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Fake Google Meet update lets hackers control your Windows PCs

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Fake Google Meet update lets hackers control your Windows PCs


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You might think the biggest danger online is downloading a virus or giving away your password. But a new phishing trick shows how attackers can take control of your computer without either of those things happening. 

Security researchers recently uncovered a fake Google Meet update page that looks convincing enough to fool many people. All it takes is one click on a button that says “Update now.”  Instead of installing an update, you can be tricked into enrolling your Windows computer in a remote management system controlled by attackers.

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A fake Google Meet update page can trick Windows users into handing attackers remote control of their computers through a built-in device enrollment feature. (pocketlight/Getty Images)

All you need to know about the fake Google Meet update

Researchers at Malwarebytes, a cybersecurity company that develops software to detect and remove malware, discovered a phishing website designed to look like an official update notice for Google Meet. The page tells visitors they need to install the latest version of Meet to continue using the service. The design uses familiar colors and branding that many of us associate with Google products.

When someone clicks the “Update now” button, it does not download an update at all. Instead, it triggers a built-in Windows feature using a special device enrollment link that opens a real system window called “Set up a work or school account.” This window normally appears when a company’s IT department sets up a laptop for an employee.

In this scam, the setup window is already filled with information that connects the computer to a remote management server controlled by the attacker. The system points to an online management service hosted on Esper, which is a legitimate platform used by businesses to manage company devices.

If the victim clicks through the setup process, his computer becomes enrolled in what is called a mobile device management system. That gives whoever controls the server the same level of control a company’s IT department would have over a work laptop.

Security researchers say the attackers are not expecting everyone to complete the process. Even if only a small number of people click through the prompts, that can still give them access to enough computers to make the campaign worthwhile.

How it works and why it matters to you

This attack works by abusing a legitimate Windows feature rather than installing malware. Windows includes something called device enrollment, which lets companies connect employee computers to a management system. Once a device is enrolled, administrators can remotely control many aspects of that machine.

In a normal workplace setting, this helps IT teams install company software, enforce security settings and manage devices. Attackers realized they could trick people into joining their own management system instead. When you click the fake update button, Windows launches a built-in enrollment process. Because it is a real system feature and not a fake pop-up, it looks legitimate and can bypass many security warnings.

If you complete the steps, the attacker effectively becomes the administrator of your computer. That could allow the hacker to silently install software, change system settings, view files stored on your computer, lock your screen or even wipe the device entirely. In some cases, the hacker could also install additional malware later. What makes this attack especially tricky is that traditional antivirus tools may not detect anything wrong because the operating system itself is performing the actions.

We reached out to Google for comment, and a spokesperson provided the following statement: “These ‘update now’ prompts are not legitimate Google communications. This is a phishing campaign that attempts to trick users into a Windows device enrollment process. Google Meet updates are handled automatically through your browser or the official app. Google will never prompt you to visit a third-party site to enroll a personal device to receive an update.” 

FAKE GOOGLE SECURITY PAGE CAN TURN YOUR BROWSER INTO A SPYING TOOL
 

Laptop screens show logos for Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Instead of downloading malware, victims who click through a fake update page may unknowingly give attackers administrator-level access to their Windows devices. (Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

7 ways to protect yourself from the fake Google Meet update

If you ever see a message saying you must update a service before continuing, slow down and verify it first. A few simple habits can prevent attacks like this from working.

1) Be skeptical of unexpected update prompts

If a website suddenly tells you that a service like Google Meet needs an update before you can continue, pause for a moment. Major platforms rarely force updates through random web pages. Google Meet updates happen automatically through your browser or official app and never require visiting a third-party site. Always check the URL bar. Legitimate Google Meet sessions only run on meet.google.com. A real update will never try to enroll your entire computer or trigger system-level setup screens. If it does, it is a scam. Instead, open the service directly from its official website or app and check for updates there.

