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Randy Quaid blasts Anne Hathaway ‘Days of Thunder’ casting, says sequel needs ‘sex appeal’
Randy Quaid questioned Anne Hathaway's casting in the upcoming "Days of Thunder" sequel Tom Cruise announced over the weekend.
Quaid, who starred alongside Cruise in the original '90s flick, claimed Hathaway was a "leftist, woke, horrible choice" to replace Nicole Kidman in part two of the NASCAR-themed film.
"Tony Scott, whose style I loved — I also loved working with him — would never cast Anne in a million years," Quaid said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
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"Tony was all about making well-made films with great actors who had sex appeal. A high-octane woman was Tony’s thing."
Quaid added, "He could never get what he wanted for 'Days of Thunder' out of Anne; and trying to cut around her would be hell for everyone."
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Representatives for Hathaway and Cruise did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
The "Kingpin" actor first aired his grievances over the "Days of Thunder" news on social media.
NICOLE KIDMAN ADMITS SHE WAS ‘VERY FEARFUL AND DEEPLY VULNERABLE’ AFTER KEITH URBAN DIVORCE
"Anne Hathaway is a leftist, woke, horrible choice for DAYS OF THUNDER NASCAR audience who are MAGA," he told his X followers. "The sexy older chick for Tom in this film needs to be Nicole. That’s the casting that would sell the idea.
"It’s interesting because when we made the first one there was also a rush to get it out; editors slept in the cutting room on shifts. This is a weird thing, like they want it to come out and tank."
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Quaid then mused that if he were "in control of production," both Cruise and Kidman would be "together on screen again."
Kidman portrayed a neurosurgeon who fell in love with Cruise's character, rookie NASCAR driver Cole Trickle. Hathaway is slated to play a team owner in the new Paramount movie.
"We don’t need a new girl; we need a new race car," he argued.
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Quaid was overwhelmed with joy and claimed Cruise personally called him with the news that the production was set, but quickly changed tunes once Hathaway was revealed as Cruise's co-star.
"You need the original girl. It’s not personal; it’s filmmaking," Quaid said while sharing Cruise's X post. "Anne isn’t sexy, because and if you haven’t noticed, she’s pregnant."
When Quaid shared his statement on X, followers were divided in response.
"Yes exactly, being yourself is the very definition of acting as a character," one user wrote before musing that Hathaway probably "wants to change the character to her own name."
Another user noted, "What made the last film so great was that it transcended stupid politics you are trying to bring into this."
"I’m MAGA. Anne is fn hot Cousin Eddie. Big fan of all your work," one user shared on X. "Yes she might be a typical delusional lefty, but I’m ok with this for entertainment purposes only."
Colin Kaepernick says NFL is 'actively blackballing me' 10 years after kneeling protest began
It was 10 years ago to the date that Colin Kaepernick, as well as his San Francisco 49ers teammate Eric Reid, kneeled during the national anthem before their preseason game against the San Diego Chargers.
The move, which was initially sitting on the bench during the anthem in August 2016 before switching to a kneel, was done to protest police brutality and racial inequality in the United States – an action that would cause Kaepernick to become one of the most divisive sports stars in the country.
Kaepernick’s decision to kneel ultimately came at a cost for his NFL career, as no one team picked him up after he opted out of his 49ers contract in March 2017. He went 1-10 in his 11 starts the season before, where he was coming off a serious knee injury from the 2015 season.
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Kaepernick has said on many occasions he believes the NFL blackballed him because of his kneeling protest, though the league has denied that each time. Ten years later, Kaepernick told NBC News he still believes the NFL is "actively blackballing me."
"I’m not gonna support an organization that one, is actively blackballing me, but two, has targeted my brothers who have been protesting as part of this as well," Kaepernick told the outlet. "I watch college football."
Kaepernick added "there’s not a definitive moment that I would point to" in terms of why he believes the NFL has blackballed him. But rather, he believes, once he became a free agent in 2017 and his political and societal beliefs were out there, no team wanted him.
"Coming on the back of going to a Super Bowl, going to an NFC Championship, setting records, and not a single team would bring me in, even for a workout?" Kaepernick said.
Kaepernick still holds the NFL single-game playoff record for rushing yards by a quarterback with 181 against the Green Bay Packers, which was during the 49ers’ run to Super Bowl XLVII. They eventually lost to the Baltimore Ravens, 34-31, on Feb. 3, 2013. During the 2013 season, the 49ers lost in the NFC Championship game to the Seattle Seahawks – the team that would bring him in for his only meeting during the 2017 offseason to chat about potentially signing.
Kaepernick claimed then-head coach Pete Carroll and GM John Schneider discussed his political beliefs.
"In pretty much any environment outside the NFL, would be immediate litigation," Kaepernick added.
Kaepernick also mentioned that some coaches and GMs in the NFL did reach out as he wasn’t being signed, saying "we want to bring you in, but it’s getting shut down above us." He mentioned in his upcoming memoir, "The Perilous Fight," that then-Ravens head coach John Harbaugh was among those he spoke with in 2017, with his brother, Jim Harbaugh, serving as the 49ers’ head coach while Kaepernick was there.
Kaepernick filed a grievance against the NFL in October 2017 alleging that owners were colluding to keep him out of the league. He and Reid settled their collusion grievance against the league on Feb. 15, 2019, receiving less than $10 million total. Reid was playing for the Carolina Panthers at the time.
