who keep vintage computers from that era just to be able to run Music Mouse or other obsolete software. He decided it was a musical instrument worth reviving. I had been wanting to revive it, but hadn’t been able to find the time to even just keep up with the way development tech keeps changing. My main thing is really composing music, and I have an active enough career doing that to not have enough time to do coding as well. I am extremely grateful to Eventide for resuscitating Music Mouse. I hope a lot of people will get a lot of music out of this new version.
Did you feel compelled to make any big changes to it after 40 years?
We decided to keep 1.0 of this new version of Music Mouse functionally the same as the 1980s original. The exceptions are adding a higher-quality internal synthesizer and providing ways to sync it with other software, to record or notate its MIDI output. We have a growing list of features to add in 2.0.
“It’s pretty easy by now to use computers to generate music-like material that is not actually the expression of an individual human being.”
Are there any current innovations in music tech that excite you?
That’s a hard question, because I am not all that excited about music tech right now. It’s music itself that holds my interest — composition, form, structure. I love counterpoint and the various contrapuntal forms. I studied them extensively when I was younger. Of course, harmonic progression is something I’m also very interested in, and in algorithmic assistance for composing it.
That various kinds of structures within music can now be more easily dealt with in computer software by now has both pros and cons. The pros include how much more deeply we have to understand how music works, how it is structured, and how it affects us, in order to represent it as a process description in software. That means learning, research, and self-discovery. The cons include that it’s pretty easy by now to use computers to generate music-like material that is not actually the expression of an individual human being. Music is a fundamental human experience. There is no human society that doesn’t have it. But it is something that comes from within human beings, as personal expression, as communication, as a sort of form of documentation of what we are feeling, and as a means of sharing it.
You’ve been credited as saying that the computer is a new kind of folk instrument. Can you explain what you mean by that? How does something like Music Mouse fit into that model?
Now that everyone with a computer or even just a phone has the ability to record and edit and play back and digitally process and transform sound, and particularly ever since sampling became a common musical technique, people have been doing remixes, collages, sonic montages… doing all kinds of stuff to audio they get from others or find online. This is very like what we used to call “the folk process,” in which music is repurposed, re-orchestrated, given new lyrics or otherwise modified as it goes from person to person and is adapted to fit what is meaningful in successive groups of people.
Music Mouse will help people create musical materials that can be used in a potentially infinite number of ways. It is a personal, often home-based instrument played by an individual, like a guitar.
You refer to Music Mouse as an “intelligent instrument”; it automates a certain amount of creation. What is the appeal of letting a computer take the wheel to a degree, as an artist?
Music Mouse is not a generative algorithm or an “AI.” It’s a musical instrument that a person can play. It is, to some degree, what we used to call an “expert system,” as it has some musical expertise built in. But that is meant to be supportive for the real live human being who is playing it, not to replace them. It makes the playing of notes easier in order to let the player’s focus be on the level of phrasing or form. I have coded up generative algorithms for music. Music Mouse is not one of them. It’s an instrument that an individual can play, and it’s under their control. It enables a different perspective that’s from above the level of the individual note.
Do you see a connection between modern generative AI and algorithmic composition tools?
Of course. Algorithms can be used to generate music. I have written and used some. Music Mouse is not generative, though. It does nothing on its own. It’s a musical instrument played by a person.
What is currently called “AI” is different from previous generations of artificial intelligence. I expect there will doubtless be further evolution. In the early years of my use of computer logic in composing, AI was more of a rule-based practice. We would try to figure out how the mind was making a specific kind of decision, code up a simulation to test our hypothesis, and then refine our understanding in light of the result. After that, there was a period of AI taking more of a brute-force approach. Computer chess, for example, would involve generating all possible moves possible in a given situation, then eliminating those that would be less beneficial. Then neural nets were brought in for a next generation of AI. I look forward to getting beyond the imitative homogenizing LLM approach and seeing whatever comes next.
There are many ways of designing an algorithm that either generates music or else helps a human being to do that, making some of the decisions during the person’s creative process to leave them free to focus on other aspects. By taking over some of the decision-making, they can free a creative mind to focus on different perspectives. People just starting to learn music too often bog down and give up at the level of simply playing the notes, just figuring out where to put their fingers. We can make musical instruments now that let people use a bit of automation on those low levels to let them express themselves on a larger level, for example, to make gestures in texture-space rather than thinking ahead just one note at a time.
