Roku was hacked over the weekend. To keep yourself protected, I suggest changing your password ASAP!
Don’t make these 5 big mistakes when buying electronics on Amazon
Shopping on Amazon can be a great way to save money on otherwise expensive tech. Tap or click here for quick and easy ways to save money when filling your cart. Just avoid the most common mistakes people make when buying electronics on Amazon.
For example, you might be so wowed by a great deal that you snap it up before it sells out. Hasty buying habits can be incredibly costly in the long run, so rein in your impulses. When you’re about to buy from Amazon, read product reviews from a trusted source like Consumer Reports.
Unfortunately, many third-party sellers are notorious for buying fake five-star reviews, while others bribe people into removing low-star ratings. If you avoid these cardinal sins, you should be good to go.
1. Paying for an extended warranty
Some of the common mistakes everyone makes don’t cost much. For example, many shoppers choose the fastest delivery option — which can come with higher shipping prices. If you’re buying something small, you can probably afford to eat the cost.
If you want to save money, it’s best to wait a little longer and stick with free shipping. But some mistakes are way too costly. For example, you shouldn’t buy an extended warranty on electronics you buy online.
Most failed appliances will break down within the first 90 days. Otherwise, they’ll probably fail after around five years. So before you buy an extended warranty, consider the total cost. You’re better off putting it in a savings account or investing it so it can grow into more money.
Then again, you could always spend the extra money on another gadget to make your life easier. Tap or click here for seven tech gems that save you time.
2. Paying full price
Always look for deals and discounts. Look for alternative items and similar brands, as well. You may believe in one brand, but a comparable brand might have what you want at a much lower price.
Luckily, there’s a button at the top of your Amazon toolbar called Today’s Deals. Check it out and you can find low prices on the devices you need.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Tidy your tech: Best cable organization and cord management options
Everyone seems to own laptops, smartphones, desktop computers, Internet of Things devices and so much more. It’s great to be connected, but what isn’t great is all those tangled cords.
Thankfully, there are tons of organizing tools to choose from. Whether you want to hide those cables swinging from your TV or move the wires out of your way on your computer desk, we’ve got the right organizers for you.
Want to grow your small biz on social? Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts are now better than TikTok (paywall link) for growing your audience. In 2023, brands spent 700% more on YouTube Shorts creator partnerships than the year before. Gotta go where the money is!
FTC cracks down on fake followers and reviews
Fake followers? Fake likes? The FTC is done playing around. I’ll tell you why the crackdown could mean big fines — or worse — for influencers and brands pulling these tricks.
I pita the fool: Amazon just launched its own food brand: Amazon Saver. They say it’s to fight high grocery prices, but it’s really meant to take on Target and Walmart brands. Most Amazon Saver items are under $5. For example, a pound of smoked ham is $3.79, but dang … there are a ton of preservatives in there. Be sure to check the ingredients. Prime members score an extra 10% off.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
$12,000
To take a four-day class at Harvard. The course, Business of Entertainment, Media and Sports, is open to non-Harvard students and covers the economics of modern-day brands (paywall link) from Nike to MrBeast. Alumni include celebrities looking to build an empire, like Channing Tatum and LL Cool J. Oh, to be a fly on the wall.
Phone cases for everyone, from the clumsy person to the minimalist
Smartphones are expensive. That’s why it’s so important to buy a case to protect its screen from cracks, its components from water and its body from falls.
But which case is best for your lifestyle?
4 essential ways to keep hackers out of your smart home security cameras
Setting up smart security cameras in your home can be a boon for keeping your family and belongings safe, but doing so can also open up a whole new can of worms.
As frustrating as it may be, utilizing a security camera in your home could allow easy access for hackers to spy on you. Ironically, the equipment you use to keep your family safe can be misused this way, but that’s the world we live in. Tap or click to see how hackers can hijack your smart home with lasers.
Do the new AI laptops live up to the hype?
A new wave of AI laptops from top brands like Dell, Lenovo, and Asus just hit the market. With a hefty price tag, are they really worth it?
🚨 Don’t buy pills on eBay: Some SKALD diet pills on the platform tested positive for meth in a random drug screening. Watch out for brands like PhenQ, Govvi WOW! and Phentamene XT, too; they could be fake or tainted with banned ingredients that cause heart attacks … or worse. Talk to your doc instead.
Talk to the kids: Influencers and athletes are pushing highly addictive nicotine pouches on social media. They’re marketed to teens as flavored little bags in colorful containers. Brands include Velo, On! and Zyn.
🚨 TikTok malware in your DMs: Celebs like Paris Hilton and big brands like CNN are getting hacked on TikTok — no clicks needed! Just opening a DM lets the malware sneak right in (paywall link). The strange part? The infected accounts haven’t posted anything fishy yet.
Play to pay: At 22, Kyasia Watson is raking in over $100,000 a year from Roblox. Nope, she’s not streaming; she’s a digital fashion designer who collabs with big brands to craft in-game items, clothes and accessories for player avatars. Roblox has 77 million daily active users, btw. Cha‑ching!
Social media is overrun with pics and videos of celebs: These product endorsements are mostly AI-generated scams. Recently impersonated? Jennifer Lopez pushing skincare, Tom Hanks promoting a dental plan and MrBeast hawking iPhones. Don’t fall for it. Look for reviews, don’t buy directly from social media, and stick to well-known brands.
$210 a pair
For fancy jeggings, or leggings that look like jeans. Yep, denim sweatpants are the latest Gen Z fashion trend, and high-end brands are selling them for $120 to $250 a pair. You can get ‘em for way less on Amazon, of course, if you have to own a pair.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Solar storm tech issues: There weren’t too many disruptions from the recent global light show, but Starlink’s satellites had a few glitches. Interestingly, GPS navigation systems used by John Deere tractors and other brands to create ultra-tight, straight lines for planting were knocked out — and during a peak planting season. I was so bummed I saw nothing in the skies over Phoenix.
Talk to your kiddos: Roblox is adding paid ads in virtual billboards to its game. Brands like Walmart are already lining up to advertise to nearly 72 million daily players. With 43% of players under 13, they’re going to make so much money rocking the blocks.
Thousands on imposter websites are stealing your banking info
Scammers are operating websites masquerading as major brands. I’ll tell you what to look out for, in one minute.