Fox News Latest Headlines
Hollywood powerhouse says he received 'blowback' after voting for Trump
During an interview with Variety on Thursday, film producer Brian Grazer revealed that he received "blowback" from his peers in Hollywood after it became known that he voted for President Donald Trump in 2024.
When asked how people in the "liberal town" of Hollywood reacted after his vote for Trump was made public, Grazer said, "There was blowback."
The interviewer followed up, asking Grazer whether his political views had caused others to not want to work with him.
"No. I am what I am. I haven’t changed," he responded. "I don’t know if I should say anything more than that."
Grazer was seen with Trump and his entourage in a VIP box at a football game this summer — a moment that was featured in the Fox Nation documentary "Art of the Surge."
The New York Times reported that the Hollywood producer is shown posing for a photo with the president and telling others in the room that he had voted for Trump that year.
Although those in Trump's box didn't mind how he voted, Grazer said that when he told "some women he knows" that he planned on voting for Trump, the outcome was also as if he were "getting canceled," the Times quoted him as saying.
"All the women looked in and go, ‘You mean, you’re not voting for Kamala?’ And I go, ‘I just can’t do that.’ And then, one of them leaned in further, and said, ‘Are you voting for Trump?’ And I said, ‘I am.’ I swear!" Grazer told the group, according to The Times.
When the Times contacted him following the football game, Grazer provided some context as to why he voted for Trump over former Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024.
"As a centrist, it was because I could feel and see Biden’s deterioration and the lack of direction in the Democratic Party at that time," he told the outlet.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE
Another "polarizing" topic the Hollywood producer touched on during his interview with Variety was artificial intelligence (AI) — specifically its impact on the film industry. Wrapping up the interview, the outlet asked whether he was optimistic or fearful about the technology.
"It’s a great collaborator in building stories. It’s never going to provide a soul into your movie," he asserted. "AI doesn’t have a point of view; it doesn’t feel pain or love or understand what it’s like to recover from injury or humiliation. It has no conception of life-or-death stakes, and you need those to build a great story."
However, Grazer told Variety that he uses ChatGPT "all the time" and that "It's so fun."
As ICE readies ‘Swamp Sweep,’ Mississippi pledges to aid — not block — federal crackdown
EXCLUSIVE: Mississippi’s top law enforcement officer said the Magnolia State will welcome ICE agents with open arms compared to their clashes with public officials in California, Illinois and North Carolina – as reports surfaced of an upcoming "Swamp Sweep."
The Department of Homeland Security is preparing to send 250 border agents to areas in Mississippi and Louisiana for a two-month crackdown, according to documents obtained by the Associated Press.
Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch told Fox News Digital on Thursday that her office is proud to have been the first in the state to sign on as a formal ICE law enforcement partner.
"We look forward to working with Secretary Noem and the president to protect our communities and strengthen our efforts to combat human trafficking, drug cartels, and violent crime," Fitch said.
ALABAMA CONDUCTS FIRST STATE-FEDERAL CHECKPOINT OPERATIONS WITH ICE, DETAINING OVER 20 PEOPLE
"Together, we will make Mississippi – and our entire nation – safer than ever before."
Another top Mississippi official, U.S. Rep. Michael Guest, chairs the House Homeland Security Subcommittee for Border Security and Enforcement.
Guest’s district runs close to New Orleans, spanning diagonally from Starkville – home of Mississippi State University – down to McComb, just north of the New Orleans metro, where the operation will reportedly have a key focus.
DHS ‘BLITZES’ CHICAGOLAND, NETTING ‘MANY ARRESTS’ AS NOEM ONSITE FOR IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN
"The men and women of ICE and CBP have been tasked with enforcing the law and working to remove the 15 million illegal immigrants currently residing in the United States," Guest told Fox News Digital.
Guest praised ICE for successfully removing unlawfully present people charged and convicted of serious crimes, including offenses against children and suspects who pose a danger to local communities.
