It’s relatively rare for a podcast to last 14 years, especially a fiction one. In fact, as far as I can tell, Welcome to Night Vale is the longest continually running fiction podcast out there. (Some will argue it’s actually We’re Alive, but that has taken a few significant breaks between seasons.) The story of Night Vale, the titular desert town, now spans 12 seasons, over 280 episodes, three books, and at least 10 live standalone shows. While dedicating several hundred hours of your life to listening to every episode might seem like a big ask, I believe you’ll be hooked once you dive in.
Technology
TikTok is reportedly splitting its source code to create a US-only algorithm
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25406821/STK051_TIKTOK2_CVirginia_A.jpg?ssl=1 "TikTok is reportedly splitting its source code to create a US-only algorithm")
A report from Reuters says that work has been ongoing since last year to create a version of TikTok’s recommendation algorithm that operates independently from Douyin, the Chinese version of the app operated by its parent company ByteDance. According to the unnamed sources, completing the project could take more than a year as part of a plan to show lawmakers that the US business is independent of its owner in Beijing.
The report says executives have talked about the project in all-hands meetings and on the company’s internal messaging system, Lark. The sources also said that splitting the source code would cut TikTok off from the “massive engineering development power” of its parent company.
TikTok responded by tweeting, “The Reuters story published today is misleading and factually inaccurate.”
In emails to The Verge, TikTok spokesperson Michael Hughes said, “While we have continued work in good faith to further safeguard the authenticity of the TikTok experience, it is simply false to suggest that this work would facilitate divestiture or that divestiture is even a possibility,” and when asked if the code is being split, responded that is “100 percent false.”
TikTok has tried to convince lawmakers of its US independence before, with the “Project Texas” data silo that it described as “an unprecedented initiative dedicated to making every American on TikTok feel safe, with confidence that their data is secure and the platform is free from outside influence.” However, Alex Heath visited a Transparency and Accountability Center last year and, amid the project’s transparency theater, found a company that “seems to have realized that it won’t save itself from a US ban on the technical merits.”
TikTok is already suing the US government over the law that gives its parent until January 19th, 2025, to pass control of the app to someone else or face a ban. According to Reuters unnamed sources, there’s no plan to separate the companies; however, “once the code is split, it could lay the groundwork for a divestiture of the U.S. assets.”
Continue Reading
The second US sphere would be built in an area known as National Harbor in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Located along the Potomac River, National Harbor currently features a convention center, multiple hotels, restaurants, and shops. While Abu Dhabi plans to build a sphere as large as the one in Las Vegas, the National Harbor venue would be one of the first mini-Sphere venues announced last March.
Its capacity would be limited to 6,000 seats instead of over 17,000. But the smaller Sphere would still be hard to miss with an exterior LED exosphere for showcasing the “artistic and branded content” that helped make the original sphere a unique part of the Las Vegas skyline.
The inside of the mini-Sphere will feature a high-resolution 16,000 by 16,000 pixel wrap-around screen, the company’s immersive sound technology, haptic seating, and “4D environmental effects.” For the AI-enhanced version of The Wizard of Oz currently playing in Las Vegas, audiences experience effects like wind, fog, smells, and apples falling from the ceiling.
The mini-Sphere will potentially also be cheaper to build than the $2.3 billion original, but its construction is contingent on the “receipt of certain governmental incentives and approvals from Prince George’s County and the State of Maryland.” Sphere Entertainment says the project “would utilize a combination of public and private funding, including approximately $200 million in state, local, and private incentives,” but would potentially generate millions of dollars in revenue for the country and state while supporting over 4,700 jobs once it opens.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
The Apple iPhone is the most popular smartphone in the United States and one of the most widely used devices in the world. An estimated 1.6 billion people rely on iPhones every day. That massive user base also makes the platform a prime target.
Over the past few weeks, Apple has been sending out warnings about a serious security flaw. New data suggests the risk could affect roughly half of all iPhone users.
