Information Technology

ZDNETYou probably have a lot of passwords in your life.Even with the help of password managers, passwords are becoming more and more of a burden for most people.Long gone are the days of being able to use and reuse rubbish passwords like p455w0rd123. Now, all of your online accounts need to be protected by passwords that are complex and unique.Also: Passkeys take yet another big step towards killing off passwordsYou also need to be ever vigilant in case one of your many passwords is compromised.There’s a better solution: Passkeys. More

CNETThe world’s largest consumer tech conference, Consumer Electronics Shows (CES), is just a few days away. At the show, you can expect to see the most innovative technology from leading companies and startups worldwide, and this year, ZDNET will help the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) identify and award the most breakthrough tech. Also: CES 2025: What is it, what to expect, and how to tune inThe CTA recognizes the best technology at the trade show every year with a Best of CES designation across all consumer tech categories. This year, the CNET Group, which consists of ZDNET, CNET, PCMag, Mashable, and Lifehacker, all owned by Ziff Davis, is teaming up with the CTA to select the winners as the official media partner of the Best of CES Awards. The top products and services will be determined exclusively by the CNET Group’s editors and experts on the ground, including ZDNET’s on-site team, and awarded the official distinction of Best of CES. The designation goes to CES 2025 exhibitors whose product offers a compelling new concept or idea, solves a major consumer problem, or sets a new bar in performance or quality. There will be one winner in each of the following categories: AITransportation and mobilityPC/laptopTV/home theaterSmart home/home techSustainabilityGamingWellness/fitness techMobilePrivacy and securityWeirdest/most unexpectedBest overallIf you are interested in having your product considered for the award and meet the criteria above, you can fill out this submission form. Although there is no guarantee that each submission will be reviewed, we would love to hear about your product. Ultimately, the winners will be decided by the experts and editors’ on-site demos, experiences, and findings, informed by their subject-area expertise. The Best of CES Awards winners, presented by CNET Group, will be announced on Thursday, Jan. 9, on all CNET Group sites and social media platforms. You can stay updated on all things CES on ZDNET’s site, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Innovation More

Maria Diaz/ZDNETApple has settled a class action lawsuit in which tens of millions of users can expect a slice of the payout.On Tuesday, the iPhone maker agreed to pay $95 million to settle a 2019 lawsuit claiming that Siri violated the privacy of Apple users by recording their conversations, as reported by Reuters.Also: The first open-source, privacy-focused voice assistant for the home is hereKnown as Lopez v. Apple, Inc., the class action lawsuit was filed by three plaintiffs who alleged that Apple programmed Siri to intercept conversations even when no hot word, such as “Hey Siri,” was spoken. Further, the plaintiffs claimed that Apple violated their privacy by sharing recordings of the conversations with third-party contractors.In settling the suit, Apple has denied any wrongdoing on its part. Before the plaintiffs and Apple users can receive their cut of the payout,  the settlement must be approved by US District Judge Jeffrey White in the Oakland, Calif. federal court. More

SOPA Images / Contributor A VPN, or virtual private network, is software that encrypts your data online to create a secure connection between your computer and the internet. It’s a useful tool for protecting your private information while connected to public Wi-Fi and can even let you enjoy streaming services in another part of the […] More

SOPA Images / Contributor A VPN, or virtual private network, is software that encrypts your data online to create a secure connection between your computer and the internet. It’s a useful tool for protecting your private information while connected to public Wi-Fi and can even let you enjoy streaming services in another part of the […] More

Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNETAnother day, another bug in Windows 11 24H2. Early last week, Microsoft revealed the latest glitch to befall its newest flavor of Windows 11. And this one could keep you from downloading any future security updates.The problem occurs if you installed the Windows 11 24H2 version through physical media such as a CD or USB flash drive anytime between Oct. 8, 2024, and Nov. 12, 2024. Those dates covered the October 2024 and November 2024 security updates as part of the installation.Also: Why Windows 11 requires a TPM – and how to get around itIn this event, your PC is unable to receive any future Windows security updates. That means you’re stuck if new vulnerabilities are discovered and you need to patch the OS. The problem doesn’t occur if you installed or updated Windows 11 24H2 through Windows Update or the Microsoft Update Catalog website. “When using media to install Windows 11, version 24H2, the device might remain in a state where it cannot accept further Windows security updates,” Microsoft said on its Windows 11, version 24H2 known issues and notifications page.”This occurs only when the media is created to include the October 2024, or November 2024, security updates as part of the installation,” the company explained. “Please note, this only occurs when utilizing media – such as CD and USB flash drives – to install Windows 11, version 24H2. This issue does not occur for devices where the October 2024 security update or the November 2024 security updates are installed via Windows Update or the Microsoft Update Catalog website.” More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways With plans as low as $120 for three years, TunnelBear is an affordable VPN with a free version The software is hassle-free, with minimalistic settings and an outlook that makes setting up and navigating the app easy. Server distribution is smaller than the competition and may not be ideal for streaming. […] More

PerlaStudio/Getty Images Between unencrypted messaging hacks, data breaches, and AI scam calls, smartphone-centered security threats appear to be everywhere. iVerify found that one type of spyware is trying to make a comeback. Also: Why you should power off your phone once a week – according to the NSA Recently, the mobile security firm resurfaced findings from its spyware […] More