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1. US-Iran talks show signs of progress even as Trump weighs renewed strikes  The Times of Israel
2. Russia to UAE, Iran steps up diplomacy amid Trump threats: What we know  Al Jazeera
3. Iran is reviewing proposals focusing on Tehran’s nuclear program, officials say  CP24
4. Live - US warns Iranians: stay indoors and away from IRGC if tensions escalate  Iran International
5. Hegseth calls US-Iran war a 'courageous and historic effort'  Fox News

Microsoft is winding down the number of neoclouds it counts as partners, picking key suppliers and focusing on its own data centers.

Thomas Markle Sr., Duchess Meghan's father, has been arrested in Florida, sources say, over his alleged possession of child pornography. CBS News' Jake Rosen and Cristian Benavides report.

PHOENIX (AP) — Democrats in Arizona won control of both legislative chambers and retained the governor's office, giving the party its first trifecta in the state since 1966 as Democrats made major gains nationwide in this week's elections and took control of both chambers of Congress.

In her first term, Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs had vetoed more than 540 measures passed by the Republican-led Legislature on policies including taxes, immigration and voting laws. Hobbs has said she's looking to address water issues and affordability, and take on fraud and abuse in the state's school voucher program.

The Associated Press called enough legislative races to confirm that both chambers flipped on Friday. The news organization calls races individually and it can take several days after voting, depending on when election officials tally the votes and how close the elections are. There have not been major disputes or disruptions this year.

In Arizona, Republicans have held the House for 60 years and the Senate since the early 1990s.

Overall, Democrats took full control — both statehouse chambers and governors' offices — in at least six states where they previously shared power with Republicans. Besides Arizona, those wins were in the battleground states of Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Nevada and Wisconsin.

The flips weren't just in states that are normally competitive. Democrats won control of the Texas House, which Republicans have held since 2003, and elected Gina Hinojosa as the state's first Democratic governor since George W. Bush ousted Ann Richards in 1994. Republicans held onto the state Senate.

Democrats also flipped the lower chambers of the legislatures in Maine and North Carolina and both chambers in New Hampshire, where Republican Kelly Ayotte was reelected. The count could grow as results are tallied in additional states.

The National Council of State Legislatures says it's likely to end up as the election with the most legislative seats and chambers changing parties since the 2010 election, when Republicans took over governments across the country amid the Great Recession.

Democrats will also hold the governor's office in at least 28 states. Results are still pending in Alaska and Kansas.

This article originally appeared on Associated Press at https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/arizona-democrats-gain-trifecta-control-183915097.html

Newsrooms in Ireland and Bulgaria received bomb threats from someone identifying themself as ‘Mikhail Andropov’.

US midterms, Russian airstrikes in Sloviansk, student protests in Lyon and Russell Brand in court – the past seven days as captured by the world’s leading photojournalists

Warning: this gallery contains images some readers may find distressing

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Jason Reding Quiñones led investigation into whether Trump’s rights were violated during 2020 election inquiry

A US attorney overseeing the so-called “grand conspiracy” investigation into Donald Trump’s rivals announced on Friday he is leaving the Department of Justice, one of several officials to leave the department in recent days after sweeping Democratic wins in the midterm elections.

Jason Reding Quiñones, the US attorney for the southern district of Florida, and John Eisenberg, who led the justice department’s national security division, are both leaving. Democrats have pledged to use their majorities in the US House and Senate to conduct aggressive oversight of the justice department, among other agencies.

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The Chicago Bears appeared poised to leave not only Chicago but Illinois months ago, but the club’s direction has apparently changed as efforts are underway to keep the team in the state and perhaps even in Chicago.

Earlier this week, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and other NFL officials accompanied club officials, including owner George McCaskey and Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren, to a meeting with Illinois legislative leaders in Chicago.

At the meeting, the group agreed to continue working to lay a path for authoring legislation that could result in the Bears agreeing to build their new stadium in Arlington Heights, Illinois or perhaps even Chicago.

CHICAGO POLITICIANS ARE DOING WINDY CITY POLITICIAN THINGS TO TRY TO KEEP THE BEARS IN TOWN

This comes after the Bears announced in August that their "sole focus" for undergoing such a project was in Indiana.

"The Chicago Bears remain committed to building a world-class stadium and mixed-use district for our fans, the Chicagoland community and the team," the Bears said in a statement on Friday. "We continue to work collaboratively with local and state leaders in Indiana to advance our stadium development plans in Hammond, where we are finalizing due diligence details across two sites in the Wolf Lake area."

