Think you can delete your data yourself? Here’s why you’re probably wrong

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May 1, 2025

None of us signed up for our personal info to be bought and sold online. Between data brokers, people-search sites and all the other places our details end up, it happens constantly and usually without us even realizing it.

If you’ve ever Googled yourself and found your phone number or home address floating around on some shady-looking website, you know the feeling.

If that’s you, you probably started looking for ways to remedy the situation and may be wondering if it’s better to remove your personal information from the web yourself or use a data removal service. I’ve tried both, and here’s what I’ve learned.

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A woman working on her laptop (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Doing it yourself sounds doable, at first

When the data broker problem first got on my radar (granted, it was because data removal services started to emerge), I figured I could just opt out on my own. After all, most of them have opt-out pages with a process. Whitepages, one of the most popular people-search sites, for example, has the following process.

Search for your name and address on Whitepages, find the correct listing and copy the URL of your profile.
Go to the Whitepages suppression page, paste the URL into the field and send the removal request. This includes several sub-steps, like verifying your data, stating the reason for your request and providing a contact phone number.
Whitepages will call you soon after to verify your identity. If you miss the call, you’ll have to start the process again.

This is just one example, but other search sites have similar opt-out processes, give or take a few steps.

A man working on a laptop (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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The reality check: Why manual removal becomes overwhelming fast

If you want to remove your information from all (or most) of the data brokers that have it, here’s what you’ll have to do.

Find the brokers that have your data. There are hundreds out there. You can find the public-facing data brokers, or people-search sites, by doing a quick Google search. However, private data brokers that sell datasets B2B (business-to-business) require a little more digging. You may have to just figure out which ones operate in your area and send removal requests to them all.
Submit opt-out requests to each one. Read through their opt-out instructions (some of which are intentionally vague or buried) and go through the process one by one.
Repeat the process periodically. Data brokers often re-collect your info unless you keep checking in and submitting new requests. It’s not a one-and-done situation. If you’re committed to keeping your data private, you’ll need to keep monitoring and removing it.

It’s definitely doable, but not painless. Some sites make it easier, but others require you to upload your ID (not recommended), ask you to send snail mail or outright reject your request unless you use a specific email domain, not to mention all the CAPTCHAs that feel like they were designed to break your spirit.

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A woman working on her laptop (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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Data removal services automate this process

I’ve since tried using a data removal service that automates the opt-out process, handling the complexities on your behalf. See below for what this gives you.

Comprehensive coverage: They maintain updated lists of data brokers and their opt-out procedures, so your information is removed from more sources than you’d manage on your own.
Time efficiency: Because most of them use automation, you don’t really have to do anything beyond signing up and monitoring the progress. This saves you significant time and effort.
Ongoing removals: As long as you’re subscribed, these services continue to monitor and remove your information from data broker sites, so you know it won’t pop up again.

I didn’t have to babysit the process, and I didn’t have to guess whether it was working. I just got updates when the removals were confirmed.

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Let’s break it down

If you’re still weighing your options, here’s how the two approaches stack up.

Manual opt-outs demand a significant time investment, requiring you to personally navigate each data broker’s unique removal process. While free, this approach offers variable coverage depending on how diligently you track down brokers, and consistency is challenging; you’ll need to repeat the process regularly to keep your data private. Success also depends heavily on your ability to decipher vague opt-out instructions and adapt to each broker’s requirements.

In contrast, data removal services save time by handling the legwork for you. They provide broad coverage by targeting numerous brokers simultaneously and maintain consistency through ongoing monitoring. While these services come with subscription fees, they eliminate the need for personal expertise, offering a hands-off solution to data privacy.

The bottom line: Why personal data removal services win the privacy battle

After testing both manual opt-outs and automated services, using a personal data removal service emerges as the clear solution for reclaiming your data. While no service promises to remove all your data from the internet, having a removal service is great if you want to constantly monitor and automate the process of removing your information from hundreds of sites continuously over a longer period of time. Check out my top picks for data removal services here.

Kurt’s key takeaways

If you’ve got the time and patience, you can absolutely take the DIY route. But if you’re looking for a way to protect your privacy without sinking hours into research, filling out forms and monitoring, a data removal service makes things a lot quicker and more convenient. For most people, this is likely the better option. Many states have privacy laws that give you the right to request that data brokers remove your personal information, but the system seems to be rigged to make exercising those rights unreasonably difficult. While it shouldn’t be necessary, data removal services offer a way to cheat that system.