“Music Mouse is not a generative algorithm or an ‘AI.’ It’s a musical instrument that a person can play.”
What do you think separates algorithmically generated music from something created by generative AI?
Artificial intelligence refers to a specific subset of ways to use algorithms. An algorithm is just a description of a process, a sequence of steps to be taken. A generative algorithm can make decisions involved in the production of information, and, of course, music is a kind of information. You can think of AI as trying to simulate human intelligence. It might have a purpose, such as taking over some of our cognitive workload. In contrast, the purpose of generative algorithms is to create stuff. In music, that purpose is to create an experience.
Music Mouse is not a generative algorithmic program. It’s more of a small expert system in that it has built into it information and methods that can help its player get beyond the level of just finding notes, to the level of finding personal expression.
Suno’s CEO Mikey Shulman has said that, “Increasingly taste is the only thing that matters in art and skill is going to matter a lot less.” In an age where music can be easily created using algorithms, plug-ins, and text prompts on cheap laptops and smartphones, do you see the role of composer being one primarily of curation?
I can see where he’s coming from, but, no, I don’t think so. The range and kinds of skills used in the creative arts will continue to evolve and expand. But the history of creative techniques shows them to be largely cumulative versus sequential. The keyboard synthesizer has not replaced the piano, which has not replaced the harpsichord or the organ. We have them all, that whole lineage, all still in use. Each musical instrument or artistic technique implies its own unique artistic realm. Each is defined by its specific limitations, which guide us as we use them. It is true that skills and traditional techniques will be an option rather than a prerequisite to creating music and art, but people will still do them. Just as LPs and chemical film have made comebacks recently, I expect to see traditional musical skills do the same. We have had computers and synthesizers for decades, yet there are still little children captivated by instruments made out of wood or painting or drawing, and I have yet to use any music editing software that gives me the fluidity and freedom of a pencil on staff paper. There will just be more kinds of complementary ways of making music.
More importantly, we humans have imaginations and emotions. There are internal experiences going on inside of us that we feel driven to express, to communicate, to share. It doesn’t matter what machines can generate on their own. We will always have those internal subjective experiences, emotion, and imagination, and people will experience them intensely enough to feel driven to create them external to their own selves in order to communicate and share them. You can’t replace human self-expression or the need for it by simulating their results. Artistic creation comes from a fundamental human drive, the need for self-expression. Artistic creativity is an essential method of processing the intensity of being alive.
You told New Music USA in 2014 that, in regard to electronic music, “There is no single creator… the concept of a finite fixed-form piece with an identifiable creator that is property and a medium of exchange or the embodiment of economic value really disappears.” Does this idea shape your views on ownership of art?
Those assumptions, which we inherited from the European classical model of music, are already much less prominent in our musical landscape. Improvisation, “process pieces,” the ease with which we can do transformations of audio files are all over the place. Folk music, and a lot of what we heard online here and there, might be audio that no longer has any known originator. We don’t know, and people don’t really care, who first created a swatch of sound. We are experiencing whatever has been done with it — different orchestrations, durations, signal processing. The huge proliferation of plug-ins and guitar effects pedals let anyone transform a sound beyond recognition. This is composition on a different level than on the level of the individual note, similarly to Music Mouse.
Another very important aspect of “folk music” is that it is typically played at home, with or for friends or family, or alone. This is very different from formal concert settings and programming we in the US inherited from Europe. For me, the most important musical experience is just about always at home, where we live. To quote what Pete Seeger said in his write-up of Music Mouse in Sing Out, that “she [meaning me] foresees a day when computer pieces will be like folksongs, anonymous common property to be altered by each new user. She would like to get music out of the concert hall and back into the living room.”
Music Mouse is available for macOS and Windows 11 for $29.
Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
It shows up in your junk folder with a subject line that practically yells at you: “ATTENTION 1!!!” That alone should raise suspicion. Still, the message quickly escalates. It claims to come from the IMF (International Monetary Fund) and says you are approved for a $4.5 million grant.
That is where things start to fall apart. This type of scam is designed to trigger both excitement and urgency. It also pushes you to hand over sensitive information before you stop to think.
Let’s break down exactly what this email says and why each part signals trouble.
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.