Fine, but here comes the new stuff:

"At the same time, we appreciate the recent engagement from Illinois leadership to explore legislation which allows us to share our feedback. We expect productive dialogue with both leadership teams in the coming weeks.

"We have a responsibility and obligation to explore every option available to the club, and we look forward to developing a transformational project that will attract global events and deliver jobs and economic growth to all Chicagoland."

Translation: The Bears said in late summer they were close to leaving Illinois after state lawmakers failed to offer the tax relief Indiana did.

But seeing the possibility of losing a legacy NFL franchise that is more than 100 years old to another state finally got Illinois legislators moving.

And so the Bears, who don't really want to leave town, are promising to hear them out even if it means extending what has become a stadium relocation drama.

CHICAGO MAYOR MAKES STUNNING ADMISSION ABOUT ATTENDING BEARS GAME WHILE TRYING TO KEEP TEAM IN CITY

The politicians in Illinois seem optimistic.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said this week legislation meant to keep the Bears in Illinois is coming.

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"Well, you know, we've been working with the Chicago Bears, and we've been working with the city of Arlington Heights, as well as the folks in the city of Chicago, on where the Bears might want to build a stadium, and what that legislation will look like," Pritzker said. "I think it'll get taken up in the Veto session in mid-November and early December.

"What I can do is make sure that there is a piece of legislation that would work for the Bears. And then it's up to the Bears where they want to put their stadium, and we want to make sure that the opportunity for them is in the state of Illinois."

Illinois lawmakers previously failed to provide the tax and infrastructure certainty the Bears sought, which is what caused the franchise to turn to Hammond, and on June 5, 2026, its board voted to "advance" the Indiana project, saying it would "transform the region."

In August, Warren declared, "Our sole focus at this point in time is working on a world-class stadium and mixed-use development in Hammond, Indiana," while also saying Indiana had an "excellent deal" and that the team was working "to bring that to life."

But the NFL doesn't love that idea behind the scenes. And the Bears don't necessarily want to do that either.

No one is going to admit that publicly. The public stance remains, as the statement Friday reads, that Hammond remains the site where due diligence is being finalized and is very much a possibility.

Until it is not.

FOLLOW ARMANDO SALGUERO ON X: @ARMANDOSALGUERO

Executives of major tech companies are largely projecting optimism about continued growth in the artificial intelligence sector despite a post-midterm sell-off.

Small changes in how parts of the brain communicate with one another can help predict a person’s likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s disease years before any memory lapses appear, according to a study published in Science Advances.

Stanford Medicine researchers used brain scans and a computer model to look for early clues about why some older adults develop memory and thinking problems while others stay sharp.

Investigators examined resting brain scans from two opposing groups: patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and older individuals known as "super agers," whose memory capabilities match people decades younger.

SUBTLE CHANGE IN HOW YOU SPEAK COULD BE EARLY SIGN OF DEMENTIA RISK, NEW RESEARCH SUGGESTS

Instead of looking for physical hallmarks like amyloid plaque accumulation or brain shrinkage, the researchers studied how different parts of the brain communicate with one another.

By comparing the two groups’ brain activity patterns, the researchers calculated a measurement called the Alzheimer’s resilience-vulnerability connectome score, or ARC score, that distinguishes super agers from people with Alzheimer’s with about 85% accuracy.

"I'm excited we established a signature that can help us better understand the difference between people who can maintain excellent cognitive performance and people who show cognitive decline," Yu Zhang, the study's senior author and an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford Medicine, said in a press release.

DEMENTIA RISK MAY BE LINKED TO SEEMINGLY HARMLESS DAILY HABIT, NEW RESEARCH SUGGESTS

Next, the scientists applied the scoring model to more than 1,300 cognitively unimpaired adults aged 55 to 70.

Although all the adults scored normally on memory tests, their brain scans showed differences: Some had activity patterns similar to super agers, while others had patterns more like those seen in people with Alzheimer’s.

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Over follow-up periods of up to 12 years, with most participants tracked for five to six years, those whose brain activity more closely resembled Alzheimer’s patterns showed faster declines in memory and thinking, developed more amyloid plaques and were more likely to be diagnosed with the disease, the researchers found.

The team found that the ARC score matched or outperformed standard risk measures, including amyloid and tau biomarkers as well as genetic testing, in spotting early decline.

