It’s a big year for America. It’s the semiquincentennial, otherwise known as America250, and the United States is cohosting the World Cup. But spectators at these events — and the millions of people who live in the cities hosting them — may not realize that they, too, are being watched.
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While you’re watching the World Cup, the feds may be watching you
From Kansas City to New York, the US cities hosting the World Cup have been ramping up their surveillance capabilities in the months leading up to the tournament. Security measures are at an all-time high in Washington, DC, which isn’t hosting the World Cup, but is home to a series of spectacles this summer. The Fourth of July festivities in the nation’s capital will have an unprecedented level of surveillance. Law enforcement agencies say they can’t take any risks during these once-in-a-lifetime events — but privacy advocates warn that some of this surveillance won’t be limited to this summer’s celebrations.
Both the Fourth of July fireworks on the National Mall and the July 19th World Cup final in New Jersey have been designated National Special Security Events (NSSE) by the Department of Homeland Security, the most stringent security designation the agency gives. This isn’t unusual for major sporting events — the Super Bowl is always given an NSSE designation — but it’s a first for the Fourth of July. The UFC fight at the White House in June was also an NSSE, as was the official UFC watch party on the Ellipse.
Attendees at the Fourth of July fireworks show on the National Mall will have to pass through airport-style security checkpoints and won’t be allowed to bring folding chairs or coolers. Counter-drone measures will be in place, The Washington Post reports, as will bomb technicians, countersnipers, and medical personnel from several federal agencies. While attendees will notice these security measures, others could be close to invisible — including camera networks that track their biometrics.
The measures at the National Mall appear to be a response to criticisms of lax security at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, which was infiltrated by a gunman who allegedly shot at a Secret Service agent.
There will be similar measures in place at the World Cup final, which Donald Trump is expected to attend — and where he will reportedly present the trophy to the winning team.
“This is going to be security-o-rama regardless of whether the president goes,” Jules Boykoff, author of Red Card: The 2026 World Cup, Sportswashing, and the FIFA Greed Machine, told The Verge. “If the president goes, that’s just an extra lacquering of security.”
Boykoff, a professor of political science at Pacific University, said there may be an increased ICE presence at the World Cup final as well, and pointed out that ICE arrested rapper 21 Savage at the 2019 Super Bowl — another NSSE — claiming he overstayed his visa.
Anne Toomey McKenna, an attorney who specializes in privacy and biometric surveillance, said the NSSE declaration may also make it easier to justify collecting communications data under the looser standard of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, instead of the more stringer requirements of the Wiretap Act.
Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House task force for the World Cup — and son of Rudy Giuliani — has said there will be heightened security at all the World Cup matches, even the ones Trump doesn’t attend. “You’ll have multiple perimeter checks from security. You’ll have checks while you get onto public transportation to make sure you’re a valid ticket holder,” Giuliani told the Atlantic Council’s Frederick Kempe. “Soccer fans — or futból fans — they generally like to come to stadiums late, in the 15, 20 minutes or so before the game.” But Giuliani said ticket holders should know that gates open three hours before kickoff and plan to arrive early so they don’t miss kickoff.
The surveillance isn’t limited to one-off events and in fact involves building up a massive apparatus across the country. Through FEMA, the Department of Homeland Security gave $250 million in grants to states that are hosting World Cup matches, much of which was used to buy counter-drone equipment, according to The New York Times. The FBI has also been training local law enforcement agencies on drone mitigation. According to Giuliani, the Fan Fests in all 11 host cities will be covered by counter-drone technology. It’s unclear whether these cities are using the same tech that led to an airspace closure in El Paso earlier this year.
This is going to be security-o-rama regardless of whether the president goes.
New York City — technically one of the host cities, even though the matches are taking place across the river in New Jersey — spent $6.5 million on counter-drone technology. In Kansas City, Missouri, authorities have confiscated at least 16 drones since the World Cup began.
“The general rule with the World Cup and Olympics is that local and national police forces use the sports mega event like their own private cash machine,” Boykoff said. “The World Cup creates a state of exception that allows for all manner of securitization processes.” And in many cases, once these tools are in place, they remain. Paris, for example, enabled AI video surveillance ahead of the 2024 Olympics — and is keeping it in place through the end of 2027 despite privacy concerns.
