Information Technology

I can now more easily run Linux commands at-will. Jack Wallen/ZDNETI cannot tell you how many times I’ve had to manage user passwords in Linux without the help of a GUI app. Whether it’s on a server or because I’m using SSH to access a remote machine, knowing the commands available for that task has saved my skin on several occasions. The good news is that there’s only one command you must know to manage those passwords from the command line interface (CLI). However, there’s a second command I consider essential as well. Also: The first 5 Linux commands every new user should learnI want to address both of these commands and show you how powerful and helpful they can be.Are you ready for this?The passwd commandThe name of this command always trips up new users at first. When I first started working with Linux, it took me a while for my fingers to remember the command is passwd and not password. The passwd command enables you to set, change, and check the status of a password. It also can force a user to change their password and lock/unlock accounts. More

Maria Diaz/ZDNETWhat’s the deal?Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days sales event features many great deals, including the 50% off Blink Mini 2 More

Google Your Android phone should receive an AI-powered anti-theft upgrade soon that helps keep your personal information safe.  In May, Google teased a new Theft Detection Lock tool for Android phones. The feature senses a device’s motion — such as someone snatching a phone and then running, biking, or driving away — and immediately locks […] More

Roberto Machado Noa/Getty Images Living in South Florida means that hurricanes are a regular part of my life. Through experience, I’ve learned that preparing for a storm is more than just stocking up on supplies — it’s also about having the right data and tools available.  As a technology professional who’s weathered multiple hurricanes since […] More

sofiana indriani/Getty Images Cybersecurity professionals are losing trust and control of their current detection tools as the volume of attacks continues to climb, with some looking to artificial intelligence (AI) for possible solutions. Some 60% of security operations center (SOC) practitioners believe market players are flooding them with “pointless alerts” to skirt responsibility should a breach […] More

rob dobi/Getty Images In June, the United States Department of Commerce announced a ban on Kaspersky software. As ZDNET’s Lance Whitney reported, as of September 29, Kaspersky is no longer able to provide antivirus signature updates and code updates for the banned products to customers in the US. The company even migrated a million of […] More

Maria Diaz/ZDNETWhat’s the deal?Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days sales event is coming up in a few days and many deals are already available, including the 50% off Blink Mini 2 More

Maria Diaz/ZDNETIf there’s one thing that bothers me in this modern era, it’s advertising. I understand companies have to pay the bills, but sometimes ads can become a bit much. Even worse, some ads feel like a breach of privacy. Some apps create profiles of you to target their ads better. Click on one thing in an app, and suddenly, you’re inundated with ads for similar products. It’s downright spooky; sometimes it feel like I simply thought of something, and then next thing you know, I’m seeing an ad for it.Also: The best Android phones to buy in 2024Fortunately, there are a few settings you can change to avoid ads. 1. Turn off ad topics Ad topics are based on the apps you’ve recently used and make it possible for those apps to personalize the ads you see. If you choose to leave Ad topics on, you can always block topics that aren’t of interest. To block topics, you’ll have to wait until various apps start collecting data on you. I immediately disable this feature as soon as I get a new Android phone because I don’t want apps to create a profile on me for targeted ads. To disable Ad topics, go to Settings > Privacy > Ads > Ad Privacy > Ad topics. On the resulting window, tap the On/Off slider for “Allow ad topics” until it’s in the Off position. More