Maria Diaz/ZDNETData removal services began to appear around 15 years ago, after data brokers realized that data could become a new, valuable currency — and one ripe for exploitation, given the lack of laws and little to no consumer data privacy protection written into legislation.Incogni More
<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways Ugreen’s M.2 NVMe Enclosure is on sale on Amazon for $75. It’s an easy to use enclosure that doesn’t rely on minute fasteners, and features USB4 speeds of up to 40Gbps. If you need a device that supports up to 80Gbps, you’ll want to upgrade. –> External storage drives have become […] More
Whether you’re a student, a professional, or a casual user, there’s a laptop out there for you. Each year heralds in new models with improved performance, fascinating designs, and smart features that push the tech into new worlds. I live and breathe laptops because they are some of the most dynamic and versatile devices out there.Here at ZDNET, we test dozens of laptops each year, both in our lab and at homes. From those experiences, we then create our multitude of best laptop guides — but here, we’re doing something different.Also: The best laptops you can buyOur team has collected data on the top-selling laptops for ZDNET readers across different retailers. The following entries are listed in order of units sold through the links clicked from ZDNET reviews. (Be aware that your privacy is protected. ZDNET only has access to aggregate data from our specific user base. There’s no way for us to identify individual people.) Here are ZDNET readers’ most-purchased laptops for 2025 so far. Kyle Kucharski/ZDNETThe 10 most popular laptops among ZDNET readers
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Kicking off our list is the Acer Aspire Go 15 Slim. Admittedly, I didn’t expect to see this on the list, but the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. The Aspire Go 15 Slim is a top-notch, budget-friendly laptop. At $300, you receive a highly capable device that is perfect for everyday usage. It can handle lightweight workloads with ease. What’s more, Acer’s model is slim, has a decent webcam, and a decent battery life of eight hours If you need a cheap laptop for work or school, the Aspire Go 15 Slim is highly recommended.Review: Acer Aspire Go 15 Slim
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SOPA Images / Contributor / Getty If you’re an AT&T Wireless customer, you’re about to receive a potentially life-saving feature on your phone. The company announced several upgrades to its Next Generation 9-1-1 ESInet emergency communications platform this week, with the most important one coming to your phone. Later this year, AT&T customers will be […] More
Eoneren/Getty Images Imagine being at a party in the not-too-distant future, and telling people you are a “synthetic reality producer.” That’s something sure to elicit quite a bit of curiosity. On the other hand, it may be a common job title by the year 2030. There’s been a fair bit of chatter lately about the […] More
What states currently support digital ID in Apple Wallet? As of June 2025, the following US states and territories support adding digital IDs in Apple Wallet: Arizona (since March 2022)Colorado (since November 2022)Georgia (since May 2023)Hawaii (since August 2024)Iowa (since October 2024)Maryland (since May 2022)New Mexico (since December 2024)Ohio (since July 2024)Puerto Rico (since December 2024)California (since September 2024)Apple confirmed in September 2024 that Montana and West Virginia have signed on to support IDs on iPhone — West Virginia even launched its own ID app and will add Wallet integration “in the near future” — and noted Connecticut, Kentucky, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Utah (first announced in March 2022) are still committed to adopting the feature. Where can you use digital ID? According to Apple, you can use your iPhone or Apple Watch to present your digital ID at “select Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints, businesses, and venues.” You can also share your identity information in “participating apps.” Apple does not maintain a specific list of businesses and apps that support the feature. The TSA says over 250 domestic checkpoints and the following select US airports accept digital IDs:Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ)Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport (CVG)Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL)Denver International Airport (DEN)Des Moines International Airport (DSM)Eastern Iowa Airport (CID)Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH)Lea County Regional Airport (HOB)Los Angeles International (LAX)Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (SJU)Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)San Francisco International Airport (SFO)San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC) Can I add my passport to Apple Wallet? When iOS 26 arrives later this year, Apple plans to let you scan a physical US passport into Apple Wallet to create a digital passport. It will work for domestic TSA checkpoints, but you’ll still need your paper passport for international travel. How to add your license to Apple Watch To add your license or ID to your Apple Watch, open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, go to My Watch > Wallet & Apple Pay, tap Add next to your license under Other Cards on Your Phone, and follow the prompts. Also: Your Apple Watch is getting a big upgrade for free – 8 features I can’t wait to use on watchOS 26 Can you transfer your digital ID to a new iPhone? Yes. If you’re upgrading your iPhone, during Setup Assistant on your new device, make sure you add your existing digital ID. Choose Wallet when prompted.Select your existing digital ID.Follow the prompts and tap Continue to confirm you’re moving your license over.Also: 6 settings I recommend changing ASAP on iOS 18.5 (and how they make a difference)Your digital ID will be removed from the old device automatically once the transfer is complete. Get the morning’s top stories in your inbox each day with our Tech Today newsletter. More
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Jack Wallen / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETGoogle released Android 16 a bit earlier than expected, and although it was missing some crucial features, there are key additions to the platform that go a long way to improve security.This was an important step forward, as the need for improved security grows every year. Without companies like Google, Apple, and others upping the ante on security, the mobile space would wind up the wild west of the technological landscape, with ne’er-do-wells popping up all over the place, stealing data at will. Also: How to turn on Android’s Private DNS mode — and why it’s an absolute must for securityWell, Google has taken a pretty big step forward with Android 16 in the form of two key features, which I’m going to explain here. 1. Identity Check This feature was actually added back in 2024, but it wasn’t until the release of Android 16 that it started receiving much attention. What is Identity Check? Let’s say you’re away from home (which you’ve designated as a trusted location; more on that in a bit). While you’re gone, someone gains access to your phone and either goes to make changes to critical security settings or attempts to access saved passwords or other sensitive information. Because the phone is away from your trusted location, when that person tries to make those changes, biometric authentication will prevent them from accessing those features or data. Also: 7 simple things I always do on Android to protect my privacy – and why you should tooHere’s the thing about Identity Check: it’s not easy to find. The best way to locate the feature is to open the Settings app and search for “identity check.” Once on the Identity Check page, you can enable the feature (it should be enabled by default) and add a trusted location. Once you’ve added a trusted location, biometrics won’t be required for that particular place. More