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Do you think stronger protections are needed to shield you from the challenges and risks posed by data brokers and their handling of your personal information? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

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Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

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Archaeologists identify two shipwrecks as being former slave ships: ‘Very convincing’

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May 1, 2025

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Archaeologists recently made a startling discovery: They found that two 18th-century shipwrecks off the coast of Central America were actually two Danish slave ships.

The ships, named Fridericus Quartus and Christianus Quintus, are located in shallow waters off Costa Rica’s Cahuita National Park. The 18th-century vessels were shipwrecked in 1710, according to the National Museum of Denmark.

“Fridericus Quartus was set ablaze, while Christianus Quintus had its anchor rope cut, following which the ship was wrecked in the surf,” the museum’s press release noted. “Until now, it has not been clear exactly where the ships were lost.”

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Pictures show divers carefully examining the shipwreck, which shows signs of significant decay from the past 315 years.

Though the ships were excavated in 2023, researchers didn’t know that they were slave ships until recently. The vessels were long believed to be pirate ships.

Divers recently unveiled the findings from an excavation of two Danish slave ships, Fridericus Quartus and Christianus Quintus. The vessels were long believed to be pirate ships. (Jakob Olling / National Museum of Denmark)

The excavation involved, in part, taking samples from the wood of the ships, as well as yellow bricks that were part of the ship’s cargo.

Researchers also conducted dendrochronological analyses — tree-ring dating — to determine where the wood came from. They found it came from Northern Europe.

“The timbers originate in the western part of the Baltic Sea, an area that encompasses the northeastern German province of Mecklenburg, as well as Schleswig-Holstein, Denmark and Scania – and that the tree was cut down sometime during the years 1690-1695,” the release said.

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“The wood is, moreover, charred and sooty, which confirms what historical sources say about one of the ships being set ablaze.”

Divers also found clay pipes, which the museum describes as “ordinary, Dutch-produced pipes that were also used onboard Danish ships.”

“This provides two pieces that have been missing.”

“The size, shape and patterns of the pipes suggest that they were produced in the period right before the ships became wrecked in 1710,” the press release added. “Clay pipes were rarely used for more than five years.”

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Pictures also show the remarkable yellow bricks that survived the shipwreck, which were produced in Flensburg “for use in Denmark and in the Danish colonies in the 18th and 19th centuries.”

Split image of diver near shipwreck, yellow bricks

Researchers found that the yellow clay bricks from the shipwreck came from Denmark. (Jakob Olling / National Museum of Denmark)

“In other European countries, other kinds of bricks and stones were in fashion when new buildings were erected,” the museum said.

“The clay comes from Denmark – quite specifically, from either Iller Strand or Egernsund,” the statement added.

“Both locations are situated by Flensburg Fjord, which was, in the 18th century, home to a sizeable brick-producing industry.”

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After samples from the excavation were analyzed at the National Museum of Denmark and the University of Southern Denmark, researchers concluded the findings corroborate what historical sources say about the history of the ships.

David Gregory, a marine archaeologist at the National Museum of Denmark, said that the results fit “perfectly” with historical accounts about one of the ships burning.

Archaeologists conducted wood-dating analyses on the remains of the shipwreck to determine its age. (Jakob Olling / National Museum of Denmark)

“The analyses are very convincing and we no longer have any doubts that these are the wrecks of the two Danish slave ships,” Gregory said.

“The bricks are Danish and the same goes for the timbers, which are additionally charred and sooty from a fire. This fits perfectly with the historical accounts stating that one of the ships burnt.”

“We no longer have any doubts that these are the wrecks of the two Danish slave ships.”

National Museum of Denmark marine archaeologist Andreas Kallmeyer Bloch said he’d “come close to giving up” during the long research process – but is stunned by the results.

“This is undoubtedly the craziest archaeological excavation I’ve yet been part of,” Bach said.

Danish researchers are now certain that the shipwrecks were once two slave ships. (John Fhær Engedal Nissen / National Museum of Denmark)

“Not only because it matters greatly to the local population, but also because it’s one of the most dramatic shipwrecks in the history of Denmark, and now we know exactly where it happened.”

“This provides two pieces that have been missing from the history of Denmark.”

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Fox News Digital reached out to the National Museum of Denmark for additional information.