"We compared the ARC score with existing biomarkers in predicting people converting to Alzheimer's disease," lead author Kanhao Zhao, a postdoctoral scholar in psychiatry at Stanford Medicine, said in the release.

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"Our model shows comparable or better prediction ability, and it can do so at an earlier time point. And if we combine our score with the existing biomarkers, the prediction performance improves."

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Alzheimer’s disease affects millions of older adults worldwide, according to major health institutions.

A central challenge in treating the disease is that physical damage often begins decades before patients notice memory lapses, at which point treatments offer limited benefit.

Researchers stressed that the brain scan method is not yet ready for doctors to use on its own to diagnose Alzheimer’s. More studies are needed to confirm its accuracy and compare it with other new tests.

However, understanding how brain activity differs between healthy aging and neurodegeneration could help researchers test future treatments, including techniques that stimulate the brain without surgery.

"There are two main components: One is to know which part of the brain to target. The other is how we should change it," Zhang said.

"That's why identifying the super ager brain resilience pattern is a critical component — so we know what a good pattern should be."

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., a key ally of Israel in Congress, announced plans on Thursday to reject all corporate PAC money or funding from special interest groups tied to "foreign policy" after narrowly hanging on to her seat in the midterm elections.

"I still am on [the committee on] foreign affairs and I’ve taken a particular interest in peace deals as well as supporting the administration’s peace deal efforts. And I want my constituency to understand when I’m either talking on these things or advocating for them in Washington, that I am controlled by no one, influenced by no one," Luna said in a video posted to X.

Luna’s announcement comes on the heels of devastating midterm results for Republicans that have sparked debate about the role of pro-Israel political spending and U.S. policy toward Israel in several Democratic campaigns.

FOX NEWS VOTER POLL: 2026 MIDTERM ELECTIONS USHER IN A BLUE WAVE AS DEMOCRATS WIN CONTROL OF CONGRESS

Luna herself only narrowly beat out Democratic challenger Leela Gray, a veteran, in a 49.5% to 48.7% victory in Florida’s 13th Congressional District — a seat that has leaned safely Republican in years past.

Many Democrats, including Luna’s opponent, used the Iran conflict as a proxy to attack Republicans on the cost of living after the conflict sharply restricted fuel exports from the Middle East.

"In February, we were told this war would last ‘four to six weeks.’ Eight months later, at least 22 service members are dead, 800+ more are injured and the cost of living crisis at home is out of control," Gray said in a post to X a week before the election.

"Despite the obvious and disastrous consequences of the war, Luna voted to continue it six times," Gray added, referring to Luna’s opposition to restricting Trump’s war powers.

But those criticisms also spread far beyond Florida’s 13th Congressional District.

Michigan Democratic senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed made the issue one of the cornerstones of his campaign, explicitly questioning Israel’s influence over the Republican Party and its role in the Iran conflict.

MICHIGAN DEMOCRAT WHO LOST SENATE PRIMARY TO ABDUL EL-SAYED TAKES AIM AT BERNIE SANDERS OVER ISRAEL STANCE

"I don’t consider an ally a country that takes us to wars we don’t need to fight, and I don’t want to be fighting wars we don’t need to fight," El-Sayed said in a debate ahead of the election.

El-Sayed’s position on Israel coincided with many other progressive candidates who also opposed U.S. support for Israel — a key policy difference that created Democrat-on-Democrat tension in several key races.

In New York, for instance, several political newcomers like Brad Lander, Darializa Avila-Chevalier and Claire Valdez all defeated Israel-aligned Democratic opponents in their primaries.

In Colorado, progressive challenger Melat Kiros unseated an incumbent who had served 30 years in office while advocating for a full arms embargo against Israel.

And in Minnesota, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan won her Democratic primary against Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minn., while sharply critiquing her opponent’s political contributions from AIPAC.

For her own part, Luna has consistently supported Israel as a key ally of the United States, citing aligned interests in the Middle East.

She introduced the Stand with Israel Act, a bill that would bar U.S. funding for the U.N. Human Rights Council until it condemned Hamas for its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel that left over a thousand victims dead. She also voted repeatedly to send U.S. financial assistance to Israel between 2023 and 2025 and condemned the International Criminal Court for issuing an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged war crimes.

Campaign-finance records show Luna received roughly $38,000 in direct contributions from AIPAC’s PAC — less than 1% of the more than $4.3 million her campaign raised through mid-October.

