Information Technology

A strong password and username combination is not enough to keep your online accounts secure. With data breaches happening daily, many online service providers now enforce alternative ways to secure accounts. Two-factor and multi-factor authentication (2FA/MFA) methods have become widely adopted alongside early passwordless authentication methods. You may also be able to choose to verify yourself using a physical security key.  Even if a cybercriminal has obtained your username and password or compromised your mobile device, they won’t be able to access your data without the key. Security keys are affordable and user-friendly, and they also prevent phishing attacks and are significantly more secure than SMS-based two-factor authentication. Also: The best home security systems, from DIY to pro installation What is the best security key right now? ZDNET’s favorite security key is the Yubico YubiKey 5 NFC More

SOPA Images/Getty Images Another streaming service is giving freeloaders the boot. Over the next few weeks, Discovery Max (formerly HBO Max) will start the process of cutting off members who are sharing their accounts with someone outside the home. The streaming service first announced this change in March of this year. Also: The best live […] More

monkeybusinessimages/Getty Images Have you been using the new RCS format to send texts between an iPhone and an Android phone? If so, you could be exposing your messages to snooping by foreign hackers. In a news call with reporters on Tuesday, US government officials revealed that China had hacked AT&T, Verizon, and Lumen Technologies to […] More

Cyd Social media users increasingly seek ways to regain control of their digital data. As platforms like X (formerly Twitter) become less popular, many users turn to alternatives such as Bluesky, Threads, and Mastodon. This shift has created a growing desire for users to change their social media presence by starting fresh or leaving platforms […] More

Screenshot by Emily Long/ZDNETBlack Friday formally launches tomorrow, but many cybersecurity companies, including antivirus, VPN, and password manager providers, have released their deals early. Among them is NordPass More

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNETWhat’s the deal?The limited edition Transparent Flipper Zero More

June Wan/ZDNETThe year 2024 delivered all the drama technology fans could want: AI dominance, chip wars, smart devices that were anything but, and a social media implosion that’s already a case study in corporate mismanagement. From monumental wins to jaw-dropping failures, here’s the definitive breakdown of the year’s tech highs and lows.Also: The best Black Friday deals live nowLosers1. X (formerly Twitter): A masterclass in self-destructionElon Musk spent 2024 doubling down on the chaos that turned X into a punchline. Advertisers fled after baffling policy shifts, verified checkmarks became meaningless, and users abandoned ship for Bluesky and Mastodon in droves. Engagement plummeted, and what was once a cultural institution became a meme of its former self. Musk might still call it “the town square,” but in 2024, X was more like the local landfill.Also: I tried replacing Twitter with Bluesky, Threads, and Mastodon: Here’s what I found2. Amazon: Innovation takes a coffee breakAmazon’s five-day return-to-office mandate alienated employees, sparked accusations of “quiet firing,” and triggered a mass exodus of talent. Workers who couldn’t — or wouldn’t — move closer to offices were forced out, and with them went years of expertise and innovation. This was the HR equivalent of smashing a robot with a sledgehammer for a company obsessed with efficiency. Quiet quitting? More like loud mismanagement.Also: 82% of leaders plan to increase flexible work options in the next two years More

diyun Zhu/Getty Images When I first examined whether it’s possible to fight back against AI-generated plagiarism, and how that might work, it was January 2023, just a few months into the world’s exploding awareness of generative AI.  This is an updated version of that original January 2023 article. When I first tested GPT detectors, I […] More