Trump urged to redirect USAID funds to counter China, Russia global influence

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May 1, 2025

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Former U.S. Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) James Gilmore is urging the Trump administration to repurpose funds cut from USAID to counter the growing global influence of China and Russia.

Gilmore agrees with President Donald Trump that making cuts to foreign funding requires a “scalpel, not a hatchet,” but asserts that more can be done to strategically reform foreign aid.

“The decisions we make today will create the world of tomorrow. If we start by abandoning foreign assistance, that new world will be run by China and our adversaries,” Gilmore told Fox News Digital. “Now more than ever, the U.S. needs to build up our military and national security strength while deploying a robust ‘soft’ power strategy and political initiative to counter China and Russia’s growing global influence.”

Left to right: Russian President Vladimir Putin, U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping (Reuters)

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However, Gilmore stressed in a recent op-ed that “every dollar” of foreign aid must make America safer and stronger, and align with U.S. national strategy. He views aid spent in this way as an investment.

Additionally, Gilmore told Fox News Digital that he is concerned about rising isolationism among Republicans, especially as America’s adversaries use soft-power tactics to spread their influence.

“When America pulls back from global leadership, instability blooms, and our enemies take advantage,” Gilmore warned in his op-ed, adding that in the absence of American leadership “weak states become breeding grounds for terrorism and drug cartels.”

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin shake hands after jointly signing a Joint Statement of the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation on Deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of Coordination for the New Era and a Joint Statement of the President of the People’s Republic of China and the President of the Russian Federation on Pre-2030 Development Plan on Priorities in China-Russia Economic Cooperation in Moscow, Russia, March 21, 2023. Xi on Tuesday held talks with Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow. (Xie Huanchi/Xinhua via Getty Images)

FORMER USAID OFFICIAL WARNS CHINA IS ALREADY LOOKING TO FILL VOID LEFT BY PAUSED PROGRAMS

Both China and Russia have invested in economic development efforts in recent years, particularly in Africa. The continent took a major hit when several USAID programs, including those aimed at combating hunger and disease, were shut down.

In February 2024, Russia claimed to have sent more than 220,000 tons of free grain to six African nations, according to Reuters.

A few months later, in November 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered Africa his country’s “total support” in fighting terrorism and extremism, the BBC reported.

China has also made major investments in economic development across the globe. According to a 2024 report from the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, China has increased its development spending by 525% over the last 15 years.

In September 2024, Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged $51 billion in funding over the course of three years, Reuters reported.

Ukrainian soldier exits the cabin of the DS3 artillery as the Russia-Ukraine war continues, in the direction of Niu York, Ukraine, 5 March 2025. ((Photo by Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu via Getty Images))

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Gilmore told Fox News Digital that the key to countering Chinese and Russian aggression is victory in Ukraine. He views the ongoing war as a “pivot to the future,” and said the U.S. cannot let Russia win.

“Ukraine is on the frontline of a new global war between democracies and authoritarian regimes that is being waged with both military and soft power,” Gilmore told Fox News Digital.

“If Ukraine is conquered by force, Putin will continue his long-term goal of reassembling the Russian empire, and compromising the safety, independence and of Europe, and challenge Europe’s friendship with the U.S. A defeat of Ukraine will require more investment of resources to defend our allies.”

Rachel Wolf is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital and FOX Business.

Google’s AI unleashes powerful scam-busting features for Android

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May 1, 2025

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Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, leveraging advanced tools like generative AI to con unsuspecting victims.

According to the Global Anti-Scam Alliance, mobile consumers worldwide lose over $1 trillion annually to scams. To combat this growing threat, Google is rolling out cutting-edge AI-powered scam detection features for Android users.

However, while Google’s efforts are impressive, there are additional steps you can take to protect yourself from scams. Let’s dive into Google’s new features and explore how you can further safeguard your personal information.

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A man scrolling on his phone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Google’s new AI-powered scam detection features

Google has introduced two innovative AI-powered scam detection features to protect Android users from increasingly sophisticated fraud attempts.

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Scam Detection in Google Messages

The first feature, Scam Detection in Google Messages, enhances the existing Spam Protection functionality. This new tool utilizes on-device AI to identify suspicious patterns in SMS, MMS and RCS messages. When a message appears suspicious, users receive a real-time warning with options to dismiss, report or block the sender.

To ensure privacy, all message processing occurs directly on the user’s device, keeping conversations confidential. The feature is enabled by default for non-contacts and can be verified or disabled via Google Messages → Settings → Spam Protection. It is currently available in English for users in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada, with plans to expand to more countries soon.

