How to delete photos from your iPhone while still keeping them in iCloud

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January 9, 2024

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NFL legend Rob Gronkowski gets second chance at making Super Bowl field goal in FanDuel’s ‘Kick of Destiny 2’

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A Super Bowl campaign that caught the attention of many fans last year was NFL legendary tight end Rob Gronkowski teaming up with FanDuel for his “Kick of Destiny,” where he attempted a field goal that customers of the popular sportsbook could bet on.

FanDuel customers received a free bet they could use to choose whether “Gronk” would make or miss the field goal. Customers that picked correctly won a share of $10 million in FanDuel bonus wagers.

Well, Gronkowski wasn’t happy with last year’s result, missing the field goal that played in a commercial during the Super Bowl.

Carl Weathers and Rob Gronkowski sit on a motorcycle looking into the desert. (FanDuel)

So, he’s back with FanDuel for the “Kick of Destiny 2,” and to break the news to sports bettors across the country ahead of the final game of the 2023 NFL season, Gronkowski looks nothing like himself as he is seen walking through the desert.

A distressed Gronkowski is seen on his way through the desert heading to Las Vegas, the home of Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium.

FROM OUTKICK: AARON RODGERS TEASES MORE KIMMEL/EPSTEIN DRAMA WITH PAT MCAFEE: ‘TUNE IN’

Gronkowski doesn’t believe he’ll have another shot at making the field goal after missing it in Glendale, Arizona, at last year’s Super Bowl.

But Gronkowski learns that he will have a chance at redemption this year for another “Kick of Destiny,” and he’ll be training alongside actor and director Carl Weathers to make sure he hits the field goal attempt this year.

Kicking is a whole new world for this elite athlete, but Gronkowski has never backed down from a challenge. (Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images)

However, WWE legend and actor John Cena will be on Team Miss, hoping that Gronkowski goes 0-for-2.

Of course, Gronkowski was a tight end in the NFL, arguably the best at his position while playing with Tom Brady as his quarterback for the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Kicking is a whole new world for this elite athlete, but Gronkowski has never backed down from a challenge.

NFL legend Rob Gronkowski holds up phone with FanDuel logo on the screen. (FanDuel)

So, fans can look forward once again to Gronkowski going for glory. Which side they will choose – Team Make or Team Miss – will be up to them.

‘Worst year of my life’

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January 9, 2024

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New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson was hoping to launch into the stratosphere in 2023 after winning the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in his first season as a pro.

But injuries to the offense took its toll across almost every position for the Jets, starting with quarterback as Aaron Rodgers went down in Week 1 with a torn Achilles and Zach Wilson and Trevor Siemian struggled as they ping-ponged for the starting job.

Garrett Wilson of the New York Jets during the Dolphins game at Hard Rock Stadium on Dec. 17, 2023, in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Brandon Sloter/Image Of Sport/Getty Images)

Wilson finished the year with 95 catches for 1,042 yards and three touchdowns. His receptions mark was a career high – up from 83 catches in his first season. He managed to stay healthy enough to play in every game this season but he called it the “worst year of my life.”

“What happened this season can’t happen again,” he told reporters, via the New York Post. “It’s got to be better. We’ve got to make adjustments in the game. We’ve got to do things to counter what we’re getting and be able to put points on the board, because in the two years I’ve been here, honestly, it’s been tough. It’s been tough going.”

Garrett Wilson of the New York Jets looks on prior to a game against the Browns on Dec. 28, 2023, in Cleveland. (Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images)

HALL OF FAMER BRIAN DAWKINS RIPS BRONCOS FOR RUSSELL WILSON BENCHING: ‘ABSOLUTELY POORLY HANDLED’

Wilson added that this time next year, he didn’t plan on doing any exit interviews.

“I never want to feel like this again. I never want to be in this position again. We have to be a little better in every category. I don’t know exactly what the issue is, but we have to be better in every category. My goal for the next season is how can I be better, and how can we be better, so that when we get around to this time of year next year, we aren’t doing exit interviews.”

