Best Fitness Trackers – February 2023

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Best Fitness Trackers – February 2023
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Whether it’s to upgrade from your current device or finally start that workout program you’ve been meaning to get into, a new fitness tracker can help you stay on target and these are some of the best trackers you can find.

With the holidays now over, a fitness tracker might be just the ticket for staying in or getting back into shape. They’re designed to help you reach your fitness goals, and most of them do a pretty good job at it.

There are tons of fitness trackers out there though. Amazon is swimming in them. How do you separate the ones you should consider from the ones that aren’t worth your time?

That’s what this guide is here to help you do. We’ve picked the best fitness trackers to help you meet your fitness goals in 2022.

Best Fitness Trackers – Summary

Below you’ll find a short summary on the list of top 10 best fitness trackers we’ve picked. The summary includes the cost of each tracker, and where to buy if you’re short on time. Below the summary you’ll find a slightly longer description of each item along with the where to buy links.

CostWhere to buy
Xiaomi Smart Band 7From $46.30Amazon, Walmart
Fitbit Inspire 3$78.95Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart
Garmin Vivosmart 4From $98.55Amazon, B&H, Newegg, Walmart, Office Depot, Best Buy, Kohl’s
Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2From $88.31Amazon, B&H, Walmart, Target, Best Buy
Amazon Halo$69.99Amazon, Best Buy
Garmin Fenix 7 SeriesFrom $689.95Amazon, GameStop, Adorama, Macy’s
Amazfit Band 7$49.99Amazon, Best Buy
Garmin Lily$199.99Amazon & Various Other Retailers
Fitbit Charge 5From $124.76Amazon, Fitbit, Best Buy, B&H, Target

Xiaomi Smart Band 7

Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 6 image 2

 

The Smart Band 7 is another one of those trackers that’s great to have if you just want something simple yet functional. It’s stylish to the point that you can swap the band color out for a decent amount of options, and it does just the necessary basics when it comes to features.

While it won’t be as feature-packed as something like the Fitbit Charge 5, it also usually costs under $50. Which is less than of what the Fitbit Charge 5 costs. So there’s a huge incentive there to consider this over other trackers.

It’s capable of smartphone notifications, tracks 120 different activities, and has a new blood oxygen sensor as well as better battery life than the Mi Band 6. For those that don’t need a lot out of their tracker, this is a win/win.

Xiaomi Smart Band 7

Fitbit Inspire 3

Fitbit Inspire 3

If you’re looking for a tracker that will suit the majority of users, then the Inspire 3 from Fitbit is one you should consider. It’s Fitbit’s latest tracker in the entry level offering tier.

Featuring a big enough display for easy visibility of your activity data, time, and more as you wear the tracker during workouts or just daily life. The Inspire 3 features Fitbit’s popular Active Zone Minutes feature to help keep you motivated.

As you go through the day, any activities you do that get your heart pumping will rack up these minutes. Walking, running, and anything else really where you’re moving around should count. Then as the week ends Fitbit can tell you if you’ve reached your weekly goal.

The Inspire 3 also tracks sleep, and it has 24/7 heart rate tracking. It also comes with improved battery life that lasts for up to 10 days, and now comes with a full color AMOLED display.

Fitbit Inspire 3

 

Garmin Vivosmart 4

Garmin Vivosmart 4

The Garmin Vivosmart 4 is a little bit of an older tracker as it was officially released in 2018, but when it comes to Garmin this is the latest tracker the company has released that isn’t a full-on watch.

It’s also still a very capable tracker with all the necessary fitness-related features you’d need for keeping track of your exercise.

It comes with built-in Pulse OX sensor as well so you can measure your blood oxygen saturation levels, if that’s a feature you were looking for.

Garmin offers this device in a range of different color options just in case you wanted something other than the standard black model. And as long as you’re not using the Pulse OX sensor, the battery should last up to seven days.

Garmin Vivosmart 4 – Various Retailers

Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2

Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 Review 14

In the market for a smartwatch that has fitness tracker features? Look no further than the Galaxy Watch Active 2.

We thought it was a great smartwatch and consider it the only smartwatch you should buy. If you want the best, Samsung has you covered.