NBC News reports a player within the league in 2016 said, "Everybody believes that he was blackballed" in reference to Kaepernick.
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"Those are decisions that each individual owner has to make and their clubs, coaches, GMs," Goodell said to NBC in 2020 when asked about Kaepernick not being in the league. "And I’ve talked to a lot of our clubs about it and I’ve encouraged them. I’d love to see him play again."
The NFL tried to set up a workout for Kaepernick in November 2019 following the lawsuit settlement, which he called off because of a waiver he believed would sign away his employment rights and potential future claims against the league.
Instead, Kaepernick put together his own workout, setting it up at a high school field close to an hour away from the originally-planned venue to allow better media access than what the NFL was initially going to give him. There were seven teams that showed up to Charles Drew High School in Riverdale, Georgia to watch Kaepernick: the Kansas City Chiefs, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Tennessee Titans, 49ers, then-Washington Redskins, and Detroit Lions (the Buffalo Bills were also reported by some to have a representative present).
Kaepernick never signed with a team.
In 2022, the Las Vegas Raiders brought in Kaepernick for their own workout, and according to NFL legend Warren Sapp, he heard it was a "disaster" and "one of the worst workouts ever."
Meanwhile, in 2021, a Netflix limited series titled, "Colin in Black & White," saw Kaepernick liken the NFL Draft process and scouting combine to a slave auction, causing a massive stir of debate and controversy.
"Before they put you on the field, teams poke, prod and examine you searching for any defect that might affect your performance," he said in the series., as scenes of players portrayed by Black actors transitioned to a slave auction. "No boundary respect. No dignity left intact."
Now 38, Kaepernick believes the NFL, despite millions in donations to the Inspire Change fund, expanding the Rooney Rule, and working with the Players Coalition to help address social justice reform, has not "materially changed."
"None of their actions show that," he told NBC News. "We have seen it time and time again. For them, it has gone back to business as usual, and I think that is a tragedy that we have allowed them to be able to get to that point."
The NFL told the outlet, " The issues Colin and other NFL players raised remain important to the league and deserving of continued attention and action."
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"Since 2017, that work has reached thousands of national and grassroots partners, backed by more than $575 million in contributions," the league added, referencing its work with Inspire Change. "We remain committed to listening, collaborating, and taking action that creates lasting impact."
Kaepernick maintains that he’s still training as if he will play in the NFL again someday, including early-morning workouts, before working on his various business ventures.
Kaepernick is set to receive the Muhammad Ali Center’s Humanitarian of the Year Award on Nov. 7, recognizing his work against racial injustice and efforts to support underserved communities.
Colts GM Chris Ballard on Keenan Allen DUI arrest: 'He's a tremendous human being. Give him some grace'
Keenan Allen remains with the Indianapolis Colts following a DUI arrest Sunday and, from listening to general manager Chris Ballard address the matter on Tuesday, that's not going to change anytime soon.
"Good people make mistakes, OK?" Ballard said in articulating an initial defense for keeping the veteran wide receiver on the roster heading into the team's regular-season opener against the Baltimore Ravens.
"He's a tremendous human being. Give him some grace. And he'll work through the process of the legal system."
So, it is clear that is what the Colts intend to do.
Allen was a late training camp addition because the Colts decided they needed insurance against Alec Pierce's return to health from a lingering calf and heel issue.
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He signed a one-year contract on Aug. 19 and it made sense because the 34-year-old wide receiver is reuniting with head coach Shane Steichen, who previously worked with Allen in Los Angeles.
Allen also came with an endorsement from Philip Rivers, who played for the Colts previously and after Daniel Jones was injured last year. Rivers and Allen were teammates with the Chargers.
And that history is a major reason Ballard is defending Allen.
"Fourteen years in a league, no issues, OK?" Ballard said. "Decorated career, decorated teammate, as you know, our relationship with Philip Rivers. I know Philip holds him in extremely high regard, and Shane was with him.
"And after you meet his his mom and dad who are just amazing people, we feel good about who he is.
"Unequivocally."
Allen played in only one preseason game for the Colts after being signed. But hours after that preseason appearance Saturday, he was arrested at approximately 1 a.m., Sunday in downtown Indianapolis.
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The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said officers investigated after seeing Allen's vehicle parked in a no-parking zone in the 100 block of South Meridian Street and reported signs of intoxication.
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Allen was booked on preliminary misdemeanor charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated while endangering another person and operating a vehicle with a blood-alcohol concentration of at least 0.08%.
Authorities have not publicly disclosed Allen’s precise blood-alcohol reading.
Allen was transported to the Marion County Arrestee Processing Center, with records indicating he was released at 3:49 p.m., Sunday. No bond amount has been publicly reported.
The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office will make the final charging decision on Allen, while the NFL continues to monitor the situation, according to a league source. Allen could be subject to discipline under the league's Personal Conduct Policy.
The NFL has quite a few Personal Conduct Policy issues pending.
Allen's first scheduled court date is Sept. 16, three days after the Colts' regular-season opener against the Ravens.
Penta clinches World Heavyweight Championship match vs Roman Reigns after epic brawl with Rey Fenix
Penta and Rey Fenix delivered one of the most exciting matches on "Monday Night Raw" this year as the two top Luchadores in the sport battled for a shot at a world title.
