NETWORKING

Virtual private networks (VPNs) encrypt your data, provide a secure tunnel for online activities, and hide your IP address. This keeps your data secure and prevents others from spying on your online activity or monitoring the websites you visit. A VPN is particularly important when traveling or using a public Wi-Fi network, like at a coffee shop or a hotel. VPNs are also great for streaming because they unlock access (although this is a legally gray area) to movies,…

ZDNET’s key takeaways The Quest 3S is priced the same as the Quest 2, but it brings marginal improvements. The new Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset makes everything feel faster (and more realistic). Fresnel lenses and the lack of a 3.5mm headphone are the biggest drawbacks at this price point. more buying choices Throughout what has been a busy fall season in tech, I’ve been challenging myself to use the Meta Quest 3S for at least…

Maria Diaz/ZDNET Amazon’s Alexa has been a fixture in my house since it arrived a decade ago. Over time, Alexa devices have multiplied to the point where we have one in every room (and yes, that includes the bathrooms). We use them for lists, timers, and alarms, among other things. We also use them to control our smart home devices. Most of our lights are controlled by Alexa. So is our thermostat. Also: 5 Echo…

Issarawat Tattong/Getty Images Prudential is turning to generative artificial intelligence (gen AI) to verify medical insurance claims in an effort to speed up processes.   The insurance company announced, in a statement on Thursday that the move also aims to cut the risk of errors caused by manual data entry. Prudential will tap Google’s MedLM family of large language models that have been trained for healthcare use cases. Google unveiled the model last December, which evolved from…

Apple Think you can hack your way into an Apple server? If so, you could score as much as $1 million courtesy of a new bug bounty. On Thursday, Apple revealed a challenge to test the security of the servers that will play a major role in its Apple Intelligence service. As Apple preps for the official launch of its AI-powered service next week, the company is naturally focused on security. Though much of the processing…

Virtual private networks (VPNs) can be helpful for gamers. While most VPNs don’t promote themselves as gamer-first solutions, the best VPNs don’t impact your gaming sessions and offer a host of benefits for an affordable price, including rapid server speeds, location options, streaming support, and the ability to mask your IP address and improve your security. Also: The best VPNs for iPhone and iPad: Expert tested The best gaming VPNs will offer enhanced security without lag or…

Google Google Photos has added several artificial intelligence (AI)-powered editing features over the last few months, and now it’s making sure people use that power responsibly. In a blog post this week, Google announced it will add a note to photos people edited with AI tools such as Zoom Enhance, Magic Eraser, and Magic Editor. “As we bring these tools to more people,” Google wrote in a blogpost, “we recognize the importance of doing so responsibly…

You may worry about your online security, but dread adding another subscription to your monthly budget with a virtual private network (VPN). Sure, there are free VPNs, but they often come with speed and bandwidth limitations. It can also be unclear how some free VPN vendors make their money and whether your data is being mined, which negates the whole purpose of using a VPN to improve your privacy. If you want the best protection,…

As you train for your half or full marathon this fall, I recommend using bone conduction headphones for all your music-playing needs. Bone conduction headphones are a runner’s favorite for their comfortable design and ability to keep listeners aware of their surroundings. But bone conduction headphones aren’t just useful for running — they’re great for intense workouts, outdoor walks, and even swimming.     Also: The best headphones for working out Many outdoor runners attribute the open-ear…

Swimming is a fantastic low-impact activity that can help you improve your health and wellness while also helping you relax thanks to the natural effects of being in the water. Water provides buoyancy but adds resistance, so it is light on your joints and helps you stretch and improve your flexibility. One way to monitor your exercise activity in the water is with a waterproof smartwatch, and there are plenty of options available to buy…