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Tag: virus

  • Washington state resident dies of new H5N5 form of bird flu

    The first person infected with the H5N5 bird flu has died, according to health officials in Washington.

    The person, who lived in Grays Harbor County, had been hospitalized earlier this month in Kings County, where Seattle is located.

    Officials from the Washington State Department of Health did not release the person’s name, age or gender. According to a news release from Grays Harbor County health officials last week, the person was considered “older” and had underlying health conditions. Their symptoms included a high fever, confusion and trouble breathing.

    The person had a backyard flock consisting of mixed domestic poultry.

    Testing by the health department found virus in the “environment of the flock … making exposure to the domestic poultry, their environment, or wild birds the most likely source of exposure for this patient.”

    Officials at the state’s health department said they were monitoring other people who were exposed to the flock and environment.

    This particular strain of bird flu, H5N5, had never been seen in a person before. It appeared first in 2023, infecting birds and mammals in eastern Canada.

    According to research published last year on the novel strain, some infected animals carried a key mutation in the virus that allows it to transfer more easily between mammals.

    Epidemiologists and virologists worry that avian influenza could generate a pandemic if allowed to spread and mutate. For instance, the H5N1 virus circulating in dairy cattle in North America is one mutation away from being able to spread easily between people.

    Every time a bird flu virus infects a person, concerns grow that it could change, becoming more transmissible or more deadly. For instance, if a sickened person also has another flu virus replicating in their body, there’s concern the viruses could exchange genetic material. Just by having an opportunity to replicate and evolve millions of times in the human body, it could acquire deadly mutations.

    Health officials say the risk to the public remains low and that no other people involved have tested positive for avian influenza. They say there is no evidence of transmission of the virus between people, but they are monitoring anyone who was in close contact with the patient.

    Susanne Rust

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  • A new virus variant and lagging vaccinations may mean the US is in for a severe flu season

    The United States may be heading into its second severe flu season in a row, driven by a mutated strain called subclade K that’s behind early surges in the United Kingdom, Canada and Japan.Last winter’s season was extreme, too. The U.S. had its highest rates of flu hospitalizations in nearly 15 years. At least 280 children died of influenza, the highest number since pediatric death numbers were required to be shared in 2004.Now, with a new variant in the mix, experts say we’re on track for a repeat. And with flu vaccinations down and holiday travel on the way, they worry that things may look much worse in the weeks ahead.The good news: Early analysis shows that this season’s flu shots offer some protection against being hospitalized with this variant, especially for kids. The bad news is that many Americans appear to be skipping their flu vaccines this year. New data from prescription data company IQVIA shows that vaccinations are down compared to where they usually are at this point in the year.A new playerFlu activity is low but rising quickly in the United States, according to the latest FluView report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Most of the flu viruses identified this season have been an A strain called H3N2, and half of those have come from subclade K, a variant that was responsible for a rougher-than-normal flu season this summer in the Southern Hemisphere.That variant wasn’t a major player when scientists decided which strains should be in the annual flu shots, so the vaccines cover a related but slightly different group of viruses.”It’s not like we’re expecting to get complete loss of protection for the vaccine, but perhaps we might expect a little bit of a drop-off if this is the virus that sort of dominates the season, and early indications are that’s probably going to be the case,” said Dr. Richard Webby, director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Center for studies on the ecology of influenza in animals and birds at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.Early analysis by the U.K. Health Security Agency shows that subclade K has seven gene changes on a key segment of the virus. Those mutations change the shape of this region, making it harder for the body’s defenses to recognize.”That’s the predominant thing that our immune system targets with antibodies, and that’s also pretty much what’s in the vaccine,” said Dr. Adam Lauring, chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Michigan Medical School.UKHSA scientists found that the current flu vaccines are still providing decent protection against subclade K viruses. Vaccination cut the odds of an emergency department visit or hospitalization for the flu by almost 75% in children. The effectiveness for adults, even those over 65, was lower, about 30% to 40% against needing to visit the hospital or ER.But the scientists offer a caveat: These results are from early in the season, before the protection from seasonal flu vaccines has had time to wane or wear off. The findings are posted in a recent preprint study, which means it was published ahead of scrutiny from outside experts.Still, some protection is better than no protection, and while subclade K is expected to dominate the season, it won’t be the only flu strain circulating. No one gets to pick what they’re exposed to. Lauring said his daughter has just recovered from the flu, but it was a B-type strain.At the same time this new variant has emerged, flu vaccinations appear to be down in the U.S. According to IQVIA, about 64% of all flu vaccinations were administered at retail pharmacies, which administered roughly 26.5 million flu shots between August and the end of October. That’s more than 2 million fewer shots than the 28.7 million given over the same time frame in 2024.”I’m not surprised,” said Dr. Jennifer Nuzzo, who directs the Pandemic Center at Brown University’s School of Public Health. Vaccine skepticism expressed by leaders of the US Department of Health and Human Services has “injected chaos into the whole vaccination system,” she said.”There’s been a lot of attention on really non-issues,” like vaccine ingredients and separating shots, that she thinks “at the best, left people confused but possibly at the worst have left people worried about getting vaccinated,” she added.Flu vaccinations have also fallen in Australia, where subclade K was the predominant virus this year. As a result, flu hit a record, with more than 443,000 cases. Flu season in the Southern Hemisphere typically runs from May to July, so infectious disease experts often look to those countries for a preview of what might be on the way to North America.”What they saw in Australia is that they had a bad season. And so it’s concerning for you and us, what’s coming,” said Dr. Earl Rubin, director of the infectious disease division at the Montreal Children’s Hospital in Canada.’This is the time we start to see the rise’It’s difficult to say whether subclade K actually makes a person sicker than other flu strains, but if it drives more cases, it will certainly drive hospitalizations too, Rubin said.”When you look at severity, the more cases you have, if the same percentage get hospitalized, obviously you’re going to have more hospitalization if you have more cases. So it sometimes will look like the severity is also worse,” he said.Lab testing data has begun to show an uptick in flu cases.”This is the time we start to see the rise,” said Dr. Allison McMullen, a clinical microbiologist at BioMerieux, which makes the BioFire test, a popular diagnostic tool for respiratory pathogens.The company anonymously compiles its test results into a syndromic surveillance tool, which can offer a glimpse of what bugs are making people sick at any given time. At the beginning of the month, less than 1% of tests were positive for type A flu. Now it’s 2.4% – still low numbers but going up briskly, which aligns with the CDC trend.”We’re going to start seeing heavy holiday travel before we know it,” McMullen added. “With the rising cases that we’re seeing the U.K. and Japan, it can definitely be a bellwether for what we’re going to see in North America.”Signals are also rising in wastewater, said Dr. Marlene Wolfe, an assistant professor of environmental health at Emory University. In October, 18% of samples in the WastewaterSCAN network — an academically led wastewater monitoring program based at Stanford University, in partnership with Emory — were positive for type A flu, Wolfe said. In November, that number had risen to 40%.”Flu is something where, when it’s not in season, we don’t detect it very frequently in wastewater,” Wolfe said. COVID, on the other hand, can be detected pretty much all the time, which makes it challenging to know if it’s going up or down, she said.The scientists can set a threshold for when they can declare that a specific area is in flu season, Wolfe says. So far, just four of the 147 sites they monitor in 40 states have reached that threshold. Those sites are in the Northeast — in Maine and Vermont — in Iowa and in Hawaii.”I am concerned, I guess, that we could have a big flu season this year based on what we’re seeing in other parts of the world, and particularly Europe and elsewhere,” Michigan’s Lauring said.”It’s not too late. Go and get your flu shot,” Lauring advised. “And be alert that it’s out there.”

    The United States may be heading into its second severe flu season in a row, driven by a mutated strain called subclade K that’s behind early surges in the United Kingdom, Canada and Japan.

    Last winter’s season was extreme, too. The U.S. had its highest rates of flu hospitalizations in nearly 15 years. At least 280 children died of influenza, the highest number since pediatric death numbers were required to be shared in 2004.

    Now, with a new variant in the mix, experts say we’re on track for a repeat. And with flu vaccinations down and holiday travel on the way, they worry that things may look much worse in the weeks ahead.

    The good news: Early analysis shows that this season’s flu shots offer some protection against being hospitalized with this variant, especially for kids. The bad news is that many Americans appear to be skipping their flu vaccines this year. New data from prescription data company IQVIA shows that vaccinations are down compared to where they usually are at this point in the year.

    A new player

    Flu activity is low but rising quickly in the United States, according to the latest FluView report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

    Most of the flu viruses identified this season have been an A strain called H3N2, and half of those have come from subclade K, a variant that was responsible for a rougher-than-normal flu season this summer in the Southern Hemisphere.

    That variant wasn’t a major player when scientists decided which strains should be in the annual flu shots, so the vaccines cover a related but slightly different group of viruses.

    “It’s not like we’re expecting to get complete loss of protection for the vaccine, but perhaps we might expect a little bit of a drop-off if this is the virus that sort of dominates the season, and early indications are that’s probably going to be the case,” said Dr. Richard Webby, director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Center for studies on the ecology of influenza in animals and birds at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

    Early analysis by the U.K. Health Security Agency shows that subclade K has seven gene changes on a key segment of the virus. Those mutations change the shape of this region, making it harder for the body’s defenses to recognize.

    “That’s the predominant thing that our immune system targets with antibodies, and that’s also pretty much what’s in the vaccine,” said Dr. Adam Lauring, chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Michigan Medical School.

    UKHSA scientists found that the current flu vaccines are still providing decent protection against subclade K viruses. Vaccination cut the odds of an emergency department visit or hospitalization for the flu by almost 75% in children. The effectiveness for adults, even those over 65, was lower, about 30% to 40% against needing to visit the hospital or ER.

    But the scientists offer a caveat: These results are from early in the season, before the protection from seasonal flu vaccines has had time to wane or wear off. The findings are posted in a recent preprint study, which means it was published ahead of scrutiny from outside experts.

    Still, some protection is better than no protection, and while subclade K is expected to dominate the season, it won’t be the only flu strain circulating. No one gets to pick what they’re exposed to. Lauring said his daughter has just recovered from the flu, but it was a B-type strain.

    At the same time this new variant has emerged, flu vaccinations appear to be down in the U.S. According to IQVIA, about 64% of all flu vaccinations were administered at retail pharmacies, which administered roughly 26.5 million flu shots between August and the end of October. That’s more than 2 million fewer shots than the 28.7 million given over the same time frame in 2024.

    “I’m not surprised,” said Dr. Jennifer Nuzzo, who directs the Pandemic Center at Brown University’s School of Public Health. Vaccine skepticism expressed by leaders of the US Department of Health and Human Services has “injected chaos into the whole vaccination system,” she said.

    “There’s been a lot of attention on really non-issues,” like vaccine ingredients and separating shots, that she thinks “at the best, left people confused but possibly at the worst have left people worried about getting vaccinated,” she added.

    Flu vaccinations have also fallen in Australia, where subclade K was the predominant virus this year. As a result, flu hit a record, with more than 443,000 cases. Flu season in the Southern Hemisphere typically runs from May to July, so infectious disease experts often look to those countries for a preview of what might be on the way to North America.

    “What they saw in Australia is that they had a bad season. And so it’s concerning for you and us, what’s coming,” said Dr. Earl Rubin, director of the infectious disease division at the Montreal Children’s Hospital in Canada.

    ‘This is the time we start to see the rise’

    It’s difficult to say whether subclade K actually makes a person sicker than other flu strains, but if it drives more cases, it will certainly drive hospitalizations too, Rubin said.