Similar camera systems have been installed throughout the US ahead of the World Cup, even in areas far beyond stadiums. Kansas City also planned on putting cameras equipped with facial recognition on some city buses, even though the state government refused to fund the project over privacy concerns. The city initially went through with the program anyway, saying it would help identify missing persons and could thwart human trafficking attempts during a major international sporting event. City officials said that the images captured are checked against active missing persons alerts and only retained if there’s a match.
“Privacy is always a tricky thing,” Tyler Means, chief mobility and strategy officer at Kansas City Area Transportation Authority, told The Washington Post. “We’ve always had cameras on our buses. It’s just new technology. I think in time it’ll smooth over and people will realize, ‘Well, it didn’t really feel any different.’”
The cameras aren’t operational yet because of backlash and technical delays, but Kansas City plans on implementing the program later this year — even though the World Cup will be over by then.
The America250 celebrations will be monitored by thousands of law enforcement officers, including National Guard troops and FBI agents, many of whom will be wearing body cameras. Several cities have expanded or reactivated CCTV systems ahead of the World Cup. Seattle reportedly reactivated dormant cameras after FBI and Seattle Police Department officials briefed the mayor on “credible threats” during the games.
McKenna said the increase in surveillance at these events isn’t unwarranted given the increased level of risk, but said there’s an issue with how biometric data is gathered and retained. McKenna noted that British Columbia, which is also hosting the World Cup, has regulations around how long surveillance footage from matches and other events can be retained — rules the US lacks.
Though CCTV has been around for decades, advances in camera technology — and AI integrations — have made these systems incredibly sophisticated. Early footage “told us a lot about what was happening, but it really wasn’t that different from what a police officer standing on the street could see themselves,” McKenna said. “That’s how the law in the US reached the conclusion that CCTV systems are okay — because it happens in a public space, so there’s no real reasonable expectation of privacy risk under the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.”
But cameras reach much farther than they used to — they can tilt, pan, or zoom, and can often see several miles away. They can be equipped with thermal imaging devices and facial recognition technology, all of which may be accessible to law enforcement. Some AI software can even analyze people’s facial expressions and claim to predict a person’s behavior, McKenna said.
“We have increasingly advancing AI systems with analytical capabilities that can merge so much data and detect things from the footage that before we wouldn’t know,” McKenna said. “An officer on the street wouldn’t be able to identify every person walking by, but facial recognition technology software is very common, and it can be utilized together with the footage that is being taken and collected by CCTV systems.”
All of this information can be sent to federal fusion centers, where information is shared between local law enforcement and federal agencies like ICE and the FBI. McKenna explained that when there’s more information-sharing between local law enforcement and federal security agencies, “we lose control over how that information is used.”
“That’s part of the protection we’re supposed to have under our laws — that information that’s been collected for national security purposes not be used for domestic law enforcement purposes,” McKenna said. “We have increasingly seen a blurring of national security measures becoming part of domestic law enforcement.”
There are still a couple weeks left in the World Cup. But there’s no telling how long all the surveillance data gathered around the matches will be stored, or how it will be used.
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Empty Waymo vehicles swarm Atlanta neighborhood
Atlanta residents captured alarming video of dozens of Waymo driverless cars continually circling their quiet neighborhood for hours. Tech expert Kurt Knutsson warns this ‘AI takeover’ raises significant safety concerns, especially for children, highlighting a critical lack of human intervention and company accountability from Waymo regarding these autonomous vehicles and potential glitches.
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Zoox has a new version of its robotaxi, and yes, it still looks like something that rolled in from the future. The Amazon-owned company has updated its custom-built electric robotaxi with new comfort and usability upgrades. The vehicle still has no steering wheel or pedals, and it can still drive in either direction. However, Zoox now wants the inside to feel less like a tech demo and more like a ride you might actually relax in.