2) Check if your device was enrolled without your knowledge

On a Windows computer, open Settings, then go to Accounts and look for “Access work or school.” If you see an unfamiliar account or organization listed, especially one you do not recognize, disconnect it immediately. This section shows whether your device has been enrolled in a remote management system.

3) Reduce your exposure with a data removal service

Cybercriminals often rely on personal information found online to make phishing attacks more convincing. Data removal services help remove your information from data broker sites, reducing the chances that scammers can target you with personalized attacks. While it will not stop this specific trick, it can make you a harder target overall. Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com.

4) Use strong antivirus software

Google says Gmail’s AI protections block more than 99.9% of spam, phishing and malware, but scams can still reach you through search results, ads or links shared outside your inbox. That’s why using strong antivirus software with real-time protection can help detect suspicious behavior that may emerge after an attacker gains control of a device. Even though this attack uses legitimate Windows features, security tools can still identify unusual system changes or malicious software installed afterward. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at Cyberguy.com.

DARKSWORD LEAK PUTS MILLIONS OF IPHONE USERS AT RISK
 

The exterior of a building is shown with a sign that reads "Google."

Security researchers uncovered a phishing scam that uses a fake Google Meet update prompt to enroll personal computers into attacker-controlled remote management systems. (400tmax/Getty Images)

5) Keep Windows and your browser updated

Software updates often include security protections that help block new attack methods. Running the latest version of Windows and your web browser reduces the chances of attackers exploiting older system behaviors or vulnerabilities.

6) Use a password manager

A password manager only autofills your login details at the correct website address. If you land on a phishing page pretending to be a service like Google Meet, your password manager will not fill in your information. That warning alone can help you realize something is wrong before you click anything. It also encourages you to rely on saved logins instead of interacting with suspicious update prompts. Check out the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2026 at Cyberguy.com.

7) Never complete system setup prompts you didn’t start

If a Windows system window suddenly appears asking you to set up a work or school account, stop immediately. Legitimate setup prompts typically appear when you are configuring a device or following instructions from your employer, not from clicking a random website. If you did not expect it, close the window.

Kurt’s key takeaway

Cybercrime is changing by the minute. Instead of writing obvious viruses, attackers are increasingly abusing legitimate features built into operating systems and cloud services. In this case, both Windows device enrollment and the management platform being used are real tools designed for businesses. The attackers simply redirected those tools toward people who never intended to hand over control of their computers. That should tell you how easily powerful enterprise features can be repurposed for attacks when there are few safeguards preventing misuse.

Should operating systems block device enrollment requests that come from random websites? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.



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Moon rocket and weather are on NASA’s side for the first astronaut launch in decades

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Moon rocket and weather are on NASA’s side for the first astronaut launch in decades


CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — After weeks of fuel leaks and other issues, NASA faced a trouble-free countdown Tuesday on the eve of astronauts’ first trip to the moon in more than half a century.

Officials reported the moon rocket was doing well on the pad, and the weather looked promising. Forecasters put the odds of favorable conditions at 80%.

“Everybody’s pretty excited and understands the significance of this launch,” said senior test director Jeff Spaulding.

The four astronauts assigned to the Artemis II mission will become the first lunar visitors since Apollo 17 in 1972. They’ll zip around the moon without landing or even orbiting, and come straight back.

It’s the closest NASA has come to launching Artemis II. Hydrogen fuel leaks bumped the flight from February to March, then clogged helium lines pushed it to April. The space agency has only a handful of days every month to send the three Americans and one Canadian to the moon.

Confident that all of these problems are fixed, the launch team plans to begin fueling the 32-story Space Launch System rocket on Wednesday morning for an evening send-off.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.



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Americans are reducing their retirement savings. That’s a “warning sign,” experts say.

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Americans are reducing their retirement savings. That’s a “warning sign,” experts say.


Americans are sliding backward in preparing for retirement, with employees reducing their annual contributions to their 401(k) accounts last year, according to new research from payroll firm Dayforce.