"I am confident that Operation ‘Swamp Sweep’ will have the same success as other operations across our nation," Guest said.
250 BORDER AGENTS TO DEPLOY TO LOUISIANA FOR 'SWAMP SWEEP,' REPORT SAYS
"This will result in locating, arresting, and deporting criminal illegal aliens who are residing in Mississippi."
Rep. Trent Kelly, R-Miss. – who represents Memphis’ southern suburbs as well as Elvis Presley’s hometown of Tupelo – told Fox News Digital he also supports ICE’s mission.
"I am in favor of getting any criminal illegal immigrant off the streets," Kelly said.
DHS ARRESTS CHICAGO’S ‘WORST OF THE WORST’ AMID SURGE IN DOMESTIC TERROR ATTACKS
"And I support law enforcement in their efforts to keep our communities safe."
When asked about the "Swamp Sweep" mission, Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said her agency does not discuss future or potential operations.
"Every day, DHS enforces the laws of the nation across the country," she said.
In prior ICE operations, DHS was buffeted by official and legal roadblocks tossed in their way by local leaders.
California officials condemned President Donald Trump's use of the National Guard, while Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson reportedly conceived "No ICE" zones and compared Trump's government to the Confederacy.
Mississippi Republican Gov. Tate Reeves did not respond to requests for comment on "Swamp Sweep."
Fox News Digital’s Rachel Wolf and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
'Wicked: For Good' Review: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo work their magic in a darker final act
The witches are back to finish what they started.
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande reprise their roles as Elphaba and Glinda in "Wicked: For Good," the conclusion to last year's box office hit. "Wicked," adapted from the Broadway musical and based on Gregory Maguire's 1995 fantasy novel, tells the story of the Wicked Witch of the West leading up to the events of "The Wizard of Oz" — except the Wicked Witch of the West isn't evil. In fact, she's a heroine, an outcast in society for her green skin only to become a powerful sorceress fighting against injustice in Oz.
Universal Pictures raised eyebrows when it announced it was releasing the musical adaptation into two parts, something that's never been done before. Classic musicals like "My Fair Lady," "The Sound of Music" and "Fiddler on the Roof" had roughly three-hour running times but included an intermission.
Meanwhile, the first "Wicked," which depicted Act I, had a two-hour and 40-minute running time (roughly the length of the entire stage musical — including the intermission!) and "For Good," which covers Act II, is another two hours and 18 minutes, and is still more than twice as long as Act II on Broadway.
If you look at what "Wicked" made last year at the box office (over $750 million worldwide), it's clear why Universal was incentivized to milk the popular musical for all its worth and make two movies out of it. And that was to the detriment of "For Good."
What it ultimately did was put the fun and joy (and dare I say memeable moments) in the first one and kept much of the dark and dramatic content for the second one. In "Wicked," we see Elphaba and Glinda form a rivalry at Shiz University and compete for the affection of their dashing classmate Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey). Even the villainy of The Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) and Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) is more compelling in the first installment.
In "For Good," Elphaba is a one-woman rebellion combating The Wizard's tyranny while Glinda struggles to figure out whether her allegiance belongs to her green friend or the regime that has given her the life she always dreamed of. Additionally, the film haphazardly attempts to bridge the plots of "Wicked" to "The Wizard of Oz," which can come off as disjointed, especially if you haven't seen the staged version.
‘PREDATOR: BADLANDS’ REVIEW: AN ACTION-PACKED FRANCHISE REBOOT WITH A TWIST
Act I also features the catchy, memorable songs: "Popular" "Dancing Through Life," "What Is This Feeling?" not to mention the show-stopping "Defying Gravity." Act II's tracklist pales in comparison — "No Good Deed" and "For Good" are the only standouts. The absence of the iconic tunes in this installment is truly felt.
With its PG rating, "For Good" tries to thread the needle of appealing to children despite the dark nature of the second act. Again, it's a flaw as a result of separating the much lighter first act.