BERNIE SANDERS DEMANDS DEMOCRATS BAN SUPER PACS FROM PRIMARIES, BLASTS AIPAC, ‘CORRUPT SYSTEM’

Luna did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether she would encourage other Republicans to also forgo funding from foreign groups.

She noted that her small-dollar contributions would uniquely enable her to shun PACs tied to corporate or foreign interest groups.

"I ruffle a lot of feathers in Washington. These races can get expensive. Fortunately, this cycle, I was able to raise close to $4 million, if not more, largely from small-dollar donations. So I am able, because of you guys’ support, to not take that money anymore," Luna said.

Fears of more AI regulation appear to have sparked fear among investors, but concerns about the industry have been growing for some time.

England hooker Jamie George says the squad are "really upset" by a newspaper article claiming the end of their summer tour was marked by player unrest over Steve Borthwick's leadership.

The Great One, Wayne Gretzky, is a unicorn in sports. He is not only the hockey GOAT (greatest of all time), holding dozens of records that many believe may never be broken. He is also beloved in both the United States and Canada. He's an Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings legend on the ice, but his relationship with President Trump and friendliness to the administration off the ice, has been considered a strain on that love and respect according to many Canadians in recent years.

While at the grand opening of the Walter Gretzky Upper Deck Hockey Resource Center in Toronto, in honor of Wayne's father, Gretzky fielded questions about sports cards, collectibles, his father's legacy, his thoughts on how Canadians are not too fond of his friendly relationship with Trump, as well as how the Russia/Ukrainian War affects the sport of hockey.

Gretzky discussed Upper Deck expanding its longstanding exclusive agreement with him, naming the "global icon" an Upper Deck Legacy Partner, joining NBA legend Michael Jordan. Jamie Dinsmore, President and CEO of the Hockey Hall of Fame said, "Wayne Gretzky’s impact on hockey extends far beyond records and championships, and we are honored to celebrate his enduring influence on our sport," Gretzky then fielded a few political questions.

Speaking directly to his relationship with President Trump, "People can have their own opinions. That is what life is all about," Gretzky said.

In the past, Gretzky has has defended his Canadian identity while insisting he prefers to stay out of politics, saying, "I'm just a hockey player," while trying not to be overly political.

Gretzky has undoubtedly developed a close personal friendship with President Donald Trump over the decades. This is nothing new. Gretzky has frequently spent time with Trump at Mar-a-Lago in Florida. Gretzky is a Florida resident. Notably, his family attended Trump's 2024 election-night celebration and his January 2025 presidential inauguration, which didn't sit well with Canadians. Trump has also publicly praised "The Great One," even suggesting he run for Canadian prime minister. Their friendship has sparked backlash in Canada especially over the last few years, particularly over Trump's comments about making Canada the 51st U.S. state. That has led to Canadians booing the United States National Anthem and more animosity to between the two nations.

Gretzky wrapped up his response by saying, "People are entitled to what they believe in and what their opinions are. It's as simple as that."

PUTIN ACCUSES HOCKEY ORGANIZATIONS OF 'GROSS VIOLATION' AS CANADA BARS RUSSIA FROM WORLD JUNIORS

A few minutes later Gretzky spoke about the ban of Russian and Belarusian teams from the upcoming World Junior Hockey Championship in Alberta as well as his candid thoughts on the war against Ukraine.

"Nobody likes war, right?" Gretzky stated. "We definitely don't want to see this [war]. We hope it ends. We wish it didn't start."

REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN PRESSES NHL OVER ALEX OVECHKIN’S APPEARANCE IN PUTIN PARTY CAMPAIGN AD

The Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney made it clear recently that Russia and Belarus will not be welcome at the upcoming World Junior Hockey Championship in Alberta, declaring that as long as the war continues, "there will be none of those athletes competing for their countries in Canada." Meanwhile, six European nations, including Sweden, Finland and the Czech Republic, have threatened to boycott games against Russia, leaving international hockey facing a potential showdown between sports officials, national governments and the courts.

In response to the questioning Friday and the Prime Minister's statements, Gretzky said, "I understand the stance the Prime Minister has taken and good for him."

Gretzky also said, "I think a lot of the players and the people of Canada feel the same way."