    “When you look at severity, the more cases you have, if the same percentage get hospitalized, obviously you’re going to have more hospitalization if you have more cases. So it sometimes will look like the severity is also worse,” he said.

    Lab testing data has begun to show an uptick in flu cases.

    “This is the time we start to see the rise,” said Dr. Allison McMullen, a clinical microbiologist at BioMerieux, which makes the BioFire test, a popular diagnostic tool for respiratory pathogens.

    The company anonymously compiles its test results into a syndromic surveillance tool, which can offer a glimpse of what bugs are making people sick at any given time. At the beginning of the month, less than 1% of tests were positive for type A flu. Now it’s 2.4% – still low numbers but going up briskly, which aligns with the CDC trend.

    “We’re going to start seeing heavy holiday travel before we know it,” McMullen added. “With the rising cases that we’re seeing the U.K. and Japan, it can definitely be a bellwether for what we’re going to see in North America.”

    Signals are also rising in wastewater, said Dr. Marlene Wolfe, an assistant professor of environmental health at Emory University. In October, 18% of samples in the WastewaterSCAN network — an academically led wastewater monitoring program based at Stanford University, in partnership with Emory — were positive for type A flu, Wolfe said. In November, that number had risen to 40%.

    “Flu is something where, when it’s not in season, we don’t detect it very frequently in wastewater,” Wolfe said. COVID, on the other hand, can be detected pretty much all the time, which makes it challenging to know if it’s going up or down, she said.

    The scientists can set a threshold for when they can declare that a specific area is in flu season, Wolfe says. So far, just four of the 147 sites they monitor in 40 states have reached that threshold. Those sites are in the Northeast — in Maine and Vermont — in Iowa and in Hawaii.

    “I am concerned, I guess, that we could have a big flu season this year based on what we’re seeing in other parts of the world, and particularly Europe and elsewhere,” Michigan’s Lauring said.

    “It’s not too late. Go and get your flu shot,” Lauring advised. “And be alert that it’s out there.”

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  • TikTok malware scam tricks you with fake activation guides

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    Cybercriminals are again turning TikTok into a trap for unsuspecting users. This time, they’re disguising malicious downloads as free activation guides for popular software like Windows, Microsoft 365, Photoshop and even fake versions of Netflix and Spotify Premium.

    Security expert Xavier Mertens first spotted the campaign, confirming that the same kind of scheme was seen earlier this year. According to BleepingComputer, these fake TikTok videos show short PowerShell commands and instruct viewers to run them as administrators to “activate” or “fix” their programs.

    In reality, those commands connect to a malicious website and pull in malware known as Aura Stealer, which quietly siphons saved passwords, cookies, cryptocurrency wallets and authentication tokens from the victim’s computer.

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    3,000+ YOUTUBE VIDEOS DELIVER MALWARE DISGUISED AS FREE SOFTWARE

    Cybercriminals are using fake TikTok videos to trick users into downloading malware disguised as free activation guides. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

    How the TikTok scam works

    This campaign uses what experts call a ClickFix attack. It’s a social engineering trick that makes victims feel they’re following legitimate tech instructions. The instructions seem quick and simple: run one short command and get instant access to premium software.

    But instead of activating anything, the PowerShell command connects to a remote domain named slmgr[.]win, which downloads harmful executables from Cloudflare-hosted pages. The main file, updater.exe, is a variant of the Aura Stealer malware. Once inside the system, it hunts for your credentials and sends them back to the attacker.

    Another file, source.exe, uses Microsoft’s C# compiler to launch code directly in memory, making it even harder to detect. The purpose of this extra payload isn’t fully known yet, but the pattern follows previous malware used for crypto theft and ransomware delivery.

    META ACCOUNT SUSPENSION SCAM HIDES FILEFIX MALWARE

    Person holding up their phone and accessing TikTok.

    Those short “activation” commands secretly connect to malicious servers that install info-stealing malware like Aura Stealer. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

    How to stay safe from TikTok malware scams

    Even though these scams look convincing, you can avoid becoming a victim with the right precautions.

    1) Avoid shortcuts

    Never copy or run PowerShell commands from TikTok videos or random websites. If something promises free access to premium software, it’s likely a trap.

    2) Use trusted sources

    Always download or activate software directly from the official website or through legitimate app stores.

    3) Keep security tools updated

    Outdated antivirus or browsers can’t detect the latest threats. Update your software regularly to stay protected.

    4) Use strong antivirus software

    Install strong antivirus software that offers real-time scanning and protection against trojans, info-stealers and phishing attempts.

    The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, 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 safe.

    Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com

    5) Sign up for a data removal service

    If your personal data ends up on the dark web, a data removal or monitoring service can alert you and help remove sensitive information.

    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

    6) Reset credentials

    If you’ve ever followed suspicious instructions or entered credentials after watching a “free activation” video, reset all your passwords immediately. 

    7) Reset passwords

    If you’ve ever followed suspicious instructions or entered credentials after watching a “free activation” video, reset all your passwords immediately. Start with your email, financial and social media accounts. Use unique passwords for each site. Consider using a password manager, which securely stores and generates complex passwords, reducing the risk of password reuse.

    Next, see if your email has been exposed in past breaches. Our No. 1 password manager (see Cyberguy.com) pick includes a built-in breach scanner that checks whether your email address or passwords have appeared in known leaks. If you discover a match, immediately change any reused passwords and secure those accounts with new, unique credentials.

    Check out the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2025 at Cyberguy.com

    8) Enable multi-factor authentication

    Add an extra layer of security by turning on multi-factor authentication wherever possible. Even if your passwords are stolen, attackers won’t be able to log in without your verification. 

    person looking at apps on phone

    If you’ve followed suspicious steps, change your passwords, enable two-factor authentication and stay alert for future scams. (Getty Images)

    Kurt’s key takeaways

    TikTok’s global reach makes it a prime target for scams like this. What looks like a helpful hack could end up costing your security, your money and your peace of mind. Stay alert, trust only verified sources and remember that there’s no such thing as a free activation shortcut.

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    Is TikTok doing enough to protect its users from scams like this? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

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    Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.

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

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  • Delete the fake VPN app stealing Android users’ money

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    Malware targeting Android devices has grown increasingly sophisticated. From fake banking apps to phishing campaigns, attackers are finding new ways to trick you into giving up sensitive data.

    One of the newest threats comes in the form of malicious apps that appear legitimate but can take full control of your device. Security researchers are now warning Android users to delete a fake VPN and streaming app that can allow criminals to take over your phone and drain your bank account.

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    How Klopatra infects devices

    The malicious VPN and streaming app is called Mobdro Pro IP TV + VPN, and it was recently discovered by researchers at Cleafy. Once you install the app, it drops a malware strain called Klopatra. It’s a new and highly sophisticated Android malware currently being used in active campaigns targeting financial institutions and their customers.

    THIS CHROME VPN EXTENSION SECRETLY SPIES ON YOU

    Fake VPN apps can hide dangerous malware that steals your data and money. (iStock)

    At first glance, the app looks like a free streaming platform offering high-quality channels, which makes it appealing to Android users. Once installed, though, it deploys a banking Trojan and a remote-access tool that give attackers full control over the infected device. With that level of access, criminals can steal your banking credentials and even carry out fraudulent transactions without your knowledge.

    The infection chain is carefully planned. It starts with social engineering, tricking you into downloading and installing the app from outside the official Play Store. From there, Klopatra bypasses Android’s built-in protections and reaches deep into the system to gain persistence and control.

    HACKERS PUSH FAKE APPS WITH MALWARE IN GOOGLE SEARCHES

    Router VPNs vs device VPNs: Which privacy solution is best for you?

    The Klopatra Trojan gives hackers full control of infected Android devices. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

    Fake VPNs are a growing problem

    VPNs are widely promoted as privacy tools that hide your IP address and encrypt internet traffic. Millions rely on them to bypass geographic restrictions, protect sensitive communications or simply browse more securely. Yet not all VPNs are trustworthy. Various studies have proved that popular commercial VPNs have alarming shortcomings. Some use protocols that are not designed to protect privacy, obscure ownership or fail to encrypt traffic properly.

    When fake apps like Mobdro are combined with these weaknesses, users are left exposed. Criminals exploit both the popularity of VPNs and the prevalence of pirated streaming services to distribute malware effectively. This growing ecosystem of risky apps underscores how important it is to research, verify and only download software from reputable sources.

    SCAMMERS NOW IMPERSONATE COWORKERS, STEAL EMAIL THREADS IN CONVINCING PHISHING ATTACKS

    A man typing on a laptop

    Stay safe by downloading apps only from trusted sources and keeping your phone updated. (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutsson)

    9 steps you can take to protect yourself

    If you suspect that you’ve downloaded a fake app from the internet, there’s no need to panic. The steps below will help you stay protected and keep your data safe.

    1) Stick to trusted sources

    Only download VPNs, streaming services and apps from Google Play, Apple App Store or the official developer’s website. Avoid links in forums, social media messages or emails promising free content.

    2) Check app permissions

    Carefully review what access an app requests. If it asks for control over your device, settings or accessibility services unnecessarily, do not install it. Legitimate VPNs rarely require full device control.

    3) Use a secure VPN

    When choosing a VPN, opt for one with strong privacy policies, transparent ownership and robust encryption. A secure VPN ensures your connection remains private without giving attackers a foothold.

    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

    4) Install strong antivirus software

    A strong antivirus on your device can detect malware and suspicious behavior before damage occurs. These services can scan new downloads and provide ongoing protection.

    The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, 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 safe.

    Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com

    5) Monitor your accounts

    Banking Trojans target sensitive credentials. Identity monitoring services can alert you if your personal information appears online or is being misused, helping you respond before harm is done. Identity Theft companies can monitor personal information like your Social Security number (SSN), phone number and email address, and alert you if it is being sold on the dark web or being used to open an account. They can also assist you in freezing your bank and credit card accounts to prevent further unauthorized use by criminals.

    See my tips and best picks on how to protect yourself from identity theft at Cyberguy.com

    6) Remove the malicious app immediately

    If you discover a suspicious app on your Android device, remove it right away.

    Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer. 

    • Open Settings
    • Click Apps and locate the fake app.
    • Tap Uninstall to remove it from your device.
    • If the uninstall option is unavailable, restart your phone in Safe Mode and try again.
    • After removal, run a full antivirus scan to delete any remaining malware components.

    7) Keep devices updated

    Regular system updates patch security vulnerabilities that malware like Klopatra exploits. Combined with antivirus protection, this significantly reduces the chance of infection.

    8) Change passwords and enable 2FA

    Once your device is secure, update your login credentials.

    • Change passwords for banking, email, and Google accounts immediately. Consider using a password manager to generate and store complex passwords. Check out the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2025 at Cyberguy.com/Passwords
    • Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) for extra protection.
    • Use an authenticator app instead of text messages for better security.

    This step helps protect your accounts if hackers steal your credentials. 

    9) Report the malicious app

    Finally, take steps to protect others and report the threat.

    • Report the fake app to Google Play Protect or your antivirus provider.
    • If your bank details were exposed, contact your bank’s fraud department immediately.
    • Reporting helps cybersecurity teams track and block similar fake VPNs in the future.

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    Kurt’s key takeaway

    Fake VPNs and streaming apps exploit your trust and the gaps in app verification processes, showing that even tech-savvy individuals can fall victim. While official stores offer a layer of protection, you must remain vigilant, check permissions and rely on reputable security tools. Never download anything from the random links you see on the internet.