NEW EMAIL SCAM USES HIDDEN CHARACTERS TO SLIP PAST FILTERS
A fake IMF grant email promises millions of dollars while asking recipients to share personal details and identity documents. (Rawf8/Getty Images)
The sender behind this IMF scam email
The email claims to be from the IMF. Yet the reply address is a Gmail account. That mismatch matters.
Legitimate financial institutions do not use free email services for official communication. They also do not ask you to reply to a personal inbox for something this serious.
Why the subject line is a warning sign
“ATTENTION 1!!!” is not how a global financial organization communicates. It is how scammers try to grab you fast.
Urgency lowers your guard. When you feel pressure, you are more likely to respond without verifying anything.
The greeting reveals a mass email
The message opens with “Attention: Sir/Madam.” If your name were truly selected for a multimillion-dollar payment, the sender would use it.
Generic greetings often mean the email was blasted out to thousands of people.
How the story tries to hook you
The email mentions debts tied to contracts, inheritance, lottery and loans. That wide net is intentional.
It increases the odds that something in the message feels familiar. Once that happens, the scam starts to feel personal.
The $4.5 million promise is the bait
The promise of $4.5 million is not random. Large numbers create excitement. They also make you more willing to overlook obvious problems.
Real financial grants do not appear out of nowhere like this.
YOUR EMAIL DIDN’T EXPIRE; IT’S JUST ANOTHER SNEAKY SCAM
Scam emails may use real organization names, official titles and urgent language to pressure people into responding quickly. (Pekic/Getty Images)
Why scammers use real names
The email mentions IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva. That sounds official, which is the point.
Scammers often include real names or titles to make fake messages feel credible. It is a shortcut to trust.
The writing and grammar feel off
Phrases like “Kindly reply me directly” and awkward sentence structure stand out. One odd sentence might not mean much. However, repeated issues like this point to a lack of professional communication.
Major institutions have strict standards for how they write.
The most dangerous request in this email
This email requests:
- Full name
- Address and location
- Phone number
- Age and occupation
- A copy of your passport or driver’s license
That is everything needed for identity theft. Once someone has those details, they can open accounts, target you with more scams or impersonate you.
The payment method adds false legitimacy
The email promises a bank-to-bank wire transfer. That detail adds a layer of realism. It also sets up the next step. Many scams later ask for “fees” to release the funds.
You send money, and the payment never arrives.
Even the spam excuse is part of the scam
At the end, the email tries to explain away the biggest red flag: “If you have received this message in your SPAM/BULK folder, it is simply because your ISP has introduced restrictions. We urge that you treat it as a matter of urgency.” That is not a reassurance. It is a warning sign.
Scammers know their messages look suspicious, so they try to explain it away before you question it.
THE ONE THING SCAMMERS CHECK BEFORE TARGETING YOU ONLINE
Users should delete suspicious grant emails, avoid links and verify claims directly through official organization websites. (Photographer: Wei Leng Tay/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
How to stay safe from scam emails
Scams like this follow a pattern, and once you know what to look for, you can shut them down quickly before any damage is done.
1) Ignore and delete the message
Do not reply or engage in any way. Even a quick response tells scammers your email is active, which can lead to more targeted attacks. The safest move is to delete it and move on.
2) Do not click links or download attachments
Scam emails often hide malicious links or infected files. One click can take you to a fake login page or install malware on your device. If you were not expecting the message, do not interact with anything inside it.
3) Use strong antivirus software
Strong antivirus software adds another layer of protection. It can flag suspicious emails, block dangerous websites and stop malicious downloads before they cause harm. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com
4) Never send personal documents
No legitimate organization will ask for your passport, driver’s license or other sensitive documents through an unsolicited email. Sending that information can open the door to identity theft and financial fraud.
5) Look closely at the sender
Do not rely on the display name alone. Check the full email address carefully for misspellings, random numbers or free domains like Gmail. Small details often reveal a fake.
6) Go directly to official sources
If the message seems important, verify it on your own. Type the organization’s website into your browser or use a trusted contact method. Do not use the links or contact details provided in the email.
7) Remove your personal data from the internet
Scammers often rely on publicly available information to make their messages feel convincing. Data removal services can reduce what is out there, making it harder for criminals to target you in the first place. 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) Turn on two-factor authentication
Add an extra layer of security to your accounts. With 2FA enabled, a stolen password alone is not enough for someone to get in. This simple step can stop many attacks before they start.
