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Showing posts from April, 2024

Clicking This Fake Chrome Update Could Drain Your Bank Account and Leak Your Location

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Security threat firm ThreatFabric has released details about a new Android-based banking malware called Brokewell. The name refers to the malware's ability to drain bank accounts, but it can do so much more. The program is said to be in active deployment as of this article's writing, and currently masquerades as an update for Google Chrome on Android, even going so far as to very closely mimic the actual ads Google puts out for its browser. ThreatFabric warns that Brokewell is equipped with both remote-control capabilities and data-stealing functionality. All of that is built right into the malware rather than relying on a cloud connection, making it especially detrimental to your device's security. Like many other recent Android malware families , Brokewell is also capable of getting around the Google-imposed restrictions meant to keep sideloaded applications from requesting permissions to accessibility services.

How to Turn Off (or Avoid) LinkedIn's AI Features

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Like it or not, LinkedIn is still one of the best ways to search for jobs online . But since 2023, the site has been experimenting with generative AI , making it possible to get AI help with finding new jobs, writing messages, connecting with others, and building your profile and job descriptions. Some users are even seeing AI prompts showing up under every post . While posed as helpful, that kind of AI integration can get intrusive fast, as evidenced by comments asking how to turn LinkedIn’s AI off under posts advertising it. If you’d rather keep your online recruitment and job searches as human-powered as possible, here’s a quick breakdown of LinkedIn’s AI features and which ones you can turn off. Wait, why doesn’t my LinkedIn have AI? LinkedIn’s AI integration is pretty ubiquitous across the site, but there’s a catch: it’s reserved for Premium users. That means free users don’t have to lift a finger if they want to skip AI on LinkedIn. They’ll still see the occasional ad recomme

This Dreo Smart Fan Is Sleek, Efficient, and Easy to Clean

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Standing fans tend to annoy me. I find I’m constantly getting up to adjust them; they’re loud; and they become absolutely filthy with no clear way to clean them. None of these issues seem like they’d be hard to solve—and yet standing fans have been around for a long time without much innovation on how to fix these pain points. Somehow, the DREO PolyFan 704s ($134.99)  figured it out, and for that reason, I absolutely recommend it as the perfect standing fan for small to medium rooms.  Dreo PolyFan 704s with Smart Control $134.99 at Amazon $149.99 Save $15.00 Get Deal

Nobody Wants This AI Bloatware

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AI is everywhere right now. If you're a technology company, and you aren't embracing artificial intelligence (ahem, Apple), you look like you're behind the times. But just because generative AI is the trend right now, that doesn't mean companies need to shoehorn it into absolutely everything they do. Maybe more companies need to follow Apple's lead here. Look, AI certainly has the potential to change the way we interact with technology, for better or for worse: Sometimes, a new application for it rolls around— like OpenAI's shockingly realistic video generator —that demonstrates how much power AI has to disrupt life as we know it. But the way companies are adding AI to their products, for the most part, just isn't it. Big bloatware Of course, there's no escaping the big names adding AI functionality to their platforms: Google is all-in on Gemini , powering AI features in Android to traditional Google searches. The same can be said for Microsoft, of cou

My Favorite Amazon Deal of the Day: Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II

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When it comes to the best noise-canceling earphones , Bose has been on top for years. Before the third-generation Bose QuietComfort Ultra came out in 2023, the second-generation Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II were considered the best active noise-canceling (ANC) earbuds, and right now they're on sale for $189 (originally $279). They're $110 cheaper than the Ultra, but the ANC technology is the same. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Wireless, Bluetooth, Proprietary Active Noise Cancelling Technology In-Ear Headphones $189.00 at Amazon $279.00 Save $90.00

Here's How Long You Should Rest Between Workout Sets

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A typical strength- or muscle-building workout happens in sets. You lift the weight a certain number of times (“reps”), then you put it down for a quick rest before going again. But how long should that rest be? The answer will depend on a few factors, including the purpose of the workout. There are legitimate reasons for powerlifters to wait five minutes between sets of squats, or for calisthenics devotees to set a 30-second timer before jumping back up for another set of pullups. There’s also a good argument that, for many of us, rest times don’t matter that much. Why rest times matter The longer you rest between sets, the more recovered you'll feel. But the shorter your rests, the more work you'll be able to do in a given gym session. Choosing the most appropriate rest time for each exercise will get you the best gains in the gym. But the optimal rest time will depend on what kind of exercise you're doing and what your goals are. So let's go over some pros and con

You Can Get Babbel on Sale for $150 Right Now

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You can get a lifetime subscription to Babbel Language Learning on sale for $149.97 right now (reg. $599) through April 30. The subscription comes with access to a catalog of lessons for 14 languages (English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese, Swedish, Turkish, Dutch, Polish, Indonesian, Norwegian, Danish, and Russian), and the curriculums are geared toward promoting conversation and familiarity with real-life topics. Beyond what you can typically expect from a language-learning app, Babbel has grammar-specific lessons that teach you the ‘why’ behind new vocabulary; lesson reviews that let you select the format between flashcards, writing, speaking, listening, or mini-games; podcasts in the language you’re learning to build your comprehension; and the option to take live classes at an additional cost (but you can take two for free as part of your subscription). Babbel is good for learners of all levels, and it uses speech-recognition technology to listen to how you speak