    Do you think Google is doing enough to prevent malware from entering the Android OS? 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. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide — free when you join my CYBERGUY.COM newsletter.

    Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com.  All rights reserved.

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

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  • Don’t fall for fake settlement sites that steal your data

    Cyber expert shares tips to avoid AI phishing scams

    Kurt ‘The CyberGuy’ Knutsson shares practical ways to avoid falling victim to AI-generated phishing scams and discusses a report that North Korean agents are posing as I.T. workers to funnel money into the country’s nuclear program.

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    Sometimes, data breaches result in more than just free credit monitoring. Recently, Facebook began paying out its $725 million settlement, and AT&T is preparing to distribute $177 million. Those payouts caught scammers’ attention.

    Now, fake settlement claim emails and websites are flooding inboxes. They look convincing, but behind the plain design and official-sounding language is a trap for your Social Security number, banking info and more. So how can you make sure you get your money without losing even more in the process?

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    TOP 5 OVERPAYMENT SCAMS TO AVOID

    Why fake settlement sites are so convincing

    Settlement claim websites rarely look polished. Most have generic layouts, long URLs and simple forms asking for a claim ID from your email or postcard. That makes it easy for scammers to mimic them. To test how simple it is, we created a fake settlement site (below) in minutes using AI tools like ChatGPT.

    To steal your data, scammers build fake settlement sites that mimic real sites (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

    If we can do it, you can bet criminals are already exploiting the same shortcuts. Facebook has been the target. A fake site once popped up around the Equifax settlement, tricking thousands before it was shut down. The lesson? If the site appears unusual, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s fake, but it should prompt you to double-check before entering your details or clicking on any links.

    Red flags that expose fake settlement sites

    Spotting a scam often comes down to noticing the little details. Watch for these common warning signs before you hand over your information.

    Requests for too much personal data

    If a site asks for your full Social Security number or the names of your children, stop. For example, the official Equifax settlement only requested the last six digits of SSNs. Genuine claim sites may ask for limited info (like the last four digits of your SSN), but they rarely demand complete Social Security or bank details.

    Promises of payout estimates upfront

    Real administrators calculate payments only after the claim period closes.

    Texts or social media messages

    Settlements are announced by mail or email, not through random DMs or SMS.

    Red flags like odd URLs, urgent countdowns, or fee requests often expose the fraud (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson) 

    Fraud can be found with red flags like odd URLs, urgent countdowns, or fee requests (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

    Odd or misspelled URLs

    Even one extra letter in the web address is a sign of a spoof site. Legitimate settlements use official or clearly named administrator domains. Be wary of addresses with unusual add-ons, such as “secure-pay” or “claims-pay.”

    Urgent language or countdowns

    Scammers rely on urgency to pressure you into acting fast. Real settlement sites don’t demand 24-hour turnarounds.

    Processing fee checkboxes

    A sure giveaway of a fake. Real settlement administrators never require money to file or to receive your payout.

    Cheap trust badges

    Scam sites often throw in fake “secure” seals. Look for recognized security seals and make sure they’re clickable and verifiable.

    Generic contact info tied to the suspicious domain

    Official sites list multiple, verifiable contacts. If the email or phone number matches the weird domain, that’s a red flag.

    Grammar or spelling mistakes in the fine print

    Sloppy errors in legal-sounding text are a classic sign you’re looking at a scam.

    Always start at official FTC links or mailed notices to file claims safely (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson) 

    Start with official FTC links or mailed notices to file claims safely (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

    How to safely handle settlement claim notices

    Before filing any claim, follow these steps to ensure you’re dealing with a legitimate settlement site and protecting your information.

    1) Start at the FTC

    The Federal Trade Commission keeps updated lists of approved class action settlements at ftc.gov/enforcement/refunds. The legitimate links always point to a .gov website. If your email sends you elsewhere, treat it with caution. 

    2) Cross-check with other resources

    Trusted outlets often cover large settlements and include safe links. ClassAction.org is another resource for checking legitimate URLs.

    3) Skip the links, use the mail

    Your claim notice may include a mailing address. Sending a paper form avoids the digital phishing minefield altogether.

    4) Use strong antivirus software

    Strong antivirus software can block malicious links, warn you about dangerous websites and prevent malware from taking over your device.

    The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware and potentially access your private information 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 safe.

    Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at CyberGuy.com.

    HOW RETIREES CAN STOP FAKE DEBT COLLECTOR SCAMS

    5) Try a data removal service

    Data removal services work to scrub your personal information from broker lists, making it more difficult for criminals to target you.

    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.

    6) Never pay to file

    If a site asks for “administrative fees” or a “processing charge,” close it immediately. Real settlement administrators will never ask for money.

    7) Report suspicious sites

    Spot a fake? Protect others by reporting it to:

    • The FTC Complaint Assistant at reportfraud.ftc.gov/
    • The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov/
    • The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) at consumerfinance.gov/about-us/the-bureau/

    Quick reporting helps authorities shut down scams before more people fall victim.

    Can you tell a real email from a fake?

    Take our quick quiz at Cyberguy.com/ScamCheck to learn how to spot phishing scams, protect your inbox, and stay a step ahead of hackers. 

    Kurt’s key takeaways

    Class action settlements can feel like rare wins for consumers after data breaches. But scammers see them as easy hunting grounds. The best defense is skepticism. Check URLs, avoid clicking direct links and never give away details that don’t match the claim’s purpose. Your payout should help you recover, not put you at greater risk.

    Have you ever received a settlement notice that felt suspicious, and how did you handle it? 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. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide – free when you join my CyberGuy.com newsletter.

    CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

    Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com.  All rights reserved.  

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

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  • Hepatitis B vaccine Q&A: Why do babies need the shot?

    The people at highest risk for contracting hepatitis B include health care workers, IV drug users and people having sex.

    So why do babies get vaccinated for hepatitis B as soon as they are born? It’s a fair question, and health care providers have compelling answers. 

    Hepatitis B is a virus that can do serious, sometimes fatal, liver damage. Although groups that are more exposed to swapping bodily fluids are at greater risk, anyone can get infected.

    Getting infected with hepatitis B as a baby is extra dangerous. Infected infants have a 90% chance of developing the disease’s more dangerous chronic form. And a quarter of those babies will go on to die prematurely from the disease when they become adults, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. 

    When the vaccine was invented in the 1980s, doctors initially vaccinated only the highest risk individuals. Cases didn’t meaningfully decline. 

    Sign up for PolitiFact texts

    In 1991, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began recommending vaccinations for everyone at birth. 

    The protocol produced results: New infections dropped significantly, especially among children and adolescents.

    “Now it’s a very uncommon disease in young children because of that vaccine,” Dr. Paul Offit, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia pediatrician and infectious disease expert, said. “It was a remarkable, remarkable achievement.”

    Today, infants get their first dose within 24 hours of birth and receive two to three more doses by the time they are 6 months old. 

    But the CDC’s independent vaccine panel is scheduled to reevaluate the vaccine schedule at its Sept. 18 meeting. KFF Health News reported that the panel is expected to vote on whether to delay the vaccine until children are 4. 

    Here’s what you should know about hepatitis B and what is behind the CDC’s longstanding “at birth” hepatitis B vaccine recommendation.

    What is hepatitis B? 

    The hepatitis B virus attacks the liver. Some people become very sick upon initial infection. Others have only mild symptoms or none at all. Acute cases can resolve on their own, but sometimes they develop into chronic infections. 

    Long-lasting infections can be asymptomatic, and dangerous. They develop more slowly and symptoms may not show up until much later in life, sometimes decades after the first exposure. 

    “It’s a stealth infection,” said Dr. William Schaffner, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine professor and infectious disease expert. “After you get over the acute infection, you can have this smoldering infection and be contagious to others and feel perfectly normal.”

    Untreated, chronic hepatitis B infections can cause cirrhosis and death. It is also one of the leading causes of liver cancer. Patients can seek treatments to reduce the virus’ worst effects. But there is no cure. 

    The CDC estimates about 640,000 adults have chronic hepatitis B, but because of its asymptomatic nature, about half of people with the virus do not know they are infected and contagious.

    Who gets hepatitis B and how? 

    Anyone can get it. 

    Hepatitis B is transmitted through bodily fluids like blood, semen and vaginal fluids. It is usually transmitted through sexual activity, direct contact with blood, or from mother to child during delivery due to contact with bodily fluids.

    Because hepatitis B is an especially tough virus, it can live outside the body on surfaces for up to seven days. Even a small amount can be infectious.

    That means that although you can get it through sexual contact or health care work, mundane contact can also result in transmission. Small amounts of dried blood on innocuous household items like nail clippers, razors or toothbrushes could be enough.

    Many hepatitis B patients are never sure how they contracted it.

    “Those environmental routes of transmission of hepatitis B undoubtedly play a small but notable role,” Schaffner said. 

    Because so many people are unaware they are infected, preventing transmission was much more difficult — until the vaccine. 

    How do babies get hepatitis B?

    The fact that so many infected people have no idea they have it makes it nearly impossible to guarantee a child will never come into contact with a hepatitis B-positive individual.

    Babies can get infected from their mothers during childbirth. Testing for hepatitis B during pregnancy is recommended, and patients who receive regular prenatal care are highly likely to be tested at some point. But not all expecting mothers receive regular medical care. In some cases, those at highest risk for contracting hepatitis B are also less likely to access prenatal care, Schaffner said.

    The vaccine works well to prevent infection in babies born to mothers with hepatitis B. 

    But even if a mom tests negative, the child’s risk of contracting hepatitis is not zero. The reasons are varied: The test produces some false negatives. Pregnant patients can contract hepatitis B after being tested. Children may become infected simply by being in contact with the world at large.

    Offit said that prior to the vaccine being recommended for all infants, around half of children under 10 were infected from their mother during birth. The other half contracted it somewhere else. 

    How does the vaccine work and has it been effective at reducing cases? 

    The hepatitis B vaccine was first introduced in 1981; the version in use today was put in place in 1986. 

    It uses proteins from the surface of the hepatitis B virus to provoke an immune response that gives the body a defense against future infection. It is not a live virus, and the vaccine can’t infect someone with hepatitis B. 

    Doctors expect the vaccine may provide lifelong protection, but they are still monitoring results of the 39-year-old vaccine.

    Prior to the vaccine, around 200,000 to 300,000 people were infected with hepatitis B each year, including approximately 20,000 children, older CDC reports show. 

    Since hepatitis B vaccines began being universally administered to babies, overall cases are down to around 14,000 annually. The change is especially dramatic among young people. In 2022, the CDC reported 252 new chronic hepatitis B infections among people up to age 19, or 0.4 out of every 100,000 kids. 

    Dr. James Campbell, a University of Maryland pediatric infectious disease doctor, said the low rate is directly related to the recommended hepatitis B vaccine schedule: “Because we’ve been vaccinating nearly the entire population since 1991 those people are now 30 something years old.” New infections are largely among older Americans. 

    All the doctors we spoke with, the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics describe the vaccine as safe and effective. 

    But why not delay the vaccine until a child is a little older?

    When it comes to hepatitis B, that first year of life is critical.

    Whereas the Department of Health and Human Services reports that 90% of infants who become infected go on to develop a chronic hepatitis B infection, that rate is 2% to 6% for adults. And with research showing that 25% of infected infants die prematurely from the disease, public health officials have long held that early delivery is crucial. 

    “Think about it,” Campbell said. “We used to have 18,000 or 20,000 kids a year being born with this, a quarter of them going on to have liver cancer. We now have almost none.”