From a simple and sleek design to meaningful and functional features like advanced sleep tracking and the touch bezel, the Galaxy Watch Active 2 is the perfect companion to anyone who wants to get into shape.

It can measure your stress levels too. Which is important if you have a busier life with a hectic schedule. Not to mention it’s comfortable. And it comes in a few different color options, with the added benefit of swapping out your band for something more stylish if the event calls for it.

Want to swap out your watch face? It can do that too. You can even take pictures and easily add those as your custom watch face through the companion app.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 – Various Retailers

Amazon Halo

Amazon Halo

Amazon’s Halo tracker is one of the new kids on the block here. And it comes in at a pretty decent price.

What separates the Halo from other trackers on this list is its ability to recognize your tone when you speak. It then uses this data to tell you how you sound to others. For instance it can tell you if you sounded angry during a certain conversation at some point in the day.

It also tracks sleep, steps, and other activities. Though, it doesn’t have a display to interact with so all of the data it picks up from exercise and daily stuff is visualized in the companion app.

So this might be the perfect tracker for someone who doesn’t want yet another screen to have to interact with.

Amazon Halo – Amazon, Best Buy

Garmin Fenix 7 Series

Garmin Fenix 7 Series

Most of the trackers on here are priced at a relatively affordable cost. None of those are the Fenix 7 series from Garmin though.

This is a premium multisport GPS watch and is the tracker to buy if you want the best of the best with nearly every feature under the sun.

The Fenix 7 comes in a series of different models, each having something a little different. They’re relatively close in features though.

For example all of them offer Garmin Pay so you can make mobile payments, Meanwhile the Fenix 7x Sapphire Solar allows you to charge the battery with solar energy. Meaning you can charge it as you wear it outside during exercises and adventures. So long as there’s enough sun around to provide the energy it needs.

The Fenix 7 series also offers mapping features, music integration, and PacePro technology for grade-adjusted pace guidance during your runs and outings. You can track your heart rate and measure your blood oxygen saturation levels too thanks to the integrated PulseOX and Heart Rate sensors.

The price for this one is steep. But if you’re serious about your fitness and want something that offers features that you won’t find elsewhere, the Fenix 6 is where to look.

Garmin Fenix 7 Series

Amazfit Band 7

Amazfit Band 7

The Amazfit Band 7 is a great tracker to go for if you want something that won’t cost you an arm and a leg. It comes with a slightly higher price than our previous favorite from Amazfit, the Band 5, but it also comes with notable upgrades. Such as the jump from 15 days of battery life to 18 days, as well as a larger color display for more glanceable interaction.

The tracker shows off important data like step counting, heart rate, the time, smartphone notifications and more. It even has Alexa built-in so you can use the tracker to not only ask Alexa questions, but control smart home appliances and devices like smart ovens, lights, or thermostats.

It also features blood oxygen saturation monitoring and you can customize the face with tons of different available options to choose from. And one of the best fitness trackers on this list.

Amazfit Band 7

Garmin Lily

Garmin Lily

The Garmin Lily is the perfect tracker for anyone that doesn’t want a fully-fledged fitness tracker or smartwatch on their wrist. It offers some of the more staple features you’ll find in most trackers like blood oxygen saturation tracking, heart rate tracking, and GPS while looking like a more traditional watch.

Because of the more traditional style it also more easily fits in with just about anything in your wardrobe. It comes in a variety of colors as well, and can even track stress, hydration, sleep and more.

Garmin Lily

Fitbit Charge 5

Fitbit Charge 5 4

The Charge 5 is Fitbit’s latest tracker in the long-running line of this model, bringing a few notable improvements to the table. Such as the all-new color OLED touchscreen, sensors on the sides of the tracker, stress management features, built-in GPS and more. It also comes with a free 6-month membership to Fitbit Premium. Which is a pretty good thing to have if you get invested in using this tracker every single day.

It’s also got silent alarms with Smart Wake, and a lot of the typical stuff like heart rate tracking, smart notifications, and sleep tracking. There’s plenty of band options for customization of the style too. Overall this is one of the best fitness trackers out there and one of Fitbit’s best to date.

