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Your phone lock screen is supposed to be your last line of defense. If your device gets lost or stolen, that PIN or passcode should keep strangers out of your photos, messages and financial apps. But researchers have found a serious flaw that can break through those protections on certain Android phones in less than a minute.

Once exploited, attackers can recover your phone's PIN, unlock encrypted storage and even extract sensitive data such as cryptocurrency wallet seed phrases. Security researchers estimate that roughly one in four Android phones could be affected, particularly budget phones.

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ANDROID FIXES 129 SECURITY FLAWS IN MAJOR PHONE UPDATE

A newly disclosed vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2026-20435 in the National Vulnerability Database, affects some Android phones powered by MediaTek, a major smartphone chip maker based in Taiwan that competes with companies like Qualcomm. These phones use a security component called Trustonic's Trusted Execution Environment (TEE), which is designed to keep sensitive data, such as encryption keys, protected from the rest of the system.

It stores cryptographic keys that help keep your device encrypted and secure, even if someone tries to tamper with it. However, security analyses of the vulnerability indicate that these protections may be bypassed on affected devices.

By connecting a phone to a computer using a USB cable, an attacker with physical access may be able to exploit the flaw during the early boot process, potentially exposing sensitive data before full security protections are enforced. Think of it like accessing the master key before the safe door even closes. Once attackers gain access to these low-level components, they may be able to access encrypted storage without needing your PIN.

In a worst-case scenario, this type of access could allow attackers to extract highly sensitive information, including personal photos, stored passwords, private messages, financial data, and crypto wallet credentials. If seed phrases for crypto wallets are exposed, attackers could drain funds permanently.

There's limited action manufacturers can take on their own since the issue originates at the processor level, which is manufactured by MediaTek. The company says it has released a firmware patch addressing the vulnerability. However, the update must still be distributed by individual phone manufacturers through security updates. Depending on the device and whether it is still supported, that update could arrive quickly or not at all.

The good thing is that this attack requires physical access to the phone and a USB connection to a computer. That means it cannot be done remotely over the internet. However, if your phone is stolen, briefly confiscated, or even taken during a repair, the attacker could potentially extract sensitive information.

If you're not sure whether this vulnerability affects your mobile device, you can look up your phone on a platform like GSMArena or your vendor's website to see which SoC it uses, then cross-check it with MediaTek's March security bulletin under CVE-2026-20435. You can log onto corp.mediatek.com/product-security-bulletin/March-2026 to review the list of affected chipsets and confirm whether your device may be at risk.

CyberGuy reached out to MediaTek for comment, but did not hear back before our deadline.

NEW ANDROID ATTACK TRICKS YOU INTO GIVING DANGEROUS PERMISSIONS

So how do you know if your phone is actually at risk? Not every Android phone is vulnerable. The issue primarily affects devices that use certain MediaTek processors. Here's how to check your phone:

Go to Settings > About phone and look for your exact model name.

Search your phone model on a site like GSMArena or your manufacturer's website to find the processor (also called the SoC).

If your phone uses a MediaTek chip, it may be affected. Devices with Qualcomm Snapdragon or Google Tensor chips are not part of this specific issue.

Check your phone's system update settings and install any available updates from your manufacturer.  Go to Settings > Software update and install any available updates. MediaTek has already released a fix, but phone makers must distribute it. Installing updates quickly ensures you receive the firmware patch if your device manufacturer has released it.

If your phone uses one of the affected chips, a few simple precautions can help reduce the chances of someone accessing your data if the device ever falls into the wrong hands.

A security app cannot fix this processor-level flaw. However, it can still help protect your phone from other threats that often follow stolen or compromised devices. It will not stop this specific exploit, but it can detect malicious apps, spyware, and suspicious activity that attackers may install after gaining access. That extra layer of monitoring can help stop additional data theft if your device ever falls into the wrong hands. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com

If you store things like cryptocurrency wallet seed phrases, recovery codes, or sensitive documents in notes apps or screenshots, consider moving them to a secure offline location. If someone extracts your phone's data through this vulnerability, that information could be exposed.