    Delaying administration by even a few months increases a baby’s risk should they come into contact with the virus, Offit said. And Schaffner said delaying a vaccine can easily lead to never getting it: An unvaccinated child can become an unprotected adolescent or young adult with sexual partners, “and boom, then they get infected,” he said.  

    What are the hepatitis B vaccine’s safety risks?

    The most common side effects are mild and short term including pain or soreness where the shot is given, headache, fatigue or fever, according to the CDC. Very rarely, some people have a severe allergic reaction to the shot called anaphylaxis, which can be treated. 

    The vaccine contains small amounts of aluminium, an additive used to enhance the body’s immune response. Although large amounts of aluminum can be harmful, the vaccine contains less aluminum than infants get from their natural surroundings. 

    According to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, babies get about 4.4mg of aluminum from vaccines in their first six months; they get around 7mg from breastmilk and around 38 mg from formula in the same time. 

    I heard that the risk of a baby dying from hepatitis B is 1 in 7 million. Is that wrong?

    Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy used that statistic during recent Senate testimony. “That means you need to give 7 million hepatitis B vaccines to prevent one death,” he said.

    The vaccine is not administered to prevent babies from dying as babies. It aims to prevent them from developing the more harmful chronic hepatitis B, which can be fatal when they get older. It also prevents severe illness. 

    Kennedy’s statistic for babies who will eventually die from hepatitis B is still missing a lot of context.  

    It’s based on a 2020 research paper that tried to quantify how many people would have died of hepatitis B in 2014 had there never been mass vaccination. 

    The study estimated that 1,740 children ages 10 or younger would have contracted a deadly case of hepatitis B in a single year, 2014. 

    But to make his “1 in 7 million” calculation, Kennedy left out 99% of those deadly cases — any considered to be due to “elevated risk” of exposure, including among children born to infected mothers, children living with infected individuals, or those in communities with large numbers of infected people. 

    Since many people do not know they are infected, it can be hard to know if you are at elevated risk or reside in a community with infected individuals. 

    Vaccines given at birth “protect not only infants and children in their infancy and childhood, but throughout their lives,” Schaffner said. “It’s a larger series of issues that we’re trying to address. We’re trying to protect not only babies, but the transmission of the virus to the next generation.”

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  • Shamos malware tricks Mac users with fake fixes

    NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

    A dangerous new malware campaign is targeting Mac users worldwide. Security researchers at CrowdStrike uncovered Shamos, a new variant of the Atomic macOS Stealer (AMOS), developed by a cybercriminal group called COOKIE SPIDER.

    The attack relies on ClickFix tactics, where victims searching for Mac troubleshooting help are lured to fake websites or GitHub repositories. These spoofed sites trick users into copying and pasting a one-line command in Terminal, supposedly to fix an error. Instead, the command silently downloads Shamos, bypasses macOS Gatekeeper protections, and installs the malware.

    Once inside, Shamos searches for sensitive data, Apple Notes, Keychain items, browser passwords, and even cryptocurrency wallets. The stolen information is zipped and sent directly to attackers, often alongside additional malware like botnet modules or fake Ledger wallet apps.

    Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report
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    10 WAYS TO SECURE YOUR OLDER MAC FROM THREATS AND MALWARE

    Malicious sponsored results can be seen on Google search. (CrowdStrike)

    How Shamos malware spreads on macOS

    Cybercriminals distribute these fake “fixes” through so-called “malvertising” campaigns and spoofed tech help sites with names like mac-safer[.]com or rescue-mac[.]com. These pages pose as trusted troubleshooting guides and appear in search results for common Mac issues, such as “how to flush resolver cache.”

    The websites encourage victims to copy and paste commands that download malicious Bash scripts. These scripts grab the user’s password, remove file protections, and launch Shamos. With persistence tools installed, the malware can even restart alongside the system, keeping control long after the initial infection.

    CAPTCHAGEDDON SIGNALS A DANGEROUS SHIFT

    A fake Mac help page

    A fake help page provides victims with false instructions about how to fix problems with their Mac computer. (CrowdStrike)

    Tips to stay safe from Shamos malware

    You can avoid falling victim to Shamos and similar threats with these proactive steps:

    1) Never run commands you don’t understand

    Copy-pasting commands into Terminal may seem like an easy fix, but it’s also one of the easiest ways for attackers to bypass Apple’s built-in protections. If you see a command on a website, forum, or GitHub repository, don’t execute it unless you fully understand what it does. Instead, confirm with Apple’s official support site or the Apple Community forums, where experienced users and moderators can verify safe troubleshooting steps.

    2) Avoid sponsored results

    Hackers know that when your Mac has a problem, you’ll search for a quick solution. That’s why they buy sponsored ads like the one below to push fake troubleshooting websites higher in search results. Clicking the top link may feel natural, but it could be a trap. Stick with trusted sources like Apple Support, or scroll past the ads to find legitimate guides.

    CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP 

    A fake webpage on how to fix a printer

    Fake instructions on how to fix printer issues on macOS. (CrowdStrike)

    3) Be wary of GitHub projects

    GitHub is an amazing resource for developers, but it’s also become a hotspot for malicious repositories that mimic legitimate software. Attackers often clone popular apps or tools, then hide malware inside. Before downloading anything, check the publisher’s name, stars, and activity history. If the account looks suspicious, inactive, or brand-new, avoid it.

    4) Use strong antivirus protection

    Mac malware is evolving fast, and Apple’s built-in security features can’t catch everything. A strong antivirus adds another layer of defense by scanning downloads, blocking malicious scripts, and detecting suspicious behavior in real time. Some security tools can even spot the one-line Terminal commands used by Shamos before they cause harm.

    Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com/LockUpYourTech

    5) Use a personal data removal service

    Since Shamos is designed to steal personal information and send it to cybercriminals, reducing your online footprint can help limit the fallout. A personal data removal service scans data broker sites and removes your exposed information, making it harder for attackers to resell or exploit it after a breach. While this won’t stop malware from stealing what’s on your Mac, it adds another layer of protection by minimizing the data criminals can use against 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/Delete

    Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: Cyberguy.com/FreeScan 

    6) Keep macOS updated

    Apple regularly patches vulnerabilities in macOS that malware tries to exploit. By keeping your system up to date, you close the doors that attackers rely on. Enable automatic updates, so your Mac receives the latest patches as soon as they’re available. Pairing this with good digital hygiene, like avoiding shady downloads, dramatically lowers your risk of infection.

    Kurt’s key takeaways

    Cybercriminals know that when your Mac breaks, you’ll look for quick answers. Shamos takes advantage of that urgency by disguising itself as help. Staying safe means slowing down before you copy, paste, or download anything. If something feels off, it probably is.

    Should Apple be doing more to protect Mac users from evolving threats like Shamos? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com/Contact

    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 2025 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.

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

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  • Don’t use your home Wi-Fi before fixing certain security risks

    NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

    Home Wi-Fi networks are the backbone of how most people get online, connecting laptops, phones, smart TVs and more. When properly secured, they offer a convenient and private way to browse the internet, stream content and work from home. But “private” doesn’t always mean “safe.” Wi-Fi security can be easily compromised if you have weak settings or outdated equipment.

    I recently heard from Carol in Smithtown, New York, who asked, “Is it safe to browse the internet on your own laptop using only your home Wi-Fi?”

    Her question points to a bigger concern. Many of us rely on home networks every day without really knowing if they’re as secure as they should be.

    Let’s break down what makes a home Wi-Fi network secure, the risks you should know about and the steps you can take to protect your privacy.

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    A user troubleshoots an internet router. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

    Why home Wi-Fi security is important

    Your home Wi-Fi is not just a way to get online but also the gateway to your personal and professional life. Everything from online banking to work emails to video calls passes through it. If your network isn’t secure, that information could be intercepted or exposed.

    One of the biggest misconceptions is that a home network is safe simply because it’s private. In reality, hackers often target residential networks because they tend to have weaker defenses than corporate ones.

    Someone nearby could connect to your network if your password is weak or your encryption is outdated. This not only slows your internet but also lets them use your connection for illegal activities. Sensitive information like passwords, credit card numbers and personal documents can be intercepted if the network is compromised.

    11 EASY WAYS TO PROTECT YOUR ONLINE PRIVACY IN 2025

    Attackers can use an insecure network to push malicious software onto your devices, sometimes without you even realizing it. Smart devices such as security cameras, thermostats and speakers can be taken over and used for spying or as part of larger cyberattacks.

    Even if you trust everyone in your household, your network is still exposed to risks from outside. And with so many devices connected today, including laptops, phones, tablets, TVs and IoT gadgets, there are more entry points for an attacker than ever before. Securing your Wi-Fi closes those doors before someone decides to try them. 

    Illustration of a hacker at work

    A hacker executes cybercrime. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

    Choose the right router for Wi-Fi protection

    Every piece of Wi-Fi security advice ultimately comes back to the same foundation: your router. It is the gatekeeper for your entire home network. If it is old, poorly configured, or missing important updates, even the strongest passwords and best digital habits will not fully protect you.

    Investing in a good router is one of the most important steps you can take to secure your home Wi-Fi. A modern, well-supported router gives you stronger encryption, better control over connected devices and regular updates that patch security flaws.

    Don’t stop at the hardware itself. Check regularly for firmware updates from the manufacturer. Some new routers update automatically, but many require you to log in and install patches manually. Outdated firmware leaves known vulnerabilities wide open.

    IS YOUR HOME WI-FI REALLY SAFE? THINK AGAIN

    Also, change the default router login password immediately. Most routers ship with basic credentials like “admin/admin.” Attackers know this and can easily hijack your settings if you never change them.

    If your router supports it, enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for logins. This extra step makes it much harder for attackers to gain control, even if they steal your password.

    If you are not sure where to begin, I have put together a list of some of the best and most secure routers you can buy right now by visiting Cyberguy.com.

    Enable strong Wi-Fi encryption

    Encryption ensures that the data flowing across your network is scrambled, making it useless to anyone who tries to intercept it. Without proper encryption, nearby attackers can capture and read your traffic.

    The current gold standard is WPA3, which provides the strongest protection. If your router doesn’t support it, WPA2 is still considered safe and widely used. Older options like WEP or an open, password-free network are highly insecure and should be avoided at all costs. It’s worth logging into your router’s settings just to confirm what level of encryption your network is using.

    Image of a home router in use

    Cables run out of an internet router. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

    Create a strong Wi-Fi password

    Your Wi-Fi password is the digital equivalent of the key to your home. A short or predictable password is like leaving a spare under the doormat, and anyone determined enough can find a way in. Instead, create a long passphrase that combines upper and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols. Aim for at least 12 to 16 characters.

    Consider using a password manager to generate and store complex passwords.

    Check out the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2025 at Cyberguy.com.

    Check who is connected to your network

    Even with a solid password, it’s smart to check who is actually connected to your network. Most routers allow you to view a list of active devices. If you spot something you don’t recognize, investigate. It could be a neighbor piggybacking on your connection or, in the worst case, an intruder.

    It also helps to disable Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS). This feature was designed to make connecting new devices easier, but it has security flaws that attackers can exploit. Some users go further by enabling MAC address filtering, which limits access to specific devices.

    To reduce risk even more, set up a separate guest network for smart devices and visitors. That way, if one device gets hacked, your laptops and phones remain protected.

    And remember, keep all your devices updated. From laptops and phones to smart bulbs and thermostats, every gadget is a potential entry point. A weak link in one device can put your entire network at risk.