New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson celebrates after a catch for a first down against the Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High on Oct. 8, 2023, in Denver. (Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

New York finished the year 7-10.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Chiefs’ Charles Omenihu appears upset over Peacock playoff game: ‘Insane I won’t lie’

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January 9, 2024

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Chiefs’ Charles Omenihu appears upset over Peacock playoff game: ‘Insane I won’t lie’

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The Kansas City Chiefs will host the Miami Dolphins on Saturday night in the AFC wild-card round of the NFL playoffs, but the game will exclusively be on NBC’s streaming service Peacock.

Chiefs defensive end Charles Omenihu appeared to be taken aback when he realized the game was only going to be on the streaming service.

Charles Omenihu, #90 of the Kansas City Chiefs, looks on during the national anthem prior to an NFL football game between the Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs at Empower Field At Mile High on Oct. 29, 2023 in Denver. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)

“Us playing on peacock ONLY is insane I won’t lie,” he wrote on X.

KSHB-TV general manager and Vice President Kathleen Choal confirmed after the Chiefs wrapped up the No. 3 seed in the playoffs that the game will air on the NBC affiliate.

“As the GM of @KSHB41 I can confirm the game will air on linear TV for the hometown teams. So yes we will have the @Chiefs game on our station next Saturday for all our viewers!” she wrote on X.

Charles Omenihu, #90 of the Kansas City Chiefs, celebrates during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Dec. 31, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Ryan Kang/Getty Images)

RAVENS, 49ERS FINISH ON TOP OF NFL AS PLAYOFF PICTURE BECOMES CRYSTAL CLEAR

The game will be seen on local markets, but for the rest of the country, they will need to have Peacock to watch the game. It will be the first time an NFL playoff game will only be available primarily through streaming.

According to The Wall Street Journal, NBCUniversal and the NFL reached a one-year, $110 million deal to bring the playoff game to the streamer.

Tyreek Hill, #10 of the Miami Dolphins, celebrates with Cedrick Wilson Jr., #11, after a touchdown during the second quarter against the Buffalo Bills at Hard Rock Stadium on Jan. 7, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Rich Storry/Getty Images)

The Chiefs will welcome Tyreek Hill back to Arrowhead Stadium for the playoff game. The Dolphins are coming off a season-finale loss to the Buffalo Bills, costing them an AFC East division title.

Bullfighting returns to Mexico City after ban is lifted

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January 9, 2024

COLOMBIA SET TO VOTE ON BULLFIGHTING BAN IN THE COMING WEEKS

Bullfighting returns to Mexico City after ban is lifted

Bullfighting in Mexico City faced a ban in June 2022, but the Supreme Court of Justice has officially overturned it.
Animal rights activists had filed a legal complaint against bullfighting, citing violence and animal cruelty in Mexico City.
The Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the ban did not prove “imminent and irreparable damage” caused by bullfights.

In the center of a desolate and cold Plaza Mexico stadium, a young matador raises a red cape and leaps to the right as he gets charged — not by a bull, but by a bull’s head on a cart.

A bellowing colleague is pushing the wheeled contraption to breathe a bit of realism into training in anticipation of bullfighting’s return to Mexico City.

The traditional spectacle took a critical blow when a judge banned it in the city in June 2022. Now that the country’s Supreme Court of Justice has overturned the ban, the capital that is home to what is billed as the world’s largest bullfighting ring plans to host “fiesta brava” events once more.

“To know that the dream is even closer pushes me further,” said Juan Esteban Arboleda Gómez, an aspiring bullfighter, or “novillero,” from Colombia who moved to the Mexican capital to pursue a career that the lower court’s indefinite injunction delayed.

A bullfighter practices at the Plaza de Toros Mexico bullring in Mexico City, on Dec. 12, 2023. The spectacle took a critical blow in 2022 when a judge banned bullfighting in Mexico City, but now that the country’s Supreme Court of Justice has overturned the ban, the controversial sport is set to return to the capital. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

Arboleda Gómez, who is known professionally as Juan Gómez “Dynasty,” is among thousands of people who struggled to make ends meet during the past year and a half. For them, and for fans of, the high court’s ruling last month was a source of relief and celebration.

