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Ocasio-Cortez slams DOGE safety net, veteran's health targets: 'Doesn't get lower'
Threatened by climate change, Panama Canal has big plans to deal with droughtAvoid scammers and know who you are donating to this giving season. Mary Hagen, a professional fundraiser and CEO of Colossal, is sharing her top three tips for supporting charitable organizations this holiday. You're pulling your hair out, trying to fix something on your computer. You Google it and find what looks like a helpful website or a tutorial with easy step-by-step instructions. Phew, you’re finally solving your problem, but hold up! You’ve just walked into a "scam-yourself" attack . Cybercreeps use this clever strategy to trick you into compromising your tech so they don’t have to do the dirty work. BIOMETRIC DATA: IS IT SAFE TO HAND IT OVER TO ANY COMPANY THAT ASKS? I’m giving away a $500 Amazon gift card. Enter here , no purchase necessary! How bad is it? Bad. Really bad. "Scam-yourself" attacks shot up 614% in the third quarter of this year alone. Lumma Stealer, the top data-stealing malware type that grabs banking info and browser extensions, spiked by 1,154% . A 12-year-old boy types as he uses a laptop computer. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images) Why do these scams work so well? When something’s broken, our instinct is to rush and fix it as quickly as possible. Now, add to this the fact you’re going through the steps yourself so it feels like you’re in control. That’s exactly what makes these tricks so dangerous. Scammers are also shockingly good at mimicking trusted sources with professional-looking websites or tutorials, making it easy to believe you’re on safe ground. Add frustration and impatience to the mix, and it’s no wonder so many folks take the bait. TALK TECHY TO ME: GET YOUR WORK DONE FASTER WITH THIS PRO TIP RELATED: How to spot a fake retail website before you buy How they snag you Fake CAPTCHA: You verify ("I’m not a robot"), then you’re asked to download a README file for instructions. Those instructions install malware. YouTube tutorials: You click a download link in the description of a YouTube video that promises to fix your tech issue. You guessed it! It’s malware in disguise. ClickFix scams: You copy and paste commands into your computer while following a step-by-step guide. Oops ... You’ve commanded it to obey its new hacker overlords. Phony updates: Quick! A pop-up says you need to install a security update right now! It’s malware pretending to be your app, operating system or browser. RELATED: Another scammer is now rich Computer code on a screen with a skull representing a computer virus / malware attack. (iStock) How to protect yourself These scammers are savvy, but you can outsmart them. Think twice before downloading: If a tutorial tells you to turn off antivirus software or download a random link, bail. Rely on big names like Google, Apple and Microsoft that publish steps for help online ... or, you know, me! Check URLs and sources: Cybercriminals mimic legitimate sites. Always double-check the web address, especially when you’re looking at updates or troubleshooting guides. If the URL feels off , trust your gut and close it. 3 SECURITY AND DATA CHECKS YOU SHOULD DO ONCE A YEAR Be careful what you copy and paste: Never copy commands from unknown sources into your computer’s terminal or command prompt. That’s a classic malware delivery tactic. Update the right way: Don’t click random pop-ups to update your software. Always go through your device settings or the app store . RELATED: Hackers have a sneaky trick to get you to click their fake links - See it in action Let’s say the worst happens. A person is pictured using Google on their laptop. (Serene Lee/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) Despite being careful, you fell for it. Don’t panic, just act fast to limit the damage: Run a virus scan: Use antivirus software you trust to detect and remove any malware installed on your device. The free stuff isn’t good enough anymore. Change your passwords: Update passwords for any accounts you suspect are compromised. Email and financial accounts should be your first priority. And no password reusing! Every one should be unique. Yes, I know it’s a pain. Monitor your bank accounts: Keep an eye on your accounts for unauthorized charges or transactions. Notify your bank immediately if you see anything suspicious. I have the alerts in my banking app turned on so I get a buzz every time something out of the ordinary happens. Check for unusual activity: Look for strange logins or changes in your online accounts, too. Many sites and services have a section in the settings where you can see what devices are logged into your accounts and where they’re coming from. Reinstall your system if necessary: You may need to reset your device or reinstall your operating system. Steps here to complete a factory reset. Please, please back up your data first. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Get tech-smarter on your schedule Award-winning host Kim Komando is your secret weapon for navigating tech. National radio: Airing on 500+ stations across the US - Find yours or get the free podcast. Daily newsletter: Join 559,000 people who read the Current (free!) Watch: On Kim’s YouTube channel Podcast: " Kim Komando Today " - Listen wherever you get podcasts Copyright 2025, WestStar Multimedia Entertainment. All rights reserved.