Fitbit Charge 5


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Florida Attorney General proposes new policy to flag foreign-owned apps

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Florida Attorney General proposes new policy to flag foreign-owned apps
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Over the past few years, concerns over national security with Chinese-owned apps like TikTok have skyrocketed. In an effort to combat this problem and make consumers aware of the potential risks of installing an app, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody has proposed a new policy to flag foreign-owned and developed apps with a special icon or designation.

Moody’s concerns over TikTok stem from the app’s data privacy practices and national security risks. While other states and government entities have taken steps to ban TikTok on government devices, Moody’s proposal focuses on informing consumers of the risks associated with foreign-owned and developed apps.

She also cited Pushwoosh, a Russian malicious code discovered in thousands of apps on the App Store, including those of The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the US Army, as one of the major reasons that prompted her to write letters to Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Apple CEO Tim Cook.

Empowering Consumers to Make Informed Decisions

According to Moody, the lack of transparency in app stores poses a significant risk to American citizens. Her proposal aims to empower consumers by providing clear and easy-to-understand information about the origin of an app, enabling them to make more informed decisions about their data privacy and security. By adding a foreign-owned or developed designation to apps related to certain countries, consumers will have access to the highest level of transparency and protection.

“Consumers have a right to know if these countries are related to the origination, development, or ownership of these applications. Informing consumers of this foreign-based status allows consumers to decide whether or not they want to subject themselves, or this country, to the inherent and increased risks associated with such foreign applications,” reads her letter.

It’s not clear whether Apple or Google will flag foreign-owned apps in response to Moody’s proposal, as they already label the developer and include links to their website. However, with the growing concerns about data privacy and security, app stores need to take action to protect their users.


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YouTube may be planning to lock 1080p at higher bitrate for its Premium subscribers

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YouTube may be planning to lock 1080p at higher bitrate for its Premium subscribers
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Ad tracking has been scrutinized (and for a reason) in the past couple of years. And although this is good if you don’t like to be tracked, it has another effect – many social media platforms are now looking into paid subscriptions. And while that isn’t necessarily bad on its own, locking free features behind a paywall is a surprise not many users are pleased to see. Now, Android Police reports that YouTube may be testing reserving high bitrate 1080p resolution to paying users.

YouTube seems to be testing 1080p Premium with enhanced bitrate


One user has spotted the change and shared a screenshot on Reddit. The screenshot shows an option 1080p Premium, which sits on top of a ‘standard’ 1080p option for video resolution.

As Android Police rightfully notes, at first glance this may look like a way to brand full HD videos with higher-than-usual frame rates as reserved for paid subscribers. However, YouTube may be looking into locking 1080p videos in 60 or 120 fps behind this paywall.

YouTube may be planning to lock 1080p at higher bitrate for its Premium subscribers

Given the fact that the option says “Premium” it isn’t far-fetched to believe it is referring to YouTube Premium, which is the platform’s paid subscription option. Another similar experiment was conducted last year, but there the 2160p60 setting was Premium and the caption read “Tap to upgrade”. But that makes a little bit more sense than, for example, locking 1080 at 60fps behind a paywall. But we’ll see – this is by far info that’s not yet confirmed (and it’s unclear whether it will happen).

Recently, YouTube had a change in CEO as Susan Wojcicki resigned after spending nine years as YouTube’s CEO. Changes in a company’s strategy are inevitable when the head is changed.

YouTube Premium currently costs $12 a month and it gives you access to ad-free videos, background playback, offline video downloading, and YouTube Music Premium. For now, YouTube Music and Premium’s subscription base is growing, and it’s been reported at around 80 million users in Q4, 2022.

All in all, there are interesting things ahead in 2023 for YouTube and YouTube Premium. Of course, it’s early to say whether or not this 1080p Premium will be 60 fps or 120 fps, or something more exclusive… but hopefully the change doesn’t make free features now locked behind a paywall – that would be, let’s just say it, a bummer.


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Russian Malware Developer Behind NLBrute Extradited to US

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Russian Malware Developer Behind NLBrute Extradited to US
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Numerous cybercrime groups, including REvil, Dharma, and Netwalker, have used NLBrute.