No dates have been announced yet for new bullfights. But their expected resumption in Plaza Mexico has renewed the worries of animal rights activists. The hiatus stemmed from a legal complaint brought by the organization Justicia Justa, which alleged that bullfights created an unhealthy environment by subjecting Mexico City residents to violence and animal cruelty.

Justicia Justa’s push to end the controversial sport in Mexico, where it flourished for more than 500 years, is part of a global movement. While such fights are held in most of the country, they remain blocked by judicial measures in the states of Sinaloa, Guerrero, Coahuila and Quintana Roo, as well as in the western city of Guadalajara.

Jorge Gaviño, a member of the Mexico City Congress who has unsuccessfully pushed three local measures against bullfighting, said he considered the lifting of the court ban a blow for animal rights but said he was working with other groups to present new appeals to stop the practice.

“It’s very complicated, but it doesn’t discourage us because sooner or later we’re going to achieve the thing we set out to do. This is irreversible,” Gaviño said. He observed that “bullfighting festivals have fewer and fewer followers” because humans have learned to recognize the pain of other sentient creatures.

Globally, around 180,000 bulls are killed in bullfights every year, and even more are killed or injured in connected events like bull parties, according to Humane Society International. The organization claims “bulls suffer from a protracted death in the bullfighting arena, weakened and tormented both physically and mentally.”

At the same time, bullfighting generates 80,000 direct jobs, and 146,000 indirect jobs across the country, according to figures of the National Association of Breeders of Fighting Bulls in Mexico. Overall the industry generates approximately $400 million a year. Mexico City’s massive bullfighting ring, Plaza Mexico, is considered the cathedral of Mexican bullfighting and is one of the three main bullrings in the world along with Las Ventas in Madrid and La Maestranza in Spain’s city of Seville.

BULLFIGHT STAND COLLAPSE: AT LEAST 4 KILLED, HUNDREDS INJURED IN CENTRAL COLOMBIA DISASTER

The bullfighting ban was railed against by fans like Daniel Salinas, a 63-year-old writer whose work has documented the more than 70 years of history in Plaza Mexico. On a recent day, he considered the empty plaza, which in its time would rumble with the cry of “Ole!” ringing out from some 40,000 people in the 50-foot-high stands. He said after watching the fights as a child, he was struck by the desolation of the famous ring.

“That they took away your right to come, well, the truth is that you feel your freedom has been curtailed,” Salinas said.

Four members of a Supreme Court panel ruled unanimously in the Dec. 6 ruling, which said the organization that brought the case didn’t prove that the fights caused “imminent and irreparable damage.” The panel also held that prohibiting bullfights restricted the rights of people connected to the industry.

Fugitive the size of NFL lineman fails badly at blending into Florida swamp, cops say

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January 9, 2024

Two hikers spent hours lost in alligator-filled Florida swamp. See the rescue video

Fugitive the size of NFL lineman fails badly at blending into Florida swamp, cops say

A potentially dangerous manhunt in a Florida swamp took a strange turn when deputies spotted a human stomach and mouth sticking out of the water, investigators say.

It proved to be their suspect — a 6-foot, 7-inch tall, 370-pound man — making a bad attempt at hiding underwater like a Navy SEAL.

He was rescued and arrested before encountering the alligators or venomous snakes that also like to submerge and hide in the swamp.

The pursuit began around 3:20 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 7, when deputies responded to a single-vehicle crash near Lakeland, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office said in a Jan. 8 news release. Lakeland is about 35 miles northeast of Tampa.

“When the deputies arrived, they discovered (the car’s owner) had fled on foot from the crash,” the sheriff’s office said.

“(He) could be heard walking through the swampy woods. … Plus, he was using his cell phone to navigate and attempting to phone a friend, and the deputies could see the light from the phone.”

Deputies tracked the ruckus but lost sight of the 20-year-old man when things suddenly got quiet.

He was eventually found “almost completely submerged in the water with only his stomach and mouth visible,” officials said.

“It was noted that (his) eyes were dilated, blood shot, and watery. Granted, he just came out of the swamp, so his whole body was watery, but his breath also smelled of alcoholic beverage,” the sheriff’s office said.

The suspect was given two breath sample tests and charged with hit and run, DUI and resisting arrest, officials said.