Penta and Fenix were the final two competitors in the World Heavyweight Championship No. 1 Contender’s Tournament. The winner would receive an opportunity to face Roman Reigns in Mexico City on Sept. 14.
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On Monday, Penta and Fenix showcased the good that comes along with professional wrestling – two men who know each other very well battling it out with important stakes attached. That’s what fans in Cleveland and those watching on Netflix got to see.
The two went blow-for-blow almost immediately out of the gate. Each of their high-risk, high-reward moves being outdone by what came next. Fenix, at one point countered an avalanche Mexican destroyer attempt, stunning Penta and turning it around into a Mexican muscle buster.
It wasn’t long before the two needed to go on the outside of the ring to inflict pain. Fenix was going for a kill shot on the announcers’ desk. But Penta turned it around on him and sent Fenix through the table with a Penta Driver. The two competitors crashed through the table, leaving the fans stunned.
Penta got Fenix back into the ring. He worked on Fenix’s arm and set him up for one more devastating Mexican destroyer. He pinned Fenix to win the tournament and to get his chance at WWE glory.
Roman Reigns entered the ring before the show was over and got face-to-face with Penta. It will be a match that Reigns will really have to prepare for. Reigns has gone toe-to-toe with the best that WWE has to offer – Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, Brock Lesnar, John Cena and more. But there’s not much he’ll be able to do to match what Penta does in the ring.
It would be really something if Penta, somehow, walks out of Mexico City as the world heavyweight champion. Reigns’ recent run as champion has been dominant. But with the summer closing, could Penta possibly upset Reigns in one of the biggest spots of his career since joining WWE? Only time will tell.
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Fenix may have lost to Penta on Raw but there are still big things ahead for him.
He will be a part of Triplemania 34 – a two night spectacle showcasing the incredible roster of Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA). The first night will take place in Las Vegas on Sept. 11 and the second will be held in Mexico City on Sept. 13.
Fenix is set to defend the AAA World Cruiserweight Championship against Jack Cartwheel, Mini Vikingo and Nathan Frazer.
His three opponents battled each other at Ola De Calor on Sunday afternoon to see who will become the No. 1 contender for the title. However, the match reached a time limit. Fenix came out and announced he would take on all three at Triplemania.
Woke stunt goes horribly wrong as Michigan Dems open convention with brutal ‘land acknowledgment’
LANSING, Mich. — A woke stunt went horribly wrong at Sunday’s Democratic Party Nominating Convention in Michigan as a top official opened the event with a brutal attempt at a "land acknowledgment."
"I am here to offer our land acknowledgment," said Portia Roberson, the vice chair of the state's party, at the outset of the afternoon gathering of Democrats. "Our land acknowledgments in Michigan recognize the state as the ancestral, traditional and contemporary land of the Anishinaabe, Three Fires Confederacy — "
But she was cut off after an incorrect pronunciation of Anishinaabe when several audience members began shouting the correct pronunciation at Roberson, to which she replied, "Say it again for me."
OBAMA CENTER EMBEDS 'INDIGENOUS' LAND MESSAGE ON CONTROVERSIAL SITE
"Stand up," Roberson then told a woman wearing a white t-shirt in the crowd. "You do it better than me. Make it — I'm big on names being pronounced right, so make sure I get it right."
The audience member then repeated the pronunciation of the word Anishinaabe until Roberson successfully mimicked it into the microphone.
"Thank you. Wait, don't sit down yet," she told the convention-goer. "I might get another one wrong. You may have to correct me, and I want to get this right."
She then picked up where she left off.
"Including the Odawa, Ottawa, Ojibwe, Chippewa and ... Potawatomi," she said, sparking another round of audience shouting with a mispronunciation of the last tribe.
"See, usually I rehearse before I come out. This time I rushed it and I didn't rehearse. I apologize," Roberson admitted before exiting the stage.
The Democratic Party of Michigan did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment about the land acknowledgment or Roberson's pronunciation mishaps.
Land acknowledgments have become a woke ritual for those aiming to placate the far-left by recognizing where an event is held or institution is located is on land that was originally inhabited by Indigenous people — with the implication that the land was 'stolen' from them.
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The convention room inside the Lansing Center, where the event was held over the weekend, was about half-full as Michigan's Democratic nominees for statewide office paraded onto the stage one-by-one.
Each gave a brief speech surrounded by supporters holding campaign memorabilia.
The convention's largest draw was embattled Michigan U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive who mostly lashed out at President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance over economic issues, and stumped for socialized healthcare.
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Trump was also invoked by several of the candidates.
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, who is running for governor, Michigan Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, Benson's nominee for lieutenant governor and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, a software engineer who is running for Secretary of State, were a few of the major attractions of the convention.
"When I’m secretary of state, your data will belong to you," he said, "not the federal government."
Brinks focused her ire on Rep. John James, R-Mich.
"Time and time again, James has made it clear that he is not fighting for the people of Michigan," she said. "He’s fighting for Donald Trump."
Gilchrist said he'd protect Michiganders' data from the federal government, which is seeking voter rolls in several states.
Red state heartlands put a ring on young love while progressive blue cities lag on early marriage
Young people looking to tie the knot in their 20s may want to rethink where they live. Moving to big coastal cities like New York and Los Angeles could mean lowering the odds of getting married — and living in an area with a high concentration of singles may not lead to more marriages.