Scam detection in Google Messages (Google)

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Scam Detection for phone calls

The second feature addresses the growing issue of phone scams, with over half of Americans reporting daily scam calls in 2024. Google’s Scam Detection for calls employs on-device AI models to analyze calls in real time. If a call is identified as a potential scam, users receive audio and visual warnings alerting them to the risk.

Activation requirements:

Pixel 9+ devices (U.S. English) leverage Gemini Nano for advanced detection
Pixel 6+ models use smaller on-device AI (beta availability may vary)
Manual enablement required via Phone app → Settings → Scam Detection

This feature prioritizes user privacy by processing call audio ephemerally without storing or sharing any data. Pixel Watch integration allows Wear OS users to enable call alerts through the Phone app after updating both devices. At present, Scam Detection for calls is available to Pixel 9+ users in the United States, with plans for broader expansion in the future.

Both of these AI-powered features are a big win for your mobile security, providing you with advanced protection against evolving scam tactics while keeping your privacy safe.

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Scam Detection for phone calls (Google)

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How you can stay ahead of scammers

While Google’s innovations provide robust protection, scammers are relentless in finding new ways to exploit vulnerabilities. Here are some additional steps you can take.

1. Have strong antivirus software: Google Play Protect, which is built-in malware protection for Android devices, automatically removes known malware. However, it is important to note that Google Play Protect may not be enough. Historically, it isn’t 100% foolproof at removing all emerging malware from Android devices. 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 of the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.

2. Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA): This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification beyond just a password. 2FA makes it significantly harder for attackers to gain unauthorized access to your accounts, even if they obtain your password.

3. Regularly update your software and devices: Keeping your systems up to date ensures you have the latest security patches and protections against newly discovered vulnerabilities.

4. Use strong and unique passwords: Use long, complex passphrases that are unique for each account. Consider using a password manager to help create and store strong, unique passwords for all your accounts. Get more details about my best expert-reviewed password managers of 2025 here.

5. Be cautious about sharing information: Avoid sharing sensitive details like financial information or passwords over text or phone calls unless you’re absolutely certain of the recipient’s identity. Be cautious of phishing attempts and verify the legitimacy of requests for personal information.

6. Invest in personal data removal services: Use a personal data removal service to remove your personal information from people-search websites, making it harder for scammers to find and target you. While no service promises to remove all your data from the internet, having a removal service is great if you want to constantly monitor and automate the process of removing your information from hundreds of sites continuously over a longer period of time. Check out my top picks for data removal services here.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

Scammers are constantly changing their tactics, but so is technology designed to protect us. Google’s AI-powered scam detection features are a significant step forward in safeguarding Android users from fraud. However, staying safe requires a combination of tools and personal vigilance. By using strong antivirus software, removing yourself from people-search sites and being cautious with your personal information, you can stay one step ahead of scammers.

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Do you think Google and other tech companies are doing enough to prevent scammers from attacking your Android? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

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Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

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Experimental prostate cancer test could detect disease better than PSA

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Reporters News Wire

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May 1, 2025

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A new means of prostate cancer screening could emerge as an alternative to the PSA test, which has long been the first-line option.

Using machine learning, a form of artificial intelligence, Swedish researchers analyzed urine samples from more than 2,000 men with prostate cancer, along with a control group.

They determined that the simple, non-invasive urine test was able to detect biomarkers of prostate cancer with a high degree of accuracy — and could also determine the grade (stage) of the disease.

The results were published in the journal Cancer Research.

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“Prostate cancer can be effectively identified by analyzing the expression of candidate biomarkers in urine,” confirmed lead author Martin Smelik from Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden, who spoke to Fox News Digital about the findings.

A new means of prostate cancer screening could emerge as an alternative to the PSA test, which has long been the first-line option. (iStock)

“This approach outperforms the current blood tests based on PSA, but at the same time keeps the advantages of being non-invasive, painless and relatively cheap.”

The researchers were surprised by the “heterogeneity of tumors,” which refers to “the differences between tumors of the same type in different patients, the differences between cancer cells within a single tumor, or the differences between a primary (original) tumor and a secondary tumor,” according to the National Cancer Institute.

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“One of the main challenges of the study was to overcome this and to identify biomarkers that were specific for prostate cancer, but also expressed in all types of patients,” Smelik said.

