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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How to get a hotel room cheaper than the best price online

Here’s my spending philosophy: If you can get something cheaper, it’s worth a little effort. Of course, I like tools that do the hard work for me. Tap or click for an online shopping helper to find discounts that work.

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Student in the family? A student Amazon Prime account is a heck of a lot cheaper than the regular price. Students get six months free, and then it’s half off a year ($69).

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

Students shocked by smartphone bans

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Could this be the key to better learning? Students think so! With more focus, less anxiety, and better social interactions, many are seeing real benefits from the change.

470,000 feet

Altitude reached by the University of Southern California’s student-built rocket. Aftershock II broke the previous record of 380,000 feet, becoming the first non-governmental or private-company-owned rocket to reach this far into space. Oh, space is a vacuum, but it doesn’t suck.

How to get a student discount at Apple (and you don’t need a student ID)

It’s that time of the year again, back to school. If you or a loved one is heading back to the classroom, now is the time to check out all the sweet deals available. Tap or click here to save on tech for you, the kids or the grandkids.

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Kids or grandkids heading to college? Subscribe to textbooks instead of paying for each one

College is expensive enough with the high cost of tuition these days. Add in the huge fees for college textbooks, and the costs get out of control. Need help getting your child a laptop? Tap or click here for 10 legitimate ways to get a free laptop.

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Kids shouldn't learn computer coding

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Coding was once hailed as essential for future careers, but AI advancements are quickly changing that. 

40% quieter

A new leaf blower invented by college students. Engineering brainiacs at Johns Hopkins University designed an electric leaf blower that cuts the noise levels nearly in half and practically erases the most obnoxious whirring sounds most leaf blowers emit. Black & Decker will start selling them in the next two years!

Student in the family? A student Amazon Prime account is a heck of a lot cheaper than a standard account. Students get six months free, then it’s half off for a year ($69).

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

0.6 point increase in grades

For students with last names that start with A, B, C, D or E versus V, W, X, Y or Z. That finding comes from 30 million papers submitted through Canvas, the most popular tech platform for teachers. Canvas gives papers to teachers to grade in alphabetical order. By the end of each assignment, they’re tired — and, apparently, less forgiving.

Teachers smart changes for cheaters

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Some students are using ChatGPT to cheat. In this one-minute podcast, hear what educators are doing to fight back.

Dell XPS 13

Want something tiny yet mighty? Check out the Dell XPS 13. Bright and colorful, this laptop is lightweight with great battery life. This guy is sleek, light and fast. The backlit keyboard and high-quality sound are big plusses. It can even handle some gaming.

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

People are trolling college courses with horrifying results

It’s difficult for students to study at home in light of COVID-19. Not only are the normal joys of school-aged life postponed until further notice, but the senior classes of 2020 are also missing out on rites of passage like graduation.

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