According to a new study from the Institute for Family Studies (IFS), early-marriage rates are lower in many urban hubs and higher in parts of the heartland. The findings point to a geographical divide in family formation, with young adults in places like Tennessee, Indiana and Utah marrying at higher rates than their coastal big-city peers.
"For singles, your best odds of finding love and getting married aren’t in big coastal cities where most singles live, but in middle America, where more marriage‑minded singles are," Wendy Wang, senior researcher at the Institute for Family Studies, told Fox News Digital.
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The research is part of the IFS’s "Get Married Maps," which provides young people with information about regional marriage trends and examines factors associated with marriage rates. Those factors include employment, religion and recent presidential election results, among others.
"Given the many benefits of marriage, a city where more young people are tying the knot might ultimately provide a more fulfilling life than one with just excellent entertainment and tasty food—but few weddings," the study explains.
For adults ages 22-29, regions with the highest marriage rates include Provo, Utah, as well as parts of Tennessee, Indiana, Nebraska, Kentucky, Idaho, North Carolina, Kansas and Georgia. In contrast, eight of the 10 regions with the lowest early-marriage rates are concentrated in the New York and Los Angeles metropolitan areas.
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"These findings demonstrate that, for young adults, the ‘best place’ to get married may depend largely on when they hope to marry. Those who are committed to marrying in their twenties may want to think carefully about moving to a major coastal city; meanwhile, those same cities could be an excellent option—though not the only choice—for marriage-minded adults in their thirties," the study notes.
While coastal cities have lower marriage rates for 20-somethings, the picture changes for singles in their 30s. For adults ages 30 to 39, regions with the highest marriage rates include portions of the New York, San Jose, Los Angeles and Chicago metropolitan areas, along with suburbs in Texas and Indiana.
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Wang also explained that the research shows living in an area with a large population of single young people may not improve the odds of finding a future spouse.
"If you think your best chance of finding someone to marry is in the places with the most singles, think again," Wang told Fox News Digital. "The nation’s top 10 areas with the highest share of singles (more than 80% unmarried) are far from the places where most new marriages are happening."
The IFS research found that areas with more single men relative to single women tend to have higher female marriage rates, but the relationship is even stronger when researchers measure the ratio of full-time-employed single men to all single women.
Military-adjacent regions like Oceanside, California, and Fayetteville, North Carolina, as well as tech-heavy areas such as Mountain View and Sunnyvale, California, have some of the highest ratios of full-time-employed single men to single women.
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However, the link between male income and marriage rates varies by age. For women in their thirties, regions with a higher ratio of single men earning at least $60,000 a year had higher marriage rates. That financial link disappears for women in their 20s, suggesting younger couples place less emphasis on high salaries when deciding to tie the knot.
Still, on an individual level, young men in their 20s who earn $60,000 or more are about twice as likely to marry as lower earners.
"Single men’s jobs remain one of the strongest factors driving marriage in America," Wang added.
Regional marriage rates for young adults in their 20s also showed a strong positive correlation with areas that backed Donald Trump over Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. However, for adults in their 30s, this correlation flips and turns negative.
"One possible explanation is that more rural parts of the country, where Trump generally performed better than Harris, often have higher marriage rates for adults in their twenties," the study notes.
The researchers noted that their findings show broad regional patterns, not proof that a particular location or political environment causes people to marry.
The study measures where respondents currently live, not necessarily where they met their spouses or lived when they got married. The researchers also acknowledged that some people may have moved after marrying, potentially affecting the marriage rates of certain regions.
What a smart firewall does and why it matters on home Wi-Fi
Most of us think of home Wi-Fi as the invisible connection that lets a laptop stream a movie, a phone display photos and a printer work from across the room. In practice, it is also the meeting point for many devices, accounts and types of information. A typical home network may include computers, phones, tablets, smart speakers, televisions, cameras, printers and connected appliances. These devices regularly send and receive data.
Some of that traffic is expected, such as opening a bank website or downloading a software update. Other traffic may be unwanted or suspicious. That is where a firewall comes in. A firewall is a security system that checks network connections and applies rules about which traffic should be allowed. Think of it as a doorman for digital connections. It does not know everything about every visitor, but it can help prevent some unexpected traffic from reaching a device.
Understanding how firewalls work, where they fit and what they can and cannot protect against can help you make smarter choices about securing your home Wi-Fi.
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FBI SAYS RUSSIAN HACKERS HIJACKED OLD WI-FI ROUTERS
Your router is the box that connects your home to the internet and sends Wi-Fi throughout the house. Many home routers include a built-in firewall. Because it sits at the gateway, this router firewall can help protect devices connected to your home network from certain unwanted connections coming from the internet.
A router firewall is useful because one device can provide a basic layer of protection for the network as a whole. It can help reduce direct exposure for computers, phones and other connected equipment. However, its settings and capabilities depend on the router model, its software and how it was configured.
A software firewall runs on an individual device, such as a Windows PC or Mac. It can add another layer of awareness and control at the device level. This becomes especially useful when a laptop leaves home, connects to a different network or needs to distinguish between applications running on that computer.
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The two types can work together. A router firewall and a software firewall serve different purposes. The router helps guard the network's front door, while the software firewall helps watch activity involving a particular device.
The terms sound technical, but the basic idea is straightforward.