    IS YOUR PHONE HACKED? HOW TO TELL AND WHAT TO DO

    Protect your privacy with a VPN

    A Virtual Private Network, or VPN, helps solve one of the biggest issues with online privacy, which is who can see what you’re doing. When you connect through a VPN, it creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and the websites or apps you use. Everything that travels through this tunnel is hidden from outsiders, including your internet provider.

    A reliable VPN is essential for protecting your online privacy and ensuring a secure, high-speed connection.

    For the best VPN software, see my expert review of the best VPNs for browsing the web privately on your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at Cyberguy.com. 

    Don’t overlook antivirus protection

    While your Wi-Fi settings form the first line of defense, you should also protect the devices connected to your network. Install strong antivirus software to block malware that could spread through downloads, emails, or malicious links. This extra step ensures that even if a threat slips past your router’s defenses, your devices stay protected.

    The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, 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 safe.

    Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at Cyberguy.com.

    CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP 

    Kurt’s key takeaway

    So, to return to Carol’s question: Is it safe to browse the internet on your home Wi-Fi? The answer is yes, but only if you take the time to secure it. Strong router settings, proper encryption and a solid password do most of the heavy lifting. Building habits such as checking who is connected, keeping devices updated and using tools like a VPN adds even greater peace of mind.

    When was the last time you checked your router settings or updated its firmware? 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. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide — free when you join my Cyberguy.com newsletter.

    Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com.  All rights reserved.  

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

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  • Commentary: I got COVID for the first time and can’t smell. But RFK Jr.’s vaccine policies still stink

    For five years, I dodged every bullet.

    I don’t know how I managed to beat COVID-19 for so long, even as family, friends and colleagues got hit with the coronavirus. Although I took precautions from the beginning, with masking and vaccinations, I was also out in public a lot for work and travel.

    But my luck has finally run out, and it must have been the air travel that did me in. I returned from a cross-country trip with a razor blade sore throat and a stubborn headache, followed by aches and pains.

    The first test was positive.

    I figured it had to be wrong, given my super-immunity track record.

    The second test was even more positive.

    So I’ve been quarantined in a corner of the house, reaching alternately for Tylenol and the thermometer. Everything is a little fuzzy, making it hard to distinguish between the real and the imagined.

    For instance, how can it be true that just as I get COVID for the first time, the news is suddenly dominated by COVID-related stories?

    It has to be a fever-induced hallucination. There’s no other way to explain why, as COVID surges yet again with another bugger of a strain, the best tool against the virus — vaccine — is under full assault by the leaders of the nation.

    They are making it harder, rather than easier, to get medicine recommended by the overwhelming majority of the legitimate, non-crackpot wing of the medical community.

    Under the new vaccine policies, prices are up. Permission from doctors is needed. Depending on your age or your home state, you could be out of luck.

    Meanwhile, President Trump fired Susan Monarez, the head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, essentially for putting her own professional integrity and commitment to public service above crackpot directives from a cabal of vaccine skeptics.

    And following Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s cancellation of $500 million in mRNA vaccine research, Trump is demanding that pharmaceutical companies show proof that vaccines work.

    My eyes are red and burning, but can COVID be entirely to blame?

    I got a booster before my travels, even though I knew it might not stand up to the new strain of COVID. It’s possible I have a milder case than I might have had without the vaccine. But on that question and many others, as new waves keep coming our way, wouldn’t the smart move be more research rather than less?

    Trump downplayed the virus when it first surfaced in 2019 and 2020. Then he blamed it on China. He resisted masking, and lemmings by the thousands got sick and died. Then he got COVID himself. At one point, he recommended that people get the vaccine.

    Now he’s putting on the brakes?

    My headache is coming back, my eyes are still burning, and unless my Tylenol is laced with LSD, I think I just saw a clip in which Kennedy and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attempted 50 pull-ups and 100 push-ups in 10 minutes.

    I appreciate the health and fitness plug, and because Kennedy and I are the same age — 71 — it’s impressive to see him in the gym.

    But there’s something that has to be said about the Kennedy-Hegseth workout tape:

    They’re cheating.

    Take a look for yourself, and don’t be fooled by the tight T-shirts worn by these two homecoming kings.

    Those were not full chin-ups or push-ups.

    Not even close.

    Cutting corners is the wrong message to send to the nation’s children, or to any age group. And how is anyone going to make it to the gym if they come down with COVID because they couldn’t get vaccinated?

    Honestly, the whole thing has to be a fever dream I’m having, because in the middle of the workout, Kennedy said, and I quote, “It was President Trump who inspired us to do this.”

    He is many things, President Trump. Fitness role model is not one of them, no matter how many times he blasts out of sand traps on company time.

    Getting back to cutting corners, Kennedy said in slashing mRNA research that “we have studied the science,” with a news release link to a 181-page document purportedly supporting his claim that the vaccines “fail to protect effectively.”

    That document was roundly eviscerated by hordes of scientists who were aghast at the distortions and misinterpretations by Kennedy.

    “It’s either staggering incompetence or willful misrepresentation,” said Jake Scott, an infectious-disease physician and Stanford University professor, writing for the media company STAT. “Kennedy is using evidence that refutes his own position to justify dismantling tools we’ll desperately need when the next pandemic arrives.”

    I lost my sense of smell a few days ago, but even I can tell you that stinks.

    steve.lopez@latimes.com

    Steve Lopez

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  • Maryland health department confirms 1st human case of West Nile virus this year – WTOP News

    The Maryland Department of Health said Friday that an adult living in central Maryland has tested positive for West Nile virus, which is the first confirmed human case in the state so far this year.

    The Maryland Department of Health said Friday that an adult living in central Maryland has tested positive for West Nile virus, which is the first confirmed human case in the state so far this year.

    The patient is currently recovering from the infection. The health department did not confirm which county the person is residing, citing patient confidentiality issues.

    The virus is transmitted to humans through infected mosquitoes that have contracted the disease through birds. In rare cases, the virus can also be spread from person to person through organ donation, blood transfusion or from a pregnant woman to a fetus.

    “We urge people to be vigilant and take steps to avoid infection, such as eliminating standing pools of water where mosquitoes can breed,” Deputy Secretary for Public Health Services Dr. Meg Sullivan said in a statement.

    In 2024, 18 Maryland residents tested positive for West Nile virus.

    Nearly 80% of those infected with the disease do not develop symptoms, but some may experience mild symptoms, such as fever, headache and body aches, as well as skin rashes or swollen lymph lands. Symptoms can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks.

    The virus, which mainly affects the nervous system, is often more severe for those over 50 or those with previous health conditions once infected.

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    DC Health urges residents to take precautions after several birds test positive for West Nile virus

    D.C. health officials also recently came across four dead American crows that tested positive for the virus in Wards 2, 3, 5 and 7. D.C. Health recommended residents to take precautions by wearing long-sleeved clothing and wear EPA-approved mosquito repellent.

    The Maryland health department urges people who are concerned about mosquito bites to cover up exposed skin and monitor their yards and gardens for high mosquito activity, especially areas with standing water that can attract the insects.

    The department launched a campaign in May to prevent mosquito bites, including a social media tool kit to educate Marylanders on protecting themselves and their homes from mosquitoes.

    Although birds are not routinely tested for West Nile virus in Maryland, sick or injured birds can be reported to an appropriate local wildlife rehabilitator. Residents can call 877-463-6497 for a list of licensed rehabilitators or visit the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Wildlife.

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    Zsana Hoskins

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  • 10 Sci-Fi Books With Terrifying Viruses and Plagues

    Remember during the COVID-19 pandemic we all rewatched Contagion? I’ve created this list to scratch that same viral itch. The course of human history has been shaped by deadly disease. Smallpox, the Bubonic Plague. the Spanish Flu, with each strain of infection, our culture mutates as well. Science fiction authors throughout history have utilized infection narratives to do what they do best: conjure up all the ways the future could go wrong. Humanity needs to read these 10 sci-fi books with terrifying viruses and plagues, so when COVID-20 comes around, we’ll all be better prepared.

    The Stand

    Cover art for "The Stand" by Stephen King
    (Doubleday)

    Arguably tied with It for the best Stephen King novel, The Stand is a post apocalyptic tale about a deadly pandemic, and a world that refuses to die. After a government engineered super-virus wiped out 99% of the population, the few immune survivors struggle on in a forever changed world. Like many of King’s characters, each survivor experiences “the shining” – a type of psychic attunement that appears in other works like The Green Mile, The Shining and Carrie. Depending on whichever direction their moral compass points, the survivors begin having visions of two separate spiritual leaders. The good dream of America’s oldest woman, a folk guitarist and prophet who lives in rural Nebraska. The bad dream of a mysterious man in black, an agent of chaos who is setting up shop in Las Vegas. As the survivors journey across plague-ridden nation to answer their respective callings, it becomes clear that Armageddon is only just beginning.

    The MaddAdam trilogy

    Cover art for "Oryx and Crake"
    (Anchor Books)

    Margaret Atwood’s MaddAdam trilogy begins with the end of the world, and continues from there. Told in a series of flashbacks, the series’ first novel Oryx and Crake tells the tale of a mad genius who engineered humanity’s doom. A brilliant bioengineer, the scientist Crake imagined a world populated by “Crakers,” post-human beings of his own genetic design. After patenting a wonder drug that was secretly laced with Crake’s “Jetspeed Ultra Virus Extraordinary,” the scientist distributed lab-made doom across the planet. The second novel tells an alternate perspective of the end, focusing on two women who survived the apocalypse by sheltering with a religious cult – which obviously has its pros and cons. Part Mad Max, part Children of Men, part Frankenstein, this trilogy tells the tale of the man who spliced apart the world, and the survivors left to pick up the mutated pieces.

    Station Eleven

    Cover art for "Station Eleven"
    (Knopf)

    One of the most uplifting post-apocalyptic novels ever written, Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel is theatre kid Armageddon. The novel follows the Traveling Symphony, a perambulatory band of actors and musicians who travel about a post-pandemic world performing Shakespeare. Jumping back and forth between the post-collapse present and the pre-pandemic past, the novel plays out The Tragedie of Planet Earthe in real time. Society fell due to a deadly super-virus – no government bio-weapon, no mad scientist engineering, just a freak of nature disease that our immune systems couldn’t beat. Told with all the subtle grace of a Shakespearean sonnet, Station Eleven paints a picture of humanity during our planet’s final act. The show must go on, after all.

    The Andromeda Strain

    Cover art for "The Andromeda Strain"
    (Avon)

    From the mind that brought us Jurassic Park, Michael Crichton returns with another novel about humanity’s poor decision making skills. Like building a theme park full of resurrected dinosaurs, The Andromeda Strain chronicles the ill-thought out plan to collect alien microorganisms from the far reaches of space. After a germ-collecting satellite crash lands in Arizona, scientists are shocked to discover that a small town has been entirely annihilated by disease – save for an old man and a baby. The Tyrannosaurs Rex in this novel is “Andromeda” an extraterrestrial virus capable of rapid mutation. Clever girl. Sadly, Jeff Goldblum isn’t there to stop it.

    The Girl With All The Gifts

    Cover art for "The Girl With All The Gifts"
    (Orbit Books)

    The Girl With All The Gifts by M.R. Carey isn’t your average zombie apocalypse novel, rather a subversion of the genre. After a global pandemic turns average people into flesh-eating “hungries,” scientists in Beacon set up a facility to study a special group of children infected by the disease. Unlike their mindless adult counterparts, child hungries are able to retain their mental faculties, but become hostile when exposed human scent. Melanie is one of these young hungries, a 10 year old with a genius level IQ and a love for Greek mythology. The novel is a day in the life of a little girl who, despite her occasional ravenous hunger for flesh, is just like any other kid. If Ellie from The Last of Us grew up in a Firefly research facility instead of the mean streets of the Boston DMZ, you’d have this book.

