<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The magnetic USB-C connector now supports a 180-degree swivel, and it’s only $12 at Amazon. It can pump out as much as 240W of power. I just wish it was suitable for data transferring or powering monitors. –> Buy one of these handy 240W USB-C magnetic adapters<!–> on sale for just […] More
Amazon/ZDNETIf you’re looking to bulk up your home tool kit, consider this great deal from DeWalt: For $149, you can get a DeWalt 20V MAX cordless drill and impact driver set More
Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNETWhether you’re a college student or a Gen Z navigating the complex task of adulting, you likely know that expenses stack up quickly. From ordering and renting textbooks and booking flights back home to buying groceries and essential tech, something always seems to add to your bills. Also: The best Prime Day deals live nowLuckily, Amazon Prime’s student membership can help you save. With Amazon Prime Day coming up on July 8-11, now is the perfect time to switch from your existing Prime account, sign up More
The De’Longhi Rivelia is going to have a permanent place in my kitchen. Alison DeNisco Rayome/ZDNETIf you’re looking for a way to seriously up your home coffee game and you have some budget to do so, look no further than the De’Longhi Rivelia More
Brother / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETHundreds of Brother printer models have been found to harbor a serious security flaw that can’t be fully patched on existing devices. First noticed by Rapid7 in May and publicly disclosed on June 25, this unpatchable vulnerability lets an attacker who knows — or can find out — your printer’s serial number generate its default administrator password.Also: Patch your Windows PC now before bootkit malware takes it over – here’s howYes, the same password that’s set in the factory and that many of us never change. But the “good” news is you can still protect yourself by changing that default password today. What happened and how bad is it? Rapid7’s zero-day research has revealed eight security holes across 689 Brother printer, scanner, and label-maker models — and an additional 59 devices from Fujifilm, Toshiba Tec, Ricoh, and Konica Minolta. Of those eight flaws, seven can be fully patched with firmware updates. But the big one — CVE-2024-51978 — can’t be fixed on any device already sitting in your home or office. CVE-2024-51978 carries a CVSS score of 9.8 “Critical” severity. Once an attacker knows a device’s serial number, they can reconstruct the password, log in with full privileges, and launch all sorts of nastiness. Also: Is your Asus router part of a botnet? How to check – and what you can doAccording to a detailed technical analysis by Rapid7, Brother uses a password generation algorithm during manufacturing that is easily reversible. An attacker who leaks your serial number (for example via CVE-2024-51977) can reverse this process, recover your factory password, and log in with full privileges — allowing them to reconfigure the device, access scans and address books, trigger remote code execution (CVE-2024-51979), or steal external-service credentials (CVE-2024-51984). How many devices are susceptible? In total, 748 devices across five vendors are affected by at least one of the eight vulnerabilities. Beyond Brother’s 689 models, there are: 46 Fujifilm Business Innovation printers5 Ricoh printers2 Toshiba Tec devices6 Konica Minolta modelsAlso: The best online photo printing services: Expert tested and reviewedNot every flaw impacts every printer. For instance, only 695 models are vulnerable to the default-password bug, and around 208 models can be crashed remotely via the Denial-of-Service flaws (CVE-2024-51982 and CVE-2024-51983). How to tell if your printer is affected If you own a Brother printer, you can check to see if your model is affected on this Brother support page (PDF). What’s been fixed? Brother has released firmware updates that patch seven of the eight vulnerabilities: You can download these updates from Brother’s support pages (under Printers, Scanners, or Label Printers). Fujifilm, Ricoh, Toshiba, and Konica Minolta have similarly published advisories and firmware for their affected models. More
As someone who experiences regular power outages due to storms and random occurrences, I’ve learned that having a backup plan for electric outages is essential for my home. While you can always use a gasoline- or propane-powered generator, a battery system can be a renewable, zero-emissions way to provide your home with an efficient backup solution.Also: The best portable power stations of 2025: Expert tested and reviewedA set of backup batteries can offer a long-term solution to power outages, especially as you can connect your battery storage system to a solar panel system. What is the best home battery and backup system right now?Our top pick for the best home battery and backup system is the Tesla Powerall 3 More
Kerry Wan/ZDNETDid someone on Reddit just uncover one of the best-kept secrets of Samsung Galaxy phones? OneUI, the software launcher that powers Samsung phones, is best known for its abundance of features — so much so that you’ll either never use some of them because there’s simply too much, or they’re just hidden from plain sight.Also: The best Samsung phones to buy in 2025A recent discovery may take the crown for best hidden feature. The feature is called “Connectivity Labs,” and it’s only accessible with a secret gesture within your phone’s Wi-Fi settings. Cool, right? The capabilities within Connectivity Labs are cooler; they include a home Wi-Fi inspection tool, AI-powered mobile data switching, developer options, and more. Here’s how to access them, which Samsung models are compatible, and some of the best features you should start using.How to turn on Connectivity Labs on a Samsung phoneWhat you’ll need: A Samsung phone running OneUI 6 or newer (anything after the Galaxy S20 series). More
I’ve had my Auking M8-F mini projector for a couple of years now. It was originally a birthday gift from my wife so I could host Mario Kart parties for friends and not have to crowd around our living room’s 50-inch Samsung TU8000. But after about three years of road trips, Halloween movie marathons, and the aforementioned Mario Kart tournaments, the Auking mini projector remains a great, affordable option for streaming media outdoors. The LED lamp has a life expectancy of up to 55,000 hours so you never have to worry about replacing lamp bulbs. You can also adjust the screen from 35 to 200 inches, perfect for projecting onto an exterior wall of your home, a dedicated screen, or a blank interior wall. It connects to your laptop or game console via HDMI, and while it’s not the brightest projector, you still get great colors and sharp detailing with 1080p HD resolution.Read also: The best outdoor TVs you can buy The built-in speaker is also great for when you don’t want to set up extra sound equipment in the yard, and it has surprisingly clean audio quality if you don’t crank the volume too high. It’s handled everything: God of War Ragnarok on the PS5, Overcooked on the Switch, and even one night in the woods when my friends and I watched the Blair Witch Project. The Auking mini projector is a great addition to any outdoor entertainment space, and I can’t recommend it enough. More