Man’s house keys were held for ransom in outlandish Florida extortion case, cops say

Accused drunk driver runs over 2 pedestrians near national monument, Florida cops say

Hall of Famer Brian Dawkins rips Broncos for Russell Wilson benching: ‘Absolutely poorly handled’

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January 9, 2024

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Hall of Famer Brian Dawkins rips Broncos for Russell Wilson benching: ‘Absolutely poorly handled’

Russell Wilson has been receiving waves of support from many after he was benched by the Denver Broncos in what’s become a debacle for the franchise’s quarterback.

It was head coach Sean Payton’s decision to sit Wilson for the final two games of the regular season despite this past week seeing a chance at making the playoffs. Jarrett Stidham led Denver to a needed victory. However, the playoff picture dropped the Broncos into elimination, rendering Week 18 a meaningless game.

The likes of Aaron Rodgers, as well as Jason and Travis Kelce, have shown sympathy toward Wilson for what’s going on in Denver.

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton talks to Russell Wilson prior to the game against the Miami Dolphins, Sept. 24, 2023, in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

Hall of Famer Brian Dawkins, who played for the Broncos, can’t fathom watching what’s gone on in the facility either.

“Absolutely poorly handled, absolutely,” he told Fox News Digital while discussing the benefits of Nirvana Super wellness beverages have had in his fitness journey post-career. “Once again, you talk about the leader of a team. The leader of a team is also the coach. How the coach then goes about doing things goes a long way into speaking to everybody on how they will be treated, or can be treated, at any given time.”

“As a player, there’s no way I want to see my quarterback being done the way Russell has been done and believing and trusting in that dude, ultimately, from a grand perspective, is what I’m talking about. So, to me, it was absolutely butchered the way that thing was handled and how Russell has been treated in that organization, especially by the head coach.”

FROM OUTKICK: RUSSELL WILSON REACTS TO BENCHING WITH SIMPLE STATEMENT

Dawkins noted that if he was a player in the locker room, he would continue to keep his head down and play for victories. That’s what the Broncos did, including Wilson, who led Denver to three straight wins after he said they came to him with the contract ultimatum.

But the Broncos lost three of his last four starts before Stidham took over in Week 17.

The primary reason for Wilson’s benching has to do with his massive contract, and Wilson said he refused to take a pay cut when asked by the team. While speaking to reporters, he said the team would bench him if he didn’t change his contract or injury guarantee.

“We beat the Chiefs. They came up to me at the beginning of the bye week, Monday or Tuesday, and told me that if I didn’t change my contract, my injury guarantee, that I’d be benched for the rest of the year. … I was definitely disappointed about it.”

Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson is shown during the game against the Texans at NRG Stadium in Houston on Dec. 3, 2023. (Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports)

Wilson said the league and the NFLPA got involved.

“I understand all the speculation and everything that surrounds a move like that, and I can tell you we’re desperately trying to win,” Payton said of the situation. “Sure, in our game today there are economics and all those other things, but the No. 1 push behind this … is to get a spark offensively.”

Wilson’s five-year, $245 million contract he signed last year kicks in next season, but his estimated $37 million in 2025 salary will become fully vested in March. An injury to Wilson during the season would then put the Broncos’ financial situation in a bind.

“It definitely hurt. It was a low blow for a bit,” Wilson said of the contract request by the Broncos. “At the end of the day, I just want to keep my head down and try to do what I can do each play, each game, each moment.”

And perhaps the 35-year-old Wilson sees his fate in the NFL after posting to X.

“God’s got me,” he wrote this past Thursday. “Looking forward to what’s next.”

Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson (Andy Cross/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

What Wilson’s NFL future looks like is in limbo, but he has many in his corner, including Dawkins, who believe this business tactic by Denver was a cruel one.

Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

End of annoying robocalls? FTC cracks down on deceptive practices

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January 9, 2024

CLICK TO GET KURT’S FREE CYBERGUY NEWSLETTER WITH SECURITY ALERTS, QUICK VIDEO TIPS, TECH REVIEWS, AND EASY HOW-TO’S TO MAKE YOU SMARTER

The Federal Trade Commission reached a settlement with XCast Labs after the Voice over Internet Protocol provider was accused of facilitating billions of robocalls. Federal regulators sued the California-based company, claiming it helped other companies navigate around the Do Not Call Registry.