Gretzky, though he has ruffled feathers of Canadians for his clear friendly relationship with the commander in chief and the current administration, he is well-liked and respected and admired from the Canadians I've spoken with. He handled these questions with grace and transitioned smoothly back into stories about his father, buying the famous T206 Honus Wagner card, and his love for the games and for players like Connor McDavid.

NEARLY $1M IN GRADED TRADING CARDS STOLEN FROM FEDEX TRUCK OUTSIDE PSA FACILITY IN SANTA ANA

As for his father, moving on from the political talk at the behest of Upper Deck President Jason Masherah, Gretzky said, "My dad and my family mean everything to me, so the opportunity to honor him and showcase his impact to fans and collectors around the world is one that is close to my heart," said Wayne Gretzky. "I’m honored to be named an Upper Deck Legacy Partner by a company that has become like a second family to me over the decades we’ve worked together, and I’m looking forward to expanding this relationship for years to come."

As stated in a press release from Upper Deck, the trading card and collectibles company "is marking the Legacy Partner distinction by introducing exclusive new collectibles, the "Upper Deck Master Collection – Wayne Gretzky" and a new Upper Deck Authenticated portfolio that will celebrate the story of Wayne Gretzky from the beginning of his career to the end, and all the accomplishments in between."

"For decades, we’ve worked to capture the moments that defined Wayne Gretzky’s unparalleled career. His impact on the game of hockey is impossible to measure by records alone, so we’ve worked to create collectibles that tell the story of the mark he left on hockey," said Masherah. "We’re honored to welcome Wayne as a Legacy Partner and celebrate the impact his family had on his life and career, as well as the impact Gretzky continues to have on hockey at all levels."

You might think an employee directory sounds pretty harmless. After all, most workplaces keep lists of names and phone numbers so people can reach one another. But what happens when that information belongs to thousands of federal agents, including people connected to undercover investigations?

A massive Homeland Security data leak has exposed records involving more than 41,000 employees and contractors. The information includes contact details, office locations and internal access groups tied to sensitive government operations. Some records even point to surveillance programs and artificial intelligence tools used within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Now, federal officials are scrambling to contain the fallout as concerns grow over the safety of agents and their families. And there's a bigger cybersecurity lesson here that applies well beyond Washington.

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DHS INVESTIGATES MASSIVE DATA BREACH EXPOSING 40,000 EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING ICE AND BORDER PATROL AGENTS

On Oct. 28, the nonprofit Distributed Denial of Secrets published a collection of DHS records under the name Icepick. The information reportedly came from a group calling itself the Department of Peace, which claims it obtained access to internal government systems. The records reportedly cover DHS and seven of its component agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

The files contain employee names, agency email addresses and workplace locations. They also include phone numbers, some identified as cell phone numbers, along with supervisors and internal access-group memberships. However, it has not been established that employees' private home addresses were included. CBP accounts for more than half the records, while roughly 10,000 involve ICE. Another 6,200 are tied to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The records were last updated on Aug. 19, so some assignments may have changed. That's an enormous amount of organizational information to have floating around publicly. And the deeper researchers looked, the more sensitive the findings became.

One of the most alarming findings involves internal groups associated with undercover investigations. WIRED identified 39 Homeland Security Investigations employees connected to access groups referencing certified undercover operations. Other groups reference communications interception programs and surveillance technology. The files also reveal reporting relationships that could help someone understand how different parts of DHS work together.

That raises a difficult security concern. People conducting undercover investigations depend on keeping certain relationships and assignments confidential. Revealing those connections could create risks for ongoing operations. Still, membership in an internal access group does not automatically confirm that every person listed was working undercover. The leaked records offer clues about sensitive assignments, but they don't establish every individual's operational role. Former acting ICE director John Sandweg called the exposure a "nightmare scenario". He warned that revealing agents' identities could put people in danger and interfere with criminal investigations.

Here's another part of this story that caught my attention. The leaked records reveal internal access groups referencing technology used for investigations and government operations. Some groups mention Palantir's Falcon investigative platform, which helps investigators analyze information. Others reference surveillance-related software, including tools used to examine phone records.

Then there's artificial intelligence. WIRED found groups mentioning OpenAI's ChatGPT, Google's Gemini and Microsoft's Copilot. One group labeled "Grok.com" included eight DHS technology officials. That doesn't prove these employees actively used the services or that the technology companies experienced breaches. The group names can reflect access permissions rather than actual activity. Even so, the information offers outsiders a closer look at the technologies DHS personnel may have access to. For an agency responsible for national security, those internal details can be valuable to people looking for weaknesses.