A 28-year-old Russian national, Dariy Pankov a/k/a “dpxaker.”, was arrested in the Republic of Georgia on October 4, 2022, and, upon request, extradited to the United States, where he appeared before Magistrate Christopher P. Tuite on 21st February 2023. 

Pankov is charged with conspiracy, access device fraud, and computer fraud. The Department of Justice’s press release explains that Pankov was behind the creation of a brute force attack tool known as “NLBrute”.

A brute force attack uses trial-and-error to guess the login credentials of password-protected systems. 

Pankov marketed, sold, and had others sell NLBrute, which was used by numerous cybercrime groups, including REvil, Dharma, and Netwalker. He also sold stolen credentials on dark web websites that specialize in the sale and purchase of access to compromised computers.

Russian Malware Developer Behind NLBrute Extradited to US
Dairy Pankov, a.k.a. dpxaker (Image source: Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office)

Cybercriminals purchased the login information and used it in various malicious campaigns, including tax fraud and ransomware attacks. Pankov obtained more than $350,000 in illicit sales.

Igor Litvak, Pakov’s attorney, told CNN that his client will plead not guilty and maintain his innocence. Pankov faces a maximum sentence of 47 years in federal prison if convicted on all counts. He is currently being held in the Pinellas County Jail outside of Tampa, where he was booked on Monday.

  1. US Sentence Ukrainian to 4 Years for Brute-forcing
  2. Colombia arrests suspect wanted by US over Gozi virus
  3. Extradited Alleged ShinyHunters Hacker Pleads Not Guilty
  4. Russian hacker jailed in US over $19M fraud, 100M data theft
  5. Ukrainian Member of REvil Ransomware Gang Extradited to US

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Russian Radio Stations Hacked with Fake Missile Alerts

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Russian Radio Stations Hacked with Fake Missile Alerts
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According to local media, a female voice rendered the fake alerts from several radio stations, including Yumor FM, Relax FM, Comedy Radio, Humor FM, and Avatoradio. The false warning announced an air raid and requested the listeners to seek shelter quickly.

Millions of Russian citizens in over a dozen cities were baffled to hear unusual radio alerts, sirens, and text messages this Wednesday morning. These warnings were about missile strikes and air raids on Russia.

However, the Russian government’s Ministry of Emergency Situations later announced that these were fake warnings and blamed hackers for airing false alerts on commercial radio stations.

According to local media, a female voice rendered the fake alerts from several radio stations, including Yumor FM, Relax FM, Comedy Radio, Humor FM, and Avatoradio. The false warning announced an air raid and requested the listeners to seek shelter quickly.

“Attention, an air raid warning is being announced. Go to the shelter immediately. Attention, Attention, the threat of a missile strike.”

These bogus warnings were broadcast in ten cities, including Kazan, Tyumen, Pyatigorsk, Nizhny Novgorod, Voronezh, Magnitogorsk, Novouralsk, Ufa, and Stary Oskol. Loud sirens followed these warnings, and civilians were urged to seek out air raid shelters. Some people recorded these false warnings on camera.

Locals in the cities where the warnings were broadcast, such as the Kurgan and Belgorod regions, promptly informed citizens that these were false warnings. The ministry noted that the warnings were caused by an attack on a satellite operator’s infrastructure.

Moreover, government officials stated that an unauthorized “tie-in is going in the air,” clarifying that the alarm signals were fake. Authorities claim that the perpetrators could be linked to the Kyiv regime.

A tweet shared by Anonymous with Hackread.com claims that it was the Anonymous hacktivist collective behind the hacking spree.

Earlier, a Denial of Service attack (DDoS attack) disrupted Russian President Vladimir Putin’s address to the nation on state media sites. Ukrainian hackers claimed responsibility for the attack.

“As a result of a hacker attack on the servers of some commercial radio stations in some regions of the country, information was broadcast about an alleged announcement of an air raid warning and a threat of a missile strike,” the ministry’s statement read.

It is worth noting that most stations airing these alerts are owned by Russia’s leading media company, Gazprom-Media. Furthermore, the alerts were aired just two days before the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.