It's worth tipping a witch's hat to the very talented Erivo for her performance as Elphaba, but her strongest material is in the first "Wicked." Grande has a lot more going on in "For Good" due to Glinda's character arc — showing impressive range as an actress. She gives this movie the spark it desperately needs.
Adapting a musical for the big screen is no easy task — thankfully Jon M. Chu was up for it. Between "Crazy Rich Asians," "In the Heights" and the first "Wicked," Chu knows how to go for the grandeur. And despite the grimness of Act II's plot, "For Good" was still mesmerizing to watch between the extravagant costumes and production design as well as the stunning visual effects.
Stephen Schwartz, the Oscar-winning composer and lyricist who created the music for "Wicked," notably wrote two new songs for the film, a subtle admission that Act II's tracklist needed some sort of boost to justify a standalone movie.
'BUGONIA' REVIEW: A TWISTED TALE IN THE CURRENT AGE OF CONSPIRACY THEORIES
"Wicked: For Good" marks a good but not great conclusion to last year's cultural phenomenon. While it's incredibly well-made and its artistry may still be worth seeing on the big screen, it's nowhere near as fun as its predecessor.
And to those reading this from Hollywood: please don't split movie musicals into two ever again. The extra cash ain't worth it.
"Wicked: For Good" is rated PG for action/violence, some suggestive material and thematic material. Running time: 2 hours, 18 minutes. In theaters November 21, 2025.
Brittany Snow exposes Hollywood's unspoken rule for women in steamy on-screen scenes
Brittany Snow is speaking out against Hollywood's treatment of women over a certain age.
During an appearance on the "Las Culturistas" podcast, the 39-year-old actress called out ageist stereotypes in the entertainment industry and shared how her racy mystery thriller, "The Hunting Wives," is pushing back.
"Hollywood wants to kind of disregard women after the age of 32 for sex scenes, specifically nudity and things that are sort of like women coming into their own sexual, like, prowess," the "Pitch Perfect" alum said.
"I think that this was just like, 'No, we're going to still have this be very prevalent in a woman's life, even after she's of a Hollywood age,'" Snow added.
In "The Hunting Wives," Snow plays Sophie, who moves with her husband from Chicago to a small town in Texas and finds herself drawn to the enigmatic socialite Margo, played by Malin Akerman, and her glamorous circle of elite women known as the Hunting Wives.
After her friendship with Margo quickly turns sexual, Sophie is pulled into a spiral of obsession, betrayal and murder.
During her podcast appearance, Snow also shed some light on how she and Akerman, 47, approached their intimate scenes.
"I do think from the very beginning, there was a very clear understanding of what we were making in terms of the women that were on the show, what kind of women we were going to be — that were not 20 years old and were having these sex scenes," she explained.
"We're in our late 30s, 40s, and we're going to be powerful, and this is for the woman gaze, and we're going to go for it," Snow continued. "That was never a question. We were never shy about, ‘Oh, I wonder if this is going to be too much.’"
"We knew going into it, and we signed up for that," she added. "And I think that that's something that we're proud of."
LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
In an interview with Self magazine for the cover of their November issue, Snow praised Akerman and explained how the "Watchmen" star made her feel respected and safe while they were filming sex scenes.
"I’ve found a lot of men in sex scenes are really, really focused on themselves and how they look and if their abs are looking great and not necessarily thinking about your experience," she said. "And with Malin, it was so collaborative in terms of like, ‘Are you OK? Do you want me to do this? Is this OK if I put my hand here?’ Just so much care was taken, which felt really nice."
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER
"The Hunting Wives" became a huge success for Netflix, drawing 5.2 million views in its first week. Snow and Akerman announced in September that the show would return for a second season via an Instagram video of the two in character, captioned, "Omg it’s official... ‘THE HUNTING WIVES: SEASON 2’ is coming y’all!!"
During an interview with Extra in October, Akerman said the second season should arrive in summer 2026.
"Usually, you get a five-month writers’ room, but because it was such a wild success this summer, Netflix has said, ‘We need a summer release. We’re going to go back to work in November. You get a month and a half writers’ room,’" Akerman said. "So, they’re writing feverishly."