Full-time workers cut their contribution rate in 2025 to 8.9%, from 9.2% a year earlier, while one in four workers reduced their annual savings in their 401(k) or other types of employer-sponsored accounts, the study found. The dip — the first decline since Dayforce began tracking the measure three years ago — was sharpest among workers with annual income of $50,000 to $100,000.

That decline may point to the financial pressures on middle-class Americans, with some cutting retirement contributions to boost take-home pay, Jason Rahlan, global head of sustainability and impact at Dayforce, told CBS News. The analysis also found that almost 20% of full-time workers tapped their 401(k) plans for loans last year — the highest share since the company started tracking the data. 

“This should be a warning sign,” Rahlan told CBS News. “It may be a sign of financial strain,” pointing to workers setting aside their retirement goals to focus on more immediate budget issues. 

About half of Americans said they were more financially stressed heading into 2026 than a year earlier, according to a December study from insurance firm Allianz Life. Covering day-to-day expenses was the biggest source of concern, the analysis found. 

“Seeing the crunch”

Although the dip in retirement contributions is relatively small, it could result in a “real impact over the long term” if that trend continues, given the importance of continuously saving throughout one’s career, noted Matt Bahl, vice president at the Financial Health Network, a nonprofit focused on financial issues that contributed to the report.

“When you are struggling day to day, it’s hard to focus on your long-term goals,” Bahl said. “We’re really seeing the crunch for those middle-income earners — it speaks to the affordability crisis.”

The decline in retirement savings is likely to continue this year, Rahlan and Bahl said, pointing to projections showing that households will spend an additional $740 on gasoline this year due to the jump in global oil prices stemming from the Iran war. 

Other financial research supports Dayforce’s findings. In March, for example, retirement planning giant Vanguard found that a record share of Americans tapped their retirement savings accounts last year to cover emergency expenses. In 2025, 6% of people enrolled in 401(k) plans managed by Vanguard made so-called hardship withdrawals from their accounts, up from 5% in 2024. 

Loans from retirement accounts are slightly different from hardship withdrawals, as the former don’t incur taxes and penalties. But loans must be repaid to the retirement account. By contrast, hardship withdrawals — which can be made for emergencies such as medical treatment or to avoid foreclosure or eviction — don’t need to be repaid. 

Generational differences

Total retirement plan contributions and savings rates declined for most employees last year regardless of their age, including baby boomers, Gen Xers and millennials, Dayforce found. 

However, one generation bucked the trend: Gen Z workers, who were born between 1995 and 2009, the firm’s analysis found. While their retirement plan savings rate tends to be lower than that of older workers, they were the only generation to boost their contributions, with the typical Gen Z employee increasing their contribution rate to 6.2% last year from 5.9% in 2024, Dayforce found. 

“They have experienced the greatest gains of any generation in participation savings rate and contributions,” Rahlan said. 

Younger workers may have learned from the mistakes of older generations, especially those who were the first to enter the workforce as the retirement system shifted from pensions to 401(k) plans, where the onus is on workers to make contributions and investment decisions, Bahl said.

“They learned from both the good and bad behaviors” of older Americans, he said.



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Jamie Dimon says he doesn’t know if Iran war will be “tipping point” for recession

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Jamie Dimon says he doesn’t know if Iran war will be “tipping point” for recession



JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon said he doesn’t know whether the war with Iran will be a “tipping point” that pushes the U.S. into a recession, but “what’s more important to the future of the world is that the war successfully conclude.”

“The economy is one big, complex beast, and even AI can’t figure it out,” Dimon said in an interview with “CBS Evening News” anchor Tony Dokoupil. “I tell people anything that happens is a straw on the camel’s back. So maybe one day the straw’s gonna cause that tipping point and push us through a recession. Hopefully not stagflation.”

Dimon said “the war is a couple straws on that camel’s back,” but that “whether that causes a tipping point, I don’t know.”