9) Monitor your financial accounts and credit
Check your bank statements and credit reports regularly. Look for unfamiliar charges, new accounts or changes you did not make. Catching fraud early can limit the damage.
10) Consider placing a credit freeze
If you think your personal information was exposed, a credit freeze can help protect you. It prevents new credit accounts from being opened in your name without your approval.
11) Add identity theft protection
Because this scam asks for your name, address, phone number, age, occupation and a copy of your passport or driver’s license, identity theft protection can help you spot trouble faster. A good service can monitor your credit files, alert you to new activity and help you recover if someone uses your information to open accounts or commit fraud in your name. See my tips and best picks on Best Identity Theft Protection at Cyberguy.com
12) Report the scam
Mark the email as phishing in your inbox. This helps your email provider block similar messages and protects other people from falling into the same trap.
Join CyberGuy Live: Lock Down Your Phone in 30 Minutes (Saturday, June 13, 10 am ET)
Your phone holds your email, passwords, photos, banking apps and personal data. In this free, live online class, Kurt the CyberGuy will walk you step by step through simple phone security fixes you can do in real time. You’ll learn how to improve your privacy settings, spot the latest phone scams, use trusted security tools and walk away with a simple checklist to stay protected. Register here: CyberGuyLive.com
Kurt’s key takeaways
This email tries hard to look official. It uses a real organization, a real name and a convincing story. Still, the cracks show up quickly once you slow down. A Gmail reply address, a massive payout, a vague greeting and a request for identity documents all point in the same direction. Scams like this rely on one thing: getting you to act before you think. Take a second look, and the whole thing falls apart.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
If a message promises millions and asks for your personal information, would you pause long enough to question it, or would the urgency pull you in? 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.
- 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
Blue Origin explosion is a major setback for NASA’s Moon plans and Amazon’s Starlink competitor
While Blue Origin investigates the root cause behind last night’s spectacular explosion of its New Glenn rocket, it’s already clear that this will be a major setback for NASA’s Moon base plans and Amazon’s fledgling Leo space internet constellation.
The incident occurred at about 9pm at Blue Origin’s Florida launch site during a hot-fire test, where seven engines in the booster stage are lit while keeping the 322-foot-tall rocket fixed to the launchpad. The explosion and ensuing fireball severely damaged the only launchpad Blue Origin has for its New Glenn rocket.
“It’s too early to know the root cause but we’re already working to find it,” wrote Blue Origin boss Jeff Bezos on X. “Very rough day, but we’ll rebuild whatever needs rebuilding and get back to flying. It’s worth it.”
According to sources speaking to Ars Technica, the transporter-erector and one of the lightning towers at LC-36A may not be salvageable. “New Glenn almost certainly will not launch again in 2026, and frankly a launch during the first half of 2027 would be heroic given the launch site concerns,” writes Eric Berger, senior space editor at Ars Technica.
Such a delay would affect NASA’s Moon base plans. NASA announced on Tuesday that New Glenn would deliver a robotic lunar lander as soon as fall 2026. In 2027, Blue Origin is also scheduled to participate in the upcoming Artemis III mission, which will see astronauts docking their Orion capsule with lunar landers developed by SpaceX and Blue Origin.
“Spaceflight is unforgiving, and developing new heavy-lift launch capability is extraordinarily difficult,” said NASA administrator Jared Isaacman on X. “We will work with our partners to support a thorough investigation of this anomaly, assess near-term mission impacts, and get back to launching rockets.”
The New Glenn rocket that exploded Thursday night was being prepped to carry 48 Amazon Leo satellites — the largest batch ever slated for a single launch — into low-Earth orbit on an upcoming mission. The satellites were not onboard.
To date Amazon has launched just over 300 of the 1,618 Leo satellites the FCC requires by July 30, 2026. Amazon has applied for an extension to keep its license.
Amazon had been counting on New Glenn’s massive payload capacity and reusable boosters to accelerate a launch schedule that is already behind. Without its primary workhorse, Amazon will be forced to rely more heavily on secondary providers like United Launch Alliance (ULA) and Arianespace — and its chief rival, SpaceX.
“Sorry to see this,” wrote fellow billionaire spaceman Elon Musk on X. “I hope you recover quickly.”