Dr. Timothy Showalter, a radiation oncologist at UVA Health in Virginia and chief medical officer at Artera, was not involved in the study but commented on the findings.

A simple, non-invasive urine test was able to detect biomarkers of prostate cancer with a high degree of accuracy, the study found. (iStock)

“This study highlights the power of machine learning applied to patient data in identifying breakthroughs that can help us diagnose cancer earlier, when our treatments are most effective,” he told Fox News Digital.

“Prostate cancer screening has not seen a transformative advance in decades, and current approaches still rely on the PSA blood test, which is known to have low specificity for clinically significant cancers.”

What to know about the PSA

The existing PSA test works by monitoring levels of prostate-specific antigen in the blood.

It can be used to screen for prostate cancer or monitor the disease’s progression, but some risks and limitations have been noted.

“Prostate cancer screening has not seen a transformative advance in decades.”

Matthew C. Abramowitz, M.D., co-chair and clinical lead of the Genitourinary Malignancies Site Disease Group at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center in Miami, Florida, echoed the need for alternatives to the PSA test.

“While PSA is an incredibly sensitive tool for issues related to the prostate, it is not specific to prostate cancer,” Abramowitz, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital.

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“The techniques proposed in the current study suggest the promise of identifying specific cancer markers in the urine, minimizing some of the specificity concerns associated with PSA.”

While PSA has the advantage of simplicity, quickness and reasonable cost, determining the meaning behind any abnormal findings often requires further testing, such as MRIs and biopsies, the doctor noted.

The existing PSA test works by monitoring levels of prostate-specific antigen in the blood, but some risks and limitations have been noted. (iStock)

False positives are also common with the PSA test, occurring in about 6% to 7% of the cases.

“Only about 25% of men who have a biopsy due to an elevated PSA level are found to have prostate cancer,” states the NIH.

Limitations and future research

The study did have some limitations, chiefly the low number of samples.

“The urine prostate cancer prediction model was performed on a small data set and appears to be largely an analysis of European men, both of which may limit its applicability to other high-risk prostate cancer populations,” Abramowitz noted.

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The test could also come with a significant cost increase due to the specialized equipment necessary to perform the analyses, he added.

The researchers acknowledged the need for larger studies to validate the findings and to potentially include other cancers.

This work may pave the way for more specific screening methods that improve our ability to detect high-grade cancers before they progress or metastasize, ultimately improving cure rates and reducing treatment-related morbidity.” (iStock)

“While this study was focused specifically on prostate cancer, we believe that some of the methods could be generalized to other cancers as well, which we would like to try in our future studies,” Smelik said.

The ultimate goal, according to the researchers, is to achieve more efficient screening programs within the next few years, potentially helping to prevent and treat prostate cancer.

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Showalter agreed, adding, “This work may pave the way for more specific screening methods that improve our ability to detect high-grade cancers before they progress or metastasize, ultimately improving cure rates and reducing treatment-related morbidity.”

Melissa Rudy is senior health editor and a member of the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to melissa.rudy@fox.com.

REAL IDs are being denied to some married women due to documentation issues

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May 1, 2025

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Some married women across the U.S. are sharing that they’ve been facing unexpected hurdles in obtaining their REAL ID as the May 7th deadline looms to have the documentation to fly domestically.

The common obstacle among them is proving their name change due to marriage without having in their possession their original marriage certificate needed to verify that change.

It has become a logistical nightmare, for example, for Dorothy Ballone — formerly Hotchkiss — of Rochester, New York. She’s been on a mission to try to obtain her original marriage certificate from 67 years ago, she told Fox News Digital this week.

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The nonagenarian has been working since February to track down the authentic document since being turned down on her first trip to the Department of Motor Vehicles in New York.

“I found online all the documents that I would need, my Social Security [card], my birth certificate. A couple of things stating where you live, like your utility bill and your bank statement, stuff like that — and your marriage license,” said Ballone.

A REAL ID sign reminding travelers of the documentation they need is shown above in an airport this week. (Fox News Digital)

“I had even more documents than that with me.”

She arrived at the DMV with a copy of her marriage license from Aug. 19, 1958, along with certification stating that the document was an exact photocopy of the original with a notary public’s stamp and all applicable information.

“I put all my documents on the counter, and [a clerk] pulled out the marriage license and said, ‘I can’t accept this.’ And I said, ‘Why not?’ She said, ‘It’s a copy.’ And I said, ‘That’s all I have.’ And she said, ‘No, I need the original,’” Ballone told Fox News Digital.