Snow is also appearing in the Hulu drama series "Murdaugh: Death in the Family" and Netflix's "The Beast In Me," which premiered Nov. 13.
Mamdani struggles to explain how he'll fund free buses
Throughout his campaign, New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani promised free bus rides for people in the Big Apple — but now that he's won the election, he faces the practical problem of securing the funding to realize such a policy, and it's unclear whether he'll ever be able to fulfill his pledge.
PIX11's Dan Mannarino pressed Mamdani about how he plans to secure the money for the proposal if New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is not in favor of raising taxes.
Mamdani opined that the "clearest ways" to obtain the money would be by increasing the state's corporate tax or through personal income tax on people who earn more than $1 million per year. But he added that "the most important fact is that we fund it, not the question of how we do it, but that we do it."
AOC SOUNDS OFF ON TRUMP-MAMDANI MEETING AS NYC'S MAYOR-ELECT PREPARES TO TAKE OFFICE
Mamdani's campaign has laid out proposals including "Raising the top state Corporate Tax rate to 11.5 percent" and "Adding a 2 percent New York City Income Tax for anyone making more than $1 million a year."
The self-described democratic socialist trumpeted his free bus policy as a key plank of his Big Apple mayoral campaign.
NYC MAYOR-ELECT MAMDANI ASKS SUPPORTERS FOR $4M TO FUND TRANSITION, VOWS NO WEALTHY DONORS
But when Mannarino asked Hochul earlier this year whether she'd support tax hikes, Gov. Kathy Hochul slapped down the idea, saying that she's "not raising taxes on people at a time when affordability is the big issue."
NY GOVERNOR POURS COLD WATER ON MAMDANI FREE BUS PLAN
"Free buses are an investment in our people and our economy — helping workers, small businesses, and every New Yorker who deserves a more connected city," Mamdani said in a Thursday post on X.
Israel-Hezbollah border tensions rise as terror group rearms, resists US- backed ceasefire
The Iran-backed Lebanese terrorist movement Hezbollah is rebuilding its military arsenal on Israel’s northern border, as experts warn that another war between the two sides could be on the horizon. The latest developments come a year after the U.S. helped broker a ceasefire between the parties.
On Wednesday, IDF spokesman Nadav Shoshani, said Hezbollah had engaged "in a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement." Shoshani also released a video showing the rearming, claiming the terror group was "operating to reestablish its assets in the village of Beit Lif."
Critics argue that the U.N. peacekeeping force, UNIFIL, is not fulfilling its mandate to disarm the terror group and the Lebanese Armed Forces are moving too slowly, which has led to continued Israeli actions against the terrorists. The IDF has been launching near-daily strikes against the group’s infrastructure and operatives inside Lebanon.
IRAN SMUGGLED $1B TO HEZBOLLAH THIS YEAR DESPITE US SANCTIONS, TREASURY OFFICIAL SAYS
Sarit Zehavi, a leading Israeli security expert on Hezbollah from the Israel Alma Research and Education Center, told Fox News Digital that Hezbollah does not currently "have the capability to carry out an October invasion. They had it prior to Oct. 7, 2023. They can send in a few terrorists. I want to believe it will take a few years to get those capabilities back."
Fox News Digital exclusively reported last year on Hezbollah’s war plan to invade northern Israel and carry out a scorched-earth campaign against the Jewish state.
A day after the Iran-backed Hamas invaded Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and massacred over 1,200 people, Hezbollah launched missile attacks against Israel.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE MIDDLE EAST'S HEZBOLLAH AND HAMAS GROUPS?
Zehavi said, "Both the IDF and Hezbollah are very active. The IDF is very active to stop the rehabilitation of Hezbollah and Hezbollah is very active in rebuilding. Hezbollah learned lessons. It has been more problematic to smuggle weapons to Lebanon from Syria. It is happening. But the Syrians intercepted weapons."