That is a big shift. Once robotaxis move beyond early testers and start picking up more riders, small things suddenly become important. A stiff seat, a sliding phone or a cupholder that cannot handle your giant iced coffee can turn a futuristic ride into an annoying one fast. Zoox says the new updates came from testing, early deployments and feedback from half a million riders. In other words, this robotaxi makeover seems designed for the people sitting inside, not the engineers admiring it from the curb.
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WOULD YOU RIDE IN WAYMO’S NEW OJAI ROBOTAXI?
Zoox’s updated robotaxi keeps its steering-wheel-free design while adding rider-focused upgrades inside and out. (Zoox)
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What Zoox changed inside its robotaxi
The biggest changes are inside the cabin. Zoox added more padding and ergonomic curves to the seats and headrests. That should help make the ride feel more comfortable, especially if you hit rough pavement or sit in the vehicle for more than a quick hop across town. The company also updated the color, materials and finish. The new interior uses aloe-green seating with stone-grey flooring and trim. Zoox says the lighter palette creates a calmer cabin.
There is another everyday benefit, too. A lighter interior can make it easier to spot your phone, keys or wallet before the vehicle pulls away. Anyone who has ever left something in the back seat of a rideshare knows how stressful that moment can be. Zoox also added fluting to the wireless charging pad to help keep phones in place. The cupholders are larger. The touchscreen is easier to see. None of that sounds dramatic, but those details become important when a vehicle may eventually shuttle lots of people a day.
The Zoox robotaxi still has no steering wheel
The core Zoox design has not changed. CyberGuy previously reported on Zoox’s first public-road robotaxi milestone back in 2023, when the company’s autonomous vehicle carried passengers in Foster City, California. This is still a purpose-built autonomous vehicle, not a regular car with self-driving software added later. There is no driver’s seat, steering wheel or traditional controls.
The vehicle has carriage-style seating for four people, with passengers facing each other. It also has a moonroof, starry night lighting and a sensor setup that includes cameras, radar, lidar and long-wave infrared sensors.
The robotaxi can drive bidirectionally, which means it does not need to turn around the way a normal car does. It also uses four-wheel steering and can travel at speeds of up to 75 miles per hour. That design is the whole point of Zoox. The company wants a robotaxi built around riders from the start. Still, that also makes federal approval more complicated because many vehicle rules were written for cars with human drivers.
Why the outside of the robotaxi changed too
Zoox also made exterior changes that focus on visibility and communication. The company relocated its bidirectional reflectors so people outside the vehicle can better understand which direction it is moving. Zoox says those reflectors rotate color to clearly distinguish the robotaxi’s front from its rear. That is important because a boxy robotaxi that can drive both ways may confuse pedestrians, cyclists or other drivers.
Zoox also added a new speaker and microphone to the door interface. The vehicle now supports two-way audio, which can help riders talk with Zoox Support. It may also help first responders communicate in an emergency. That may sound like a small upgrade, but it is important. If there is no driver, someone still needs a clear way to talk to the vehicle, the rider or support staff when something goes wrong.
The refreshed cabin uses aloe-green seating, stone-grey trim and added padding to create a calmer ride. (Zoox)
Zoox wants more riders, but approval still comes first
Zoox says this latest version is its production intent vehicle, and it plans to move into large-scale production at its robotaxi facility in Hayward, California. Zoox says it is live in Las Vegas and San Francisco, while Austin and Miami are listed as “Now Arriving” on its ride pages. Availability varies by city, so this is still not the same as opening an app anywhere and calling a ride. Zoox says riders can download the app at zoox.com/app to ride in Las Vegas or join the waitlist in other cities. Zoox wants to make the updated robotaxis available to more riders later this year, but that expansion remains subject to regulatory approval.
WAYMO RECALLS ROBOTAXIS OVER CONSTRUCTION-ZONE RISK
Zoox has petitioned NHTSA for a temporary exemption from certain requirements in eight Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for its automated vehicle. NHTSA previously granted Zoox a demonstration exemption for its driverless vehicles, but broader commercial deployment still depends on regulatory approval. That decision could shape how quickly Zoox moves from limited access to more widespread availability.
Why this robotaxi redesign is important for you
This update says a lot about where robotaxis are headed. The early race focused on whether autonomous vehicles could safely drive through cities. Now, companies also have to prove that people will enjoy using them. That is a different challenge.