This exploit requires someone to physically connect your phone to a computer. Do not leave your device unattended in public places, and be cautious when handing it to repair shops or unknown technicians. Physical access dramatically increases the risk.

While the vulnerability bypasses encryption on affected devices, strong lock settings still protect against many other threats. Use a longer PIN or passcode instead of simple patterns, and enable automatic locking after short periods of inactivity.

Even if attackers gain access to data on your phone, two-factor authentication (2FA) can stop them from logging into your online accounts. Enable it for email, banking apps, cloud storage, and social media wherever possible.

A password manager stores your login credentials in a secure, encrypted vault instead of leaving them scattered across apps and notes. If someone compromises your device, the password manager still protects your accounts with strong encryption, forcing attackers to break through another security layer before they can access your logins. Check out the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2026 at Cyberguy.com

Some Android devices limit USB data access when locked. Turning on this setting can reduce the risk of unauthorized data extraction through a wired connection, especially in situations where someone briefly gains physical access to your phone. On Samsung phones running the latest software:

Settings may vary slightly depending on your Samsung model and software version.

Go to Settings

Tap Lock screen

Then, tap Secure lock settings

Enter your current PIN, then tap Continue

Enable "Lock network and security" (or a similarly named option) to help block USB data access while your device is locked.

This vulnerability exposes a deeper issue with the Android ecosystem. Even when chipmakers release a fix, millions of phones depend on manufacturers to deliver updates that may never arrive, especially for cheaper devices that lose support quickly. We often assume our lock screen and encryption will protect our data if a phone is lost or stolen. However, incidents like this show that protection is only as strong as the update policies behind it. When devices stop receiving security patches, those protections quietly weaken over time.

Should phone manufacturers be required to guarantee security updates for several years if their devices contain critical encryption vulnerabilities? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. For simple, real-world ways to spot scams early and stay protected, visit CyberGuy.com -  trusted by millions who watch CyberGuy on TV daily. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide free when you join.

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The Chicago Bulls came into Madison Square Garden on Friday night as one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA.

The Bulls' defense allows 121.6 points per game this season, the third-most in the association, and it was a topic of conversation for New York Knicks legend turned broadcaster Walt "Clyde" Frazier.

But apparently, he had an interesting choice of words when discussing the Bulls to others.

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"Mike, I was talking to my friends, man, and I was talking about 'eradicated,' 'obliterated,' 'devastated,'" Fazier said as the game tipped off.

"They thought I was talking about Iran. But I was talking about the Bulls."

Play-by-play man Mike Breen could not help but let out an, "Oh jeez."

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Iran, of course, has been a war zone since late February after the United States and Israel launched a joint military campaign against the country, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other top Iranian officials.

Frazier made note that the Bulls had allowed 145 points to the Indiana Pacers, 157 to the Philadelphia 76ers, and an average of around 135 during their five-game losing streak.

"Oh jeez. That's how you start a telecast?"

The five-game average was par for the course for Chicago, who allowed 136 to the Knicks in a 40-point loss.

Chicago is 29-48 and in 12th place in the Eastern Conference, as they will soon find out their fate in the NBA Draft lottery.

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Iran is ramping up the recruitment of children as young as the age of 12 into military-linked roles tied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), according to new reports by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.

The reports underscore mounting pressure inside Iran’s war effort. As U.S. and Israeli strikes intensify, rights groups and analysts say recruiting children points to manpower shortages and a growing reliance on paramilitary forces to hold the home front. It also escalates the human cost of the conflict, placing minors in direct danger while exposing Iran to potential war crimes liability. 

Human Rights Watch said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has launched a campaign called "Homeland Defending Combatants for Iran," lowering the minimum recruitment age to 12 and encouraging minors to sign up in mosques and through Basij, a volunteer paramilitary force under the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. 

The roles go beyond support tasks and include "operational patrols," staffing checkpoints and intelligence activities, putting children directly in harm’s way as fighting intensifies across the country.

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Amnesty International said the recruitment and deployment of children under 15 "constitutes a war crime," and backed its findings with verified visual evidence and eyewitness accounts.