“I think what’s more important for the future of the world is that this war successfully conclude,” he said. Dimon pushed back against those who argue that Iran wasn’t an imminent threat, citing its ballistic missile capabilities and its nuclear program

He said it was “very unfortunate” that high gas prices would cause hardship for many Americans, and said “the sooner it gets properly resolved, the better.”

When asked what he’d say to people who already feel like America’s in a recession, Dimon said, “I think it is for them … there are parts of society that are not doing very well, and I completely acknowledge that.”

As to whether America needs to take control of and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Dimon said: “I don’t know the answer to that question.”

“I have to be a little humble here,” he said. “I don’t know what the military knows. I do know they’re quite smart.” Dimon said the military has “multiple plans on the books,” but said he thinks “it would be a real problem for the global economy” to leave without reopening the Strait of Hormuz —  a key transit route for 20% of the world’s oil supplies.



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Oil nears highest price since start of Iran war

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Oil nears highest price since start of Iran war



The US-Israel Iran war has halted almost all traffic in a key waterway and the price Brent crude has surged.



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Bravo stars Amanda Batula and West Wilson confirm romance rumors

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Bravo stars Amanda Batula and West Wilson confirm romance rumors


Bravo stars Amanda Batula and West Wilson have confirmed rumors that they are romantically involved.

The two Summer House stars shared a joint statement Tuesday on Instagram, writing that “what’s developed recently was the last thing either of us expected.”

Batula, 34, announced her separation from husband of four years and Summer House castmate, Kyle Cooke, in January. Their relationship has been a main storyline throughout the show’s ten seasons. Wilson, 31, had a messy end to his brief relationship with their co-star — and Batula’s close friend — Ciara Miller in 2023. The situation harkens memories of the 2023 “Scandoval” that rocked another hit Bravo show, Vanderpump Rules, when it emerged that longtime cast member Tom Sandoval had been having an affair with his castmate, Rachel Leviss, despite his years-long relationship — and her close friendship — with Ariana Madix.

While there is no evidence of cheating, Batula and Wilson acknowledged that while the romance is “still very new,” they wanted to “provide some clarity” amid the online speculation.

“As our feelings evolved, we wanted to take time to understand exactly what we were feeling,” they continued. “We also recognize that this has had an impact beyond just us and never wanted our actions to cause any hurt or be perceived as careless.”

Amanda Batula and West Wilson have confirmed their romance (Amanda Batula/Instagram)
Amanda Batula and West Wilson have confirmed their romance
Amanda Batula and West Wilson have confirmed their romance (Getty)

That impact extends, very clearly, to Cooke and Miller — who has appeared to unfollow both Batula and Wilson on social media — not to mention the rest of the Summer House cast.

Internet sleuths sent fans into a frenzy over the last week after discovering photos of Batula and Wilson wearing the same sweatshirt months apart. It was just one small clue that indicated something deeper was going on between the co-stars.

Their fellow Summer House castmates, including formerly engaged couple Carl Radke and Lindsay Hubbard, seemingly responded to the news over the weekend, sharing photos of themselves on the show. While Radke’s picture was more stoic, Hubbard’s showed a mix of shock and disgust.

Hubbard then posted a photo of herself and Miller, sending a strong message of support for her co-star.

More to follow



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Scottie Scheffler schedule news emerges just before Masters

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Scottie Scheffler schedule news emerges just before Masters


Scottie Scheffler has committed to play in the 2026 Travelers Championship .

Scheffler, the World No. 1 golfer, will compete in a stacked field at the PGA Tour Signature Event — which will take place at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, CT on Apr. 9-12.

Scheffler withdrew from last week’s Houston Open with his wife, Meredith, expecting their second child. He will not participate in this weekend’s Valero Texas Open, the final PGA Tour event before The 2026 Masters begins at Augusta National next Thursday.

Scheffler is a one-time winner of the Travelers Championship, shooting 22-under and beating Tom Kim in a playoff in 2024. The two-time Masters champion finished T-6 in last year’s event.