You may be willing to try a robotaxi once because it feels new. However, would you use one again if the seat feels stiff, your drink tips over or you cannot figure out how to get help? Probably not.
Zoox seems to understand that. The company is polishing the experience before it tries to scale the service. That makes sense because robotaxis will be judged by the whole ride, including whether the vehicle feels safe, comfortable and easy to use.
The bigger robotaxi race is heating up
Zoox isn’t alone in the robotaxi race. Waymo already operates in several markets, Tesla has been pushing its own robotaxi plans and other autonomous vehicle companies continue to test driverless technology. Zoox stands out because its vehicle has no traditional driver setup at all. That makes it visually striking, but it also puts the company closer to the center of the regulatory debate.
Federal rules still have to catch up with vehicles that were never designed for a human driver. Until that happens, companies like Zoox may need exemptions before they can fully launch paid service. For riders, the question becomes less about whether the technology looks cool and more about whether it feels safe, comfortable and easy to use.
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Larger cupholders and a redesigned charging area show how Zoox is focusing on everyday rider comfort. (Zoox)
Kurt’s key takeaways
Zoox’s updated robotaxi shows how autonomous vehicles are moving into a new phase. The technology still has to prove itself on safety, but the ride experience now counts too. Better seats, clearer screens, larger cupholders and easier communication may sound minor, yet those are the things that become important for everyday riders. The bigger issue is approval. Zoox can make the cabin calmer and more comfortable, but broader commercial deployment still depends on regulatory approval. That is the part to follow closely because it could affect how quickly steering-wheel-free robotaxis show up in your city.
Would you climb into a driverless taxi with no steering wheel if it looked this calm inside, or would you still want a human at the controls? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com
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The Fire HD 8 that launched in 2024 was the last new addition to Amazon’s budget-minded tablet lineup, but the company has quietly updated the Fire HD 10 that debuted the year before. In 2023 it was offered with multiple storage configurations that each came with 3GB of RAM, but the 32GB version now ships with 4GB of RAM, and a small price bump from $139.99 to $154.99.
The Fire HD 10 with 64GB of storage still only comes with 3GB of RAM and the other specs for both tablets remain the same, including a 10.1-inch, 1,920 x 1,200 display, a 2GHz eight-core processor, a 13-hour battery, and expandable storage through a microSD card. The refreshed version is also only available for purchase with lock screen ads, but those can be removed after the fact by paying a one-time fee. If you’ve been eyeing this tablet but don’t want to pay a $15 premium for it, Amazon still sells the original 3GB/32GB model for $139.99, but stock may sell out.
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That cheap streaming box promising free movies, live sports and premium channels may come with a hidden cost you never agreed to pay.
Security researchers are warning about a sprawling Android-based botnet called Popa. It has reportedly forced millions of consumer TV boxes to relay internet traffic tied to ad fraud, account takeovers and mass data scraping.
The concern goes beyond one shady app or one off-brand gadget. It points to a bigger problem sitting in living rooms across the country. Your home internet connection can be quietly used by strangers. In other words, that box connected to your TV may be doing more than streaming shows and movies.
THE TRICK TO SMOOTHER STREAMING AT HOME AND ON THE ROAD
A cheap streaming box promising free TV can secretly route stranger traffic through your home internet. (Phynart Studio/Getty Images)
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GLOBAL SCAM CRACKDOWN LEADS TO 276 ARRESTS
What cheap streaming box malware is doing
Popa is tied to the wider Vo1d and BADBOX-style ecosystem of compromised Android-based streaming devices. These are often unofficial TV boxes sold online under countless names. Many promise access to paid movies, sports or channels for a one-time price. That should be your first warning sign.
KrebsOnSecurity reports that Popa works less like a traditional botnet built for quick attacks and more like a persistent tunneling system. It can register a device, keep encrypted connections open and route traffic through that device when needed.
So what does that mean at home? Someone else’s internet traffic can appear to come from your house.
Why residential proxy networks put your home Wi-Fi at risk
A residential proxy uses a regular home internet address to send traffic. To a website, that traffic can look like it came from an ordinary household instead of a suspicious server farm.