FBI SAYS SOURCE OF ITS JOBS PORTAL BREACH STILL UNKNOWN AS HACKERS ALLEGE EMPLOYEE DATA COMPROMISED

The group claiming responsibility says it accessed the information through DHS's Okta sign-in system. Okta provides identity and access-management technology that organizations use to control employee logins. However, Okta says it has no evidence that its own systems or data were compromised. That leaves the actual entry point unresolved.

DHS has acknowledged a potential breach and says it is investigating. The department has not publicly confirmed how the information was obtained. It's also important to understand what has been established so far. The reporting centers on personnel information and access-group details. It has not confirmed that employee passwords, intercepted communications or investigative case files were included. Until investigators explain what happened, there's no reliable basis for blaming a specific vulnerability or software provider.

We reached out to the Department of Homeland Security and Okta for additional comment. A DHS spokesperson provided the following statement: "DHS is aware of a potential breach and is actively working to address the situation swiftly and effectively. We take all security threats against our employees and officers seriously and will work to ensure all are properly protected. We will update the public when more information is available." Okta had not responded to our request for additional comment by our deadline.

As the records spread online, DHS moved to limit access. On Oct. 29, a company reportedly authorized to seek content removals on behalf of ICE contacted Icelandic hosting provider FlokiNET. The request warned that the database exposed more than 40,000 identifiable individuals to potential harassment and physical harm. However, the hosting company declined to remove the material, saying the records contained workplace contact information rather than private home contact details.

The database briefly became inaccessible before appearing again elsewhere. Then, on Oct. 30, SITE Intelligence Group had reportedly identified threatening online rhetoric following the release. Some social media users reportedly threatened immigration officers and their families. Those reports raise additional concerns about what happens after sensitive personnel information becomes searchable. Even if the original files disappear, copies may already exist elsewhere.

You might be wondering why a federal employee database should concern someone who works in an office, owns a small business or has nothing to do with immigration enforcement. Think about how a convincing scam works. Someone contacts you claiming to be from your company's IT department. They know your supervisor's name and your work email address. They even mention an internal system you're familiar with. Suddenly, that unexpected message sounds a lot more believable.

That's the danger when attackers combine workplace records with information they find elsewhere online. They can use those details to create personalized phishing messages or impersonate trusted colleagues. We've seen related concerns before. In our reporting on the FBI hack claim involving sensitive personnel data, we examined how employee information could expose individuals and their families to additional risks. And that's what concerns me about this latest incident. Even information that seems routine can become dangerous when someone connects it to other records.

You may have no control over how your employer stores its records. However, there are ways to reduce the amount of personal information available about you and make targeted scams harder to pull off.

If someone contacts you claiming to be from your employer's IT department, don't assume they're legitimate because they know your name or job title. Contact your IT department using a phone number or communication channel you already trust. Avoid clicking links in unexpected password-reset emails, especially when the message creates urgency. A convincing message can still lead to a fake login page designed to steal your credentials.

Your primary email account deserves special attention because criminals may use it to reset passwords for other services. Use a strong, unique password for every important account and consider a reputable password manager to create and store them. Turn on multifactor authentication or passkeys wherever available. Also review your recovery email addresses and phone numbers to make sure nobody has changed them without your permission.

Once criminals have detailed information about you, they may send phishing messages containing malicious links or infected attachments. Strong antivirus software can provide an additional layer of protection by helping detect malicious downloads, known phishing websites and malware before they cause damage. Keep your operating system and security software updated so you receive the latest protections. Antivirus software cannot remove your information from a leaked database. However, it can help protect your devices against attacks that may follow an exposure. No security tool catches every threat, so continue checking unexpected messages carefully. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at CyberGuy.com.

Here's something I strongly recommend considering. Data brokers collect personal information from public records and online sources. That information can include your home address, personal phone number and details about relatives. When someone already has your workplace information, finding additional personal details may make harassment or impersonation attempts easier. A reputable data removal service can help remove your personal information from participating data broker and people-search websites. Services such as Incogni automate removal requests and continue checking for information that reappears. You can also contact individual data brokers yourself, although that takes more time and ongoing follow-up. Keep in mind that these services cannot guarantee removal from every website or erase the original DHS leak. For more information, see our guide on how to remove your personal information from the web and keep it from coming back. 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.