Inbound traffic is data traveling toward your device. For example, a website may send information back to your browser after you request a page, or a remote computer may try to connect to a service on your network. Some inbound traffic is expected, especially when it responds to a connection you started. Other inbound traffic may be unexpected.
Outbound traffic is data leaving your device. Opening a webpage, sending an email, uploading a photograph or syncing a file all involve outbound activity. If an unfamiliar program tries to connect to the internet, that may also be outbound traffic.
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A firewall may use rules, application information and other signals to decide whether a connection looks familiar or requires attention. Depending on the operating system and security product, it may alert you, allow the connection or block it. The goal is to help ordinary online activity continue while making unusual network behavior more visible and manageable.
Online banking and shopping place sensitive information at the center of ordinary internet use. You may sign in to a bank, enter a card number, review a medical bill or manage a retirement account from the same computer you use for entertainment.
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Remote work adds another reason to pay attention. A home laptop may handle work documents, personal files and video meetings throughout the day. If an unfamiliar application begins communicating online, security tools that provide additional context can help you understand what the computer is doing.
A firewall cannot tell whether every website, email or message is honest. A scammer may persuade someone to visit a legitimate-looking page or approve an action that appears convincing. A firewall provides one layer of protection, while your decisions remain an important part of staying safe.
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A firewall can help control certain network connections. It may reduce exposure to some unsolicited inbound traffic and help identify unusual activity involving applications. It can also add a layer of protection when a device connects to networks outside the home.
A firewall cannot make a weak password strong or determine whether someone is being tricked by a convincing text message. It also cannot replace antivirus protection, software updates, multifactor authentication, secure router settings or reliable backups.
No firewall can guarantee that files, accounts or devices will never be compromised. Some threats arrive through activity you intentionally start, such as opening a malicious attachment or entering information into a fake website. Other threats may exploit weaknesses in outdated software. Those situations call for additional defenses and safer habits.
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A few simple router and Wi-Fi settings can strengthen your home network and reduce unnecessary security risks.
Start with the router. Use the security mode recommended by the manufacturer or internet provider and avoid leaving the administrator password at its default. The administrator password controls important router settings and should be different from the Wi-Fi password.
Install router firmware updates when they are offered. Firmware is the built-in software that helps the router operate. Updates may improve performance, fix problems or address security weaknesses.
Use a strong, unique Wi-Fi password. If your router offers a guest network, consider using it for visitors or devices that do not need access to your main network.
Review the list of connected devices occasionally so you know what is using your Wi-Fi. If you see a device you do not recognize, investigate it and change your Wi-Fi password if needed.
Consider replacing a router that no longer receives security updates or cannot support current security standards. Check the manufacturer's documentation rather than assuming that a newer Wi-Fi label automatically gives you stronger security.
A firewall works best as part of a broader security setup that protects your devices, accounts and important files.
Keep your operating system, browser, apps and router updated. Turn on automatic updates when that option is available.
Use multifactor authentication for banking, email and other important accounts. Multifactor authentication adds a second verification step, such as an approval on your phone, after your password.
Be cautious with unexpected links, attachments and urgent requests for payment or personal information. Scammers often rely on urgency to get you to act before you have time to question what is happening.
Before approving a remote-access request, confirm who is asking and why. If an alert appears, read it carefully rather than automatically allowing or dismissing it.
Firewalls, antivirus software and backups each protect you in a different way. A firewall helps control network connections, antivirus software detects and responds to malicious software, and reliable backups can help you recover important files if they are damaged, deleted or locked by ransomware. Together, these protections create a stronger defense than any one tool can provide alone.
When choosing antivirus protection, look for real-time malware and ransomware detection, phishing protection, automatic security updates and coverage for all the devices you use. Some products also include device-level firewall protection or cloud backup, but features, storage limits and compatibility can vary by platform.
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Your computer may hold years of family photos, tax returns, medical records, scanned IDs, insurance documents and other files that would be difficult or impossible to replace. That makes protecting your data just as important as protecting the computer itself.
Ransomware is malicious software that can lock or encrypt your files and then demand payment to restore access. A firewall may help block or limit some suspicious connections, but ransomware can reach a device in other ways. Strong security habits and reliable backups give you a better chance of recovering if something goes wrong.
A useful guideline is the 3-2-1 backup strategy: keep three copies of important data on two different types of storage, with at least one copy stored separately from your computer. CISA guidance recommends this approach as one way to improve your ability to recover from ransomware.
Backups work best when they are automatic, current and separated from the same incident affecting your computer. Test a few backed-up files occasionally to make sure you can open them. When practical, keep at least one backup disconnected from your computer or otherwise isolated from routine activity. CISA recommends offline backups because some ransomware can also reach connected storage. Protect cloud backup accounts with strong, unique passwords and multifactor authentication. Norton AntiVirus Plus includes 2 GB of PC Cloud Backup on eligible Windows systems.
If your files suddenly become encrypted, disconnect the affected computer from the network if you can do so safely. CISA recommends isolating affected systems, including disconnecting them from Wi-Fi when necessary, to help prevent the infection from spreading. Avoid rushing to pay a ransom or deleting potential evidence. Preserve messages and notes about what happened and check whether clean backups are available. Consider contacting a qualified cybersecurity professional for help. If you believe an account may also have been exposed, change important passwords from a separate, trusted device.