    The Last Man

    Cover art for "The Last Man"
    (Henry Colburn)

    Not to be confused with Y: The Last Man: a comic book about a mediocre dude who is the survivor of a plague that kills everything with a Y chromosome – Mary Shelley’s The Last Man is a pandemic story from the mind that brought us Frankenstein. Hailed as the first great post-apocalyptic novel, the story takes place in the late 21st century, where a resurgence of the bubonic plague is causing rapid societal collapse. The novel follows Lionel Verney and Lord Raymond, two aristocrats who travel the world with their loved ones in a doomed attempt to outrun the disease. A elegiac, grief haunted novel, The Last Man was written after the death of Shelley’s husband and their mutual friend Lord Byron. It single-handedly birthed the trope of the “lone post-apocalyptic wanderer,” further cementing Mary Shelley’s legacy as the great-grandmother of science fiction. Without her, the genre as we know it simply wouldn’t exist.

    Zone One

    Cover art for "Zone One"
    (Doubleday)

    Zone One by Colson Whitehead is a zombie apocalypse story that focuses on the minutiae of post-collapse life. Humanity has managed to stabilize itself, and the military is now mopping up the infected with procedural efficiency. In an effort to retake New York City, civilian volunteers have been tasked with eliminating a less dangerous strain of infected, who go about their un-lives in state of catatonia. Centered around an everyman named Mark Spitz, the novel swings back and forth between the bad old days of the early pandemic and the rebuilding efforts of the present. It’s kind of like a day in the life novel about Fallout NPCs, just going about their end of the world business, until things go horribly wrong.

    Blindness

    Cover art for "Blindness"
    (Mariner Books)

    Blindess by José Saramago is set in a world ravaged by an epidemic of sightlessness. Set in an unnamed city and revolving around a cast of unnamed characters, the novel details the early days of the pandemic. The government has quarantined the infected into a hospital, where rule of law breaks down as desperate people attempt to horde supplies and resources. An unrelated group of infected people (along with one woman who remains curiously immune) evolve into a tight-knit found family, and attempt to navigate their way through the claustrophobic world. A literary take on the post-apocalyptic novel, Blindness is strange, surreal, and thought provoking meditation on human nature. When things go wrong, we tend to lash out with one hand reach for each other with the other.

    Clay’s Ark

    Cover art for "Clay
    (Warner Books)

    When it comes to Octavia Butler’s Clay’s Ark, I can firmly guarantee you’ve never read a post-apocalyptic novel like this before. The story takes place in the not so distant future, where societal collapse has caused humanity to band together in small groups called “car families.” Dr. Blake Maslin and his twin teenage daughters are a car family traveling across the Mojave desert, carjacked by a spaceship crash survivor who is infected with an alien microbe. The alien disease causes anyone infected to be consumed with the desire to reproduce, the result of which is the inevitable birth of something far from human. After Blake and his daughters are kidnapped and taken to the crash survivor’s creepy ranch to meet his own “family,” things really hit the fan. Yes, this novel is about an alien sex plague that results in mutated offspring. Yes, it is as exciting, grotesque, and fascinating as it sounds.

    The Companions

    Cover art for "The Companions"
    (Gallery/Scout Press)

    Another highly unique take on the post-apocalyptic virus novel, The Companions by Katie M. Flynn takes place in a world where a deadly plague has forced humanity to remain indoors. Stuck in eternal lockdown, the living can only be visited by the dead. I don’t mean zombies, I mean the digitally uploaded consciousnesses of the deceased who are implanted into machines. The “companionship” program allows people to return from beyond the grave, implanted inside everything from rolling R2-D2 style robots to androids that pass for human. While wealthy companions are able to return to their families, the less fortunate are “leased” to strangers in order to ease the epidemic of loneliness. A sixteen year old girl named Lilac is one of these unfortunates, digitally resurrected in a mechanical body and forced to obey commands – but when she overrides her own programing, she mounts a daring escape into the post-pandemic wasteland. It’s a novel about how capitalism, like a cockroach, is able to survive and thrive in the grimmest of circumstances – and so can its victims.

    Have a tip we should know? [email protected]

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    Sarah Fimm

    Sarah Fimm (they/them) is actually nine choirs of biblically accurate angels crammed into one pair of $10 overalls. They have been writing articles for nerds on the internet for less than a year now. They really like anime. Like… REALLY like it. Like you know those annoying little kids that will only eat hotdogs and chicken fingers? They’re like that… but with anime. It’s starting to get sad.

    Sarah Fimm

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  • As bird flu outbreaks rise, piles of dead cattle become shocking Central Valley tableau

    As bird flu outbreaks rise, piles of dead cattle become shocking Central Valley tableau

    TIPTON, Calif.  — 

    There’s a sickness hovering over Tulare County‘s dairy industry.

    On a recent 98-degree afternoon, dead cows and calves were piled up along the roadside. Thick swarms of black flies hummed and knocked against the windows of an idling car, while crows and vultures waited nearby — eyeballing the taut and bloated carcasses roasting in the October heat.

    Since the H5N1 bird flu virus was first reported in California in early August, 124 dairy herds and 13 people — all dairy workers — have been infected.

    And according to dairy experts, the spread of the virus has yet to abate.

    Two dead cows lie on the edge of a dairy farm in Tipton, Calif.

    “I’m surprised there are that few reported,” said Anja Raudabaugh, CEO of Western United Dairies, a California dairy trade organization, after being told the latest case number was 105. “This thing is not slowing down.”

    A similar observation was made by Jimmy Andreoli II, spokesman for Baker Commodities, a rendering company with facilities in Southern California, who said his workers are picking up a surge of dead cows throughout the San Joaquin Valley.

    “There’s definitely been an increased number of fallen animals lately, and some of that has got to be attributed to the long, hot summer we’ve had. And some of it, you know, certainly is attributed to the H5N1 virus,” he said, noting that one of his drivers picked up 20 to 30 animals at one farm in one day.

    He said at some farms the cows are intentionally being left on the roadside to reduce contamination — preventing further inter-farm spread. At others, the animals are left on-site — but away from live animals and people.

    An aerial view of a dairy farm.

    Central Valley dairy farms have been reeling from outbreaks of H5N1 bird flu in recent weeks. The mortality rate among infected cows has been higher than anticipated, industry experts say.

    The diseased carcasses are brought to Baker’s rendering site in Kerman, where the bodies are “recycled” and turned into “high protein” animal feed and fertilizer, or rendered into liquids that are then used in fuels, paints, varnishes, lubricants “and all sort of different industrial products.”

    He said the Kerman plant is operating normally with no service disruption, even with the heavy influx of diseased cattle. Although due to the large volume of dead animals and “the extra time required for sanitization procedures,” in some areas, pick-ups have shifted from daily to every-other day schedules.”

    “All of our customers are being serviced effectively,” he said.

    Despite the gruesome scene along the Tipton roadside, John Korslund, a retired U.S. Department of Agriculture veterinarian epidemiologist, said there was probably very little risk to public health in having the animals piled up — even if they were picked at and consumed by buzzards, ravens and flies.

    “At death, virus replication stops and putrefaction and heat begins to neutralize live virus,” he said. “Virus will survive on the carcass surface — not for long at 100 degrees — but temperature and acidification pretty rapidly neutralize it in the carcass, at least influenza viruses.”

    Raudabaugh said although she and the dairy farmers she represents had been reading about the virus for months before it hit, no one was prepared for the devastation and unevenness with which the virus has struck California’s dairy herds.

    She said on some farms, the cows seem virtually unaffected, despite being infected. While on others, the animals are dying in droves. She said she knows of one farm where nearly half the animals died.

    She also said some breeds are harder hit than others. For instance, Holsteins seem to suffer more than Jerseys.

    “The reason is because Holsteins produce more milk. So they have more volume for the virus to enjoy,” she said, noting research showing the virus’ affinity for mammary tissue.

    Asked if the disease was killing them on their hoofs, or if farmers were making tough decisions and euthanizing animals that seemed particularly ill with bacterial pneumonia, mastitis or bloat, she said it was the former.

    A cow sticks out its tongue at a dairy farm.

    Continuing H5N1 outbreaks in California dairy herds and reduced milk productivity among recovered cows is causing increasing concern among dairy operators.

    She said most of the animals that are succumbing to the virus are young — they are going through their second lactational cycles. (She said most dairy cows will have five or six lactational cycles before they are taken out of production and turned into beef or rendered).

    As a result, the farmers are doing what they can to keep these young animals alive “given the extreme rearing and raising and just expenses that go into raising these animals,” she said. “There’s hope that on the other side of the virus, they will come back into production that’s sustainable for the farmer. So it’s definitely a last resort if they are culling them.”

    It is unclear if infected dairy cows will recover full production when they enter a new lactational cycle. Observations suggest that production drops significantly in the current cycle, often to 60% or 70%.

    She said depression is becoming a bigger and bigger problem for dairy farmers who are struggling with high mortality rates in their cattle herds, as well as the financial burden of the disease.

    1

    Brandon Mendonsa, 37, a third generation dairy farmer in Tipton, has lo

    2

    Healthy dairy cattle bask in the morning light on the Mendonsa Farms property in Tipton, CA.

    1. Brandon Mendonsa, 37, a third generation dairy farmer in Tipton, has lost 28 head of dairy cattle to the H5N1 virus which he called covid for cows. There isn’t a cure for the virus which gives the cattle flu like symptoms and has led to a number of cattle deaths. A Holstein dairy cow at auction gets $2200.00 which would put Mendonsa’s losses at one $60,000. 2. Healthy dairy cattle bask in the morning light on the Mendonsa Farms property in Tipton, CA.

    If the cows don’t come back to full production, it could ruin many farmers, she said.

    “There’s real fear,” she said.

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture has a program to pay back farmers for production loss due to the virus. The program covers the three weeks of production lost by a cow when it is removed from the milking herd to recover, as well as the seven days afterward when production is still low.

    But there is currently no program to pay farmers or dairy workers who are affected by the virus, however, which is a concern for infectious disease experts, as well as farmworker advocates who say there is no incentive for dairy workers to report symptoms and isolate for 10 days (the current guidance).

    “The majority of dairy workers in California have no protections. Most of them are immigrants. And I would say at least half of them are undocumented,” said Elizabeth Strater, national vice president and director of strategic campaigns for United Farm Workers.

    “These are folks that don’t have a particular relationship of trust with state and federal government officials.”

    She said dairy work is coveted by immigrants — it’s not seasonal like crop work — and few Americans are hungry for the dangerous and exhausting work the positions require: Two milkings a day (often 15 hours apart) and moving large, unpredictable animals.

    “These workers are on the front lines of infectious outbreak, and if they somehow get tested and are tested positive, then they’re going to be looking at something that is financially a disaster,” she said. “Most people in the United States don’t want to miss two weeks of pay, right? Let alone these people who are already … some of the poorest people, and with the least protections. Without a safety net.”

    She said her organization and others are trying to inform as many workers as possible.

    “We are sharing as much information about how important it is for workers to get their seasonal flu shot this year, even if they don’t always do it,” she said. “But the thing is, that seasonal flu shot does not protect that worker, right? It protects me. It protects you. It protects the rest of the public from a situation in which someone who’s co-infected with two types of influenza exchanges that material” to someone else.

    Recombination of H5N1 with a human flu virus — in which the two viruses mix to potentially become a more contagious or harmful virus — is a major concern for public health officials.