Wheel of Fortune contestants whiffing their bonus puzzles is nothing new, but on December 4’s episode, a player came up short on a $40,000 puzzle that left fans joking that she may never want to visit a Disney theme park again. The game show’s latest big miss involved Vandana Patel, an Indian fusion food expert from Chicago. She won the episode and proceeded to the coveted bonus round with $20,600, a trip to Florida, and the selection of “What Are You Wearing?” as her category. Joined by host Ryan Seacrest and the off-side support of her waving mom, daughter, and husband, she faced the two-word puzzle. Choosing a “DMH” and “A,” Vanna White added a mere “H” to the first word. “We want more!” Seacrest chanted. With that tough break, the 10-second timer began. The puzzle read as, “‘_ H _ T E’ ‘_ L _ _ E S.'” A stern Patel did her very best to concentrate on cracking it, successfully saying “White” was the first word. But she couldn’t figure out the second word, and the timer ran out. The full puzzle was unveiled, “WHITE GLOVES.” Seacrest revealed the gold envelope contained the $40,000 amount and put a consoling arm around Patel’s shoulder. “This was on your bucket list!” he told her. “It was,” she replied. The game show shared the big miss on Youtube, where fans reacted to the loss with the top comment being about how the contestant will likely never want to see Mickey Mouse, or Mario of the Nintendo games, again given their white gloves. “Now she never wants to see mickey or mario again,” the fan wrote scoring 20 likes. “Or the keeper of the Stanley Cup,” replied another. A third fan wrote, “I knew it said WHITE GLOVES and I even solved it before the timer was displayed.” A fourth penned, “Don’t worry, Vandana, I was stumped too. I got the first word, but not the second. That’s alright, you’re a winner regardless. $20K is nothing to sneeze at. Great job! A fifth said, “I knew gloves from the initial and her h got me white. Tough puzzle “Wow. At least it wasn’t the hundred thousand dollar wedge,” wrote one more. Meanwhile , Seacrest, of course, had huge shoes to fill replacing the legendary Pat Sajak after four decades for Season 42. His debut month was the strongest ratings month for WoF in the past three years, and viewers were already treated to a viral moment (via a round of sausage) . That said, there have been some questionable hosting moments. Ryan Seacrest's Real Height Revealed as 'Wheel of Fortune' Host Gets 'Short Shamed' In September, Seacrest suffered what fans dubbed his “first blooper” , involving a prolonged reaction to rewarding a bonus round. Fans also called out the host for ruling against another player before the timer was up. Most controversially, last month, fans called out the host for not reminding a player to pick a letter , leading to him losing the game in a misunderstanding and by a mere $147. This past two weeks, a more puzzling issue has come to light, which is that there has been a mere one bonus puzzle win out of the last eight episodes , many fans blaming the players and not the host. Wheel of Fortune , Weeknights, Check your local listings More Headlines: ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Player Misses $40,000 Win After Disney Disaster ‘Harry Potter’ TV Show Sets Filming Start: All the Details Danny Trejo on How ‘Mysteries Unearthed’ Brings His Career ‘Full Circle’ ‘Scrubs’ Revival in the Works at ABC ‘Jeopardy!’ Fans Say Colin Jost Is ‘Funnier’ Than Ken Jennings & Suggest He Hosts Big Special
Whether you unwrapped a shiny new Steam Deck OLED over the holidays, or have been rocking the original since it launched, you’re probably on the lookout for some addicting games at an affordable price. Bonus points if the games play like they were intentionally designed for Valve’s handheld. The good news is I have a few recommendations that fit those criteria perfectly. These games evoke a deep sense of nostalgia for the retro titles that inspired them, they all sip power resulting in marathon battery life, and they’re surprisingly cheap. At the time I’m writing this, you can snag all three for less than $40 total. The bad news? You can kiss your productivity goodbye, because these are difficult to put down! 1: Minishoot’ Adventures Have you ever thought to yourself, “I wonder what would happen if you crossed a classic top-down adventure game like The Legend of Zelda with a bullet hell shooter?” No, neither have I! Fortunately for us, developer Soulgame Studio did ask that question, and the delightful answer is Minishoot’ Adventures, a twin-stick shooter + adventure game + RPG-Lite hybrid that is an absolute