FCC ROUTER RULE RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT FUTURE UPDATES
A firewall does a lot of work you may never see, and that is exactly why it can be easy to overlook. Your router firewall helps protect the network at home, while a software firewall can watch connections involving a specific computer wherever you take it. I would use both when available, but I would never count on a firewall by itself. Strong passwords, multifactor authentication, current software, antivirus protection and dependable backups all cover risks that a firewall cannot handle. The bigger point is visibility. Most of us have dozens of connections happening behind the scenes every time we use a computer. A good firewall gives you another set of eyes on that activity and another opportunity to stop something suspicious before it goes further.
When was the last time you checked whether your router firewall was enabled and which devices are connected to your home Wi-Fi? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.
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Locals torch migrant shelters as Spain's PM points blame beyond the border
Residents in Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta tore down and burned makeshift migrant shelters amid escalating tensions over a massive influx from neighboring Morocco, as Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez accused Russian and Israeli-linked networks of helping spread disinformation that fueled the crisis.
Demonstrators carrying Spanish flags moved toward beachside migrant camps last week, destroying shelters and setting fires as police attempted to keep protesters and migrants apart, according to Spain’s public broadcaster RTVE and news agency EFE. Protesters chanted "Invasores, expulsión" — "Invaders, expulsion" — as they advanced toward the beaches where migrants have been staying, EFE reported Aug. 27.
Hundreds of residents returned to the streets the following day, marching toward the Trampolín and Benítez beach areas where migrants were camped and repeating the same chant, according to EFE.
The unrest follows an unprecedented surge on July 30 and 31, when more than 72,000 migrants irregularly crossed from Morocco into Ceuta, one of the European Union’s two land borders with Africa. At least 100 people died attempting the crossing, according to Ceuta authorities cited by Reuters on Aug. 31. Roughly 5,000 migrants remained in the enclave as of Monday.
STATE DEPARTMENT RAISES TRAVEL WARNING FOR PART OF SPAIN AS MIGRANT SURGE SPARKS MILITARY DEPLOYMENT
Sánchez on Monday directly linked the mass crossing to what he described as a foreign-backed disinformation campaign.
Spanish authorities have said misleading videos and posts circulating on Instagram, TikTok and other social-media platforms falsely suggested that migrants who reached Ceuta by sea would be permitted to remain in Spain.
Sánchez told radio station SER that research by the European Union’s diplomatic service, the European External Action Service, indicated Russian and Israeli networks had participated in spreading the disinformation alongside far-right networks, Reuters reported Aug. 31.
He argued that Russia and Israel had seized on the crisis to attack Madrid because of disagreements with his government over the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.
However, Sánchez provided no further details about the evidence supporting the accusation, according to the reports.
Both governments rejected his claims.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar accused Sánchez of "lying shamelessly" and said in a post on X that the Spanish leader was attempting to divert attention from domestic policy failures.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov separately rejected Spain’s accusation that Russia was connected to the Ceuta migration crisis.
Sánchez also rejected allegations that Morocco’s government deliberately facilitated the border surge, telling SER, "When people talk and speculate about the participation of Moroccan authorities, I deny this outright," according to Reuters. Spanish opposition parties and some human-rights organizations have accused Rabat of allowing the crossings, an allegation Morocco denies.
The disinformation surrounding the Ceuta crossing had been building well before Sánchez publicly accused Russian and Israeli-linked networks. Fox News Digital reported Aug. 4 that an open-source investigation by Golden Owl Intelligence traced weeks of activity across TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp that circulated misleading interpretations of Spanish immigration law, along with information about routes, meeting points and recommended crossing times.
The campaign intensified after Spain’s Supreme Court issued a July 8 ruling restricting the immediate return of migrants intercepted at sea near Ceuta and Melilla. Simplified accounts of the ruling, combined with confusion over Spain’s separate plan to regularize hundreds of thousands of undocumented migrants, were circulated online as evidence that migrants reaching Spanish territory would be allowed to stay.
SPAIN'S MIGRANT SURGE REIGNITES DEBATE OVER EUROPE’S ISLAMIST TERROR THREAT
Zineb Riboua, a research fellow at the Hudson Institute, said at the time that Islamist movements were also seeking to exploit the crisis politically. Riboua argued that Islamist voices in Morocco and Spain were amplifying the unrest and portraying Europe as an attractive destination while using Morocco’s ties with Israel and the U.S. to attack the Moroccan government. In a July 31 analysis, Riboua wrote that Islamist activists had spent years encouraging young Moroccans to believe their country offered them little future and depicting Europe as a place where prosperity and opportunity were easily available.
The crisis has also spread beyond Spain. Italy on Monday extended for another 15 days its suspension of Schengen free-movement arrangements with Spain, a step first imposed July 31 in response to the mass influx into Ceuta.
Nile Gardiner, director of the Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom at the Heritage Foundation, warned Fox News Digital at the outset of the crisis that Ceuta could become "a key turning point in the unraveling of the European Union." "Once you unravel Schengen — which I think is inevitable — this breaks down the entire European project," Gardiner said.
Reuters contributed to this story.
FRANK SILLER: 'I love you, brother' -- the 9/11 loss that inspired a mission of service
PROGRAMMING ALERT: Watch Tunnel to Towers Chairman and CEO Frank Siller discuss his new book "Let Us Do Good," on "The Five" on Sept. 1 on Fox News Channel at 5 p.m. ET.