Search your own name and see what appears. You may discover old professional profiles, forgotten social media accounts or websites showing personal contact details. Check the privacy settings on your social media accounts and limit how much information strangers can see about your family. Be especially careful about publicly revealing your home location or daily routine if you work in a sensitive position. If you discover unwanted personal information online, contact the website or platform and request removal where possible.

The reported DHS records center on workplace information. So far, there has been no confirmation that Social Security numbers or financial account details were included. Still, exposed contact information can help criminals build more convincing scams. Monitor your important accounts for unfamiliar activity and pay attention to suspicious password-reset messages. If you discover that sensitive identity information has been compromised elsewhere, consider freezing your credit with Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Identity monitoring services may also help flag certain signs of fraud. However, they cannot prevent every type of identity theft or guarantee that your information will stay private. See my tips and best picks on Best Identity Theft Protection at CyberGuy.com.

If someone uses your workplace information to impersonate a colleague or threaten you, document what happened. Save relevant emails, screenshots and messages, then report the incident to your employer's security team. If you receive threats of violence, contact law enforcement. You can also report suspected internet crime through the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov/. If you're an employee whose information may be involved in a breach, ask your employer whether you were affected and what protective steps it recommends. Don't rely on unsolicited callers claiming they can verify your exposure.

What strikes me about this Homeland Security leak is how much damage a collection of workplace records could potentially cause. We're talking about information that many organizations use every day to help employees do their jobs. Yet in the wrong hands, those same details can help identify people involved in sensitive operations or make targeted scams much more convincing. I also believe there's an important conversation to be had about government transparency. Americans have a right to question how federal agencies operate and how officers are held accountable. But I worry about the consequences when information tied to undercover personnel becomes publicly searchable, especially now that threats against employees and their families have been reported. For me, the biggest unanswered question is how DHS allowed this information to become exposed in the first place. The department needs to explain what happened and how it plans to prevent another incident. In the meantime, there's a lesson here for all of us. Pay attention to how much personal information is available about you online. You may never be able to remove everything, but reducing your exposure can make it harder for someone to target you.

Do you believe exposing the identities of federal agents is justified in the name of government transparency, even when it could put undercover operations and employees' families at risk? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

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Dover MP Mike Tapp says smugglers will find new launch locations and methods due to disruptions.

Dover MP Mike Tapp says smugglers will find new launch locations and methods due to disruptions.

The newest residents of Zoo Atlanta are on loan from China as part of a six-year agreement.

We had not heard from former ESPN broadcaster Mark Jones in nearly a year. After his exit, he migrated to Bluesky. Jones explained that he had to depart X because it was "too hateful."

But unlike other full-time Bluesky posters, the far-left former sportscaster is not thrilled with the results of the 2026 midterms. Despite the Democrats’ projected victories in the House and Senate, Jones is irked that Florida stayed red.

"Only in Florida will voters drive through flooded streets because the governor vetoed flood remediation projects to build a now defunct concentration camp in the Everglades and vote the same party in power," Jones posted.

Wait, what?

"Only in Florida can people steal $10m from sick children and still get voted into power," he added.

Jones has also posted photos celebrating former NBC Sports reporter Michele Tafoya losing her Senate race in Minnesota.

The fact that Jones, who lacks both talent and wit, survived for so long at ESPN and in sports media is an indictment of both institutions.

Here is a look at some of his greatest hits:

I know what you are thinking: Batman, really?

Talk about privilege.

For those wondering why a 65-year-old man would act this way and post using words like "bih," we are happy to explain.

The overwhelming belief among people who worked with Jones, including OutKick host Dan Dakich, is that Jones wants to overcompensate for the backlash he received after marrying a White woman.

Jones received the same ridicule from "Black Twitter" that Robert Griffin III faced after he married a White woman. Most recently, former ESPN host Ryan Clark shamed Griffin over it.

It certainly appears that Jones believes the most effective way to counter people questioning his "Blackness" is to act hostile toward White people online.

Jones is not a racist, but he seemingly wants people to think he is one. We maintain that wannabe racists, like Jones and Jemele Hill, are even worse than actual racists.

Mark Jones is a fraud.

At least he still wore his BLM mask years after COVID:

However, do not expect him to focus on Florida politics for long.

Given his previous remarks about Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, and Caitlin Clark, Jones will soon try to convince his Bluesky audience that he is the captain of the Cooper Flagg Hate Club.

In private, he is probably among Flagg’s biggest fans. He probably also watches Batman films regularly.

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