gem. It pays obvious tribute to The Legend of Zelda in many ways. There’s a colorful overworld to explore, challenging underworld dungeons to battle through, secrets to discover, and hidden heart containers that boost your total health. But there’s also a flawlessly executed twin-stick shooter here as well, which is how combat unfolds. Leveling up your character means improving various systems on your cute little ship like bullet distance, damage, and movement speed. You also unlock new abilities that allow you to traverse more of the map; you know, the Zelda staple of backtracking to that intriguing area you just noticed but couldn’t quite reach. Boss battles are pure, chaotic, bullet hell bliss that maintain just the right level of challenge, and the dungeons leading to them are a blast to navigate through. It’s a game that isn’t trying to push either genre in a new direction; just a game that understands the genres its representing and executes them flawlessly. A recent update made the UI more readable on Steam Deck, and smoothed out some of the FPS drops that were happening during boss battles. If you’re not sure this unique genre combo is for you, there’s a demo on Steam. 2: Chained Echoes After recently finishing Sea of Stars, I still craved more of that classic JRPG charm and turn-based combat reminiscent of the 16-bit era. Fortunately, it was delivered in abundance when I stumbled across Chained Echoes. Do you love challenging and rewarding turn-based combat? Do you love mechs, dragons, and airships? Do you love the visual aesthetic of games like Chrono Trigger and Trials of Mana? Then it’s a strong bet you’re going to love this. Developed by one man over the course of 7 years, Chained Echoes takes all the JRPG tropes you grew up loving and inexplicably improves upon them. Clever combat hooks like the Overdrive System help to balance your tactics and keep you on your toes. An interesting “tag team” mechanic means you can have a total of 8 characters jumping in and out of combat to both avoid death and execute a variety of combo attacks. And there are some unconventional but refreshing twists, like the upgrade system, or the fact that party members regain all their HP and MP after each battle. It can be a bit rough around the edges in parts, but Chained Echoes is bursting with personality, memorable characters, and unexpected moments (don’t skip the turtle race). If you’re on the fence, a free demo is available on Steam. 3: Parking Garage Rally Circuit The Sega Saturn celebrated its 30th anniversary this year. And at first glance, one might wonder if Parking Garage Rally Circuit was somehow lost among the console’s short but much hyped slate of iconic arcade racers — such as the immortal Sega Rally or Daytona USA. Nope. It was released only a couple months ago but is clearly a loving homage to the distinct look, feel, and sound of Saturn-era racing games. But Parking Garage Rally Circuit isn’t on this list for merely being some clone of a classic. It’s on this list because it’s a shining example of a game that honors its roots but comes to the table with an impeccably executed twist: instead of traditional racetracks or street circuits, you’re speeding and drifting your way through a variety of creatively designed parking garages that are littered with obstacles. The meat of the game is time trials — simply getting through these chaotic courses as fast as possible. What makes it so compelling is the tight controls, exaggerated (and thus perfect) physics, amazing camera movement, cheerful and reverb-drenched announcer, and that absurdly catchy and energetic ska-inspired soundtrack. Seriously, the music — courtesy of the Holophonics — is inspired . Go listen to it on Bandcamp ! The small team of developers also packed in some bonuses for players who want to dial in the perfect retro aesthetic. Choose between graphics profiles like Original Hardware, Modern Emulator, and PC Port (I recommend the Modern Handheld option for Deck players). Play with a 4:3 aspect ratio. Even adjust CRT scanlines and CRT warp effects. I’m absolutely in love with this game. It makes me smile the moment I hear that infectious menu music. It’s the kind of game where gameplay is the only reward you need, where trying to shave off those precious seconds feels joyous instead of feeling like a chore. One that feels like it was meant to be experienced on a portable like the Steam Deck. Go get it!Helping students with their ‘big plans’: Massachusetts OKs vocational funding for three programs at Springfield Sci-Tech, PutnamCalifornia residents on edge as high surf and flooding threats persist on Christmas Eve
