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    What is Matter? How the connectivity standard can change your smart home

    Matter has received much attention in the Internet of Things (IoT) arena since its announcement in late 2019. The CSA, the organization which created Matter and Zigbee, wants to make Matter the new connectivity standard for smart homes.Since smart home devices and hubs started appearing on the market, the lack of compatibility between brands and devices has been a big problem. For years, you had to choose your home automation systems carefully, or you might end up with incompatible devices and have to juggle multiple apps to control your home.Also: Move over, Alexa and HomeKit: A new Assistant is here to open source your smart homeThe CSA aims to change that situation with Matter. This standard could diminish interoperability woes in home automation systems.Tech companies got involved quickly. Apple’s Corey Wang, a producer in Human Interface Design, mentioned Matter during Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC 2022), pointing out the need to have more compatibility across brands in smart home devices for a truly connected home. Google added Matter-over-Thread support for its smart home hubs with Thread built-in. In 2021, Amazon announced that almost all Echo devices More

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    How to change your IP address, why you’d want to – and when you shouldn’t

    Jack Wallen/ZDNETSecurity and privacy have been hot topics for a long time (and that’s not going to change any time soon). One means of achieving privacy on the internet is to either change or obfuscate your IP address, so evildoers and/or third parties aren’t able to track you or keep a history of your browsing traffic.Also: This Linksys Wi-Fi 7 mesh router makes reliable wireless throughout your home so very easyChanging your IP address might sound like a task that requires a computer science degree — but it’s not. It’s easier than you think. I want to show you how you can accomplish this without a struggle.Before we get started, some explanation is in orderDifferent IP addressesOne of the first things to understand is the difference between an internal and external IP address. On your home network, you have one external IP address (which is assigned to the modem/router your service provider gave you). This IP address is what you see if you open a browser and go to What Is My IP Address.  More

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    The FCC restores net neutrality – here’s what it means for the internet

    The decision, overseen by FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel, marks a significant policy reversal from the Trump administration’s deregulatory stance.  Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images Seven years ago, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), under President Donald Trump’s hand-picked Chair Ajit Pai, a former Verizon in-house lawyer, killed off net neutrality. In a decisive move, the now Democrat-controlled FCC […] More

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    These SMBs are hot threat targets but they’re shrugging off security help

    weerapatkiatdumrong/Getty Images They may be hot targets of cybercriminals, but small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) are prioritizing other enterprise applications for adoption over security tools.  Cybersecurity tools rank low in adoption among the various categories of applications whose costs are partly subsidized for SMBs in Singapore, said Andy Choi, deputy director of SME Go Digital […] More

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    How a new law protects your thoughts from tech companies – and why it matters

    Andriy Onufriyenko/Getty Images If you open your devices with a fingerprint or face scan, you’re probably OK with tech companies having some of your biological data. Now, the rise of neurotech wearables is putting your brainwaves on the table, too.  On Wednesday, the governor of Colorado signed a bill expanding the state’s existing privacy law […] More

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    Tinder’s ‘Share My Date’ feature will let you share date plans with friends and family

    Tinder/ZDNETSharing details of an upcoming date with a trusted friend or family member is always a good idea. Now, dating app Tinder plans to roll out a new feature designed to make this sharing process easier and quicker.A new “Share My Date” option in the Tinder app will offer a single link through which you can include the location, date, and time of your date, and even add a photo of the other person.Also: These 4 tech gadgets simplify puppy parentingYou’ll be able to choose who should receive your date info and set up an unlimited number of date shares as far as 30 days in advance. You can also edit your date details in case plans change at the last minute.Online dating can be fun and adventurous, but since you’re essentially meeting a stranger, you may want to take certain safety precautions, including telling a trusted person when and where you’re going and with whom. Before my wife and I got married and she was online dating, she would always share details of an upcoming date with a close friend. More

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    The best business internet providers of 2024

    As one of two Tier 1 internet providers in this list (the other is AT&T), Verizon has more control over its network than competitors that have to purchase access from upstream providers. In addition, Verizon boasts that its services are available nationwide, although your location will determine which exact services are available.Fios Business Internet is Verizon’s fastest offering. This fiber-based service is available in nine states, all in the Northeastern US. The company offers four tiers, starting at 200 Mbps and going up to 2048 Mbps, at prices ranging from $69 to $249 per month, with price guarantees that increase with each tier. All plans offer the option of a single digital voice line for your business for $20, and you can get additional discounts for bundling with Verizon Wireless plans for business.Verizon also offers Internet Dedicated services, at speeds ranging from 1.5 Mbps up to 100 Gbps, with the fastest connection advertised as being suitable for data centers and cloud providers managing multiple simultaneous downloads of very large files. All plans come with strict service level agreements of 100% availability. If neither of those services is available at your location, you can choose 5G or LTE internet plans. Be aware that these options come with monthly data limits, unlike broadband offerings. Unlike some of its competitors, Verizon charges additional fees for equipment and some services, so be sure to include the full list of charges when comparing prices. More