    According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the current public health risk of H5N1 is low, but the agency said it was working with states to monitor people with animal exposures.

    The morning sun rises above cows in a pen.

    The morning sun rises above cows in a Tipton, Calif., dairy farm.

    Although the numbers of workers so far reportedly infected with H5N1 remains low, conversations with Tipton residents suggested it’s probably larger than has been reported.

    “A lot of people have it,” said a woman working behind the cash register at Tipton’s Dollar General, one of the few stores in this small, agricultural community right off of Highway 99.

    The woman declined to provide her name, explaining her husband is a dairy worker in the country illegally in Tulare County; she said his job is not protected or secure, and she was fearful of retribution.

    “So far the symptoms seem pretty mild,” she said. “People can keep working.”

    Susanne Rust

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  • Concern grows as bird flu outbreaks continue to rise among California dairy herds

    Concern grows as bird flu outbreaks continue to rise among California dairy herds

    Reports of H5N1 bird flu outbreaks at California dairy herds are continuing to rise as the nation’s largest milk producer scrambles to contain the spread.

    On Monday, officials reported that the number of infected dairy herds in the Central Valley had doubled over the weekend, rising from 17 to 34.

    A spokesman for the California Department of Food and Agriculture said they expect more cases to be announced in the coming days and weeks, as testing continues.

    With roughly 1,100 dairy herds in California — and 90% located in the San Joaquin Valley — concern is palpable, say industry insiders. Outbreaks interrupt milk production at affected dairies. Not only are the infected herds quarantined, but special testing must be conducted at nearby dairy farms as well.

    “Farmers are genuinely worried about the virus and do not feel it’s under control,” said Anja Raudabaugh, CEO of Western United Dairies, the trade association of California dairy farmers. She added the industry is hoping a vaccine for cows will be developed “that would protect our animals” and be compliant under trade agreements.

    The threat to humans is considered low. However, infectious disease experts worry that the longer the the virus remains present in dairy farms, the greater the likelihood it could mix with a human virus and pose a greater risk to people.

    Both state and federal health officials say milk is safe to drink, as long as it has been pasteurized.

    Steve Lyle, an agriculture department spokesman, said the agency’s call to to test dairies within six miles of infected herds, as well dairies that share share personnel or equipment with infected herds, has allowed officials to detect infected dairies “at about the time or just before they are showing clinical signs –- during their incubation period.”

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture is working on a bovine vaccination for bird flu, but noted in a statement that this does not mean efforts to control the virus have failed.

    “The pursuit of bovine vaccine development does not mean that biosecurity measures have failed,” the agency said in a prepared statement. “Nor does it mean that USDA believes the virus is here to stay. Vaccine development is one part of an overall strategy that includes enhanced and strengthened biosecurity efforts to contain the virus and help mitigate spread.”

    The statement went on to say that a vaccine could prove helpful in eliminating the virus from the nation’s dairy cattle, but it’s just one tool.

    “We continue to deploy all available efforts, including biosecurity and mandating the testing of lactating dairy cattle moving across state lines,” the statement said.

    It is still unclear how the virus got into the state, but genetic sequencing suggests the virus is similar to that found in infected cattle in other states — and that it did not come from wild birds.

    It is also unclear what impact the disease will have on milk production in the state, although Raudabaugh said it will not affect milk prices.

    “Dairy is a ‘loss leader’ at the grocery store,” she said, and is often the major incentive for other items in the store.

    Susanne Rust

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  • New York State reports 1st human case of EEE in nearly a decade

    New York State reports 1st human case of EEE in nearly a decade

    NEW YORK — New York state reported its first case of eastern equine encephalitis in nearly a decade on Friday.

    The rare mosquito-borne virus was detected in Ulster County, the New York State Department of Health said. The individual is hospitalized, it said.

    The Ulster County Department of Health is currently investigating the case, which marks the first case of EEE confirmed in New York state since 2015, health officials said.

    “Eastern equine encephalitis is a serious and fatal mosquito-borne disease with no vaccine,” New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said in a statement. “Even though temperatures are getting cooler, mosquito-borne illnesses are still a risk and New Yorkers must be cautious.”

    The human case comes after a case of EEE was confirmed in a horse in Ulster County in August, the state health department said. Earlier this month, two emus in New York’s Rensselaer County also tested positive for the virus, which does not spread directly from birds to humans, the department said.

    The latest human EEE case in New York brings the national tally to at least 11 so far this year, according to an ABC News tally. The national yearly average is 11, with most cases occurring in eastern or Gulf Coast states.

    Beyond New York, cases have been reported in at least six other states so far this year: Massachusetts, with four; New Hampshire, with two; and, with one each, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin.

    Between 2003 and 2023, there have been at least 196 EEE cases reported in the U.S., including 176 hospitalizations and 79 deaths.

    The best way to prevent infection from the disease is to protect yourself from mosquito bites, including by using insect repellant, wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants, treating clothing and gear and taking steps to control mosquitoes indoors and outdoors.

    “With the first confirmed human case of eastern equine encephalitis in Ulster County, I urge residents to take the recommended precautions to prevent mosquito bites and the risk of infection,” Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger said in a statement.

    Most people infected with EEE do not develop symptoms. For those who do, symptoms can include fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, behavioral changes and drowsiness, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

    Approximately a third of all people who develop severe cases die, according to the CDC.

    ALSO READ | As mosquito-borne illnesses spread, here’s how to tell them apart

    As mosquito-borne illnesses spread, here’s how to tell West Nile, dengue and EEE apart

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  • California reports a total of eight H5N1 bird flu outbreaks among dairy herds

    California reports a total of eight H5N1 bird flu outbreaks among dairy herds

    The number of California dairy herds reported to have outbreaks of H5N1 bird flu has grown to eight.

    Officials have refused to disclose the locations of the infected herds, but have said they are in close proximity somewhere in California’s Central Valley — an 18,000-square-mile expanse that is roughly the size of Vermont and New Hampshire combined.

    They say they are still investigating the source of the virus, but at a news conference Thursday, federal officials said genetic sequencing from the first three outbreaks suggests the strain is similar to that seen in other states. They say it does not appear to have been caused by wild birds or animals.

    “This is the same virus that we’ve detected in herds since the beginning of the emergence of H5N1 in dairy cows,” said Eric Deeble, deputy under secretary for marketing and regulatory programs at the United States Department of Agriculture. “Sequencing of the samples from the additional five premises will likely be completed later this week or over the weekend.”

    He said the California Department of Food and Agriculture has been “conducting a very thorough traceback, and all the herds that have been detected in California to date have been through their investigation.”

    There have been 201 herds infected by the virus across 14 states since the outbreak was first reported in March.

    State officials continue to reassure the public that the risk to the general population is low, and that pasteurized milk and dairy products are safe for human consumption.

    Deeble said his agency is in the process of authorizing field safety studies for a H5N1 cow vaccine.

    An agency spokesman said vaccine development does not suggest that the biosecurity protocols that the USDA and state governments have followed have failed. Nor does it mean the virus is here to stay.

    “Vaccine development is one part of an overall strategy that includes enhanced and strengthened biosecurity efforts to contain the virus and help mitigate spread,” said Will Clement, a USDA spokesman.

    “Bovine vaccines may prove to be an important tool to eventually help eliminate the virus from the nation’s dairy cattle herd, but developing a vaccine requires many steps and it will take time to test, approve, and distribute a successful vaccine,” he said. “This is why we have opened the pathway to vaccine field trials even as we continue to deploy all available efforts, including emphasizing biosecurity and mandating the testing lactating dairy cattle moving across state lines.”

    In addition, federal health officials say they have not been able to sequence the entirety of the H5N1 sample isolated from a human case in Missouri. That person had no known contact with dairy or poultry, and a preliminary investigation has not been able to determine the source of infection.

    There have been no reports of infected dairy herds in Missouri.

    “Right now, evidence points to this being a one off,” said Nirav Shah, principal deputy director at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

    Shah said the patient, who was hospitalized with flu-like symptoms and has since recovered, had only low levels of the virus circulating through their body. As a result, sequencing has been difficult.

    While officials can safely say the virus is of the H5 sub-type, they have not been able to sequence the N-part.

    But the H5 part appears to resemble the H5 subtype in infected dairy cows.

    “We’re throwing everything we’ve got at this, but ultimately, a full sequence may not be technically feasible because of the low concentration of viral RNA,” Shah said.

    Susanne Rust

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  • L.A. County investigating reported hepatitis A case at Beverly Hills Whole Foods

    L.A. County investigating reported hepatitis A case at Beverly Hills Whole Foods

    Los Angeles County health officials are investigating a reported case of hepatitis A in an employee of a Whole Foods supermarket in Beverly Hills and are warning of possible public exposure to the highly contagious liver infection.

    Officials warned that anyone who purchased products from the seafood counter at the grocery store on Crescent Drive between April 20 and May 13 could be affected and urged those not already immune to hepatitis A to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

    The virus has also recently been found among members of the county’s homeless population.

    Hepatitis A is found in the stool and blood of those infected and can spread among people even before they have symptoms, which include fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dark urine and yellowing of the eyes and skin.

    “Receiving vaccination as soon as possible after exposure could help reduce the risk of developing hepatitis A infection,” the county Public Health Department said in a statement. “Residents should contact their local pharmacy or medical provider for the vaccine.”

    Whole Foods said it was working closely with the department.

    “The team member diagnosed is not working, and we are not aware of anyone else becoming ill,” the company said in a statement. “While we have strict food safety processes in place in our stores, we encourage anyone who believes they may have been exposed to follow the guidance of the health department.”

    While no other infections have been reported related to the Whole Foods case, county health officials said this week that they have identified an outbreak of five hepatitis A cases since March among people who are homeless.

    Officials said the risk to the general public is “low” but urged anyone who may have been exposed to check if they have been vaccinated.

    Homeless people are at a higher risk for contracting the virus due to decreased access to hand washing and toilet facilities, officials said.

    California’s last known hepatitis A outbreak occurred between 2016 and 2018, mostly among people experiencing homelessness or using drugs in settings with limited sanitation. In San Diego — which also experienced a hepatitis A outbreak in 2017 — health officials last year reported an uptick in cases among homeless people.

    Times staff writer Ruben Vives contributed to this report.

    James Queally

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  • Scientists Find Clues About Why More Northern European Descendants Get MS

    Scientists Find Clues About Why More Northern European Descendants Get MS

    Findings from a project comparing modern DNA with samples from ancient human teeth and bones allowed scientists to find disease-linked genes following prehistoric migrations, tracing a path back to the Bronze Age Yamnaya people who probably carried the genetic mutation to protect the nomadic herders from infections carried by their livestock. What do you think?

    “Damn. I really wanted to blame my mother’s poor prenatal diet.”

    Gavin Perkins, Papal Understudy

    This Week’s Most Viral News: January 12, 2024

    “Are we positive ancient people weren’t designing viruses in labs?”

    Kara Courtwright, Systems Analyst

    “Haven’t Northern Europeans suffered enough?”

    Rodney Rabenbauer, Freelance Trucker

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  • Avian flu is crippling California poultry farms. Will there be a surge in pricing?

    Avian flu is crippling California poultry farms. Will there be a surge in pricing?

    December should have been the most profitable month of the year for Liberty Ducks, a poultry farm in Sonoma County. Instead, the 31-year-old business was suddenly face to face with a possible shutdown.

    “There was never going to be a good time for this to hit, but during the holidays was especially hard,” said Jennifer Reichardt of Liberty Ducks. The farm, she said, has been “crippled” by the outbreak.