The organization analyzed 16 photos and videos published since Saturday, showing children carrying weapons, including AK-pattern rifles, and deployed alongside Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Basij forces at checkpoints, on patrols and during state-organized rallies in Iranian cities including Tehran, Mashhad and Kermanshah.

Amnesty also documented the fatal consequences. On Sunday, 11-year-old Alireza Jafari was killed at a checkpoint in Iran while accompanying his father, a Basij member, the group said. Authorities said he was killed "while serving" following an Israeli drone strike.

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According to Amnesty, the boy’s mother told the Iranian newspaper Hamshahri that her husband had reported a shortage of personnel at checkpoints and took their two sons with him. She said he told their son he "must get prepared for the days ahead," adding that children as young as 15 and 16 are commonly involved in checkpoint duties.

Eyewitness accounts reviewed by Amnesty describe children visibly struggling to handle weapons. One person in Tehran wrote: "I saw a child at a checkpoint near our house … I think he was about 15… It seemed like he was struggling to breathe from the effort of lifting the gun."

Another witness in Karaj, Iran, reported seeing a child "holding a Kalashnikov rifle," while a third in Rasht said some appeared to be "13 years old at most," warning they could "fire randomly."

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In one video cited by Amnesty, filmed March 30 in Mashhad, Iran, two children wearing Basij uniforms and balaclavas were seen carrying assault rifles while positioned on a moving vehicle during a state-organized rally, elevated above a cheering crowd.

The recruitment campaign itself has been promoted through official channels, including posters depicting children alongside armed adults under the slogan "Basij with people, for people," accompanied by a quote attributed to Iran’s Supreme Leader calling for Basij forces to remain central to the revolution.

Iranian officials have defended the policy by pointing to what they describe as strong demand among teenagers.

In a televised interview with Iranian state media, IRGC official Rahim Nadali said the minimum age was set at 12 because "teenagers and the youth repeatedly have come and said that they want to take part." 

"There is no excuse for a military recruitment drive that targets children to sign up, much less 12-year-olds," Human Rights Watch’s Bill Van Esveld said.

The reports come as the United Nations classifies the recruitment of children in armed conflict as a "grave violation," with international law prohibiting the enlistment of children under 15 and setting 18 as the standard for participation in hostilities.

Both organizations called on Iranian authorities to immediately halt the recruitment of minors and release those already serving. 

Iran's mission to the United Nations declined Fox News Digital's comment request. 

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It appears to be the first ship owned by a major European firm to go through the strait since the conflict began.

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An ABC affiliate in Alabama apologized on Monday after an anchor signed off from the station’s evening newscast by quoting the founder of an Islamic fundamentalist group that has been linked to terrorism and threats against America. 

Birmingham’s WBMA ABC 33/40 News anchor Ashonti Ford ended an evening newscast last week with a quote she attributed to Hassan al-Banna, who is credited with founding the Muslim Brotherhood in 1928.

"Before we go, a quote from the founder of the Islamic Brotherhood: The quieter you become, the more you're able to hear," Ford told Alabama viewers. 

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The Trump administration has designated certain Muslim Brotherhood chapters as foreign terrorist organizations. Aross parts of the Arab world, the Islamist organization has been banned or restricted for years. 

Egypt outlawed the movement in 2013, accusing it of inciting unrest and undermining state institutions. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates later designated it a terrorist organization, describing it as a threat to national stability, while Bahrain adopted a similar stance. 

Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., who was among the many online critics, called the signoff on the Alabama station "pure insanity."

"The Radical Muslim Brotherhood is a TERRORIST ORGANIZATION," Tuberville wrote. 

EXPERT WARNS RADICAL ISLAMIST NETWORKS COULD SHIFT WEST AFTER IRAN REGIME SHAKEUP

After significant backlash, ABC 30/40 news director Jeff Cox addressed the incident on Monday. 

"I want to take a moment to address concerns about our broadcast last Thursday. The intent of our closing segment is always to end the newscast on a positive and thoughtful note," Cox told viewers. 