That puts hundreds of millions of devices in potential danger right now.
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.
WHATSAPP WEB MALWARE SPREADS BANKING TROJAN AUTOMATICALLY
Apple is warning iPhone users about a serious Safari security flaw that could leave hundreds of millions of devices vulnerable if updates are delayed. (Thomas Trutschel/Photothek via Getty Images)
What Apple discovered in Safari and WebKit
Late last month, Apple confirmed two critical vulnerabilities in WebKit. WebKit powers Safari and every browser that runs on iOS. According to Apple, the flaws were used in an extremely sophisticated attack that targeted specific individuals. The problem allowed malicious websites to trick iPhones and iPads into running harmful code. Once that happens, attackers could gain control of the device, steal passwords or access payment information. In simple terms, visiting the wrong website could have been enough.
Why millions of iPhones are still exposed
Apple moved quickly to release a fix. The patch is included in the latest software update. The problem is that many people have not installed it yet. Estimates suggest that about 50 percent of eligible users have not upgraded from iOS 18 to iOS 26. That would leave around 800 million devices vulnerable worldwide. Data from StatCounter paints an even worse picture. It estimates that only 20 percent of users have updated so far. Once security details become public, the risk grows fast. Attackers know exactly what to exploit.
iPhone and iPad models at the highest risk
Apple says the following devices are affected if they are not updated:
- iPhone 11 and later
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later
- iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later
- iPad Air 3rd generation and later
- iPad 8th generation and later
- iPad mini 5th generation and later
If your device appears on this list and you have not updated it, it is vulnerable.
INSTAGRAM PASSWORD RESET SURGE: PROTECT YOUR ACCOUNT
New data suggests nearly half of all iPhone users worldwide may still be exposed to a critical WebKit exploit Apple says was actively used in attacks. (Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Why upgrading is the only real protection
There is no setting to flip and no safe browsing habit that fixes this issue. The vulnerability lives deep inside the browser engine. Security experts say there is no workaround or user behavior that meaningfully reduces the risk. Installing the latest software is the only effective defense. Apple is no longer offering a security-only update for users who want to stay on iOS 18. Unless your device cannot run iOS 26, the fix is only available through iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2.
Steps to update your iPhone or iPad now
Updating is quick and usually painless. If automatic updates are enabled, the fix may already be installed.
If not, follow these steps:
- Open the Settings app on iPhone
- Tap General
- Select Software Update
- Download and install iOS 26.2 or iPadOS 26.2 or later
Make sure your device is connected to Wi-Fi and has enough battery life or is plugged in.
Pro tip: Use strong antivirus software
Keeping your iPhone updated is critical, but it should not be your only line of defense. Strong antivirus software adds another layer of protection by scanning malicious links, blocking risky websites and alerting you to suspicious activity before damage is done.
This matters even more when attacks rely on compromised websites or hidden browser exploits. Security software can help catch threats that slip through and give you extra visibility into what is happening on your device.
Think of it as backup protection. Software updates close known holes, while strong antivirus tools help guard against the next one.
Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at Cyberguy.com.
FAKE ERROR POPUPS ARE SPREADING MALWARE FAST
Apple says malicious websites could exploit a Safari flaw to steal passwords or payment information from unpatched iPhones and iPads. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Kurt’s key takeaways
Apple rarely uses language like “extremely sophisticated” unless the threat is serious. This flaw shows how even trusted browsers can become attack paths when updates are delayed. Waiting weeks or months to update now carries real consequences. If you use your iPhone for banking, shopping or work, this update should be treated as urgent.
How long do you usually wait before installing major iPhone updates, and is that delay worth the risk anymore? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
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 2026 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
The show is written by Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor, who draw heavily on the work of H.P. Lovecraft. Every season has its own arc, but broadly, the show tells the story of a town that exists in an alternate version of Earth. In this town Angels are real, but acknowledging their existence is illegal; librarians are dangerous creatures with “thousands of spiny legs” and “pincers”; and there is a Faceless Old Woman who secretly lives in your home.
