Data breach warning: Sony, 900 colleges, health care org and more targeted

Sometimes, we share alerts about one major hack you need to know about — and other times, there’s enough going on that I need to pack a lot in. Sorry, friends, but this is one of those days. I’ll tell you about the data breaches and what you must do.

Have a PlayStation or Sony account?

Sony was hacked by a group with connections to the Dark Web. They accessed Sony’s internal data, including confidential internal testing information and a document repository containing over 6,000 files. 

Sony hasn’t confirmed whether customer data has been compromised, but the group says, “We will sell the data. Due to Sony not wanting to pay. DATA IS FOR SALE. WE ARE SELLING IT.” If you have a PlayStation at home, that could mean you.

Calling all students

Chalk this one up to the massive MOVEit file service transfer breach. Data from roughly 900 colleges and universities is up for grabs.

Personal student information was stolen, including name, date of birth, contact information, Social Security number, student ID number and school-related records. If you have a student in your life, let them know.

Health care hack

Nuance Communications, a health care software company, says over 1.2 million individuals had their personal information revealed, including names, demographic data and names of relatives.

It gets worse. Sensitive medical information was compromised, including dates of service, medical facility information, practitioner’s names, health insurance numbers, medication information, diagnoses and patient identifiers. This is bad, really bad.

Word of warning, vacationers

On Booking[.]com, security researchers discovered hackers were using the site to breach the systems of hotels, booking sites and travel agencies. From there, they used their access to steal customer financial data.

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GameStop phenomenon: How Reddit rocked Wall Street

Let’s rewind to 2020. Keith Gill, a 33-year-old investing enthusiast, was frequenting a Reddit forum dedicated to investing. During one discussion, someone said that GameStop’s stock, priced at $5 per share, was a great bargain.

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✈️ Travel smarter

These affordable, unique accessories should be in your bag:

  • Add an extra layer of security with a portable safe. Secure it with a cord when you arrive at your hotel. It’s on sale for $16.70.
  • On a plane that makes you plug in your headphones? Try these wired Sony earbud headphones, now 50% off ($9.99).
  • Tangled cords are the worst while traveling. Tidy up your wired earbuds with this cable winder for $9.99.
  • This travel wallet can hold your boarding pass, passport, ID, cards — whatever you need to have on hand quickly. It’s on sale for $13.99.
  • Organize all your cords and wires with this accessories bag, now 21% off. Brilliant.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

A free upgrade could be hidden in your TV: NextGen TV broadcasts have more vibrant colors, a higher resolution, better-quality surround sound and interactive features. Newer TVs from Sony, Hisense, Samsung and TCL have NextGen tuners built in, but you probably didn’t know it. See if your TV has NextGen here and which channels are available in your area!

Sony attempts to bring back the Walkman

Open/download audio

If it worked almost half a century ago, maybe it will work again. Listen to this one-minute podcast for Sony’s Walkman revival story.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

💿 Let it go: LG is done making Blu-ray players, joining the likes of Samsung and Sony. Some Blu-ray player models are still available until they sell out. If you want a soon-to-be artifact, get moving.

Trivia

Many of today’s big tech companies have a “Chief Evangelist,” whose sole job is building a community of passionate users. Was the first company to adopt this position … A.) Amazon, B.) Apple, C.) Microsoft or D.) Sony?

Find the answer here!

Can Apple's pricey headset make us accept VR in our everyday lives?

According to ’80s and ’90s movies, we should all be using virtual reality (VR) daily by now. But the tech has yet to catch on. People don’t want to be immersed in an all-digital world (We’re looking at you, Facebook metaverse). 

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PSA: If you win 'free' electronics online, watch for this sign it's a scam

Sony’s PlayStation 5 is one of the most in-demand video game consoles, with stocks regularly selling out nationwide. Some have waited months to get their hands on one, while others are willing to spend large sums of money. Is there a fortune sitting in your garage? Tap or click here for tech worth big money.

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🥞 First-world problems: A home cook got a surprise when their smart stove “hacked” their Bluetooth headphones. The Siemens cooktop’s magnetic field messed with the touch controls on their Sony headset. When they turned up the heat, the volume went up, too. If this ever happens to you, try disabling touch controls on your headphones.

Stick with 4K: Don’t spend extra on an 8K model if you need a new TV. Why? There just isn’t enough 8K content available. Here’s a nice 75-inch 4K option from Sony.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

How to get the most money selling your old cellphone

When you upgrade your smartphone, don’t throw the old one in a drawer. With the right site, you can turn your dusty old electronics into a source of income. 

In this tip, we’ll answer some of the most common questions people have when selling old devices. Plus, we’ll introduce you to a valuable new site to help you make money.

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Have any of these old video game accessories lying around? They're worth a fortune

Do you have any old coins lying around? They could be worth something. Even if they have some sentimental meaning and you don’t want to sell, wouldn’t it be nice to figure out how much they’re worth? Tap or click here for a site that helps you identify, buy, sell and estimate the value of your coins.

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Turn off this TV setting ASAP

With most tech gadgets, you get what you pay for. That means cool features and high-quality visuals are often limited to expensive devices. However, you don’t have to pay an arm and a leg to get a five-star experience when it comes to TVs.

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Top 5 wireless and Bluetooth speakers to take on the go

Everyone loves listening to music. In fact, the only thing better than enjoying your favorite songs is sharing them with friends and family.

What you need is a portable speaker. Just connect via Bluetooth and play background music at the pool, during road trips, at your next house party, or even in a relaxing bath at home.

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5 things you didn't know your smart TV could do

More and more people are cutting the cord in exchange for streaming services. You can watch Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, Peacock, Amazon Prime Video and more via a smart TV or streaming box.

You are spoiled for choice when it comes to streaming devices and smart TVs. As displays get larger and streaming sticks get smaller, how do you know which is best for you? Luckily we put together a list to help you choose. Tap or click here for the best streaming device and smart TV options.

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Review: Klipsch T5 II True Wireless ANC Earphones

Need a new pair of true wireless earbuds? It used to be a relatively easy decision to make due to the sheer lack of options. Not anymore.

Filter out the cheap, poorly-reviewed stuff and you have real contenders from brands including Apple, Beats, Bose, Sony, Soundcore (check out this review) and Jabra with sought-after features like active noise cancellation. Just be ready to pay a pretty penny.

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10 best Nintendo Switch tips, tricks and accessories

Nintendo Switch is one of the most iconic handheld video games ever produced. Even though it was only released in 2017, it’s right up there with the Game Boy’s various iterations and the DS.

It’s a versatile, powerful machine, in both its regular and Lite iterations, and it’s going strong even in light of new next-gen consoles from Sony and Microsoft — and not just with kids. Tap or click here to see the best video games for people over 55.

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CES 2021: The best mobile tech we've seen so far

We love it when the Consumer Electronics Show rolls around. There are always so many wacky, interesting and innovative products unveiled during this event. During CES 2020, we saw tons of awesome and strange new products.

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Best wireless earbuds to pair with your Android smartphone

It’s clear what the top choice of wireless earbuds for iPhone users is. AirPods and AirPods Pro are, without a doubt, the most popular option for Apple smartphone owners.

There’s a good reason for it, too. Not only were AirPods designed to work specifically with Apple products, but they offer a ton of features that make them a solid option. They’re wireless, have long battery life and the sound quality is top-notch. There are even some hidden tricks you can use with your AirPods that you may not know about.

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