Eliana Willis

Adam Breeden/ZDNETDid you know that whenever you turn on your smart TV, you invite an unseen guest to watch it with you? These days, most popular TV models utilize automatic content recognition (ACR), a form of ad surveillance technology that gathers information about everything you watch and transmits it to a centralized database. Manufacturers then use your data to identify your viewing preferences, enabling them to deliver highly targeted ads.Also: Your TV’s USB port is seriously underutilized: 5 features you’re not taking advantage ofWhat’s the incentive behind this invasive technology? According to market research firm eMarketer, in 2022, advertisers spent an estimated $18.6 billion on smart TV ads, and those numbers are only going up.To understand how ACR works, imagine a constant, real-time Shazam-like service running in the background while your TV is on. It identifies content displayed on your screen, including programs from cable TV boxes, streaming services, or gaming consoles. ACR does this by capturing continuous screenshots and cross-referencing them with a vast database of media content and advertisements. More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETThe Samsung Z Flip 7 More

Jason Howell/ZDNETSamsung’s new Galaxy Z Fold 7 More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETRecently, I wrote about the various uses of the USB ports that come standard on the back or side of any smart TV. In this article, I’m focusing on one particular important use: installing firmware updates using a USB device.Also: How to disable ACR on your TV (and why doing so makes such a big difference)Updates are essential because they ensure your TV has the latest software, features, and security patches. Most smart TVs are designed to automatically check for and install updates over Wi-Fi — as long as they’re connected to the internet and the automatic update feature is enabled. To confirm this, you can usually find a “Check for Updates” option in the TV’s settings menu.But if your TV has an unstable Wi-Fi connection — or you simply prefer a manual approach — the following is a walkthrough of how to use a USB drive to do the job. 1. Identify your TV’s model number Start by finding your TV’s specific model number. It’s usually on a sticker or label on the back of your set, which can often be tricky to read — especially on a wall-mounted TV. Take a flashlight with you and jot down what you see on the sticker. Better yet, turn on your phone camera (with flash) to reach behind the TV and snap a picture of the sticker so you’ll have the information forever. Also: I changed 10 settings on my Fire TV to instantly improve the performanceYou should also be able to find the model number in the TV’s settings menu under the “About” or “Support” section. 2. Locate the firmware update Go online and visit the manufacturer’s official website to look for the “Support” or “Downloads” section. Use the search function on the website and enter your TV’s model number. This should bring up a list of available downloads for your specific model. Look for the latest firmware update file. Also: How we test TVs at ZDNET in 2025Be sure to pay close attention to the region and version information for the firmware update. Downloading and installing the wrong firmware can cause serious problems with your TV, potentially “bricking” it, which is the worst thing that can happen to any smart device because it renders it unusable. More