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First software update for the Galaxy S23 series is rolling out widely

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First software update for the Galaxy S23 series is rolling out widely
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A couple of days back, Samsung released the first software update for the Galaxy S23 series. The rollout began in Europe. But the company has wasted no time to bring it to other regions. The update is now available for Galaxy S23 users in Asia and Africa as well, including in Samsung‘s homeland South Korea. We expect the company to release the update in the US over the next few days.

Galaxy S23 units sold in Europe, Asia, and Africa bear the same model number (SM-S911B for the base model, SM-S916B for the Plus, and SM-S918B for the Ultra). So the updated firmware version for the phones in these regions is the same — S91*BXXU1AWBD. But the South Korean versions ship with the model number SM-S91*N. The latest update comes with firmware version S91*NKSU1AWBD in the country.

The story is similar for Galaxy S23 phones in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China as well. The new Samsung flagships bear the model number SM-S91*0 in these markets. Users are getting the new update with the firmware build number S91*0ZHU1AWBD. But regardless of the firmware version, the latest update for the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23+, and Galaxy S23 Ultra has the same changelog everywhere.

The February update for the Galaxy S23 reaches more markets

Samsung’s changelog for the first firmware release for the Galaxy S23 series doesn’t go into detail. It only states that the package contains some optimizations and the February 2023 Android security patch. The latest SMR (Security Maintenance Release) patches more than 50 vulnerabilities.

Samsung’s security bulletin says seven of those are Galaxy-specific. Those vulnerabilities don’t exist in Android devices from other brands. They patch flaws in Fingerprint TA, Secure Folder, and other systems apps and services.

The remaining 40-odd vulnerabilities patched by this month’s security update are part of Google’s latest ASB (Android Security Bulletin). They patch flaws in Android OS and other partner components. The Android maker labeled five of those as critical vulnerabilities that could potentially allow remote code execution if a threat actor exploited them in the wild. It could pave the way for them to remotely control your phone.

If you are one of the early buyers of Samsung’s latest flagships, you might want to install this update as soon as possible to stay safe from these vulnerabilities. You can go to the Software update menu in the Settings app and tap on Download and install to check for updates manually or wait for a notification prompting you to download the update. For users in the US, we will let you know when Samsung releases the update stateside.


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How to watch MLB without Cable in 2023

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How to watch MLB without Cable in 2023
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Baseball is back. America’s pastime is starting this month with Spring Training, and then Opening Day in late March. So how can you watch all of the action? Well that is what we are here to tell you.

Will the Houston Astros make it back to the World Series in October? Well, we have over 162 games to find out. The baseball season is quite long, lasting from April (technically, March 30) through September. With the playoffs lasting through October and the World Series at the very end of the month. Last year, we saw the Houston Astros take on the Philadelphia Phillies and win 4-2 in a six-game series. Can they repeat?

When is opening day?

Opening Day is set to take place on March 30, 2023. This year, all 30 MLB teams will be playing on Opening Day. That’s the first time since 1968 that every team has played on Opening Day, which is quite shocking. Here’s the full schedule for Opening Day.

  • Atlanta Braves at Washington Nationals – 1:05 p.m. ET
  • San Francisco Giants at New York Yankees – 1:05 p.m
  • Baltimore Orioles at Boston Red Sox – 2:10 p.m.
  • Milwaukee Brewers at Chicago Cubs – 2:20 p.m.
  • Detroit Tigers at Tampa Bay Rays – 3:10 p.m.
  • Philadelphia Phillies at Texas Rangers – 4:05 p.m.
  • Pittsburgh Pirates at Cincinnati Reds – 4:10 p.m.
  • Colorado Rockies at San Diego Padres – 4:10 p.m.
  • Toronto Blue Jays at St. Louis Cardinals – 4:10 p.m.
  • Minnesota Twins at Kansas City Royals – 4:10 p.m.
  • New York Mets at Miami Marlins – 4:10 p.m.
  • Chicago White Sox at Houston Astros – 7:08 p.m.
  • Los Angeles Angels at Oakland Athletics – 10:07 p.m.
  • Arizona Diamondbacks at Los Angeles Dodgers – 10:10 p.m.
  • Cleveland Guardians at Seattle Mariners – 10:10 p.m.

What channels show MLB games?