Now, XCast Labs might have to pay a $10 million fine and must start screening companies to make sure they’re following U.S. telemarketing laws.

End of annoying robocalls? FTC cracks down on deceptive practices

Woman talking on cellphone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

How XCast Labs is accused of helping scammers make millions of fake calls

XCast Labs is accused of aiding other companies to make more than a hundred million robocalls. The California-based voice provider denies any wrongdoing in the settlement. The FTC has been on the case since 2020. That’s when it sent out a letter to Voice over Internet Protocol providers, including XCast Labs, reminding them that aiding illegal telemarketers is against the law.

It filed a complaint back in May, claiming the company still transmitted illegal robocalls. Some of those calls even involved telemarketers posing as government officials, including from the Social Security Administration.

Not only will XCast Labs face a proposed $10 million fine and begin screening companies, but it also has to cut business ties with illegal telemarketers.

Woman talking on cellphone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

MORE: HOW HACKERS CAN SEND TEXT MESSAGES FROM YOUR PHONE WITHOUT YOU KNOWING

How to protect yourself from robocalls

There are 7 things you can do to keep robocalls away.

1) Register your phone number with the National Do Not Call Registry

You can register your phone number with the National Do Not Call Registry using this link. While this settlement proves there are ways around the registry, it’s still an additional layer of security.

2) If you don’t recognize the number, don’t pick it up

Simple as this sounds, this is the easiest way of avoiding a potentially dangerous call. Most carriers now have a way of identifying robocalls by identifying them as “Spam Risk” or the like. Another way they try to get you is by using your local area code, sometimes even the first three digits of your or a family member’s phone number, to entice you to answer. Making it all the more important for you to take an extra careful look at the number on your screen.

3) You should also consider blocking numbers in your phone settings

Another way around this is by blocking unknown phone numbers in your phone settings

For iPhone users: To silence unknown callers:

*Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer

Tap Settings
Tap Phone
Tap Silence Unknown Callers
Then toggle to turn it on – it will turn green
If a 911 call is placed, this feature is disabled for 24 hours so that emergency calls to you can ring through

Silence Unknown Callers feature on iPhone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

For Android users: To silence unknown callers:

Tap Settings
Tap Block numbers
Turn on the Block Unknown Callers feature

One thing that is important to remember should you use this feature is that it not only blocks potential SPAM callers, but it also blocks any unknown phone number you have never called or texted. So, you might want to think twice about enabling this if you’re expecting a call from someone from whom you haven’t received a call or text.

4) Telemarketers and spammers could be getting your phone number online

Your personal information is out on the web. If you want to make your personal information inaccessible, you might want to look into removal services. 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 removal services here.

5) Manually block numbers from spam robocalls

Should an unknown number have called you and not left a voice message, it’s more than likely it was a robocall. While other robocalls go directly to voicemail with a threatening or enticing message, urging those truly vulnerable to act fast. Either way, you can manually block these numbers on an iPhone by:

Tapping the unknown number
Scroll down on your screen and tap “Block This Caller”
Tap “Block Contact”

MORE: HOW TO SEND SPAM CALLS DIRECTLY TO VOICEMAIL

6) Use your wireless carrier’s free spam and robocall-blocking service

Several wireless carriers provide their own free robocall scanning and blocking services. Among them:

AT&T Call Protect – Available for iPhones and Androids, it lets customers manually block unwanted calls and labels suspected robocalls as a “spam risk,” as well as making efforts to prevent unwanted calls from reaching you.
Sprint/T-Mobile Scam Shield – An app that labels all potentially dangerous calls as “Scam likely” and opens free controls for several anti-scam protections, including Scam ID, Scam Block and Caller ID. Additionally, the app also provides you with a second phone number for use instead of your private one, ideal for online shopping and helping you avoid calls from scammers as well as telemarketers.
Verizon Call Filter app – Helps protect you from unwanted calls and lets you decide who can reach you. Call Filter also detects spam and blocks high-risk spam calls by forwarding them to voicemail.

