Eliana Willis

Virtual private networks (VPNs) encrypt your data, provide a secure tunnel for online activities, and hide your IP address. This keeps your data secure and prevents others from spying on your online activity or monitoring the websites you visit.A VPN is particularly important when traveling or using a public Wi-Fi network, like at a coffee shop or a hotel. VPNs are also great for streaming because they unlock access (although this is a legally gray area) to movies, TV shows, and sports events unavailable in your location. While VPNs are not a silver bullet for personal security, they can help keep your browsing activities hidden and your data safe. Some VPNs offer additional features, including ad-blocking, data breach scanners, antivirus protection, and cyber insurance.Also: Best VPN for Amazon Fire TV StickWhat is the best VPN service right now?Our pick for the best VPN overall is NordVPN More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Quest 3S is priced the same as the Quest 2, but it brings marginal improvements. The new Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset makes everything feel faster (and more realistic). Fresnel lenses and the lack of a 3.5mm headphone are the biggest drawbacks at this price point. more buying choices Throughout […] More

Maria Diaz/ZDNETAmazon’s Alexa has been a fixture in my house since it arrived a decade ago. Over time, Alexa devices have multiplied to the point where we have one in every room (and yes, that includes the bathrooms).We use them for lists, timers, and alarms, among other things. We also use them to control our smart home devices. Most of our lights are controlled by Alexa. So is our thermostat. Also: 5 Echo Show settings to change to make your smart display less annoyingIn this article, I will show you how you can string together Alexa smart-home commands into sequences called “routines.” Then, I’ll show you five that are particularly helpful in my home. How to create a routine Everything I will show you is controlled by the Alexa app on your phone. I use an iPhone, but the Alexa app is virtually identical on Android devices. So, go ahead and launch the Alexa app. Then press the little More button at the lower right of the screen (shown at 1), and then the Routines button in the middle of the screen (shown at 2). More

Issarawat Tattong/Getty Images Prudential is turning to generative artificial intelligence (gen AI) to verify medical insurance claims in an effort to speed up processes.   The insurance company announced, in a statement on Thursday that the move also aims to cut the risk of errors caused by manual data entry. Prudential will tap Google’s MedLM family […] More

Virtual private networks (VPNs) can be helpful for gamers. While most VPNs don’t promote themselves as gamer-first solutions, the best VPNs don’t impact your gaming sessions and offer a host of benefits for an affordable price, including rapid server speeds, location options, streaming support, and the ability to mask your IP address and improve your security.Also: The best VPNs for iPhone and iPad: Expert testedThe best gaming VPNs will offer enhanced security without lag or ping issues. As a bonus, you can use a VPN to hide your location from other players who might think it’s amusing to launch denial-of-service attacks or stream snipe you. What is the best gaming VPN right now?Our pick for the best gaming VPN overall is ExpressVPN More

Google Google Photos has added several artificial intelligence (AI)-powered editing features over the last few months, and now it’s making sure people use that power responsibly. In a blog post this week, Google announced it will add a note to photos people edited with AI tools such as Zoom Enhance, Magic Eraser, and Magic Editor. “As […] More

You may worry about your online security, but dread adding another subscription to your monthly budget with a virtual private network (VPN). Sure, there are free VPNs, but they often come with speed and bandwidth limitations. It can also be unclear how some free VPN vendors make their money and whether your data is being mined, which negates the whole purpose of using a VPN to improve your privacy.If you want the best protection, consider choosing an option from our tested list of the best VPNs. Or, if you want to keep things as affordable as possible, there are cheap VPN providers that can do the job for as little as a few bucks per month — and without requiring you to agree to shady data-sharing policies. These vendors already provide affordable services but occasionally offer deals to compete in the saturated VPN market.Also: The best VPN services: Expert testedWhat is the best cheap VPN right now?Our pick for the best cheap VPN overall is Surfshark More