The majority of the games are going to be on regional sports networks or RSNs. So depending on where you live, you might be able to get that from YouTube TV, FuboTV or DIRECTV Stream. Bally Sports RSNs for example are only on FuboTV and DIRECTV Stream.

What about the national games? Well, those are typically on Fox, FS1, TBS, ESPN, MLB Network or Apple TV Plus. Fox, FS1, TBS and ESPN are available on most streaming TV platforms. MLB Network is available on many, but not all – for example, YouTube TV just removed it for the 2023 season.

Now when it comes to Apple TV Plus, subscribers can watch Friday Night Baseball each Friday throughout the season. Apple TV Plus has two games each Friday. Some are on at the same time, while others will be doubleheaders.

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How to watch the MLB without cable

Now lets talk about how you can watch the MLB without cable. The best option will be MLB.TV, if you want to watch multiple teams. But if you want to watch your home team (and you live in that market), then your local RSN is going to be the best option.

MLB.TV

MLB.TV is great because it allows you to watch every single game throughout the league. But there is one catch. Local games are not available on MLB.TV. That means that if you live in the Seattle market, you can’t watch Mariners games on MLB.TV. So it’s not quite a replacement for having the RSN available that plays the Mariners games. But if you’ve moved, and want to watch the Red Sox in Seattle, then it’s a good option.

MLB.TV is not going to be cheap though. The full season will be $149, or 119 if you want a single team. You can also pay monthly for $25/month, but that comes out to being a lot more expensive. MLB.TV does also include minor league and spring training games.

YouTube TV

YouTube TV is my personal favorite for watching sports, even though they don’t have Bally Sports RSNs. YouTube TV does have FOX, FS1, TBS and ESPN however. And as noted before, they have dropped the MLB Network, effective for 2023. So you get the majority of the nationally televised games on YouTube TV.

As far as RSNs go, YouTube TV does have the NBC Sports RSNs, but not Bally Sports. NBC Sports is available in a few markets. One of the best parts of having YouTube TV is that you can record every single game. Since it gives you unlimited cloud DVR.

FuboTV

FuboTV is a service that is built for sports. It has a lot of great sports networks available, but for Baseball, it carries all of the networks. And it has also just added Bally Sports RSNs once again. Though some of those RSNs won’t be available until the baseball season starts in April, so you might miss out on spring training.

FuboTV does start at $74.99, so it is more expensive than YouTube TV. But that does get you over 147 channels, along with 1,000 hours of cloud DVR included. It does offer a free trial which you can check out here.

DIRECTV Stream

DIRECTV Stream also has all of the channels for nationally televised games. And it starts at $74.99 per month as well. However, if you want to get the RSNs that will cost you a bit more. You would need their $99/month plan that includes the RSNs, and that does include Bally Sports.

DIRECTV Stream’s Choice package includes 105 channels, allows you to stream on unlimited devices in your home and gives you unlimited cloud DVR storage like YouTube TV does. You can sign up for DIRECTV Stream here.

Sling TV

Sling TV is the cheapest option here. It starts at just $40 per month. And with the Sling Orange package, you’ll get access to ESPN and TBS. With Sling Blue you’ll get FOX (in select areas) and FS1. Or you can get both packages for $45 per month.

MLB Network is available as a add-on. In the Sports Extra add-on, you’ll get the SEC Network, ACC Network, Longhorn Network, Pac-12 Network, ESPN-U, ESPNEWS, MLB Network, NBA TV, beinSports, Tennis Channel, NHL Network and the MLB Strike Zone for $11 per month. So to get all of those networks, you’ll need to pay $56 per month. And Sling TV does not have any RSNs.

Hulu + Live TV

Hulu + Live TV is another good option here. It does include ESPN, FOX, FS1 and TBS for the national games. But it does not have the MLB Network. It also has some RSNs, but not Bally Sports. So keep that in mind.

Hulu does start at $69.99, which does include ESPN+, as well as 85 of the top cable channels, unlimited screens, the Hulu library and unlimited DVR. You can sign up here. 