7) Third-party spam-blocking apps

Several third-party apps can help protect you from scam artists. Among our most recommended include:

RoboKiller is an app that claims to reduce 99% of unwanted calls or texts. The app is not free for iPhone and Android users. However, it comes with a 7-day free trial, which might be worth checking out before investing.
Call Control is an app currently only available to Android users; the app helps you filter out unwanted callers by manually adding them to a blacklist.
Nomorobo: For those of you who still have a landline, thanks to a package deal with your internet providers, this app helps prevent robocalls from reaching you both at home and on the go. Currently free for VolP landlines, the basic mobile package currently starts at $1.99 a month.

Woman using her cellphone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

MORE: HOW TO IGNORE YOUR FRIEND’S TEXT MESSAGES AND PRETEND YOU NEVER SAW THEM

What about spam texts?

You might recall all 51 attorney generals backing a proposal by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to put an end to illegal and malicious texts. Since then, the FCC has included spam texts in do-not-call protections. More companies are also looking for ways to fine spammers. T-Mobile just introduced new fines for illegal spam texting this year. You can also block spam texts on an iPhone and Android following these steps.

How to block spam texts on an iPhone

Open the Messages app on your iPhone and then the message from the number you want to block
Tap the number or contact name at the top of the conversation
Tap Info
Scroll down and tap Block this Caller

How to block spam texts on an Android

Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer.

Open the messaging app on your Android device
Find the spam message you want to block
Tap and hold the message until a menu appears
Look for an option like Block or Spam and select it
Confirm you want to block future messages from that sender

How to block texts using your carrier

Most carriers also offer options to block spam calls and texts, such as Verizon’s Block Calls & Messages , AT&T’s Secure Family and T-Mobile’s Message blocking. The exact steps to use these features will vary depending on your carrier.

Kurt’s key takeaways

While this settlement proves there are ways around the National Do Not Call Registry, it also highlights how important it is to have as many layers of security as you can. Each one protects you at a different level, ensuring spam calls and texts likely won’t head your way.

Are you worried about more companies skirting past the National Do Not Call Registry? How do you keep robocalls at bay? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

For more of my tech tips & security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.

Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you’d like us to cover.

Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:

Best gift ideas:

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 CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

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‘They have to get it done’

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January 9, 2024

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The San Francisco 49ers headed into Week 18 in a position every team in the NFL wishes they had: owning the No. 1 seed in their conference with the luxury of resting key players for the playoffs.

San Fran is taking full advantage of that this week, especially with star running back Christian McCaffrey dealing with a calf strain.

However, this moment of rest and recovery is only temporary. The 49ers know they are among the favorites to win the Super Bowl this year, something they’ve come close to but couldn’t achieve in the past few seasons.

San Francisco 49ers legend Patrick Willis flexes after sounding the San Jose Earthquakes siren before a match against Los Angeles FC at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. (Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports)

Niners legend Patrick Willis, who made seven Pro Bowls and five All-Pro teams in his eight seasons with San Fran, has been in this position before.

The 49ers made a run from 2011 to 2013 under then-head coach Jim Harbaugh. They appeared in three straight conference championships, losing two of them with a Super Bowl in between that resulted in a loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

Willis spoke to Fox News Digital about his hopes for the 49ers to win the Super Bowl for the first time since 1994, and he couldn’t help but relive what could’ve been when he was playing.

However, failure is still a teacher, and Willis knows what he would like to tell this Niners squad before they play in the divisional round.

FROM OUTKICK: 6 NFL TEAMS RESTING THEIR STARTING QUARTERBACKS WHILE VIKINGS, FALCONS CONTINUE JUGGLING

“The only thing that’s guaranteed is what you have right now and what you do with right now,” Willis said while discussing how Nirvana Super’s wellness beverages have helped his fitness goals post-career. “Only thing I can say to them is: Don’t let it pass you by. The last few years, they’ve been knocking right at the door, and I said it before the season started and I’ll say it again: I feel like this is the year they have to get it done. You don’t put all those pieces together and have all those pieces to just come up short, and we did. That’s the unfortunate thing.”

“Don’t let it pass you by, you all. Go get it done, Niners.”