"The quote included that evening was not intended to convey any political or ideological message," he continued. "However, we understand that it was perceived that way and, on behalf of the station, I sincerely apologize to those who were offended."

Cox added that Ford "had nothing to do with the selection," and quotes used to end the newscast are selected through the station’s editorial process, not by anchors themselves. 

SCATHING REPORT CALLS ON US TO LABEL ISLAMIST GROUP INFILTRATING ALL ASPECTS OF AMERICAN LIFE AS TERRORIST ORG

"We have addressed the matter internally, and we are making adjustments to ensure our content consistently meets our editorial standards moving forward. We value your trust, appreciate your feedback, and we thank you for your loyalty," Cox said. 

WBMA is owned and operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group.  

When reached for comment, a Sinclair spokesperson provided Fox News Digital with video of Cox’s apology. 

"ABC 33/40 is reinforcing its editorial review protocols to ensure content aligns with the station's standards," a Sinclair spokesperson added. 

"ABC 33/40 has an established editorial process for reviewing content. In this case, that process fell short, and the station has taken steps to strengthen it moving forward," they continued. "The station's on-air talent was not involved in the selection of the quote, this was an editorial matter, which has been addressed through our internal processes."

Ford was not disciplined and has remained on air. 

Fox News Digital's Efrat Lachter contributed to this report.

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The BBC's chief international correspondent analyses the US President's latest White House address.

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U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro warned of a potential increase in teenage violence, accusing D.C. Council members of fueling "criminal chaos."

Pirro joined "Fox & Friends" Wednesday to discuss the D.C. Council delaying a vote to extend teen curfews. She argued it is part of a culture of allowing young criminals to get away unscathed.

"The mentality in D.C. is that, if you're less than 18 years of age, unless you kill somebody or do something really serious, it goes to the family court, where the purpose is simply what is in the best interest of the child," Pirro said.

"There is no punishment, there is no retribution, there is no deterrence. You can go to an ice cream social or yoga," she added.

DOZENS OF HOUSE DEMS VOTE AGAINST CRACKDOWN ON DC YOUTH CRIME AFTER TRUMP BACKS OFF CAPITAL POLICE

On Tuesday, the D.C. Council delayed a vote on extending the curfews until the next legislative session on April 21. The curfews, however, are set to expire April 15.

The delay comes as officials report a rise in "teen takeovers," where large groups gather, sometimes damaging businesses and sparking violence. The Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., was the site of one of these meetups, where several minors were assaulted and robbed, according to authorities.

"These alleged social gatherings turn into criminal chaos," Pirro said. "Families are affected by it, businesses end up being shuttered, there’s violence that occurs."

The takeovers, which can include hundreds of people, have taken place across the country, including in New York City, Chicago and Florida. More than a dozen teenagers were taken into custody after a fight broke out during a "takeover" event at a mall in Glendale, Wisconsin.

PIRRO CREDITS 'ENHANCED FEDERAL PARTNERSHIP' FOR DC'S FIRST HOMICIDE-FREE STRETCH IN DECADES

Pirro argued these incidents are encouraged by what she described as a lack of deterrence in the criminal justice system and called for stricter consequences for youth offenders.

She noted that in many cases, by the time a suspect is 18, their record already includes shootings, carjackings and robberies.

"Then all of a sudden, we’re surprised to see them committing a murder by the time I get them, because there is no deterrence," she said.

OUT-OF-CONTROL TEEN MOB IN DC REVEALS FAILURE OF BLUE CITY SOFT-ON-CRIME POLICIES

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser expressed her disappointment in the council for allowing the "juvenile curfew zones to expire." She called on council members to reconsider their decision not to act on renewing the measure.

"We all want our young people to be able to socialize in age-appropriate ways and in environments that are safe for themselves, for their peers, and for the entire community," Bowser wrote on X.

"But as adults, we cannot abdicate our responsibility to respond to behaviors that put young people or our community at risk."

In 2025, President Donald Trump deployed hundreds of National Guard members to the nation’s capital to help reduce crime.

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