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TikTok incorporates Research API in order to provide transparency for state and nonprofit researchers

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TikTok incorporates Research API in order to provide transparency for state and nonprofit researchers
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There’s never a dull moment with TikTok. Even if there are periods of calm, sooner or later, there is always a new conspiracy or dangerous trend that revolves around the dangerously popular social platform. So much so that state officials are politely asking Big Tech to outright ban TikTok.

The company behind the short form video platform doesn’t take this sitting down though. And while they could retaliate and fight this move, they opted for peace and transparency. The company outright invited officials to examine their business and algorithm as closely as they want to.

Now, in an attempt to prove their claim to that invitation, the company has unveiled the integration of a brand new API — Application Programming Interface, think of it as a mini-software that does a specific thing — which provides public data on accounts and content to researchers worldwide.

While this includes both state researchers and nonprofit organizations, the worldwide part is a bit of a goal, as the API is currently available in the US only. And is that any wonder, considering that the States is where TikTok gets the most blame, as its popularity is skyrocketing with American youths?

The API has already received feedback from Content and Safety Advisory Councils and that feedback has even been implemented. TikTok public relations states that the company is looking forward to receiving more feedback in the future from nonprofit researchers too.

But what type of data will these researchers have access to? Well, here’s a breakdown:
  • Public user profile data, like usernames
  • Public content data, like comments, captions subtitles
  • Performance data, meaning likes, views and favorites
  • Public data for keywords and their performance

Not at all malicious or user-threatening. Neat! Basically, this sounds like a compilation of everything that you can find on the platform itself, but presented in a way that does not require weeks of tracking in order to find everything you may need.

The API is live now, and if you are part of a nonprofit organization that may need stats like those mentioned above, the application process is available here. While we can’t say that this will help TikTok leave the deep waters the company has found itself in, we are eager to see how things will go from here on out.


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Checklist To Secure Home Wi-Fi Network

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Checklist To Secure Home Wi-Fi Network
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Secure Home Wi-Fi Network

Cybercriminals can breach the security of your home WiFi and potentially cause you significant harm. Your home network may be used by malicious cyber actors to access sensitive, private, and personal data.

The National Security Agency published best practices for securing your home network to assist you in protecting yourself, your family, and your work by engaging in cybersecurity-aware behaviors.

Adopt the Following Mitigations to Your Home Network

  • Upgrade and update all equipment and software regularly, including routing devices.
  • Exercise secure habits by backing up your data and disconnecting devices when connections are not needed.
  •  Limit administration to the internal network only.

Checklist To Secure Home Wi-Fi Network

To minimize the danger of compromise, all electronic computing equipment, including computers, laptops, printers, smartphones, tablets, security cameras, household appliances, automobiles, and other “Internet of Things” (IoT) devices, must be secured.

Further, by adopting the most recent version of an OS that is supported for desktops, laptops, and mobile devices, you can make it more difficult for an adversary to obtain privileged access. IoT devices connected to a home network are frequently overlooked but also need updates.

EHA

NSA home network security tips

NSA recommends turning on the automatic update feature. Download and install patches and updates from a trusted vendor once a month if automated updates are not possible.

“To maximize administrative control over the routing and wireless features of your home network, consider using a personally owned routing device that connects to the ISP-provided modem/router”, recommends NSA.

Also, for network separation from your more reliable and private gadgets, use modern router features to set up a separate wireless network for visitors.

“To minimize vulnerabilities and improve security, the routing devices on your home network should be updated to the latest patches, preferably through automatic updates. These devices should also be replaced when they reach end-of-life (EOL) for support”, NSA.

Make sure your personal or ISP-provided WAP is capable of Wi-Fi Protected Access 3 to keep your wireless communications private (WPA3). You can use WPA2/3 if any of the devices on your network do not support WPA3.

NSA mentions that to keep wireless communication secure on your home network, use network segmentation. Your wireless network should be segmented at a minimum into your primary Wi-Fi, guest Wi-Fi, and IoT network.

Make sure your personal router can perform the most basic firewall functions. In order to prevent internal systems from being scanned over the network boundary, make sure it has network address translation (NAT). Make sure your router has IPv6 firewall support if your ISP accepts it.

Use security software with anti-virus, anti-phishing, anti-malware, safe surfing, and firewall features for a layered defense.