There are moments in life that divide everything into before and after. For me, one of those moments came on September 11, 2001, when a firefighter calling from Ground Zero told me what I already feared but was not ready to hear: my younger brother Stephen was not coming home. In that instant, my family’s life changed forever, and so did the course of mine.
Even though I knew that it was probably an exercise in futility, I also kept trying to call Stephen from my Nextel phone, on September 11, hoping that perhaps he had somehow already made it over the Verrazzano Bridge and back to Staten Island. We had the same phone; it was both a cellular phone and a walkie-talkie, which was popular in the early 2000s.
I kept pressing the button on the walkie-talkie part while I called out for Stephen. He did not pick up. I called again, and again, and again. There was no answer—only an eerie silence. I wound up doing that all night and well into the next few days.
I LOST MY WIFE ON 9/11. PLEASE LET THIS 25TH ANNIVERSARY BELONG TO THE FAMILIES
Once I got home to join Pat, early in the afternoon, family members began to straggle one by one through my front door. All we could do was sit in my living room and watch the news, just as hundreds of millions of our fellow Americans did that day. I felt like I was dreaming. It was all so surreal, especially since much of the carnage had occurred in my beloved New York City.
While it was tempting to excuse myself to go shed a few tears, I understood the need to be strong. I had already deep down accepted the harsh reality of Stephen’s fate and needed to be ready for the moment when other members of my family would soon be sadly forced to do the same—or maybe some already had.
AMERICA’S HEARTLAND COMES FACE-TO-FACE WITH 9/11 HISTORY AS 25TH ANNIVERSARY NEARS
That was when my home phone rang. I snuck off into the kitchen to quietly take the call, as not to alarm any family members. On the other end of the line was a neighborhood firefighter named Richie Obermeyer, who lived a few houses away from Stephen. He was calling from the area that would soon be known to America and the world as Ground Zero.
Unbeknownst to me, my daughter Elizabeth was watching me take Richie’s call from the hallway. Years later, she gave me her perspective of this exact moment. That’s the thing about tragedy—everyone has their own recollection and personal memory of the way things unfolded.
"Hi Frank, it’s Richie Obermeyer. I’m down here at the Twin Towers . . ." he said.
"Rich, I’m so sorry. That must be terrible," I said. "It’s just so hard to watch."
"Frank, it’s really bad," said Richie.
"I’m watching it—" I began to say.
"No, Frank." He hesitated and sighed. "It’s really bad."
Speaking slowly yet firmly, I tried to tell Richie that I understood while also hoping that he would have the courage to tell me the truth instead of making me ask him point-blank. That’s when Richie finally said it.
9/11 STEEL BEAM ARRIVES AT FLORIDA SCHOOL WHERE BUSH LEARNED AMERICA WAS UNDER ATTACK
"No one is coming home, Frank," Richie whispered. "No one."
I could hardly breathe. My chest started to tighten, and my eyes welled up. I then dropped my head, and tears began rolling down my cheeks. I already knew deep down that my brother was gone, but hearing the news from someone I trusted ushered in a whole new wave of emotion.
AS AMERICAN PRIDE HITS A 25-YEAR LOW, A NEW 9/11 EDUCATION PLATFORM URGES THE NATION TO NEVER FORGET
After I hung up the phone and took a deep breath, I walked into the living room to explain what Richie had told me. Elizabeth jumped into Pat’s arms. My sister Regina let out a startling shriek and yelled, "Not Stephen!"
We all felt the same way. How could this have happened to Stephen, our little brother who went through so much in life at such a young age? Not Stephen. Not Stephen, the resilient little boy who became an orphan at the age of ten. His five children—Katherine, Olivia, Genevieve, Jake, and baby Stephen—would now have to live their lives without their father, who was a most spectacular human. Stephen’s wife, Sally, the love of his life, would have to raise these children on her own, perhaps never filling the void Stephen’s death would leave in her heart and soul. How would she do it, emotionally, physically, and financially? It all seemed so impossible.
Moments later, we began hugging each other while the tears continued to fall from our eyes. It was truly gut-wrenching. We pulled ourselves together, said a prayer while we were on our knees. One by one, we stood up, bundled into our cars, and drove over to Sally’s house to be together as one family and pledge our everlasting love and support for Sally and the children.
When the sun came up on the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001, I couldn’t wait to get out onto the golf course with George, Russell, and Stephen. Like I said, the four Siller brothers didn’t get to do this often anymore.
As the sun went down on that unimaginably painful Tuesday evening, I repeated the last words I said to Stephen less than twenty-four hours before he became one of the nearly three thousand innocent people killed in the worst terrorist attack in American history.
"I love you, brother," I whispered. "See you tomorrow."
He had already finished his shift. When he turned his car around to return to his firehouse, FDNY firefighter Stephen Gerard Siller sacrificed his tomorrows so countless others could have their todays. When I later found out the full details of his ultimate sacrifice, it only enhanced my admiration and awe of what Stephen and his fellow first responders so bravely did on that awful morning.
Our parents, Mae and George Siller, were devout Catholics and members of the Secular Franciscan Order. We grew up under the guiding philosophy of Saint Francis of Assisi, who famously wrote that "while we have time, let us do good." They were words that all of us lived by, but especially Stephen, as evidenced by his last moments on earth.
Stephen’s life and heroic death serve as a reminder to us all to live life to the fullest and to spend our time here on earth doing good—this is his legacy.