She noted that the "Syrian regime is willing to fight Hezbollah to fight weapons smuggling. Hezbollah is relying more on manufacturing rockets."
Zehavi, who lives in northern Israel, said that "almost half of Israeli attacks on Hezbollah are south of the Litani river. We see a lot of investment from Hezbollah in drones, short-range rockets, mortars and anti-tank missiles."
On Tuesday in Germany, prosecutors started a trial against an alleged Hezbollah member running "an extensive drone program for some time."
The German Federal Prosecutor's Office said the suspected Hezbollah operative Fadel Z joined Hezbollah more than 10 years ago and worked as a "foreign operator" for the group's drone program in 2022 in Spain and Germany.
Zehavi said it suffered a defeat of its leadership via the Mossad pager attack on its commanders. However, she added, "Iran immediately provided oxygen to Hezbollah for treatment to help revive Hezbollah."
ISRAEL DEGRADES IRAN-BACKED HEZBOLLAH TERRORISTS IN SPECTACULAR PAGER EXPLOSION OPERATION: EXPERTS
She outlined Israel’s main defense strategy against Hezbollah. First, the IDF has positions in Syria and Lebanon. "We cannot have civilians on the front line. The IDF is on top of hills in Israel and Lebanon and can see everything and can respond quickly to terrorist activities. This means when an Israeli woman opens her window and used to see a Hezbollah flag, she now sees an Israeli flag. This gives her a sense of security. This was not present before Oct. 7.
She estimates Hezbollah has 50,000 terrorists and 50,000 reservists. "We killed a few thousand terrorists."
The IDF made dramatic advances in eradicating Hezbollah’s missile arsenal. "We degraded 80%" of the rockets, Zehavi said, noting the elimination of sizable numbers of Hezbollah’s long-range and highly accurate missiles.
Edy Cohen, a Lebanese-born Israeli scholar of Hezbollah, said, "There is no lack of arms for Hezbollah in Beirut and Lebanon. Lately, we saw many reports that Hezbollah received arms from Syria and Iran is trying to send arms by civilian Iranian airplanes."
HEZBOLLAH'S NEIGHBORS: ISRAELI BORDER COMMUNITY UNDER CONSTANT ATTACK FROM TERROR GROUP
He said there is enormous pressure on Hezbollah and every week Israel is killing Hezbollah operative. The Shiite community in Lebanon wants Hezbollah to retaliate against Israel, said Cohen, adding, "For the Shiite community Hezbollah is the state."
Cohen said the IDF is gathering intelligence information about Hezbollah’s arsenal and attacking almost every day its leaders and operatives.
He warned that because "Hezbollah said it will not disarm its militia ... the big war will come."
Fox News Digital reported in early November that Trump’s U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, Thomas Barrack, who also serves as envoy to Syria, said that Lebanon is a "failed state," because of its "paralyzed government."
He also noted that Hezbollah retains 40,000 fighters and between 15,000 and 20,000 rockets and missiles, noting the terror group pays its militia $2,200 per month, whereas the Lebanese Armed Forces soldiers earn $275 a month and have inferior equipment as well.
Republicans get serious on housing crisis with high-profile conservative influencer leading the charge
FIRST ON FOX: Conservative influencer Benny Johnson is leading a new initiative to "Make Housing Great Again" amid concerns that Millennials and Gen Z are being pushed out of homeownership by rising costs, stagnant wages and regulatory burdens.
The new initiative, which is being announced Friday, will be led by the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) with help from Johnson, who will be the initiative's co-chair and national spokesperson, serving as the voice of the initiative. Johnson will also help lead a business advisory council related to making housing more affordable.
"Benny has 4 million followers. He is, you know, so influential. He's been talking about this a lot on his own social media platforms, and so he is the perfect person to help deliver the policies," Ashley Hayek, AFPI’s executive vice president and co-chair of the initiative, told Fox News Digital. "He has young children. I have young children. And for us, we are both very fired up about this issue."