She went on a wild goose chase to try to obtain her original marriage license.

Ballone said she was told to go to her church to obtain the original.

Ballone reached out to the church in East Rochester where she was married, and was told the church does not have marriage licenses dating back that far.

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She then went on a wild goose chase as she tried to obtain her original marriage license — reaching out to local clerks’ offices, government officials, even the Diocese of Rochester.

The city of Rochester eventually claimed to have the original marriage license — and mailed it.

A sign at an airport of a woman holding out her "REAL ID" to encourage travelers to get their REAL ID done before the travel ban takes place.

Some married women nationwide are facing unexpected hurdles as they try to obtain their REAL ID in time for the May 7th deadline. (Fox News Digital)

The document she received was certified, yet Ballone was denied a REAL ID once again, she said.

She has been in contact with her local assemblywoman and the assistant commissioner of the New York Department of Motor Vehicles, she told Fox News Digital.

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Even though she’s lived under her married name for decades and has a driver’s license bearing her married name, the state has continued to deny her REAL ID application, Ballone said, until she provides her official marriage document.

They’ve heard from DMV officials that this has become an issue.

Ballone told Fox News Digital that two of her neighbors are having the same issue with tracking down their original marriage licenses.

They said they’ve heard from DMV officials that this has become an issue.

Fox News Digital reached out to the city of Rochester, New York.

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Fox News Digital spoke with travelers at the Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., this week to get their thoughts about the REAL ID process with May 7 just a week away.

Alicia from Minneapolis, Minnesota, told Fox News Digital that she, too, has been having issues obtaining her REAL ID due to her changed name.

A REALID sign at the Denver airport, close up of a sign about elbow-level with people in the background of the shot. The sign reads "Are you REALID ready? You may be denied access through the checkpoint, subject to additional security measures, or experience extended delays if you do not have a REAL ID or other acceptable form of ID beginning May 7, 2025."

Some people are having an issue with tracking down their original marriage licenses, they said — and have heard from DMV officials that this has become an issue as people try to obtain their REAL ID. (Fox News Digital)

“I’m a stay-at-home mom, so I don’t have a paycheck delivered. So it was a little harder to have all the forms of [identifications],” she told Fox News Digital.

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“I went one time, and then I had to go back a second time because I was missing our marriage certificate because my name had changed, so it was a little more complicated for me,” said Alicia, who did not share her last name.

Some married women (not pictured) have told Fox News Digital that their REAL ID application process has become a hassle. They’ve been asked to provide their official marriage licenses — and some don’t have that original document. (iStock; Fox News Digital)

“I had a baby with me, so [this has been] annoying,” she added.

As the enforcement deadline of May 7 approaches, these women say they’re racing the clock.

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Fox News Digital reached out to the TSA for comment on the topic.

A spokesperson responded, “This would be a state documentation requirement, so please contact the [individual] states where this might be an issue.”

Fox News Digital reached out to New York State for comment.

Alzheimer’s findings and revolutionary brain implant, plus new cancer treatments

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Reporters News Wire

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May 1, 2025

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Fox News’ Health newsletter brings you stories on the latest developments in healthcare, wellness, diseases, mental health and more.

TOP 3:

– Alzheimer’s brain treatment shows promising results

– Paralyzed man with ALS receives Neuralink implant

– Alternative cancer treatment could replace chemo and surgery

This week’s top health news included a new Alzheimer’s treatment, a revolutionary brain implant and new cancer research. (iStock)

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This article was written by Fox News staff.

Wildfires break out in Israel, cancelling Independence Day celebrations

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April 30, 2025

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Massive wildfires broke out near Jerusalem on Wednesday, forcing Israel to cancel its Independence Day torch-lighting ceremony as road closures and mass evacuations paralyzed the country, turning what should have been a festive celebration into a grim echo of the massive Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attacks.

“Our volunteers were searching through cars abandoned on the highway for bodies; it brought them back to Oct. 7,” United Hatzalah ambulance service President Eli Beer told Fox News Digital.

ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER SLAMS UN, CALLS IT ‘ROTTEN, ANTI-ISRAEL, AND ANTISEMITIC BODY’

The wildfires broke out in a forest near Jerusalem and rapidly spread with the aid of strong winds. The blaze caused the evacuation of at least 10 communities and the closure of the Route 1 highway, which connects Jerusalem to Tel Aviv.