You Can Get This Mini Poooli Pocket Printer on Sale for $70 Right Now

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You can get this PoooliPrint pocket-sized thermal printer on sale for $69.99 right now (reg. $160). The PoooliPrint is great for printing pictures, notes, and to-do lists, and it's small enough to fit into pockets, backpacks, or suitcases. It works by connecting to the Poooli app (available on iPhone and Android) and uploading pictures, notes, or to-do lists, then just hitting print. It comes with enough thermal paper to print around 100 small pages, and the brand, rated at 4.2 out of 5 stars on TrustPilot, sells additional rolls of colored, transparent, sticker, and other papers. The printer offers 200 dpi quality, a printing width of 1.9 inches, and up to 24 hours of battery life from a full micro USB charge. You can get the PoooliPrint pocket-sized thermal printer on sale for $69.99 right now (reg. $159.90), though prices can change at any time. * This article was originally published here

This Fitbit Smartwatch Is $50 Off Right Now

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Fitbit is the most recognizable brand in fitness smartwatches, and the Fitbit Versa 4 is the best Fitbit smartwatch you can get right now , according to PCMag. Right now, the best deal on the Versa 4 comes from Amazon, which currently selling it for $149.95 (originally $199.95). This matches its lowest-ever price, according to price-checking tools . Only the pink sand/copper rose color is available, but it comes with small and large wrist bands. Fitbit Versa 4 Daily Readiness, GPS, 24/7 Heart Rate, 40+ Exercise Modes, Sleep Tracking and more $149.95 at Amazon $199.95 Save $50.00

You Get This P80 Water-Resistant Flashlight on Sale for $40 Right Now

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You can get the P80 Rechargeable 1,300-Lumen flashlight on sale for $39.97 right now (reg. $59) until April 21. The P80 is durable, high-performance flashlight with an impact-resistant build, IPX7 water-resistance rating, and an OSRAM P9 LED capable of emitting a maximum output of up to 1,300 Lumens. Its battery life has a maximum of 60 hours depending on how you use its brightness settings (and a minimum of two hours), and its illumination distance varies with a max of up to 280 meters and a minimum of 35 meters. It has a dual side switch to toggle between modes or activate the strobe, and it also has a strike bezel embedded with nano-ceramic beads designed to break glass in an emergency. A rechargeable battery and cable is included along with a lanyard and spare O-Ring. You can get the P80 Rechargeable 1,300-Lumen flashlight on sale for $39.97 right now (reg. $59) until April 21 at 11:59 p.m. PT, though prices can change at any time.  Author: StackCommerce * This article

How to See All the Devices Logged in to Your Microsoft Account

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Here's a straightforward security audit you can, and should, perform periodically: Check all of the devices currently logged into your Microsoft account. If you've jumped between a lot of computers since you first registered your account, it might be active in more places than you think. Not only will this alert you to unwelcome visitors who might have gained access to your account through nefarious means, it'll also flag up older devices that you're no longer using but you're still logged in to—whether it's the Xbox you sold on eBay or the laptop you gave to your nephew. Whatever the scenario, to keep your Microsoft account locked down and as well protected as possible, you should only connect it to devices you're using regularly. If there are devices in the list that you don't recognize or no longer use, you can remove them remotely with a couple of clicks. It's worth doing this for all of your other digital accounts to—see these Lifehacker posts

This Eton Elite Executive Radio Is on Sale for $150 Right Now

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You can get Amazon’s Choice radio, the Eton Elite Executive, on sale for $149.99 right now (reg. $250). Radio is a dying art form, but some people still love them—and they’re great to have in an emergency, like a blackout or severe thunderstorm, so you can still hear weather and news updates even if your local network is down. It can receive any type of radio wavelengths like AM and FM with RDS, LW, and shortwave, even VHF aircraft band and Single Sideband (SSB). It has both automatic and manual digital tuning options, as well as options for AC adapter use or battery power. The Eton Elite also comes with a leather carry cover that doesn't block access to the Micro USB charging port or the 35mm audio jack. You can also use four AA batteries as an alternative power source. The Eton Elite Executive radio is a little pricey, but if you want to spend the extra change to get a high-quality radio that’ll actually last more than a few years, this is a great option. You can get the Eton

How to Turn Off Meta AI on Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp

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Generative AI is an exciting, powerful, controversial new technology, and if Mark Zuckerberg is anything to go by, it’s not going away anytime soon. If you use any of Meta’s mobile apps, including Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, or WhatsApp, you’ve probably already noticed the new Meta AI integration freshly embedded into them as of late. It’s all part of a new rollout for Meta AI’s latest large language model, Llama 3. But while Llama 3 is more powerful than prior versions, these new buttons and prompts make it harder than ever to ignore. Let’s say you’re not yet convinced on AI and you want to keep doing your searches and scrolling the old-fashioned way. Can you turn the new Meta AI integration off, and how do you go about doing it? What is Meta AI? First, know thine enemy. Meta’s AI Assistant has actually been around since September 2023 , but the most recent update puts it directly in the search boxes and sometimes even feeds of apps, including Facebook and Instagram. The inte