I WORKED WITH CHARLIE KIRK FOR MORE THAN A DECADE. AMERICA LOST A FUTURE PRESIDENT
Hayek pointed out that advocating for policy is, at least in part, a messaging war, and Johnson's ability to articulate himself well will help with that. Additionally, he has the attention of many young people, who Hayek noted often aren't aware of the tools out there to help them buy a home.
Greg Sindelar, AFPI's interim president, added that the current culture in the United States "too often diminishes traditional aspirations," like homeownership and building a family, which has taken a toll on younger generations.
Even Democrats tend to agree. Former Democrat congressman and ambassador to Japan, Rahm Emanuel, wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post in August explaining how the increased difficulty of homeownership is depressing young men, particularly due to the fact that buying a home is often seen as such a pivotal part of achieving the American Dream.
"Rising costs, stagnant wages, regulatory burdens, and a culture that too often diminishes traditional aspirations have left millions feeling directionless and forgotten," Sindelar said. "AFPI is committed to reversing this trend by advancing meaningful, actionable policy solutions rooted in the principles of the America First movement."
The new initiative, announced Friday, laid out a list of policy proposals it plans to advance across government of all levels.
Among those proposals is a push to eliminate capital gains taxes on first home sales as long as they reinvest in another home within the following five years. This proposal is aimed at mirroring the spirit of President Donald Trump's "Opportunity Zones" aimed at accelerating wealth and economic development for low-income communities.
"Homes are too expensive and totally out of reach for young people. The slow death of the American Dream is happening before our eyes. It is a generational betrayal and we must reverse this trend by Making Housing Great Again," Johnson told Fox News Digital. "Today, the average age of a first-time homebuyer in America is 40 years old. That is well past the optimal age for marriage and family creation. The battle for homeownership is a battle for our cultural and civilizational survival. We need more young people to get married and start families and that cannot happen without a culture of homeownership. We must deliver on this promise for our young people. The American Dream hangs in the balance."
Another proposal includes a push for the creation of "Home Savings Accounts" similar to a Health Savings Account (HSA) that allows individuals to contribute pre-tax dollars to pay for their healthcare needs.
One proposal also includes a plan to reduce regulations and increase incentives across states and localities that have restricted the development of new housing supply. One example they point to is "green building standards," which the initiative says bloats costs for builders. By getting rid of these regulations, they say that it will dramatically reduce the cost for builders, who will then in turn be able to increase supply.
Other proposals include measures to stop predatory lending to young people, while promoting innovative housing like tiny homes.
Tax-focused proposals are in the mix as well, such as a "Family Formation Mortgage Credit," aimed at making family formation and homeownership financially synergistic. It will give families that marry and have a child within five years a $10,000 reduction on their mortgage through a refundable tax credit. The initiative will also push to double the child-tax credit for households filing their taxes jointly and own a home, or are planning to own one.
Fighter jet crashes at Dubai Air Show, pilot dead
An Indian fighter jet crashed Friday at the Dubai Air Show in the United Arab Emirates, killing the pilot onboard, officials said.
Videos circulating on social media showed the IAF Tejas aircraft bursting into flames as it struck the ground, drawing gasps from crowds gathered at the event.
"The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident," the Indian Air Force wrote on X, noting that an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the crash. "IAF deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief."
"A Tejas fighter aircraft from India participating in today’s flying display at the Dubai Airshow has crashed, resulting in the tragic death of the pilot," added the Dubai Media Office. "Firefighting and emergency teams responded rapidly to the incident and are currently managing the situation on-site."
An SUV bearing diplomatic plates flying the Indian flag was seen at the crash site, along with police and emergency personnel.
The air show later resumed flight demonstrations, with the Russian Knights aerobatics team flying overhead as emergency crews still worked the crash site, the Associated Press reported.