Former American Idol contestant Clay Aiken has called out the current judges for being too nice. The hit singing competition show, which is heading toward Season 23 this March, was rebooted on ABC in 2018 and brought along judges Katy Perry —who is now being replaced by Carrie Underwood — Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie . Back when Aiken was a contestant during Season 2 in 2003, the original panelists were Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, and Paula Abdul. Carrie Underwood’s career highs — from American Idol to Las Vegas residency American Idol's hidden battle to secure Carrie Underwood before rival show More than 20 years after becoming a finalist and losing to Ruben Studdard, Aiken has shared his candid thoughts on the show’s approach to judging compared to the criticism he and his fellow contestants got during Season 2. “They don't even give them anything constructive,” Aiken told E! News of Perry, Bryan and Richie. “It's just like, ‘That was great. That was wonderful.’ Well, what are you there for then?” Now that Underwood, Season 4's winner, is replacing Perry, there could be some decent constructive criticism. The Blown Away singer has previously expressed her hopes to be “honest and constructive but still kind.” However, the way Aiken sees it, due to the feedback the judges gave before her arrival, the show could cut their comments entirely to save on airtime. “I mean we could save so much time,” he joked. “And we could sell like 50 more ads if we just cut out the three minutes after every performance where we listen to three people say, ‘That was wonderful. You are a star.’” The Invisible singer, who is releasing his first Christmas album in more than a decade on November 22, added that he is passionate about accurate critiques because he felt they helped him when he was on Idol. “I grew from the criticisms—many of them not all of them,” he shared. “I grew from the critiques that we got when I was on the show. "And I think that the show was at its best when it did help people get better. I tried to improve every week because of what I was told." Don't Miss: American Idol fans vow not to watch after 'too country' new judges panel [BACKLASH] Inside American Idol decision to swap Katy Perry with 'queen' Carrie Underwood [INSIGHT] Carrie Underwood's changing face after fans question her different look [LATEST] He added: "I don't think we do anyone a service when we just tell them that they're great, and don't tell them what they could do better at.” Aiken’s reflection on his time on Idol and its judges comes as he embarks on his return to music with Christmas Bells Are Ringing. He's been away from music to help raise his 16-year-old son Parker. The singer also tried out a political career, including running for Congress. “I realized that I could do more to improve people's lives by singing than I ever was going to be able to do in in the political world,” he said. “Going into something that I think has the potential to make people happier, Christmas made sense, right? Because I'm cheesy already as a person.” Meanwhile, fans of Idol are fuming about the upcoming season's release date. Season 23 will premiere on March 9, 2025, and while fans were initially thrilled with the update, some had concerns about the show coming back later than in previous years. “Why so late!? That feels like forever away!,” one person wrote. “The season is starting late this year,” another agreed, as a third added: “March is too far away." American Idol has been known to air in mid-February over the last few years. Still, it’s important to note that when the show was initially rebooted on ABC, that first season (technically Season 16) premiered on March 11, 2018.The on-field success of both Army and Navy in the 2024 season led to television ratings for their rivalry game not seen in more than three decades. According to Front Office Sports, Navy's 31-13 victory last Saturday at Landover, Md., had a viewership of 9.4 million for CBS, making it the highest ratings for the game since at least 1990. The 1992 Army-Navy game had a viewership of 8.45 million. Army (11-2) and Navy (9-3) are both bowl bound. Army will face Louisiana Tech in the Dec. 28 Independence Bowl, while Navy takes on Oklahoma in the Armed Forces Bowl on Dec. 27. The Army-Navy clash led to a 31 percent jump in viewership from the 2023 contest. Earlier this month, CBS announced a 10-year extension to broadcast the game in a deal that runs through 2038. --Field Level MediaPurpleVine Drives TCL's Successful Entry into the HEVC Advance Patent Pool