"A single sunbeam is enough to drive away many shadows," is a quote often attributed to Saint Francis that illustrates how I feel about Stephen’s impact.
In the shadows of the collapsed Twin Towers, the memory of my fallen brother helped guide me and all the siblings toward that light. Starting on September 12 and continuing every day thereafter, Stephen’s mission to do good would be my family’s mission as well. God willing, a few others would be willing to help along the way. I never could have imagined just how many kind and generous souls would end up joining the cause.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION
To honor Stephen’s memory and the sacrifice of so many that day, my family started the Tunnel to Towers Foundation to carry forward the way he lived his life: by doing good and helping others. His sacrifice became our mission, and today T2T continues that work in service of America’s heroes and their families. To learn more, visit T2T.org
Excerpted from "LET US DO GOOD: My Brother Stephen, 9/11, and the Mission to Honor America’s Heroes" by Frank Siller. Copyright 2026 by Frank Siller. Published with permission from Broadside Books and HarperCollins Publishers.
White House brings receipts after media claims noncriminal ICE arrests ‘soaring’: ‘False narratives’
EXCLUSIVE: The White House and Department of Homeland Security are pushing back on "false narratives" being advanced by the mainstream media and bringing the receipts after the Washington Post and New York Times reported that noncriminal ICE arrests are skyrocketing under President Donald Trump.
The Washington Post reported last week that ICE is arresting "soaring numbers" of "noncriminal" illegal immigrants. The outlet said the agency had "detained more people without a criminal record this year than in all of 2025." The New York Times took a similar line, reporting that "ICE arrests soar as people with no criminal record are increasingly targeted."
However, Lauren Bis, a special assistant to the president and White House spokeswoman, told Fox News Digital that though "nearly 70% of illegal aliens arrested by ICE have been convicted or charged with a crime in the United States," the "actual arrests of public safety threats and criminals is much higher." This, she said, is due to many of the "noncriminal" illegal immigrants arrested by ICE having prior criminal history in their home country, including murder, child sex abuse and gang activity.
"These are just a few of the media's ‘non-criminals,’" said Bis, adding, "Why does the mainstream media continue to peddle false narratives protecting criminal illegal aliens?"
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S IMMIGRATION PUSH FUELS ICE'S BIGGEST ARREST MONTH IN AGENCY HISTORY
Fox News Digital reached out to the Washington Post and New York Times for comment.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, "Nearly 70% of illegal aliens ICE arrested across the country have criminal convictions or pending criminal charges just in the U.S."
The agency said, however, that this statistic "doesn't account for those wanted for violent crimes in their home country or another country, INTERPOL notices, human rights abusers, gang members, terrorists" and other offenses in foreign countries.
While DHS has emphasized that entering the country unlawfully constitutes a crime, the agency has previously shed light on some of the serious criminal charges of individuals considered noncriminal arrests.
This May, Homeland Security Investigations arrested Salvadoran national Josue Saul Garcia-Lopez, who, despite not having a U.S. criminal record, had an international warrant showing him as an active member of the foreign terrorist organization MS-13 and had been involved in extortion and robbery schemes in El Salvador for several years.
NEW YORK TIMES TORCHED FOR ‘FALSE’ REPORTING ON ICE INVESTIGATIONS, OUTLET FIRES BACK
Just days before, ICE had also arrested a Honduran national named Fredy Alexander Lopez Lara, who had an international warrant for homicide in his home country.
Another MS-13 member, Salvadoran national Danny Granados-Garcia, was arrested by ICE in April. He was wanted in his home country for murdering a pastor.
In March, San Diego Sector Border Patrol agents arrested Mexican national Salvador Suazo-Garcia in Lemon Grove, California, processed him administratively, and turned him over to Mexican authorities. Suazo-Garcia entered the U.S. legally in May 2021 under the Biden administration. He was wanted in Mexico for lewd and lascivious acts upon a child.
Shortly before Suazo-Garcia’s arrest, Border Patrol agents also arrested a female illegal immigrant from Mexico named Silvia Del Rosario Torres-Castro, who was wanted in her home country for homicide.
Late last year, ICE arrested Antonio Israel Lazo-Quintanilla, a Salvadoran national who is a member of another foreign terrorist organization called the 18th Street Gang. DHS said that "while technically his only crime in the United States is driving without a license," Lazo-Quintanilla was on El Salvador’s most wanted gang members’ list and was wanted for aggravated homicide, extortion, possession of drugs and other felonies. Lazo-Quintanilla’s mugshot showed his face covered in tattoos, including the numbers "666" across his forehead.
Months before that, DHS said that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Mexican brothers Pedro Luis Ortiz-Mendez and Jose Vicente Ortiz-Mendez in Texas. Both brothers are wanted for multiple murders tied to an attack on a festival in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, where at least one victim was shot and another victim was attacked with a machete.
BORDER CZAR TOM HOMAN FIRES BACK AFTER DEMOCRAT CHRIS MURPHY CLAIMS ICE IS ‘TERRORIZING LITTLE KIDS’
Bis said that "these are just a few examples of murderers, gang members, and pedophiles the media refers to as ‘non-criminals’ because they only have criminal records in their home country."
"No one would want these heinous criminals to be their neighbors," she said. "From foreign fugitives, gang members, and terrorists, ICE is getting the worst of the worst off our streets and out of our country."