bigtunaonline/Getty Images If you find your personal information in a Google Search, like your phone number, address, or email, Google just made it easier to make sure it doesn’t show up again. Several years ago, Google introduced a “Results about you” tool that lets you track your personal information online and remove it from search […] More
Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETHigh-profile officials, including national security adviser Mike Waltz, have inadvertently exposed their networks through public Venmo accounts, according to WIRED. This serves as an important reminder for all Venmo users to review their privacy settings.Also: Did you get paid through Venmo, CashApp, or PayPal in 2024? The IRS will knowIf you haven’t checked your Venmo settings, your entire friends list and transaction history may be visible to the public. While it might seem harmless if someone sees that you sent a friend $10 for a shared pizza last month, your account could be revealing far more sensitive information than you realize. What people can see on Venmo By default, Venmo makes every payment and description public. The amount is hidden, but just by browsing through a few random friends’ accounts, I was able to see the location of their kids’ sports leagues, the name of a wedding venue for an upcoming ceremony, the name of a child’s classmate at elementary school, and even restaurants they frequent.Also: This new tool lets you see how much of your data is exposed online – and it’s freeJust as concerning is that your friends list is also public by default. Looking at my friends’ contact lists, it wasn’t hard to find their family members, coworkers, children’s teachers, daycare workers, and more. This information could be exploited by anyone — online trolls, stalkers, ex-spouses, law enforcement (in 2019, federal prosecutors used Venmo transactions as evidence in the case against a man involved in rapper Mac Miller’s death), or criminals.A few years ago, BuzzFeed was able to find former President Joe Biden’s Venmo account. The issue wasn’t that the public could see he sent money to his grandchildren for their birthdays, but that it exposed an entire web of contacts, including family members and senior White House officials (and their networks).Also: The best data removal services: Delete yourself from the internetNow, WIRED has reported that the US’s national security adviser, along with other senior officials, left their Venmo accounts public, exposing their extensive network of personal and professional connections. Waltz’s account, for instance, displayed a list of 328 people, including figures like White House chief of staff Susie Wiles and several prominent media figures. This kind of exposure could be exploited by foreign intelligence services, posing a potential national security risk.While researching for this article, I found several public profiles for local politicians, athletes from pro sports teams in my area, heads of local law enforcement organizations, local TV reporters, and more. By looking at each of their profiles, I got a clear picture of the people they interact with and the places they visit. More
WhataWin/Getty Images On March 10, X experienced multiple outages, with tens of thousands of users reporting the social site was down for them. Later that day, after multiple failures, X came back online. What caused this? While the pro-Palestinian hacking collective known as Dark Storm Team claimed responsibility on Telegram for a distributed denial of […] More
Kerry Wan/ZDNETSamsung’s Frame TV lineup is popular for a reason; It’s unique, makes practical use of all the idle space a TV typically leaves behind, and looks great doing so. And right now, during Amazon’s Spring Sale event, you can save up to $1,800 on the flagship TV. That’s right. Amazon is selling every size of The Frame TV at a discount. Also: The 150+ best Amazon Spring Sale tech deals liveThe smallest 32-inch display More
ZDNETIn October, after months of beta testing, Microsoft officially released its major 2024 update for Windows 11. Known as Windows 11 24H2, the latest version enhances the Copilot AI, improves File Explorer, promises faster performance and greater stability, and introduces other improvements.Also: How to upgrade from Windows 11 Home to Pro – without overpayingThe update, which is rolling out to eligible Windows 11 23H2 and 22H2 users, may appear on your PC’s Windows Update screen. If so, you can certainly install it from there. Otherwise, the new version is accessible on Microsoft’s Download Windows 11 page, where you can grab it through the Installation Assistant, installation media, or as an ISO file. Before you dive into the 2024 update, know that you may run into some problems and conflicts. The new version has been plagued by bugs that could prevent you from using Windows reliably and effectively. Microsoft has documented many of the glitches, and Windows users have reported a lot more. In response, Microsoft has put the update on hold for problematic PCs that could encounter blue screens and other issues.Windows 11 24H2 bugs still causing troubleDespite the latest updates, several bugs persist. Here are the ones that could still cause issues for anyone running the 2024 version of Windows 11. 1. AutoCAD 2022 might not open On some PCs running Windows 11 24H2, Autodesk AutoCAD 2022 might not open. Users have reported error messages when trying to launch the application. In response, Microsoft has blocked the update for affected PCs and is currently working on a fix. Also: How to do a clean install of Windows 11: See which option is best for you and why More
<!–> Adam Breeden/ZDNET When does Amazon’s Spring Sale end? The 2025 Big Spring Sale is slated to end Monday, March 31. However, as with most Amazon sales, we expect to see some lingering offers after the sale officially ends, as well as live offers from other retailers. We’ll keep you updated with all the best […] More
Krisp / ZDNETKrisp, an AI startup known for its noise cancellation and transcription services, is launching a new AI tool that can convert a speaker’s accent to American English in real time. The company claims the tool can help native speakers better understand non-native English speakers “more easily, without changing [their] natural voice and vocal traits.”Tested in call center enterprisesThe company is initially rolling out support for altering 17 Indian dialects into US English but plans to expand in the future with Filipino and more. The tool is compatible with Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, and other meeting app platforms. So, as long as users have access to Krisp’s existing desktop app, the tool can “clarify” accents.Also: Deepfake detection service Loti AI expands access to all users – for freeAccording to Krisp’s website, Indian accents were the first accents the company wanted to work on because people from the region are a large segment of the global workforce, especially within STEM fields. The tool was tested in call center enterprises prior to its widespread release and trained on thousands of speech samples that covered different accents and dialects. More
I have been exercising with fitness trackers like smartwatches and smart rings for over a year, and the technology has helped me track my progress over time, check my vitals during workouts, understand my recovery, and motivate me to keep my activity streaks alive. Whether you’re dialing into your fitness routine or interested in learning more about your activity patterns, a health tracker can uncover the details of your activity and sleep throughout the day, week, and month. Also: The best Amazon Spring Sale deals live nowWhile the price of some of these trackers can easily surpass $300, Amazon’s Big Spring Sale could reduce select products, and we’re already seeing record-low savings on the latest Apple Watch More
