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wdstock/Gertty Images If you’re a current or former AT&T customer, a new class action settlement means you might be in line for a little cash. Earlier this year, the company confirmed two major data breaches — one from 2019 or earlier and one from 2024. The stolen data, which ultimately ended up for sale on […] More
hxdbzxy / Getty Images With just a few months remaining until the Windows 10 end-of-support date, Microsoft seems to have belatedly realized that owners of tens of millions of consumer PCs running Windows 10 aren’t ready to replace their old computers, and they’re also not about to fork over $30 for a one-year Extended Security […] More
<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Aqara Camera Hub G5 Pro is available for $180 for the Wi-Fi version and $200 for the PoE version. This indoor/outdoor security camera doubles as a smart home hub, features 1520p resolution for crystal-clear images, RTSP support, and has a built-in NPU to process video with AI for visual recognition. […] More
Kerry Wan/ZDNETSince 2014, Google’s Chromecast has been an affordable means for helping viewers turn their older model TVs into smart TVs, allowing them to stream content from their phones, tablets, and computers to a bigger screen. Also: Is your Roku TV spying on you? Probably, but here’s how to put an end to itAlas, the era of the Chromecast has come to an end. Google is replacing it with the Google TV Streamer, promising a faster processor, Thread and Matter integration, and the ability to summarize TV episodes or whole seasons, among other new tricks.But that doesn’t mean the Chromecast is obsolete yet; in fact, Google has promised to continue providing software and security updates for now. I found a number of cool things anyone can do with their trusty Chromecast that most users are unaware of. More
Jack Wallen / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETNearly everything you do on your desktop, laptop, phone, and tablet begins with a Domain Name System (DNS) query. Essentially, DNS turns domain names (such as ZDNET.com) into an IP address so web browsers and apps know where to get the information you want.Also: How to enable earthquake alerts on your Android phone (including these Samsung models)Without DNS, you’d have to type 34.149.132.124 every time you wanted to go to ZDNET.com or 74.125.21.102 to go to Google.com. Even by simply running a Google search, DNS is at work. The problem is that standard DNS isn’t encrypted, meaning all your queries are sent over the network as plain text. Why is non-encrypted DNS a problem? Let’s say you’re on a public network — like a coffee shop — and you start searching for things on your Android device. Or maybe you have to access a CMS or another work tool, and you don’t want the public to know the address you’re typing. If someone else is on the same network and has the skills, they could intercept your non-encrypted search queries (or the URLs you visit) and know exactly what you’re looking for. That’s where Private DNS Mode comes into play. Once you enable this feature, all of your DNS queries are encrypted, so bad actors won’t be able to view them — even if they capture those packets. In other words, Private DNS Mode should be an absolute must for anyone who values their privacy and security. Also: I test dozens of Android phones every year: Here’s how the best models stack upBut how do you enable Private DNS Mode on Android? It’s actually pretty simple. Let me show you how. How to enable Private DNS mode on Android version 11 or newer If you’re using Android version 11 or newer, the old method of Private DNS no longer works. Instead of handling this process manually, you have to install an application created by Cloudflare, called 1.1.1.1 + WARP. Once you’ve installed that app, it will open, and you’ll see a slider marked Disconnected. Tap that slider, and it will enable the service. More
Jack Wallen / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETPrivacy has become a keystone for keeping your information safe and preventing third parties from creating consumer profiles that could then be used for targeted marketing… or worse.To that end, there are countless products and services that promise to keep you and your information private. Some work, and some are nothing but snake oil. For me, the best route to privacy goes through Linux and one of the many privacy-focused distributions. Recently, I stumbled upon another such distribution, Securonis. The name reminds me of the Arconis cybersecurity solution, but I’m confident the Linux distribution and the proprietary business software have nothing to do with one another. Securonis is based on the Debian testing branch and automatically, out of the box, routes all traffic through the Tor network, which means it’s private and secure from the jump. It also includes a good number of applications geared toward keeping you even more secure. Also: I found the most private and secure way to browse the web — and it isn’t incognito modeSecuronis can be run as a live distribution (directly from RAM without installing it on your drive) or it can be installed with the easy-to-use Calamares installer. All of this might sound complicated. After all, you’ll find several preinstalled apps that might make you go, “Huh?” But even with added software like I2P Router, PxrtalCrypt, Securonis DNSCrypt, System Knight, VesperaCrypt, SecDNSChanger, and Wireshark, this distribution can be used like a standard OS — only more private. And with Securonis defaulting to the MATE desktop, anyone, regardless of skill level, will feel right at home. Even the web browser (FireScorpion) is geared toward privacy. Also: The best Linux VPNs: Expert tested and reviewedWhat is Securonis like to use? I approached it as if I knew nothing about Linux, Tor, or any privacy-focused tools, and here’s how it went. My experience with Securonis I decided to go the installation route, which was incredibly simple. I answered a few quick questions, typed my user information, and the installer was off. After roughly five minutes, the installation completed, and I was ready to log in. After logging in, my first impression was that Securonis looks like any other Linux distribution with security and privacy in mind. The MATE desktop is as simple as it gets, and the theme is the usual dark take on the desktop. There are some application shortcuts that have me curious, such as the launchers in the top bar. One is named Seconionis (not a typo). This is the Securonis take on the Onion network. When I click that icon, a window appears with options such as Start Tor Routing, Stop Tor Routing, Tor Status, Restart Tor, Set Autostart, and more. Essentially, Seconionis is my gateway to the Tor network, which makes it an important tool. More
Moor Studio/Getty Images While it’s not as large in scale as the latest data breach that leaked over 16 billion passwords, another incident has exposed passwords and other sensitive information across some of the most popular services on the internet. Cybersecurity researcher Jeremiah Fowler revealed his discovery of a massive online database containing more than […] More
Moor Studio/Getty With so much news about data breaches, you have to be careful not to panic each time you hear of a new one. Take the latest report of a major breach. In the headline for a recent story published by Cybernews, the cybersecurity media outlet said that 16 billion passwords were exposed in a […] More