Lance Whitney / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETPasskeys offer a more secure and convenient method of authentication compared with passwords. But they can be challenging to set up and synchronize, especially if you want to use the same ones on a range of devices, such as a mobile phone, tablet, and computer. As one solution, Apple users can save and sync their passkeys across an iPhone, iPad, and Mac.The key here is iCloud Keychain, which can store passkeys as well as passwords. You first set up a passkey for a supported website on one Apple device, such as an iPhone. With iCloud Keychain, that passkey is synced across any other Apple device you own, such as an iPad or Mac. If all goes well, the passkey can then authenticate your login on whichever device you’re using. Also: How passkeys work: Your passwordless journey begins hereYou’re able to create and save passkeys to securely sign in to supported apps as well as websites. Like passwords, passkeys are encrypted through iCloud Keychain. Unlike passwords, they’re relatively safe from theft and compromise. To set up and approve the login, you can use a PIN, facial scan, fingerprint recognition, or physical security key. There’s another benefit to using iCloud Keychain to sync passkeys across all your devices. If one device gets lost or becomes inoperative, such as your iPhone, you can turn to your Mac or iPad to use your passkeys and automatically sync them to a new phone. How to set up and use passkeys on Apple devicesiCloud Keychain is the linchpin for syncing your passkeys, but it works more on the back end. On the front end, you use Apple’s Passwords app to set up and manage your passkeys. When you generate a passkey at a supported website or app, Passwords is the program that pops up to save it. To use Apple Passwords, you’ll need iOS/iPadOS 18 or higher and MacOS Sequoia 15 or higher. Though I typically use a password manager to store and sync passkeys, I wanted to try out the process without a password manager, using just iCloud Keychain and Apple Passwords on all my Apple devices, specifically an iPhone, iPad, and Mac. For our purposes, I’ll assume you also have all three devices or at least two of them. Also: 10 passkey survival tips: Prepare for your passwordless future nowThe actual steps for generating a passkey can vary among different websites and apps. You can create a passkey for a brand new account or set one up for an existing account to replace your password.Now, let’s see how this plays out. More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETIn the age of smart TVs, convenience is king. With just a few clicks, we can dive into endless entertainment — but that ease comes with a downside: the buildup of cache data. Also: How to disable ACR on your TV (and why doing so makes such a big difference)Just like on your phone or computer, a cluttered TV cache can lead to sluggish performance, app crashes, and even hinder new content from loading properly. That’s why it’s important to clear all that extra cache and make your TV feel like new again. Before I break down the steps for how to do it, let’s address the big elephant in the room first. What is a cache? A cache is a temporary storage area where data is kept for quick access. On your smart TV, the cache stores information from apps, websites, and system processes to help them load faster every time you turn it on. Think of it as a bunch of temporary files intended to speed up loading times for frequently accessed information. Also: The best TVs of 2025: Expert tested and reviewedFor instance, when you open a streaming app, the cache might store thumbnails, login details, or recently watched shows. Caches are designed to help your TV load this content more quickly. Over time, however, the cache can become overloaded with outdated or unnecessary data, which can consequently slow down your TV’s performance. More

Apple Apple just launched a new product coverage plan called Apple Care One, offering consumers comprehensive accident coverage on up to three Apple devices for $20 a month. That includes iPhones, MacBooks, iPads, and Apple Watches and AirPods.  The plan’s benefits include unlimited repairs for damage, 24/7 live support from Apple experts, battery replacement at […] More

Method 1: Using a routerWe have our dedicated page on how to set up a VPN on a router. However, the procedure will differ slightly depending on the router model and the VPN service. So be sure to check your provider’s website on how to best install the software router devices. Typically, the steps are as follows; Subscribe to a VPN service of your choice.Access your router’s admin panel and sign in to the network.Go to “Advanced settings” or “WAN” and locate VPN settings where you can enter the credentials. Once the VPN is configured on your router, connect your Roku TV or streaming player to the Wi-Fi.A VPN alone won’t change your location on Roku. You will also have to update the location from your Roku account. See the detailed guides on how to change location on any Roku device.Method 2: Via a virtual router (Windows and Mac)You can share a VPN connection with Roku from your computer as follows:-Install the VPN app on your computer and sign in to the app.-Connect to a server location or streaming service, specifically where you want to watch content.-Set up a mobile hotspot. On Windows:Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Mobile hotspot. Turn on this setting and create a network name and password.Scroll down to “Related settings” and click “Change adapter settings.”Right-click your VPN service adapter and navigate to “Properties” then “Sharing”.Check the box next to “Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s internet connection”.Select your virtual hotspot adapter from the dropdown and click “OK”.On MacGo to System Preferences > Sharing > Internet Sharing.Choose to share your connection over Wi-Fi (from Ethernet or VPN adapter).Create a hotspot name and password.-With your VPN connected, open the Roku streaming app and access the content you want to watch. Press play and watch it on the large screen.Method 3: Mirroring or casting to Roku with a VPNYou can run a VPN on your smartphone or computer and mirror or cast content to Roku with these simple steps;-Launch the VPN app on your phone or laptop and connect.-Enable screen mirroring on Roku under Settings > System > Screen mirroring.-Mirror or cast your screen.On Android: Find the cast or mirroring option from the quick settings and choose your Roku device from the list.On Windows: Search for “Projection settings” and select “Connect to wireless display,” then find your Roku device.On iOS and macOS: Use the AirPlay feature to mirror your screen.-On Roku, go to Settings > Network > Set up connection, then connect to the virtual hotspot you’ve created. More