Kyle Shanahan’s group has been to back-to-back conference championship games, but hasn’t been able to make the final game of the NFL season. He did, however, in 2019, but Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs spoiled the chance to hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy at the end of it.

Patrick Willis of the San Francisco 49ers is shown prior to the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Candlestick Park, Dec. 12, 2010, in San Francisco. (Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)

The 49ers certainly have the group to make it to Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas, but the pressure is certainly on to do so. One win gets them to the NFC Championship (they’ll get a first-round bye), two gets them the chance to play for the title, and the third and final win is what they hope to achieve.

But as Willis noted, the championship window can only stay open for so long. It’s a luxury that “Mr. Irrelevant” quarterback Brock Purdy has become the team’s franchise quarterback at such a low price point.

That’s one of the reasons why the team can afford guys like McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, Trent Williams and many other key cogs that have high cap numbers. GM John Lynch knows that means nothing if no hardware graces the team’s facility in the end.

49ERS’ KYLE JUSZCZYK MAKES HISTORY WITH 8TH PRO BOWL SELECTION

The pressure may be high, but Willis isn’t worried about the 49ers answering the bell. He sees a lot of similarities with this group compared to his teams a decade ago.

“They have similarities on both sides of the ball and special teams,” he explained. “In all three phases, they can get it done, and that’s how I felt with the offensive side of the ball when I’d watch guys at practice. I would always study the offense because I wanted to know what was going on on the offensive side and what they’re working on. I would be like, ‘Man, which one would I cover on this [play]? Uh, uh, uh.’ That’s what it feels like going against the Niners [today].”

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner (54) sacks Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott during the second quarter, Oct. 8, 2023, in Santa Clara, California. (Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)

“On defense, there’s no debate who two of the best tandem linebackers are in the NFL in Dre Greenlaw and Fred Warner. Those guys have been playing phenomenal. The D-Line has been playing phenomenal. I feel like they have a few things they can tighten up a little bit, but it’s no different than having Barry Bonds or Mark McGwire or Sammy Sosa or whoever – or some of the new guys – to get up there and be home-run hitters.”

There’s talent galore in San Fran, but the same can be said about other NFC teams, let alone who makes it out of the AFC in the playoffs. Willis noted the Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys and reigning NFC-champion Philadelphia Eagles as teams that could give the Niners fits.

In the end, though, this group has proven to be a powerhouse in the conference, one that has earned the right to sit and wait for their opponent to begin the postseason.

What they do from there is the question, but it’s one Willis says must be answered with each game.

“They only got two games to get to the championship and a third game to win it,” he said. “So, I feel like they have the squad, and I’ve been saying it all along, I just wanted them to hit that stride and come in hot. I think them getting the bye week, getting guys fresh, the veteran leadership, I think they’re going to come in and get it done.”

Christian McCaffrey and Brock Purdy celebrate a score

Christian McCaffrey and Brock Purdy of the San Francisco 49ers celebrate a touchdown during the third quarter against the Seahawks in Seattle on Dec. 15, 2022. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

“At the end of the day, they got to go out there and play. And it’s any given day in the playoffs.”

Arthur Smith exit headlines coaching staff turnovers after regular season ends

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January 9, 2024

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The 2023 regular season has come to an end and, unfortunately for some, so has their time as NFL coaches.

While some will find new homes, others may stay on the market.

“Black Monday” began this year with the early morning firing of Falcons head coach Arthur Smith, who just hours earlier made headlines following the New Orleans Saints blowout victory – and garbage-time touchdown – against Atlanta on Sunday.

The Washington Commanders soon followed suit and expectedly moved on from Ron Rivera.

With the final week of the regular season completed, here is a breakdown of the coaches that didn’t survive the dreaded “Black Monday” firings.

Atlanta head coach Arthur Smith reacts following the conclusion of the NFL game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Atlanta Falcons on December 24, 2023, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. (Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Arthur Smith’s first gig as a head coach in the NFL came to an end just after midnight on Monday when the Falcons announced they would be parting ways with him after three seasons.

“Decisions like this are never easy and they never feel good,” owner Arthur Blank said in a message shared by the team.