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
You may stop at 7-Eleven for coffee, gas, snacks or a quick drink. What you probably do not expect is to see the company’s name tied to a data breach involving personal information.
That is what happened after breach notification service Have I Been Pwned added 7-Eleven to its database. The service says the breach exposed about 185,000 unique email addresses. The exposed data also included names, dates of birth, phone numbers and physical addresses.
The company later said the breach involved certain 7-Eleven systems used to store franchisee documents. That detail is important because the exposed data appears tied to franchise-related records, rather than ordinary store purchases. Still, if your information was part of the leak, the risk can feel very personal.
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.
CONDUENT DATA BREACH HITS MILLIONS ACROSS MULTIPLE STATES
A 7-Eleven data breach exposed personal information tied to franchise-related records, including names, addresses and phone numbers. (Erik McGregor/LightRocket via Getty Images)
7-Eleven data breach: What happened?
According to Have I Been Pwned, 7-Eleven was targeted in April 2026 by a “pay or leak” extortion campaign linked to ShinyHunters. The data was later published that same month.
Hackers claimed they had stolen data and threatened to release it unless they were paid.
7-Eleven’s chief information security officer, Jim Kastle, said an unauthorized third party accessed an internal server that contained franchisee documents. The company said the incident involved certain systems used to store those records.
That makes this breach different from a typical customer checkout breach. Based on the company’s notification language, the affected records appear connected to franchise applications or franchisee documents.
10 SIGNS YOUR PERSONAL DATA IS BEING SOLD ONLINE
What data was exposed in the 7-Eleven breach?
Have I Been Pwned says the breach exposed 185,000 unique email addresses. The exposed information also included:
- Names
- Dates of birth
- Physical addresses
- Phone numbers
- Email addresses
Some breach filings also pointed to more sensitive details in certain records. Those details included Social Security numbers and driver’s license numbers. That extra information raises the stakes. Names and addresses can fuel phishing. Dates of birth can help scammers sound convincing. Social Security numbers and driver’s license numbers can create a higher risk of identity theft.
THINK YOU’RE SAFE? IDENTITY THEFT COULD WIPE OUT YOUR ENTIRE LIFE’S SAVINGS
Why the 7-Eleven breach could still matter to you
You may wonder, “I only buy coffee there. Should I care?” For most everyday 7-Eleven shoppers, this breach may not involve store purchase history. However, anyone who applied to become a franchisee, handled franchise documents or shared personal information through that process should pay close attention.
Even when a breach affects a limited group, the exposed data can still spread. Once hackers publish personal records, scammers can reuse them in many ways.
Fake emails could mention 7-Eleven by name. Phone calls may include your name, number or address to sound legitimate. Scammers could also send messages that pressure you to “verify” your identity after the breach. That is where the real damage often begins.
MICROSOFT ‘IMPORTANT MAIL’ EMAIL IS A SCAM: HOW TO SPOT IT
How scammers may use leaked 7-Eleven data
Hackers do not need every detail about you to cause trouble. A few personal facts can make a scam feel believable.
For example, a scammer might send an email that claims to be from 7-Eleven, an identity theft protection company or a breach response team. The message may say you need to click a link to activate identity protection. It may also ask you to confirm your Social Security number, upload your driver’s license or enter banking details.
That kind of message can feel urgent. Scammers count on that reaction.
They know people act quickly when they feel scared. They may use phrases like “final notice,” “account locked,” or “breach claim pending” to push you into clicking before thinking.
DIY IDENTITY PROTECTION VS PAID SERVICES: WHAT WORKS IN 2026
What 7-Eleven says about the data breach
7-Eleven reportedly notified affected individuals and arranged identity theft protection for up to 24 months.
If you receive a notice, read it carefully. Use the official instructions in the letter. Avoid clicking links in random emails or text messages that claim to offer breach help.
Instead, type the official website address into your browser yourself. You can also contact 7-Eleven through a verified channel.
We reached out to 7-Eleven for comment, but did not hear back before our deadline.
CHECK IF YOUR PASSWORDS WERE STOLEN IN HUGE LEAK
Cybersecurity researchers say hackers linked to ShinyHunters published data from a 7-Eleven breach affecting about 185,000 email addresses. (Deb Cohn-Orbach/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Ways to stay safe after the 7-Eleven data breach
A breach can feel out of your hands. However, you still have several smart moves available.