Travelers Championship tournament director Nathan Grube released a statement regarding Scheffler’s commitment to the 2026 event.

“What can you say about Scottie? He’s been the world’s top-ranked player for almost three straight years now, and is determined to win every tournament he enters. He enhances every tournament he plays in, so we’re excited to hear he’s coming back to play in the Travelers Championship,” Grube said. “We certainly remember the excitement he generated when he won here in 2024, and look forward to seeing what he can do at TPC River Highlands this year.”

Scheffler, a 20-time PGA Tour winner and four-time major champion, already has one win this season at The American Express.



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Healing after a heart attack: New injection could help reverse damage

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Healing after a heart attack: New injection could help reverse damage


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Scientists have developed a new therapy designed to repair cardiac damage after a heart attack.

The study, led by researchers at Columbia University and published in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering, explored a two-step strategy that uses skeletal muscle to produce a healing molecule that activates when it reaches an injured heart.

Unlike many organs, the adult human heart has a limited ability to repair itself after a heart attack, the researchers noted.

DIABETES BREAKTHROUGH APPROACH COULD PROTECT CELLS AND PREVENT DISEASE

“The heart is one of the organs with the least ability to regenerate,” said Ke Cheng, a professor of biomedical engineering at Columbia and the study’s lead author, in a press release.

Dead muscle is typically replaced by stiff scar tissue, often leading to heart failure. However, newborns’ hearts can spontaneously regenerate during a brief window of time.

Scientists have developed a new therapy designed to repair cardiac damage after a heart attack. (iStock)

“The neonatal heart spontaneously produces more of this molecule after a heart attack,” Cheng said. “The adult can’t produce a sufficient amount, so we found a way to supplement this to the heart.”

“The whole idea is that we learn from nature.”

The secret to this treatment is a protein called ANP, which acts as a repair mechanism for the heart, according to the researchers. Normally, this protein is impossible to use as a drug because it dissolves in the blood within minutes, long before it can reach the heart.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES

To solve this, researchers turned the body’s own skeletal muscles into a sort of factory to produce ANP, using a specialized RNA injection to give the arm or leg muscles a set of instructions.

These instructions tell the muscle to produce a “sleeping” version of the repair protein. This inactive version safely travels through the bloodstream until it hits the heart, according to the release.

Heart illustration

Dead muscle is typically replaced by stiff scar tissue, often leading to heart failure, the researchers noted. (iStock)

Once there, it meets a specific enzyme that acts like a key, “waking up” the protein so it can begin repairing exactly where it’s needed.

In preclinical trials involving both small and large animals, a single injection into the limb reduced scarring and significantly improved heart function.

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Because the researchers used self-amplifying RNA, which replicates once it’s inside the body, the treatment continued to produce the healing protein for at least four weeks.

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The therapy remained effective even when administered a week after the initial injury, providing hope for patients who do not receive immediate treatment, the researchers also found.

Man at cardiologist

The treatment continued to produce the healing protein for at least four weeks. (iStock)

“The patient doesn’t have to go to the hospital today and tomorrow,” Cheng said, noting that the method avoids the risks associated with injecting treatments directly into the heart muscle.

So far, the treatment has only been tested in animals, which poses a significant limitation to the study. Human hearts are much more complex, and clinical trials are needed to determine whether they react in the same way.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

Additionally, because the RNA remains active for several weeks, scientists need to ensure that producing this repair protein for an extended time doesn’t cause any unintended side effects in other parts of the body.



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Heart attack damage reversed with injectable RNA therapy, study finds

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Heart attack damage reversed with injectable RNA therapy, study finds


NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Scientists have developed a new therapy designed to repair cardiac damage after a heart attack.

The study, led by researchers at Columbia University and published in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering, explored a two-step strategy that uses skeletal muscle to produce a healing molecule that activates when it reaches an injured heart.