Israeli media reported that 163 fire and rescue crews and 12 aircraft had been deployed to combat the flames. At least 13 people were injured as of Wednesday afternoon, but no fatalities were reported. At least 2,900 acres have been burned by the blaze so far, according to the Jewish National Fund.

More than 120 firefighting and rescue crews were deployed to fight the flames. (AP)

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The Jewish state was forced to cancel its annual torch-lighting ceremony to commemorate the signing of its declaration of independence on May 14, 1948, or the 5th of Iyar on the Jewish calendar, and instead aired footage of the rehearsal ceremony. Numerous other Independence Day festivities were canceled as Israeli firefighters struggled to bring the conflagration under control.

Earlier in the day, Palestinian terrorist group Hamas had been trying to incite residents of the West Bank to commit acts of arson via social media, and a man was arrested for allegedly trying to light a fire in an open field in southern Jerusalem, the Jerusalem Post reported. It is unclear what started the fires.

Videos from the scene show flames engulfing hills near Jerusalem, burnt trees and the fire spreading down a large stretch of highway. Israel has appealed to the international community for help fighting the fires.

“Over the past few hours, I held a series of phone calls with my counterparts from Argentina, France, Italy, the UK, Spain, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Croatia, Greece, Cyprus, Azerbaijan and North Macedonia, to request aerial assistance in dealing with the wildfires near Jerusalem,” Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar posted on X. “I thank all those countries that already promised assistance to fight the blaze and to those currently looking into our requests with great will to help. Israel is fortunate to have true friends who stand by her in times of need.”

United Hatzalah volunteers combat Israeli wildfires

United Hatzalah volunteers respond to Israeli wildfires. (United Hatzalah)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he is consulting with senior members of his Cabinet about the fires. Beer told Fox News Digital that United Hatzalah teams evacuated a school and a facility for the elderly that housed many Holocaust survivors and residents on ventilators.

Israeli fire department crews drives through smoke from a burning fire on the freeway near Jerusalem, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)

Israeli fire crews drive through smoke from wildfires on the freeway near Jerusalem on April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)

“Israel is really shaken by this,” he said.

Jerusalem District Fire Department Commander Shmulik Friedman told the press on Wednesday that the wildfires may be “the largest fire ever in the country” and warned that high winds could exacerbate the blaze later in the day. He also warned that Israel was “far from control” of the fires.

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“We are in a time of national emergency, and all available forces must be mobilized to save lives and bring the fires under control,” Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said.

David Spector is a reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to david.spector@fox.com.

FDA chief unsure of COVID vaccine recommendations, calling for more data

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April 30, 2025

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The FDA chief has called into question whether the agency will approve and authorize the COVID-19 vaccine for winter.

In August 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the updated mRNA COVID vaccine to protect against the current variants, and also approved an updated Novavax vaccine.

FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary, however, has expressed doubts about whether that is necessary for the 2025-2026 season.

DEMENTIA RISK COULD DIP WITH COMMON VACCINE, STUDY SUGGESTS

“We’re taking a look. I can’t comment on any particular application. As you know, we have a bunch of applications for those booster shots,” Makary told CBS News on Tuesday, as the outlet reported.

In August 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the updated mRNA COVID vaccine to protect against the current variants, and also approved an updated Novavax vaccine. (iStock)

“I think there’s a void of data. And I think rather than allow that void to be filled with opinions, I’d like to see some good data,” he added.

Makary also mentioned a “public trust problem” surrounding COVID boosters, noting that many healthcare workers opted out of receiving them last season.

FLU VACCINE LINKED TO HIGHER INFECTIONS, SAYS EARLY RESEARCH

The FDA chief has also expressed concerns about the lack of data supporting Novavax’s COVID vaccine, calling for more studies into its effectiveness before approving it.

“The big Novavax 2020-2021 study excluded people with natural immunity to COVID. Today, there is broad population immunity, and the big question is, does it provide a benefit?” he said in an interview with Inside Medicine on Tuesday.

FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary has expressed doubts about whether that is necessary for the 2025-2026 season. (Getty Images)

“Without a study on the new formulation and product, we can’t give an honest, evidence-based answer to that question.”

Novavax on Tuesday posted an update on its website of the FDA’s request for an additional clinical trial.

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“It’s my general feeling, not with this particular product, which I can’t discuss in-depth, but with drugs in general, that we need to know if they work today in order to be able to recommend them,” Makary told CBS News on Tuesday.