“Passwords should be strong, unique for each account, and difficult to guess. Passwords and answers to challenge questions should not be stored in plain text form on the system or anywhere a malicious actor might have access. Using a password manager is highly recommended”, NSA.

It is important to disable the ability to perform remote administration on the routing device. Only make network configuration changes from within your internal network. 

NSA suggests scheduling weekly reboots of your routing device, smartphones, and computers. Regular reboots help to remove implants and ensure security. 

Using a virtual private network (VPN) to remotely connect to your internal corporate network via a secure tunnel is one solution for securely accessing work information. This provides an added layer of security while allowing you to take advantage of services normally offered to on-site users.

Hackers may use email as a method of attack. Use a unique password for each account, avoid clicking attachments or links in unwanted emails, and more. Unless absolutely required, avoid using the out-of-office message option. Use secure email protocols at all times, especially when connected to a wireless network.

“If you must access the Internet while away from home, avoid direct use of public wireless. When possible, use a corporate or personal Wi-Fi hotspot with strong authentication and encryption”, says NSA.

The NSA offered advice on its ‘Information Sheet’ about how to protect wireless devices, phone or video communications, IPsec Virtual Private Networks, as well as how to minimize the dangers associated with location tracking.

Network Security Checklist – Download Free E-Book


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GoDaddy says it’s a victim of multi-year cyberattack campaign

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GoDaddy says it’s a victim of multi-year cyberattack campaign
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Hosting and domain name company GoDaddy says it believes a “sophisticated threat actor group” has been subjecting the company to a multi-year attack campaign.

Hosting and domain name company GoDaddy says it believes a “sophisticated threat actor group” has been subjecting the company to a multi-year attack campaign, the most recent of which occurred in December 2022.

In December, it received complaints about customer websites being periodically redirected to malicious sites. It turned out malware caused the redirection after threat actors compromised GoDaddy’s cPanel shared hosting servers. How the attackers got in remains a mystery.

GoDaddy said in a statement:

“As our investigation continued, we discovered that an unauthorized third party had gained access to servers in our cPanel shared hosting environment and installed malware causing the intermittent redirection of customer websites. Once we confirmed the intrusion, we remediated the situation and implemented security measures in an effort to prevent future infections.”

The company also said it believes that previous breaches in March 2020 and November 2021 were part of the multi-year attack campaign from the same threat actor group.

In March 2020, an attacker compromised 28,000 hosting account login credentials belonging to customers and some GoDaddy employees. Then, in November 2021, 1.2 million Managed WordPress hosting environments were compromised. The stolen data included email addresses, original WordPress admin credentials, database credentials, and private keys.

GoDaddy said it’s working on the ongoing issue:

“We are working with multiple law enforcement agencies around the world, in addition to forensics experts, to further investigate the issue. As we continue to monitor their behavior and block attempts from this criminal organization, we are actively collecting evidence and information regarding their tactics and techniques to help law enforcement.”

Make sure your hosting account is secure

If you are using GoDaddy or other hosting services, now is a good time to review your credentials and ensure your account is as locked up as possible. The guideline below is for GoDaddy customers:

  • Remotely log out of your account. If you think your hosting account has been compromised, doing this will sign you and the possible attacker out from accounts opened on different devices and browsers.
  • Use a password manager, which will help you create long and complicated passwords without having to commit them to memory. Password managers also help you avoid phishing sites by not filling in credential fields if you mistakenly end up on a phishing page you can’t distinguish from the real thing.
  • Change your Support PIN. You can find this on your GoDaddy Login & PIN page.
  • Change all your hosting-related email credentials and FTP passwords.
  • Use two-factor authentication (if you’re not using it already) for that extra layer of protection for your account.
  • Change the payment methods you have stored in your account, and delete those you don’t use. It would also be good to keep an eye on your bank account transactions and be ready to flag those that are fraudulent.
  • Remove delegate access for anyone you’ve allowed into your account.
  • Delete unknown API keys.
  • Update your domain contact information to avoid anyone claiming ownership of your site.

Stay safe!

We don’t just report on threats—we remove them

Cybersecurity risks should never spread beyond a headline. Keep threats off your devices by downloading Malwarebytes today.


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