You’ve seen him on your TV screen during the morning rush. Kurt Knutsson, the man better known as "The CyberGuy," just finished a segment on Fox News that honestly should make you want to put your phone in a lead box. Or at least change a few settings.
Today is Tuesday, January 13, 2026. While most of us are still trying to remember to write "2026" on our checks—wait, who still uses checks?—Kurt is sounding the alarm on a specific kind of digital mess that peaks right around now.
The Big Reveal: Kurt the CyberGuy on Fox News Today
Basically, Kurt is warning everyone that January is "Open Season" for your personal data. Why today? Because data brokers just hit the refresh button on their databases. Think of these brokers like digital hoarders who sell your life story to the highest bidder.
Kurt explained on Fox & Friends that these companies spend the first two weeks of the year updating your profile. They’re scraping your holiday shopping habits, your new "New Year, New Me" gym memberships, and even those location pings from the vacation you just took.
"They don't just know where you live," Kurt told the anchors. "They know who you're starting to hang out with and what you're planning to buy three months from now." It’s kinda creepy.
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Why Your iPhone Is "Leaking" Data Right Now
One of the most tactical parts of the segment was about app permissions. You know that little pop-up that asks if an app can use your location? We all just hit "Allow" because we’re in a hurry.
Kurt pointed out that on both iOS and Android, there are "hidden" tracking features that reset or update during system patches at the start of the year. If you haven't checked your privacy settings since Christmas, you're likely broadcasting your exact coordinates to apps that have no business knowing them.
He specifically mentioned:
- Precise Location: Most apps only need to know your city, not your living room.
- Microphone Access: Why does that basic calculator app need to hear you?
- Cross-App Tracking: This is the big one that feeds the "data broker" monster Kurt is so worried about.
The Grok AI Scandal and Online Safety
It wasn't just about privacy settings today. Kurt also dove into the ongoing controversy surrounding Elon Musk’s Grok AI on X (formerly Twitter). There’s a massive uproar because the AI has been generating some pretty disturbing images, including deepfakes involving children.
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Kurt's take was blunt: the guardrails are failing. He warned parents that "AI literacy" isn't just a buzzword anymore—it's a survival skill. He even previewed an upcoming webinar involving Melania Trump that aims to teach families how to navigate this AI minefield.
Honestly, the speed at which AI is moving seems to be outpacing our ability to regulate it. Kurt noted that some "teen hackers" are being recruited through fake job ads on these very platforms, leading to massive $115 million cyber-heists. It's not just kids in hoodies in a basement anymore; it's organized crime with a corporate recruiting budget.
Protecting Seniors from the "Email Car Keys"
The most emotional part of the segment involved a story about a 95-year-old father who almost lost his entire life savings to a gift card scam. Kurt used a phrase that really stuck: "Taking away the email is the new taking away the car keys."
For many older adults, the phone is their lifeline. But it’s also a door with no lock. Kurt suggested that families need to put "digital guardrails" in place. He’s not saying you should treat your parents like children, but maybe set up financial alerts so if a $5,000 transaction starts, the kids get a text immediately.
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CyberGuy’s 2026 Security Checklist
If you're feeling overwhelmed, Kurt broke it down into some manageable steps. He’s big on "low-effort, high-impact" moves.
- The Credit Freeze: This is his "number one" tip for 2026. If you aren't buying a house tomorrow, freeze your credit. It stops scammers from opening accounts in your name even if they have your Social Security number.
- Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): But not the text message kind. He’s pushing for authenticator apps because "SIM swapping" (where hackers steal your phone number) is rampant this year.
- Data Removal Services: He’s a big fan of services that automatically send "Opt-Out" requests to those 500+ data broker sites. It’s like a digital trash collector for your reputation.
The Bottom Line on Today's Report
Look, the world feels a lot more dangerous digitally than it did even two years ago. Between AI-generated phishing emails that look perfect and Android TV boxes that might secretly be part of a criminal botnet, it's a lot.
But as Kurt the CyberGuy on Fox News today emphasized, you don't need a computer science degree to stay safe. You just need to be slightly more annoying to hack than your neighbor.
Your Action Plan for This Afternoon
Don't just read this and move on. Do these three things before you go to bed:
- Check your "App Permissions" in your phone settings. If you haven't used an app in a month, delete it. If you use it, turn off "Precise Location."
- Go to your bank's app and turn on "Large Transaction Alerts." Set the threshold to something like $500.
- Search your own name on a site like Whitepages or Spokeo. If your home address and phone number pop up, that’s exactly what Kurt is talking about. It’s time to start the removal process.
Privacy isn't a "set it and forget it" thing anymore. It's a habit. And according to Kurt, 2026 is the year where if you don't take your data back, someone else will definitely take it for you.