1) Check whether your email was exposed
Go to Have I Been Pwned at haveibeenpwned.com and search your email address. The service lets you see whether your email appears in known breach databases, including the 7-Eleven listing. If your email appears, do not panic. Treat it as a signal to tighten your accounts and watch for targeted scams. When done, come back here for Step 2.
2) Change your passwords immediately
Start with your most important accounts, such as email, medical and banking. Use strong, unique passwords with letters, numbers and symbols. Avoid predictable choices like names or birthdays. Never reuse passwords. One stolen password can unlock multiple accounts. A password manager makes this simple. It stores complex passwords securely and helps you create new ones. Many managers also scan for breaches to see if your current passwords have been exposed. Check out the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2026 at Cyberguy.com.
3) Watch for fake breach emails
Be careful with emails, texts or calls that mention 7-Eleven. Scammers may use the breach as bait. Do not click links from unexpected messages. Instead, go directly to the company’s official website. Also, avoid opening attachments unless you fully trust the sender. The best way to protect yourself from malicious links 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 safer. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com
19 BILLION PASSWORDS HAVE LEAKED ONLINE: HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF
4) Turn on two-factor authentication
5) Place a fraud alert or credit freeze
If your Social Security number or driver’s license number was exposed, consider a credit freeze with Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. A credit freeze makes it harder for criminals to open new accounts in your name. You can lift it when you need to apply for credit. A fraud alert can also warn lenders to take extra steps before approving new credit.
6) Remove your personal information from data broker sites
Leaked information can become even more dangerous when scammers combine it with details already floating around online. Data brokers may list your home address, phone number, relatives, age and other personal details.
You can remove your information manually from individual data broker sites, though that process takes time. A data removal service can help automate opt-out requests and continue monitoring for your information when it reappears. 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.
7) Consider identity theft protection
If your Social Security number or driver’s license number was exposed, identity theft protection may be worth considering. These services can monitor your credit, alert you to suspicious activity and help with recovery if someone tries to open accounts in your name. If you receive an official breach notice from 7-Eleven, review any identity protection offer carefully. Go through the official letter or verified company website rather than clicking links in random emails or texts. See my tips and best picks on Best Identity Theft Protection at Cyberguy.com.
8) Monitor your mail and financial accounts
Watch for unfamiliar bills, credit cards, loans or government notices. Also, review your bank and credit card statements. If you see something suspicious, report it right away. The sooner you act, the easier it can be to limit damage.
INSIDE A SCAMMER’S DAY AND HOW THEY TARGET YOU
7-Eleven says an unauthorized third party accessed systems used to store franchisee documents during an April 2026 cyberattack. (Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
9) Be careful with phone calls
If someone calls and claims to help with the breach, slow down. Do not give out your Social Security number, driver’s license number or banking details over the phone. Hang up and call the company back using a verified number.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Kurt’s key takeaways
Data breaches have become so common that it is tempting to shrug them off. That can be risky. Personal details such as your name, address, date of birth and phone number can give scammers a running start. The 7-Eleven data breach may not affect every customer who has ever bought a Slurpee or filled up at one of its stores. However, for the people whose information was exposed, it can create a long tail of fraud risk. The best move now is simple. Verify before you click, strengthen your accounts and assume scammers may try to use this breach as a conversation starter.
Should companies face tougher penalties when personal data tied to job, franchise or business applications ends up in hackers’ hands? 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.
- 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.
-
Sports4 minutes ago2026 World Cup Odds: Spain Narrowly Favored Over France
-
Technology10 minutes agoFake grant email promises $4.5 Million but could steal your identity
-
Business16 minutes agoAnother tech company says it will cut hundreds of jobs amid pivot to AI
-
Entertainment22 minutes agoThis Puerto Rican filmmaker honored his family with an unconventional movie called ‘TheyDream’
-
Lifestyle28 minutes agoL.A. Affairs: I went on 53 first dates in one summer. Here’s a look at my spreadsheet
-
Politics34 minutes agoTrump holds Situation Room meeting to decide on Iran deal
-
Science40 minutes agoOxnard man smuggled baby crocodiles, among 1,700 reptiles, gets 5 years
-
Sports46 minutes agoA new board game mocks Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for ‘foul baiting.’ He wants it destroyed