Unlike many organs, the adult human heart has a limited ability to repair itself after a heart attack, the researchers noted.

DIABETES BREAKTHROUGH APPROACH COULD PROTECT CELLS AND PREVENT DISEASE

“The heart is one of the organs with the least ability to regenerate,” said Ke Cheng, a professor of biomedical engineering at Columbia and the study’s lead author, in a press release.

Dead muscle is typically replaced by stiff scar tissue, often leading to heart failure. However, newborns’ hearts can spontaneously regenerate during a brief window of time.

Scientists have developed a new therapy designed to repair cardiac damage after a heart attack. (iStock)

“The neonatal heart spontaneously produces more of this molecule after a heart attack,” Cheng said. “The adult can’t produce a sufficient amount, so we found a way to supplement this to the heart.”

“The whole idea is that we learn from nature.”

The secret to this treatment is a protein called ANP, which acts as a repair mechanism for the heart, according to the researchers. Normally, this protein is impossible to use as a drug because it dissolves in the blood within minutes, long before it can reach the heart.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES

To solve this, researchers turned the body’s own skeletal muscles into a sort of factory to produce ANP, using a specialized RNA injection to give the arm or leg muscles a set of instructions.

These instructions tell the muscle to produce a “sleeping” version of the repair protein. This inactive version safely travels through the bloodstream until it hits the heart, according to the release.

Heart illustration

Dead muscle is typically replaced by stiff scar tissue, often leading to heart failure, the researchers noted. (iStock)

Once there, it meets a specific enzyme that acts like a key, “waking up” the protein so it can begin repairing exactly where it’s needed.

In preclinical trials involving both small and large animals, a single injection into the limb reduced scarring and significantly improved heart function.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Because the researchers used self-amplifying RNA, which replicates once it’s inside the body, the treatment continued to produce the healing protein for at least four weeks.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

The therapy remained effective even when administered a week after the initial injury, providing hope for patients who do not receive immediate treatment, the researchers also found.

Man at cardiologist

The treatment continued to produce the healing protein for at least four weeks. (iStock)

“The patient doesn’t have to go to the hospital today and tomorrow,” Cheng said, noting that the method avoids the risks associated with injecting treatments directly into the heart muscle.

So far, the treatment has only been tested in animals, which poses a significant limitation to the study. Human hearts are much more complex, and clinical trials are needed to determine whether they react in the same way.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

Additionally, because the RNA remains active for several weeks, scientists need to ensure that producing this repair protein for an extended time doesn’t cause any unintended side effects in other parts of the body.



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T. S. Eliot Quote: Quote of the Day by T. S. Eliot: “April is the cruellest month….” – The Times of India

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T. S. Eliot Quote: Quote of the Day by T. S. Eliot: “April is the cruellest month….” – The Times of India