That makes these networks valuable for people trying to hide mass scraping, fake ad clicks, account attacks or other shady activity. It also creates a scary problem for the person who owns the Wi-Fi.
Your IP address could show up as the source, even though you had no idea anything was happening. The FBI has warned that compromised internet-connected devices can become part of BADBOX 2.0 and residential proxy services used for criminal activity. Those devices can include TV streaming boxes, digital projectors, digital picture frames and other connected gadgets.
For more on how attackers can abuse connected devices, see our report on how the FBI warned that more than 1 million Android devices were hijacked by malware.
How big the Popa Android TV botnet appears to be
The numbers are huge. Lumen’s Black Lotus Labs told Krebs that Popa averages between 1.5 million and 2.5 million distinct IP addresses each day. The system also reportedly relies on hundreds of internet addresses used to direct its activity.
Google previously said BADBOX 2.0 compromised more than 10 million uncertified devices running Android open-source software without Google’s built-in security protections. Google also said the devices were used for ad fraud and other digital crimes.
That is why this should get your attention. The box under your TV may look harmless. But if it came preloaded with sketchy streaming apps, required workarounds or promised too much for too little money, it may be putting your home network at risk.
Why the NetNut link is disputed
The Popa story also includes a major dispute. Security firms Qurium and Synthient say Popa is linked to NetNut, a residential proxy provider owned by Alarum Technologies, a publicly traded Israeli company. Synthient said its analysis found traffic associated with NetNut coming from devices running Popa.
Alarum disputes the reports. The company says the claims contain flawed conclusions and rejects the characterization of the technology as a botnet. Alarum also says its SDKs are meant for bandwidth-sharing with notice, consent and safeguards. That disagreement is important. But for everyday households, the most important point stays the same. If a device or app can route someone else’s traffic through your home connection, you need to know before you plug it in.
How smart TV apps can use your home internet
This problem goes beyond cheap Android TV boxes. Krebs cited research from Spur, a proxy-tracking service, that found some smart TV apps can include hidden tools that share your home internet connection with outside companies.
Spur said more than 42% of LG webOS apps it reviewed had these components. It also found similar components in more than 25% of Samsung Tizen apps reviewed.
In response, a Samsung spokesperson told CyberGuy, “Samsung wants to reassure our customers that the third-party residential proxy SDKs recently reported in the media cannot access, collect, or store any personal information from the TV, such as account credentials, viewing history, or personal files.”
Samsung said it has already restricted new app registrations that include those proxy functions.
“We are currently implementing strict platform-wide developer policies explicitly banning residential proxy SDKs, and we are working to identify and remove all apps currently available in our store that contain these components,” the company said.
“The privacy and security of our customers are our top priority, and we will continue to enforce our developer policies to ensure our platform remains safe and trustworthy,” the spokesperson added.
Samsung’s response sounds reassuring on personal TV data. Still, the bigger lesson is to be careful about what you install on any smart TV. Random games, free streaming apps or odd utilities can come with permissions or fine print that most people skip.
A TV remote makes it easy to click through prompts without reading much. That is important because an app may be able to use your home internet connection in ways you did not expect.
Warning signs your streaming box may be unsafe
Be careful with any streaming device that promises free access to paid content. Also watch for Android boxes advertised as “unlocked,” “fully loaded” or loaded with premium channels.
The FBI lists several warning signs, including devices that require Google Play Protect to be disabled, apps from suspicious marketplaces, generic streaming boxes from unknown brands, Android devices that lack Play Protect certification and unexplained internet traffic.
If you see one of those signs, unplug the device from power and disconnect it from Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
How to protect your home from cheap streaming box malware
The good news is you do not need to be a cybersecurity expert to lower your risk. Start with the devices connected to your TV, then work outward to your router, apps and passwords.
1) Avoid “fully loaded” streaming boxes
Do not buy cheap Android TV boxes that promise free movies, live sports or paid channels. Those deals can come with malware, backdoors or proxy software. Stick with trusted streaming platforms and certified devices from known brands. A bargain stops looking like a bargain when it puts your home network at risk.
