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    PayPal’s AI-powered scam alert system might intercept your transactions now – here’s why

    Getty Images / SOPA Images / Contributor Cybersecurity is a cat-and-mouse game, with new technologies providing more sophisticated protections — and threats. That has only accelerated with generative AI, which has led to even more advanced attacks, but PayPal is now leveraging it to stay ahead. PayPal, which also owns the digital payment platform Venmo, […] More

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    A million customer conversations with AI agents yielded this surprising lesson

    Mykyta Atamanchuk/Getty Images Salesforce has had over one million AI agent-customer conversations. The company launched AI agents on its Salesforce Help site in October 2024, a full-screen experience that makes getting support simpler and more intuitive. With more than 60 million visits each year, Salesforce Help offers a wide range of product content through organized directories, search, and […] More

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    Best Prime Day laptop deals 2025: Discounts on MacBooks, Windows, and more

    When is Amazon Prime Day 2025? This year, Prime Day starts on Tuesday, July 8, and goes through Friday, July 11. Are laptops really cheaper on Prime Day? Manufacturers know consumers are on the lookout for deals during Prime Day, so yes, quite a few of the laptop sales have significantly steeper discounts than during regular sales throughout the year. How did we choose these Prime Day deals?Our team of reviewers at ZDNET only write about deals we personally can vouch for and would personally recommend. We scour the deals for sale prices that are at least 20% off, or are hardly ever on sale, using established price comparison tools and trackers to determine how frequently it drops. We also looked over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the deals we’re recommending. Our recommendations may also be based on our own testing — in addition to extensive research and comparison shopping. The goal is to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter.  More

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    Best early Prime Day PC gaming deals: My 25+ picks for top deals live now

    What are the best Prime Day deals so far?ZDNET’s experts are searching through Prime Day sales to find the best discounts by category. These are the best deals so far:You can also find the best deals from other retailers competing with Prime Day sales:When is Amazon Prime Day 2025? Amazon’s annual Prime Day sale will run from July 8 through July 11, with many of the best deals going live the day of. But if you can’t wait to upgrade your PC gaming setup, or are building a gaming PC that’s pulling double-duty as a work computer, you can find great early deals on accessories like keyboards and headsets, components, and prebuilt desktops and laptops.Are gaming PCs and components really cheaper on Prime Day? While you can find steep discounts on gaming PCs, accessories, and components during Amazon’s Prime Day sale, it sometimes pays to look at other retailers and even to see if brands like HP and Dell are offering bundle deals or better markdowns. This is especially true if you’re looking to get new components like graphics cards, RAM, or storage drives. How did we choose these Prime Day deals?Not all PC gaming sales are created equal, and not every retailer will offer markdowns on gaming components or computers. So I chose the steepest discounts on the most popular and trusted names in PC gaming like HP, Razer, HyperX, and more to help you find the best deals on the best accessories, components, and pre-built desktops so you can stay on budget when buying a new gaming rig or updating your current setup. More

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    Walmart Plus membership is 50% off, and has something Amazon doesn’t: the Nintendo Switch 2

    Walmart/ZDNETWith Prime Day kicking off, consumers are flocking to Amazon for all the best deals. But one of the best things about Prime Day is all the other major retailers looking to cash in on the shopping palooza, offering similar (or better) deals on top products — and even membership opportunities.  Also: The best Prime Day deals live now Right now, Walmart is discounting its Walmart+ membership program More

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    The best Costco deals to compete with Prime Day: TVs, laptops, Apple products, and more

    When is Amazon Prime Day 2025? This year, Amazon Prime Day runs from July 8-11. It’s the first time that it’s a four-day sale event, instead of just two days.Are tech products really cheaper on Prime Day? Yes, you can find lots of tech for cheaper prices during Prime Day sales, at Amazon as well as competing retailers like Costco, Walmart, and Best Buy. During this sale window, some companies will offer bundles, freebies, or lower prices to entice you to buy directly from them instead of Amazon.We’re monitoring everyone’s sale prices during the event to update you on the most worthwhile ones.How did we choose these Costco deals?ZDNET only writes about deals we want to buy — devices and products we desire, need, or would recommend. Our experts looked for deals that were at least 20% off (or are hardly ever on sale), using established price comparison tools and trackers to determine whether the deal is actually on sale and how frequently it drops. We also looked over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the deals we’re recommending. Our recommendations may also be based on our own testing — in addition to extensive research and comparison shopping. The goal is to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter.  More

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    10 simple ways Mac users can better protect their privacy – and why they should

    Kyle Kucharski/ZDNETMacOS is a solid operating system. But no matter how secure an operating system is, it’s vulnerable if it’s connected to a network. As for privacy, if you get online, your privacy is at stake, so never assume you’re safe just because you’re using Apple’s OS. Also: I’m switching to the MacBook Air M4 from my Windows laptop – and you should too at this priceYou can always take steps to improve the chances that your privacy won’t be infringed upon. What are those steps? Let’s jump in. 1. Use a VPN A VPN is always a good idea. Why? A VPN not only anonymizes your IP address (so it’s much harder to track you), but it also encrypts your traffic. Individually, those things can help. Together, they’re a powerful weapon against those who would disrupt your privacy. Also: The best VPN for Mac: Expert tested and reviewedThere are plenty of VPNs you can use (such as Proton VPN or Nord VPN), but it’s important to use one that integrates with the operating system so all your outgoing traffic is anonymized and encrypted. If you use only a browser extension, only the traffic leaving your web browser is altered. To get the most security and the fastest speeds, use a paid option. Most free VPNs slow down your network traffic, which negatively impacts your browser’s speed. 2. Use strong passwords This should go without saying, but strong passwords are the easiest method of protecting your accounts (starting with your MacOS user account). If you use weak passwords, someone could break into your desktop and wreak havoc on your privacy. Also: The best password manager for MacYou should also use a password manager (such as Bitwarden). Not only do password managers secure your login credentials, but they also include random password generators capable of creating very strong passwords. If your MacOS account is secured with a weak password, change it immediately in System Settings > Login Password. 3. Use encrypted storage Your MacOS drive is most likely encrypted, which protects you if someone steals your computer. With the storage encrypted, they’ll have a harder time accessing your data. But that doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from using encryption tools. Also: The best cloud storage services of 2025: Expert testedOut of the box, your MacOS machine uses FileVault — enabled by default — to secure the data on your disk. However, you might want to take this a step further by encrypting specific folders in your home directory to give them an extra layer of protection. You can use tools like VeraCrypt (available for free), which feature drag-and-drop AES-256 encryption for files and folders and easy sharing with Windows. More