    In December, the farm was one of nine locations in Sonoma County infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza, also known as bird flu. As a result, poultry farmers in the county have been forced to destroy more than 1 million birds while trying to quarantine their flocks to curb the outbreak.

    The outbreak has been ongoing since 2022, but its sudden surge in December has meant restaurants in the winery-rich region are seeing their supplies of poultry dwindle. Experts warn this may only be the beginning of a bird flu spike in California .

    “Restaurants are looking for product,” said Bill Mattos, president of the California Poultry Federation.

    The lingering disease has yet to affect prices or supply across the state as a whole, Mattos said, given the poultry available from other counties and outside the state. But restaurants, stores and wholesalers who prefer to use local sources are seeing their supply dwindle.

    “Everyone is looking to see what they can do to prevent it even more,” Mattos said.

    Liberty Ducks supplies Bay Area restaurants and more than 200 wholesalers. But because the company’s locations are under quarantine, the farm can’t start new production, Reichardt said.

    “Our business will be at a standstill for at least two months until the quarantine is lifted or we find other locations,” she said.

    Poultry companies have been feeling the effects of the avian flu since February 2022, when the U.S. Department of Agriculture first detected the virus in commercial and backyard flocks.

    Since then, more than 79 million birds across the U.S have been affected in 47 states. In California, the virus has affected 37 commercial and 22 backyard flocks, totaling 5.4 million birds, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

    Since the outbreak began, the avian pandemic has not gone by unnoticed by consumers either.

    Last year, the outbreak helped make egg prices skyrocket across the country. According to the USDA, prices in California for a dozen large eggs jumped to $7.37 in January 2023, up from $2.35 the year before. The USDA said that while demand for eggs was surging in December 2022, the avian flu was cutting the supply; in the last week of that month, there were about 29% fewer eggs than at the beginning of 2022.

    A higher incidence of the highly pathogenic avian influenza is common during this time of year because of the migratory patterns of wild birds, which carry the virus as they fly from the Arctic to California, said Dr. Maurice Pitesky, associate professor at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine whose research focuses on the disease.

    Unfortunately, the same climate and geography that makes poultry farming popular in some areas is what draws in wild birds like ducks and geese, carrying the flu with them into the state. The virus can pass from one animal to another through saliva, mucus or feces.

    “Wildlife can bring this virus into their farms because the virus is so infectious,” Pitesky said.

    Farmers have tried to keep their flocks safe through bio-security practices, such requiring clean footwear before workers enter a farm to keep feces from contaminating the area under the shoes, Mattos said. Several big farms also try to reduce risk by prohibiting their workers from owning backyard flocks.

    This past month, however, poultry farmers in Northern California have been particularly hit by the virus.

    “I’m not sure if it’s a more virulent strain or what,” Mattos said. “The industry expects it to come and show up, we just didn’t expect it to be in big numbers.”

    According to the USDA, 11 flocks in California have tested positive for the virus in the past 30 days, affecting more than 3.3 million birds.

    In Sonoma County, the effect has been significant.

    Nine poultry in sites in southern Sonoma County have been infected with the virus, requiring more than a million birds to be euthanized to prevent further spread, according to the county.

    On Dec. 5, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors declared a local emergency because of the disease. Flocks that have been infected have been put in quarantine, and county officials are hoping to curb the spread of the virus.

    The flu’s effect in the county and region is still unclear, but officials are concerned that the consequences could ripple through affected farms, workers, restaurants and markets that rely on the farms’ eggs, meat and jobs.

    A spokesperson for Sonoma County said officials have not yet done an economic impact study, but are focusing resources on containing the outbreak.

    According to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, five California counties — Fresno, Marin, Merced, San Joaquin and Sonoma — have active avian flu infections.

    The flu could be especially damaging to businesses like Liberty Ducks that are still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.

    “After COVID, we were already in such a tight financial space, this really could have been the final blow,” said Reichardt.

    She and her brother set up a GoFundMe campaign to keep the business afloat, and have raised more than $184,000 so far.

    “The community outreach is not only letting us continue on and help with cash flow, but also mentally gives us such a lift to fight on,” Reichardt said.

    Some farms can also apply for federal compensation for the value of lost birds, but Mattos said it is not enough to cover what farmers could have made from their flocks.

    For now, farmers and backyard flock owners are being urged to take precautions and keep their birds isolated from exposure.

    And depending on this year’s rains, poultry farmers may be seeing just the first effects of the outbreak this year, Pitesky warned.

    “If it’s a wet year, unfortunately, [wild birds] will probably stay here until April and May,” he said. “Most likely, they’ll be dealing with this for several more months.”

    Salvador Hernandez

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  • Bird flu concerns grow in California as deadly virus infects more farms

    Bird flu concerns grow in California as deadly virus infects more farms

    Federal and state officials have confirmed outbreaks in the last few weeks of a fast-spreading avian influenza strain — commonly known as bird flu — in four new California counties, sparking concerns about the possible agricultural and financial blow of the virus.

    The “highly pathogenic” bird flu was confirmed Wednesday at two commercial farms in Stanislaus County, joining recent outbreaks at poultry farms in Fresno, San Benito and Sonoma counties, according to updates from the California Department of Food and Agriculture. The strain is easily spread among birds and often fatal for them.

    “It is important to note that [the bird flu] is widespread in California and may also be present in other counties that are not listed,” the agency said in a statement Wednesday. “Enhanced biosecurity is critical in the face of ongoing disease outbreaks.”

    Surging egg prices earlier this year were blamed on an outbreak of the bird flu that killed millions of hens and left grocers struggling to keep shelves stocked.

    California agriculture officials said that in order to protect other flocks from the disease, the farms where outbreaks were reported are being quarantined and their birds euthanized.

    After cases were confirmed earlier this week at two Sonoma County poultry farms, officials there declared a state of emergency, calling the outbreak a local disaster.

    “We need to promote and protect our local food shed and the agricultural producers who dedicate their livelihoods to producing food for our local populations and beyond,” Sonoma County Agricultural Commissioner Andrew Smith said in a statement. “These producers are integral in maintaining and increasing food security in our communities.”

    Sonoma County Supervisor David Rabbitt said he is concerned about economic and supply-chain issues that could result from the emergency, noting that south Sonoma County has about “one million farm birds within a five-mile radius” of one of the facilities hit by the outbreak, and that they provide as many as hundreds of thousands of eggs daily.

    Rabbitt also said that more than 200 employees work at the two affected Sonoma County facilities, and will be hurt by the losses.

    In October, as cases of avian flu increased nationally and the first California outbreak of the season was detected in Merced County, the state veterinarian urged that California bird farmers move their flocks indoors for now.

    The Merced County outbreak was confirmed at a commercial turkey farm, home to about 30,000 birds, according to USDA data tracking the virus’ spread.

    The most recent outbreaks confirmed in Stanislaus County were at two commercial farms that are raising about 250,000 chickens each. The infected Sonoma County farms were a duck farm with 169,000 birds, and a commercial egg producer with more than 80,000 birds.

    The San Benito and Fresno county cases also included commercial duck farms, with 5,000 birds in San Benito and 23,000 in Fresno, according to the USDA data.

    State officials did not disclose the names of the companies involved, and USDA data was limited.

    Avian infuenza can be found in both wild and domesticated fowl, including chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, ducks and geese, and its typically spread through bird-to-bird contact, according to the state Department of Food and Agriculture.

    There have also been confirmed cases in wild birds over the last month in Sacramento and Santa Clara counties, according to the USDA.

    Officials noted this spring that continued spread of the virus could soon become a concern for the still-endangered California condor.

    According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Protection, this bird flu strain is considered a low risk to humans. However, the World Health Organization has said there is some cause for worry due to some reports of the virus infecting humans.

    Californians can report unusual sick or dead pets or domesticated birds via the state Department of Food and Agriculture Sick Bird Hotline at (866) 922-2473. Any unusual or dead wild birds should be reported to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife online.

    Grace Toohey

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  • What you need to know about the new RSV shot for babies

    What you need to know about the new RSV shot for babies

    Ahead of the winter respiratory virus season, many parents were relieved the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a shot to combat respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, for infants and toddlers this summer.

    But the shot is hard to come by.

    RSV is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms in most adults who recover in a week or two, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But that’s not the case for infants and toddlers, who are at higher risk of the virus becoming severe or life-threatening.

    The first vaccine for RSV was approved in May and was targeted for older adults.

    Two months later, federal regulators approved the first long-lasting shot for infants younger than 8 months who are entering their first RSV season. According to the CDC, Nirsevimab, which is made by AstraZeneca and sold under the brand name Beyfortus, reduces the risk of severe RSV by 80%. One dose lasts about five months, the length of the average RSV season.

    The shot does not activate the immune system the way a vaccine would, but instead introduces antibodies to protect against RSV. Health officials with the CDC say once the antibodies are out of a baby’s system, the immunity is also gone.

    Amid the peak of RSV season, there has been unprecedented demand for the shot and not enough supplies to go around.

    The CDC recently announced the release of more than 77,000 additional doses to be distributed immediately to physicians and hospitals through the Vaccines for Children Program. The CDC and FDA are working with drug manufacturers to ensure availability through early next year.

    What preventive measures can parents can take?

    Children at high risk include those 6 months and younger, infants born prematurely, those younger than 2 with congenital heart disease and those with weakened immune systems who have neuromuscular disorders, according to the American Lung Assn.

    Previously, the only immunization against severe RSV for babies was a shot women could get during weeks 32 through 36 of pregnancy. That shot is still available and recommended September through January.

    There also are everyday preventive measures to help reduce the spread of RSV and other respiratory illnesses, according to health agencies such as the CDC, American Lung Assn. and the California Department of Public Health:

    • Stay home if you’re feeling sick.
    • If you need to leave your home, consider wearing a mask in crowded or indoor areas.
    • Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
    • Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands.
    • Cover your mouth and nose when you cough and sneeze.
    • Avoid close contact with others, such as kissing, shaking hands and sharing cups and utensils.
    • Clean frequently touched surfaces, including doorknobs and mobile devices.

    What are the signs of RSV?

    RSV affects both the upper respiratory system, which includes the nose and throat, and the lower respiratory system, which includes the lungs.

    The virus is highly transmissible. You can catch it if the droplets from an infected person’s cough or sneeze get in your eyes, nose or mouth; if you touch a surface (such as a doorknob) that has the virus on it and then touch your face before washing your hands; or if you have direct contact with the virus (for example, by kissing the face of a child with RSV). Being in crowded places with people who may be infected or having exposure to other children or siblings who may be infected are common ways to pick up the virus.

    RSV can survive for many hours on hard surfaces such as tables and crib rails; it has a shorter life span on softer surfaces such as tissues and hands.

    A person infected with RSV is usually contagious for three to eight days. However, some infants and people with weakened immune systems can continue to spread the virus for as long as four weeks, even after their symptoms go away, according to the CDC.

    Virtually all children get an RSV infection by the time they are 2, but the virus can cause complications, the CDC said.

    Health agencies recommend parents reach out to their healthcare provider if their child is showing signs of infection.

    According to health officials at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, the most common symptoms are runny nose; fever; cough; short periods without breathing; trouble eating, drinking or swallowing; wheezing, flaring of nostrils or straining of the chest or stomach while breathing; breathing faster than usual or trouble breathing; and turning blue around the lips and fingers.

    These symptoms can seem like other health conditions, so the hospital advises parents to have their child see a healthcare provider for a diagnosis.

    Karen Garcia

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