These are clearly unsettling concepts when taken at face value. But rather than trying to scare the listener, Cranor and Fink lean into the natural absurdity of cosmic horror and refuse to take themselves too seriously. They also routinely subvert the bigotry of their inspiration, using Lovecraftian creations to tell stories rich with LGBTQ+ characters.
Of course, having well-written scripts and telling a compelling story is only part of the equation. What elevates Welcome to Night Vale to true greatness is the cast, especially narrator Cecil Baldwin, who plays the host of the central radio show, Cecil Palmer. Cecil’s voice has the gravitas to tell ominous stories of secretive government agencies and ancient gods. But he has the range to deliver light-hearted banter with a sentient patch of haze (her name is Deb, in case you were wondering).
Cecil Baldwin has the charisma to make even the reading of a repair manual for a toaster compelling. He can be creepy, funny, or soothing, often all within the same episode. (For this reason, I don’t suggest listening to Night Vale at night. I have fallen asleep to the dulcet sounds of Baldwin’s voice several times, only for the more unsettling parts of the show to make their way into my dreams.)
Every episode also features a musical interlude in the guise of “The Weather.” The show mostly features lesser-known artists, but alumni include Jason Isbell, The Mountain Goats, Waxahatchee, Angel Olsen, Open Mike Eagle, and Sylvan Esso.
Welcome to Night Vale is also a great way to introduce younger listeners to horror. I would never suggest my eight-year-old read H.P. Lovecraft. Partly because the man’s unrepentant racism is baked into the very fabric of his stories, but also because the violence is often too much for children. Night Vale, on the other hand, takes those horrors and exposes them for what they are: entertainment. I can put the podcast on, bond with my kid over their burgeoning love of all things creepy and weird, and trust that they’ll walk away with a good message.
Welcome to Night Vale is available on most podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Pocketcasts, YouTube, and Spotify.
Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.
Boston, MA4 minutes ago
Segun Idowu, top Wu administration official accused of sexual misconduct, resigns
Denver, CO10 minutes ago
Broncos special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi is expected to interview for the Ravens head coaching position
Seattle, WA16 minutes ago
Seattle’s losing streak continues as Penguins capitalize on second-period surge
San Diego, CA22 minutes ago
Magnitude 4.9 earthquake near Palm Desert briefly shakes San Diego County
Milwaukee, WI28 minutes ago
Milwaukee contractors face winter salt shortage, turn to rationing
Florida1 year ago
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Connecticut2 years ago
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
Oregon2 years ago
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
Virginia1 year ago
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Education2 years ago
Video: ‘It Didn’t Have to Happen This Way:’ U.Va. Faculty Call for Review of Police Response to Protests
Politics8 hours ago
Trump warns US can no longer think ‘purely of peace’ as he pushes for Greenland control
World9 hours ago
Key EU transport network projects set to miss 2030 targets
News10 hours ago
Woman died after riding Revenge of the Mummy coaster at Universal Orlando, report says
Politics20 hours ago
Nancy Pelosi faces social media backlash over behavior at Bob Weir tribute event
World21 hours ago
Billionaires have more money and political power than ever, Oxfam says
-
Montana1 week agoService door of Crans-Montana bar where 40 died in fire was locked from inside, owner says
-
Virginia1 week agoVirginia Tech gains commitment from ACC transfer QB
-
Montana1 week ago‘It was apocalyptic’, woman tells Crans-Montana memorial service, as bar owner detained
-
Minnesota1 week agoICE arrests in Minnesota surge include numerous convicted child rapists, killers
-
Lifestyle5 days agoJulio Iglesias accused of sexual assault as Spanish prosecutors study the allegations
-
Detroit, MI5 days agoSchool Closings: List of closures across metro Detroit
-
Oklahoma1 week agoMissing 12-year-old Oklahoma boy found safe
-
Oregon1 week agoDan Lanning Gives Oregon Ducks Fans Reason to Believe