Thomas Stearns Eliot, better known as T. S. Eliot, was one of the most important poets, critics, and playwrights of the the 20th century. Born in the year 1888 in St. Louis, Missouri, he grew up in a family that was well-educated and culturally rich. His early exposure to literature, philosophy, and religion had a big impact on how smart he was and how he thought about art. Eliot was born in the United States, but he became a British citizen in 1927. This choice showed that he was both personally and artistically in line with European traditions.Eliot did very well in school. He went to Harvard University, where he learned a lot about philosophy and comparative literature. He was so interested in learning that he went to the Sorbonne in Paris and then to Oxford. He came across a lot of different philosophical ideas during this time, including those from Eastern religions and Western metaphysics. These ideas would later shape the themes of his poetry. His writing style was also greatly influenced by French Symbolist poets like Charles Baudelaire. Even though Eliot did well in school, his personal life was often full of problems. Eliot’s troubled first marriage to Vivienne Haigh-Wood led to periods of emotional stress and mental exhaustion. While still pursuing his writing career, he worked at a London bank to support himself. His poetry often deals with feelings of being alone, broken, and looking for meaning in a chaotic world. These are some of the personal problems he was going through.The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, published in 1915, was a turning point for Eliot. It was a poem that was very different from other poems of the time. The poem’s stream-of-consciousness style, vivid imagery, and introspective tone perfectly captured the worries and doubts of modern city life. It made Eliot one of the most important figures in the new modernist movement. Many consider The Waste Land, published in 1922, to be one of the best poems of the twentieth century. The poem was written after World War I and shows a feeling of cultural breakdown and spiritual emptiness. Eliot was a famous poet and a well-known literary critic. His essays, like “Tradition and the Individual Talent,” changed the way people thought about and judged literature. He stressed how important it is to know about history and that poetry is not just a way to express yourself but also a part of a larger cultural conversation. Eliot wrote a lot of poetry and criticism, but he also wrote a lot of plays. His plays, such as Murder in the Cathedral and The Cocktail Party became quite popular and are part of college and school curriculums even today. Eliot’s life changed forever when he became an Anglican in 1927. This spiritual change had a deep impact on his later works, which became more religious and focused on finding redemption. People knew about Eliot’s contributions to literature while he was still alive. He won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1948 for his great, groundbreaking work in modern poetry. T. S. Eliot had a huge and lasting effect on literature. He was a key figure in the rise of modernist poetry, which was known for trying new things, breaking away from traditional forms, and being experimental. By using fragmentation, allusion, and different points of view, he changed how poetry could be written and understood. Eliot’s writing made people think more deeply about what they read, question what things meant, and look into the complexities of language and culture. Eliot’s work also dealt with themes like alienation, identity, and spirituality that were relevant to people living in a world that was changing quickly. His poems showed how disillusioned a generation was because of war, industrialisation, and social change. At the same time, his later works showed that there was still hope and renewal and that meaning could still be found in a broken world.Eliot’s legacy is not without controversy, even though he made a lot of important contributions. Some people have said that his work shows signs of elitism and cultural conservatism, while others have argued about some of the personal views he shared in his writing. Still, there is no denying his artistic accomplishments, and people all over the world still study, analyse, and admire his work. In short, T. S. Eliot was a huge figure in modern literature. His life and work show both the problems and the opportunities of the twentieth century. His poetry, criticism, and plays have changed the way we think about poetry and how it can talk about the human condition in a way that will never be forgotten. Eliot’s works are still popular today because they show how modern life is broken and how people can come together. They are both a mirror of modern life and a way to learn more about it.One of the most iconic lines of T. S Eliot from his famous poem The Waste Land are:‘April is the cruellest month, breedingLilacs out of the dead land, mixingMemory and desire, stirringDull roots with spring rain.Winter kept us warm, coveringEarth in forgetful snow, feedingA little life with dried tubers.”These lines from The Waste Land by T. S. Eliot can feel confusing at first, but they become clearer if you think of them in simple, human terms. Eliot is actually turning our usual expectations upside down. Normally, we think of April and spring as happy—flowers blooming, new life, fresh beginnings. But here, Eliot calls April “the cruellest month.” Why? Because spring forces life to come back again. It brings new growth (like lilacs) out of what was dead and lifeless. This process stirs up memories and desires—things people might have buried or tried to forget.In simple words, spring wakes people up emotionally, and that can be painful. It reminds them of what they’ve lost, what they long for, or what they don’t have anymore. Then he contrasts this with winter. Winter, which we usually see as cold and harsh, is described here as comforting. It “kept us warm” because it covered everything in snow, hiding reality. The snow acts like a blanket that lets people forget their troubles. Life becomes dull, quiet, and numb—but also easier to bear. Even the “little life” that survives does so in a minimal, almost lifeless way (like dried tubers underground). Eliot is showing that sometimes, feeling nothing is easier than feeling everything. But real life—like spring—forces us to confront our emotions, whether we like it or not.That’s why April, instead of being joyful, feels “cruel.”



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