2) Disconnect suspicious streaming devices
Unplug any no-name Android TV box, unlocked streaming device or gadget that required you to disable Google Play Protect. Then remove it from your router’s connected-device list. If unknown devices appear on your router, change your Wi-Fi password. After that, reconnect only the devices you recognize.
3) Check for Play Protect certification
If you use an Android TV device, check whether it is Play Protect certified. Uncertified Android devices may lack Google’s built-in security protections. A device that asks you to turn off security settings during setup deserves extra scrutiny. That setup step can be a major red flag.
Researchers say Popa-linked Android TV boxes may turn ordinary home Wi-Fi connections into residential proxy nodes. (skynesher/Getty Images)
4) Use only official app stores
Install apps only from official stores on your smart TV, Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku or Android TV device. Avoid sideloading, which means installing apps from outside the official app store, unless you fully trust the source. The FBI warns that unofficial marketplaces and required app downloads can increase the chance of infection.
5) Delete unused smart TV apps
Go through the apps on your smart TV and streaming devices. Remove games, utilities, free streaming apps and anything you no longer recognize. Pay close attention to apps that mention bandwidth sharing, proxy access or earning rewards from unused internet. Those tradeoffs can be buried in language most people would skip.
6) Update your router and streaming devices
Keep your router, smart TV, streaming stick and other connected devices updated. Firmware updates often fix security holes that attackers love to exploit. Also, check whether your router supports automatic updates. Turn that on if available.
7) Check your router for unknown devices
Open your router app or router admin page and look at the connected-device list. Remove anything you do not recognize. Also, watch for devices sending unusual amounts of data. A streaming box should not be creating heavy outbound traffic when no one is watching anything.
8) Change passwords used on the device
If you signed into Google, streaming apps or other accounts on a suspicious TV box, change those passwords from a trusted phone or computer. Also, sign out of those accounts on other devices when the service gives you that option. Use a trusted password manager to create and store strong, unique passwords so one compromised account does not open the door to others. Check out the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2026 at Cyberguy.com
9) Delete sketchy free VPNs and extensions
Remove free VPNs, free streaming apps, coupon extensions, unknown browser extensions and apps that offer to pay you for bandwidth. A trusted VPN can help protect your privacy online, especially on public Wi-Fi. However, a VPN will not clean an infected streaming box or stop a shady TV app from abusing your connection. Use it as one layer, not your only defense. For the best VPN software, see my expert review of the best VPNs for browsing the web privately on your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com
10) Put smart devices on a guest network
Create a separate guest or IoT network for TVs, streaming boxes, cameras, printers and other smart devices. That way, a compromised gadget has less access to your phones, laptops and personal files. Many newer routers make this fairly easy inside the router app.
11) Run a full security scan
Run a full security scan on your computers and phones with trusted security software. This can help catch malware, risky downloads and suspicious files. But let’s be real here. Do not assume antivirus software can fully clean a cheap infected TV box. The FBI has warned that some compromised devices may come with malware before purchase or pick it up during setup. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com
12) Replace the device if you are unsure
A factory reset may sound like enough, but it may fail to remove malware that came preinstalled or lives deeper in the device. If the box came from an unknown brand, pushed you toward sketchy apps or required security workarounds, replacing it is the safer move.
13) Report suspicious activity
If you believe your device or network has been compromised, report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov. Also, contact your internet provider if you see strange traffic or get abuse notices tied to your IP address.
Kurt’s key takeaways
The scary part here is how ordinary this can look. A cheap streaming box sits under your TV, works well enough and promises free content. Meanwhile, your home internet connection may be getting rented out or abused in ways you never approved. That to me is scary because most people would never think to check whether their TV box is sending traffic in the background. They just want to watch the game or a movie. But if the device came from an unknown brand, promised free paid content or required sketchy setup steps, it deserves a serious look. The safest move is to unplug anything suspicious, use certified streaming devices and keep your smart TV apps under control. Free TV can become expensive fast when your home internet gets dragged into someone else’s scheme.
Unplug suspicious streaming devices, check your router and stick with trusted apps from official stores. (iStock)
Would you unplug a streaming box if you found out strangers might be routing their internet traffic through your home? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com
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