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has also been considering narrowing the recommendations for widespread COVID vaccines starting in 2025-2026.

Vials with Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine labels are seen against a blue background.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has also been considering narrowing the recommendations for widespread COVID vaccines starting in 2025-2026. (Reuters/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo)

In an April report, the agency presented three options for COVID boosters: to maintain the “universal vaccine policy” for everyone aged 6 months and older, to only recommend them for groups at high risk of severe COVID illness, or to use risk-based recommendations up to 64 years of age and then switch to universal recommendations at age 65.

The main risk factors for severe disease include advancing age, underlying medical conditions and pregnancy, the CDC stated.

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health

Those who work in healthcare or who live in long-term care facilities are at increased risk of exposure.

Melissa Rudy is senior health editor and a member of the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to melissa.rudy@fox.com.

Neck pain increases after certain amount of sedentary behavior, study finds

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April 30, 2025

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We’ve all heard the adage “sitting is the new smoking” — but new research shows that being still for too long can have effects that go beyond the lungs and heart.

Just six hours of sedentary behavior is associated with an increased risk of neck pain, according to a new study published in BMC Public Health.

Researchers in Beijing, China, examined 25 cohort and case-control studies on neck pain and sedentary behavior among more than 43,000 participants.

‘I’M A SPINAL SURGEON – HERE’S HOW YOUR POSTURE IS KILLING YOUR BACK’

The analysis revealed a “significant relationship” between the two factors.

Women are at a higher risk of neck pain from sedentary behavior than men, researchers found. (iStock)

The risk was found to be greater among females than males — and more among employees, such as office workers, than among students.

Screen-based sedentary behaviors, like mobile phone and computer use, led to the greatest risk of neck pain. Watching TV did not pose a significant risk, according to the study.

“As sedentary time increases, so does the risk of developing neck pain.”

Just over one hour of screen-based sedentary behavior increased neck pain risk.

More than four hours of sedentary behavior per day saw a greater risk, with the highest occurrence noted at six hours.

Mobile phone use while sedentary contributes the most to neck pain, according to the study. (iStock)

The researchers concluded that sedentary behavior is a “notable risk factor” for neck pain, while risk escalates with longer duration.

“Targeted preventative measures, particularly for high-risk groups like females and employees, are necessary,” the study stated.

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“Public health initiatives should encourage the reduction of sedentary behaviors and the promotion of physical activity to enhance neck health and alleviate the global prevalence of neck pain.”

The researchers recommended that high-risk groups take preventative measures toward managing neck pain. (iStock)

Dr. Arthur Jenkins, a spinal surgeon in New York, commented on the findings.

“It doesn’t surprise me to say that six hours of sedentary activity has a strong correlation with neck pain, since most of the activities that people do when they’re sedentary involve sitting,” the expert, who did not work on the study, told Fox News Digital.

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“During sitting activities, people are either watching TV, looking at their phones or working at a desk, and most of these involve the head being in a looking-down position,” he said.

This position puts excess strain on the back of the neck as well as on the front of the disc space, he added.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, multi-specialist physician Dr. Azza Halim, who was also not involved in the study, agreed that prolonged sitting can be a risk factor for musculoskeletal issues.

A doctor emphasized the importance of practicing regular movement, stretching and ergonomic adjustments in daily routines to “mitigate the negative health effects of prolonged sitting.” (iStock)

“We do know that being seated for extended periods, especially with poor posture or inadequate ergonomic support, definitely places sustained strain on the cervical spine and associated muscles, which eventually will lead to stiffness, muscle imbalances and chronic discomfort,” she said.

“Research shows a clear dose-response relationship — as sedentary time increases, so does the risk of developing neck pain,” Halim noted.

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health

“As shown, sitting for more than six hours per day has been linked to an 88% greater risk compared to those with minimal sedentary behavior.”

Halim emphasized the importance of practicing regular movement, stretching and ergonomic adjustments in daily routines to “mitigate the negative health effects of prolonged sitting.”

Angelica Stabile is a lifestyle reporter for Fox News Digital.

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Fox News’ Health newsletter brings you stories on the latest developments in healthcare, wellness, diseases, mental health and more.

TOP 3:

– Alzheimer’s brain treatment shows promising results

– Paralyzed man with ALS receives Neuralink implant

– Alternative cancer treatment could replace chemo and surgery

MORE IN HEALTH

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