Author: Michael Comaous

Joe Maring / Android AuthorityTL;DR Identity Check offers an extra layer of protection when someone steals both your phone and your PIN. By requiring biometrics, Identity Check attempts to limit the harm bad actors could do. Google is working to let you bypass that biometric requirement when your device is connected to a trusted smartwatch. We all want our devices to be secure, but practical considerations mean we’re often striking a balance between security and convenience. That’s not a bad thing at all, as we don’t always need to be taking advantage of every security protection available to us, and…

Looking for a solid laptop that won’t totally obliterate your budget? A Chromebook might be just the thing. They’re usually way cheaper than Windows machines with some starting around $300. They’re quick to boot, easy to use, and update themselves in the background. No fuss, no bloat. And hey, thanks to cloud gaming platforms like Xbox Cloud Gaming and Nvidia GeForce Now, you can even stream AAA games on some models. Not bad for a budget-friendly laptop. Just make sure you’re getting one that nails the basics: good speed, decent build, and battery life that won’t quit on you halfway…

Allianz Life recently confirmed cyberattackCriminals stole data on around 1.4 million customersAmong the stolen data are names, addresses, and SSNsThe information stolen in the recent cyberattack on insurance giant Allianz Life included people’s full names, postal addresses, dates of birth and, particularly worryingly – Social Security numbers (SSN), the company has confirmed.Allianz Life has filed new forms with the Attorney General’s office in Texas and Massachusetts, in which it confirmed what kind of data was taken when a threat actor accessed a third-party cloud-based CRM system the company uses.After finding out about the intrusion, the company took measures to contain…

Summary Invest in inexpensive accessories like backlighting and soundbars for an immersive viewing experience under $300. External speakers work wonders for surround sound without the need for expensive models, starting at under $200. Enhance your space with blackout curtains and a smart home curtain system under $200 for an ideal viewing atmosphere. There’s so much more you could be doing to enjoy your movies and TV shows in your home. You may think that you have a great setup, but you probably don’t have as good of one as you could have. Making the most of your entertainment setup is…

Robert Triggs / Android AuthorityThe huge discount drops the price of the still-excellent smartphone to just $849.99. It’s not the first time we’ve spotted a markdown of this size on the Galaxy S24 Ultra, but it’s undoubtedly a very rare occurrence. At the time of writing, the deal was available on three of the four colorways: Titanium Black, Titanium Gray, and Titanium Yellow. Samsung Galaxy S24 UltraSamsung Galaxy S24 UltraThe best of the best in the S24 seriesSamsung’s true flagship device, the Galaxy S24 Ultra offers the very best specs and features from any Galaxy phone to date. Ai and…

‘ZDNET Recommends’: What exactly does it mean? ZDNET’s recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or…

Researchers recently dove more than 6 miles beneath the surface of the northwest Pacific Ocean to explore the bottom of two submarine trenches. In this harsh marine environment, they discovered flourishing communities of chemosynthesis-based sea creatures—the deepest and most extensive ones ever found. The groundbreaking findings, published in the journal Nature on Wednesday, July 30, include photos and footage of the alien-like organisms going about their business in two of the most unforgiving ecosystems on the planet. No light touches the bottom of the Kuril-Kamchatka trench or the Aleutian trench. These organisms survive by converting chemicals to energy rather than…

Di_Ilikaeva/Shutterstock In the days of fast communication, sometimes an animated GIF can be perfect for certain situations. That, or you can just be having some fun with a friend or relative by sending amusing images to each other to pass the time. The fun can quickly dissipate, however, if you can’t find the right keyboard. Apple has a built-in GIF keyboard on iPhone known as #images. This can be found by tapping the Plus button (+) next to the text input field in Messages and scrolling through the options. If…

DoubleTrouble malware is now hosted on DiscordThe malware still poses as a European bank, so users bewareIt comes with screen recording, “advanced” keylogging, and new UI overlay capabilitiesInfamous Android banking trojan DoubleTrouble is now being distributed through Discord-hosted APKs, researchers have said, warning users of a “disturbing trend” towards social media platforms being used as delivery channels for malware.DoubleTrouble is a well-known banking trojan, named for its ability to hinder static analysis by assigning “nonsensical two-word combinations” to its methods and class names.In its early days, the malware was distributed via spoofed websites of European banks, and contained basic functionalities…

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. The Marshall Major V headphones are now $99.99, down from $159.99, which is the lowest price they’ve hit according to price trackers. That makes this a better time than usual to pick them up, especially if you’ve had your eye on Marshall’s signature retro design but didn’t want to shell out for style alone. These wireless headphones aren’t overloaded with features, but what they do offer, they do well: solid sound, absurdly long battery life, and classic looks that…