Tejas is India’s indigenous fighter aircraft, built by state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
SKIES AT STAKE: INSIDE THE U.S.–CHINA RACE FOR AIR DOMINANCE
The lightweight, single-engine jet is expected to bolster India’s depleted fighter fleet as China expands its military presence in South Asia, including by strengthening defense ties with India’s rival Pakistan, according to the AP.
In September, India’s Defense Ministry signed a contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, or HAL, to procure 97 Tejas jets for the air force. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2027.
A Tejas fighter jet crashed in the western Indian state of Rajasthan last year, but the pilot ejected safely in that incident.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Fake ChatGPT apps are hijacking your phone without you knowing
App stores are supposed to be reliable and free of malware or fake apps, but that's far from the truth. For every legitimate application that solves a real problem, there are dozens of knockoffs waiting to exploit brand recognition and user trust. We've seen it happen with games, productivity tools and entertainment apps. Now, artificial intelligence has become the latest battleground for digital impostors.
The AI boom has created an unprecedented gold rush in mobile app development, and opportunistic actors are cashing in. AI-related mobile apps collectively account for billions of downloads, and that massive user base has attracted a new wave of clones. They pose as popular apps like ChatGPT and DALL·E, but in reality, they conceal sophisticated spyware capable of stealing data and monitoring users.
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.
The fake apps flooding app stores exist on a spectrum of harm, and understanding that range is crucial before you download any AI tools. Take the "DALL·E 3 AI Image Generator" found on Aptoide. It presents itself as an OpenAI product, complete with branding that mimics the real thing. When you open it, you see a loading screen that looks like an AI model generating an image. But nothing is actually being generated.
Network analysis by Appknox showed the app connects only to advertising and analytics services. There's no AI functionality, just an illusion designed to collect your data for monetization.
Then there are apps like WhatsApp Plus, which are far more dangerous. Disguised as an upgraded version of Meta's messenger, this app hides a complete malware framework capable of surveillance, credential theft and persistent background execution. It's signed with a fake certificate instead of WhatsApp's legitimate key and uses a tool often used by malware authors to encrypt malicious code.
Once installed, it silently requests extensive permissions, including access to your contacts, SMS, call logs, device accounts and messages. These permissions allow it to intercept one-time passwords, scrape your address book and impersonate you in chats. Hidden libraries keep the code running even after you close the app. Network logs show it uses domain fronting to disguise its traffic behind Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud endpoints.
Not every clone is malicious. Some apps identify themselves as unofficial interfaces and connect directly to real APIs. The problem is that you often can't tell the difference between a harmless wrapper and a malicious impersonator until it's too late.
The impact of fake AI apps goes far beyond frustrated users. For enterprises, these clones pose a direct threat to brand reputation, compliance and data security.
When a malicious app steals credentials while using your brand's identity, customers don't just lose data but also lose trust. Research shows customers stop buying from a brand after a major breach. The average cost of a data breach now stands at 4.45 million dollars, according to IBM's 2025 report. In regulated sectors like finance and healthcare, such breaches can lead to violations of GDPR, HIPAA and PCI-DSS, with fines reaching up to 4% of global turnover.
While the threat landscape continues to evolve, there are practical measures you can take to protect yourself from malicious clones and impersonators.
A quality mobile security solution can detect and block malicious apps before they cause damage. Modern antivirus programs scan apps for suspicious behavior, unauthorized permissions and known malware signatures. This first line of defense is especially important as fake apps become more sophisticated in hiding their true intentions.
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.
Apps like WhatsApp Plus specifically target credentials and can intercept passwords typed directly into fake interfaces. A password manager autofills credentials only on legitimate sites and apps, making it significantly harder for impostors to capture your login information through phishing or fake app interfaces.
Next, see if your email has been exposed in past breaches. Our No. 1 password manager 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.
Given that malicious clones can steal personal information, intercept SMS verification codes and even impersonate users in chats, identity theft protection provides an additional safety net. These services monitor for unauthorized use of your personal information and can alert you if your identity is being misused across various platforms and services.
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.