“We have profound respect for Coach Smith and appreciate all the hard work and dedication he has put into the Falcons over the last three years. He has been part of building a good culture in our football team, but the results on the field have not met our expectations. After significant thought and reflection, we have determined the best way forward for our team is new leadership in the head coaching position.”

The decision followed the Falcons’ 48-17 loss to the Saints. It marked a 7-10 finish for Atlanta, the third consecutive season with the same result. It also marked the Falcons’ sixth straight losing season.

“We know the industry we’re in. Love doing what I’m doing,” Smith said after Sunday’s loss when questioned about his future with the team. “Obviously, that wasn’t the result we wanted today.”

Ron Rivera looks on the field after halftime

Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera looks on during the second quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at FedExField on January 7, 2024, in Landover, Maryland. (Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

In an unsurprising move, the Washington Commanders parted ways with veteran head coach Ron Rivera on Monday morning, following his fourth season with the team.

Rivera, who struggled to ever achieve the same level of success he did in his first season with the Commanders where he coached them to a division title in 2020, finished his career in Washington with a last-place finish in the NFC East for the second consecutive season after a loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.

FROM OUTKICK: DOLPHINS ONCE HIGH FLYING OFFENSE HAS BEEN GROUNDED BY PLAYOFF TEAMS

“As we look ahead, we recognize the results this season were not good enough and a strategic shift in leadership and approach is necessary,” majority owner Josh Harris said in a statement provided by the team.

“This is a crucial offseason for the Commanders, and we continue to be motivated and inspired by the way the fans have responded since we took ownership last summer. Stewarding this franchise is a responsibility we don’t take lightly, and we’re eager to lay the foundation for the next chapter of Commanders football.”

Rivera said in a lengthy statement released by the team that he was “truly disappointed” by the results of the past three seasons, but he said it was “one of the greatest honors” of his career to coach in Washington.

After nearly a decade with the Carolina Panthers, Rivera was hired by the Commanders in 2020. He finished there with a 26-40-1 record.

Defensive coordinator Don Martindale of the New York Giants reacts during the third quarter against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on October 15, 2023, in Orchard Park, New York. (Bryan Bennett/Getty Images)

The New York Giants closed out the regular season with a 27-10 win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday to finish the season 6-11. On Monday, the team announced two coaching changes, which included moving on from special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey and offensive line coach Bobby Johnson.

“I want to thank those guys for what they’ve done the last two years. This is the hard part of the job, I have a lot of respect for them,” head coach Brian Daboll said at a press conference Monday.

“Just felt like we’re going to move in a different direction, not going to add anything to it,” he continued. “These were private conversations, but I do respect both of those guys and what they’ve done the last two years, their commitment to the team, their work ethic, but [we] wanted to make a change.”

McGaughey, who in a previous stint with the Giants served as assistant special teams coach under Tom Coughlin, was in his sixth season in New York. Johnson followed Daboll after serving as an offensive line coach with the Buffalo Bills.

GIANTS’ WINK MARTINDALE RESIGNS AS DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR DESPITE INDICATIONS HE’D BE BACK: REPORTS

Daboll noted that defensive coordinator Wink Martindale and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka were both expected to be back next season.

“I think they’re good coaches, so it’ll be good to have some continuity and bring them back,” he said.

Hours later, reports emerged that Martindale would resign from his position after just two seasons with the team.

The changes came after New York allowed a league-high 85 sacks, 20 more than any other team in the league.

General manager Scott Fitterer of the Carolina Panthers speaks to the media during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 1, 2023, in Indianapolis. (Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

After the disappointing season the Panthers had, it was no surprise that more changes were ahead following the end of the regular season.

Frank Reich was fired in November after just 11 games and a 1-10 record. He was hired after the Panthers fired former head coach Matt Rhule a few weeks into the 2022 season after two losing seasons and a 1-4 record to start his final year with the team.

On Monday, the Panthers announced that they would be parting ways with general manager Scott Fitterer after three seasons.

“As we move forward with the new direction for our franchise, I have made the decision that Scott Fitterer will no longer serve as our general manager,” Panthers owner David Tepper said in a statement provided by the team.