PROTECTING KIDS FROM AI CHATBOTS: WHAT THE GUARD ACT MEANS
While some sophisticated malware can intercept SMS codes, 2FA still adds a critical layer of security. Use authenticator apps rather than SMS when possible, as they're harder to compromise. Even if a fake app captures your password, 2FA makes it significantly more difficult for attackers to access your accounts.
Security patches often address vulnerabilities that malicious apps exploit. Regular updates to your operating system and legitimate apps ensure you have the latest protections against known threats. Enable automatic updates when possible to stay protected without having to remember manual checks.
Stick to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store rather than third-party marketplaces. While fake apps can still appear on official platforms, these stores have security review processes and are more responsive to removing malicious applications once they're identified. Third-party app stores often have minimal or no security vetting.
Check the developer name carefully. Official ChatGPT apps come from OpenAI, not random developers with similar names. Look at the number of downloads, read recent reviews and be suspicious of apps with few ratings or reviews that seem generic. Legitimate AI tools from major companies will have verified developer badges and millions of downloads.
Even if you avoid downloading fake apps, your personal information may already be circulating on data broker sites that scammers rely on. These brokers collect and sell details like your name, phone number, home address and app usage data, information that cybercriminals can use to craft convincing phishing messages or impersonate you.
A trusted data removal service scans hundreds of broker databases and automatically submits removal requests on your behalf. Regularly removing your data helps reduce your digital footprint, making it harder for malicious actors and fake app networks 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.
The AI boom has driven massive innovation, but it has also opened new attack surfaces built on brand trust. As adoption grows across mobile platforms, enterprises must secure not only their own apps but also track how their brand appears across hundreds of app stores worldwide. In a market where billions of AI app downloads have happened, the clones aren't coming. They're already here, hiding behind familiar logos and polished interfaces.
Have you ever downloaded a fake AI app without realizing 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.
Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Nebraska basketball player appears to chip tooth after being punched in back of head during game
Nebraska guard Connor Essegian suffered what appeared to be a chipped tooth after he was punched in the back of the head during the Cornhuskers’ 84-72 win over New Mexico on Thursday night.
The ugly scene unfolded in the first half of the game when one of the Lobos’ leading scorers this season, Deyton Albury, took aim at the back of Essegian’s head with just over a minute remaining in the half.
Albury was assessed a flagrant foul 2 for the contact and ejected from the game.
LOUISVILLE MEN'S BASKETBALL COACH SUFFERS BIZARRE INJURY TRYING TO AVOID CELEBRATION
"It looked like there was contact to his head, which is what they called it," New Mexico coach Eric Olen said after the game, via The Santa Fe New Mexican. "That was a tough moment for us, losing Deyton like that and that took the wind out of our sails and we didn’t really finish the half."
Essegian finished the game with 6 points, 7 rebounds and one assist in 31 minutes in the win that extended Nebraska’s winning streak to nine games. But he walked away with another trophy of sorts.
The senior from Indiana took to social media after the game to show what appeared to be a chipped tooth.
"Well that was a first for me," he wrote in a post on X, with a picture of a piece of his tooth in his hand.
He joked in a later post that users on the social media platform were "undefeated" after someone created an account with the handle, "Connor Essegian’s Tooth."
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
"Y’a’ll are too quick," he wrote.
Albury posted an apology on X after the game, calling his actions a "selfish decision." His message did not include an apology to Essegian.
"Lobo Nation you deserve better than what I displayed tonight. Regardless of what led to my selfish decision I put myself before the team during a time when I needed to demonstrate composure and leadership.
"My actions are not a reflection of our players, coaches or the UNM basketball program. I sincerely apologize to Coach Olen and the rest of the staff, my teammates, Lobo fans and supporters, especially the young kids who witnessed my foolish decision on a national TV stage.
"Representing UNM and the city of Albuquerque is a privilege not a right. I accept full responsibility for what happened. I will never let our team, fans and the city down like this again."
The Cornhuskers are 5-0 to start the season, and their winning streak dating back to last season is the longest streak in the nation.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.