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This smart lock is feature-rich, solves a common problem - and it's 43% off

ZDNET's key takeaways You can buy a Philips Home Access 4000 Series smart lock for the MSRP of $210 This smart lock is very responsive, taking quick action when commanded, and features plenty of unlocking options in the user-friendly app The lock is a bit slow in the process of locking itself and then being receptive to a code or fingerprint and makes some errors with fingerprint unlock. View now at Amazon The Philips Home Access 4000 Series smart lock is available for $90 off during Amazon P

Cloudflare wants Google to change its AI search crawling. Google likely won’t.

After Cloudflare started testing new features that would allow websites to block AI crawlers or require payment for scraping, the tech company immediately faced questions over the logistics of the plan. In particular, website owners and SEO experts wanted to know how Cloudflare planned to block Google's bot from scraping sites to fuel AI overviews without risking blocking the same bot from crawling for valuable search engine placements. Last week, a travel blogger raised questions about the bl

I've tested dozens of smart locks, and the one I keep on my door is $100 off right now

ZDNET's key takeaways The Aqara U100 smart lock was originally priced at $230, but it is currently discounted to $143. This smart lock is the most versatile I've tested; it offers a variety of unlocking options, a user-friendly app, and easy integration with Apple Home. The Aqara U100 drains the battery quickly, and the app doesn't always alert users, resulting in reduced performance within four months of use. $167.76 at Amazon $189.99 at Best Buy more buying choices The Aqara U100 Smart Lock

Topics: app aqara lock smart u100

Exploring the Complexity of Distributed Consensus Algorithms in Blockchain

Consensus in blockchain isn’t just a technical problem—it’s an intellectual minefield. You’ve got decentralized nodes spread across the globe, each operating under different assumptions, with varying latencies, incentives, and potential motivations, and yet they’re all expected to come to the same conclusion about the state of a distributed ledger. No central authority, no fallback mechanisms, no easy resets. Just code, cryptography, and coordination dancing on the edge of chaos. It’s beautiful

Pixels are having lock screen issues after Android 16 update (Update: Fix out now)

Joe Maring / Android Authority TL;DR Some Google Pixel owners are reporting lock screen issues after updating to Android 16. Problems include tap-to-wake not working, the screen not turning on after hitting the power button, and more. Google has released a fix for the issue after the publication of this article. Update: July 9, 2025 (1:55 AM ET): There’s good news if you were desperately waiting for Google to address this lock screen issue on Pixels. The company has confirmed that a fix is n

Is your Pixel having lock screen issues after Android 16 update? You’re not alone.

Joe Maring / Android Authority TL;DR Some Google Pixel owners are reporting lock screen issues after updating to Android 16. Problems include tap-to-wake not working, the screen not turning on after hitting the power button, and more. Affected users are advised to restart their phones to mitigate the issue, but Google is apparently working on a fix. Google Pixel phones were the first to receive an update to the stable Android 16 software. This update brings features like an Advanced Protecti

The Pixel phone alarm glitch is back - but here's a potential remedy

Artie Beaty / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET If you use your Google Pixel phone as your alarm clock, you probably want to set a backup. Also: Is your Pixel glitchy after Android 16? Here's the best workaround we've found so far Over the past several months, a frustrating bug has started showing up across the Pixel phone lineup, including the new flagship Pixel 9 Pro. For a yet-unexplained reason, alarms set on Pixel phones will randomly stay silent. A "Missed alarm" notification appears, along

ICEBlock app developer had ‘better watch out’ says US attorney general [U]

White House condemnation of a free app has drawn substantial attention to it, helping ICEBlock become the most popular social networking app in the App Store, beating out apps like X and Instagram. ICEBlock alerts people to sightings of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in their area, following a major immigration crackdown by the White House. Update: The US attorney general has said the app’s developer “had better watch out” – see end of the piece … While the ICE operation is s

Robinhood Wants to Redo Wall Street on the Blockchain

Robinhood, the company behind one of the most popular trading apps for everyday investors, just revealed a sweeping new vision for the future of finance. And its bold plan seems to leave traditional Wall Street institutions behind. The company announced a daring set of new products this week from Cannes, France. These offerings are designed to move traditional financial assets, like company stocks, investment funds (ETFs), and even complex trading tools called derivatives, entirely onto the blo

Trump Officials Want to Prosecute Over the ICEBlock App. Lawyers Say That’s Unconstitutional

A spokesperson using ICE's general press email referred WIRED to a statement issued by acting director Todd M. Lyons on June 30, but did not provide further comment. The White House did not immediately respond to WIRED’s request for comment. In the statement, Lyons called CNN’s coverage of the app “reckless and irresponsible.” When reached for comment, Emily Kuhn, senior vice president of communications at CNN, pointed WIRED to a statement from the network saying that reporting on the existence

ICEBlock, an app for anonymously reporting ICE sightings, goes viral

In Brief ICEBlock, an iPhone app that allows users to anonymously report sightings of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, has rocketed to one of the coveted top spots in Apple’s U.S. App Store rankings. The upshot: Criticism from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi helped get it there. Most of ICEBlock’s users — about 20,000 — were in Los Angeles, where ICE raids have become commonplace over recent weeks, according to CNN. Following Bondi’s remarks late Monday, the app went vira

ICEBlock, an app for anonymously reporting ICE sightings

In Brief ICEBlock, an iPhone app that allows users to anonymously report sightings of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, has rocketed to one of the coveted top spots in Apple’s U.S. App Store rankings. The upshot: Criticism from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi helped get it there. Most of ICEBlock’s users — about 20,000 — were in Los Angeles, where ICE raids have become commonplace over recent weeks, according to CNN. Following Bondi’s remarks late Monday, the app went vira

Nuki, my favorite smart lock, is now available in the US; I can’t recommend it enough

Rita El Khoury / Android Authority TL;DR Europe’s best smart lock, the Nuki Smart Lock, has launched in the US. The Matter-compatible lock costs $159 alone, or $299 with the fingerprint-supporting keypad (currently $229 on Amazon). A $5.9 premium monthly subscription enables remote access via the Nuki app and notifications, but it’s free for a lifetime for early adopters. If you ask me about my favorite product I’ve ever reviewed in my 19 years as a tech writer, the answer would be pretty st

How to install a smart lock on an existing deadbolt - and why this model is my top pick

ZDNET's key takeaways The Nuki smart lock is now available for $159 on its own, and $229 when combined with the Keypad 2. This smart lock fits into an existing deadbolt, supports Matter for easy integrations with smart home systems, and features hands-free unlocking. Though innovative, the Nuki smart lock requires a subscription for full remote access; it's also very loud when locking and unlocking, and the Keypad 2 is somewhat slow. View now at Nuki I'm all for smart home technology, but I c

Topics: door home lock nuki smart

I test smart locks for a living, and the most reliable one I've used is on sale for $135

ZDNET's key takeaways The Aqara U100 smart lock was originally priced at $230, but it is currently discounted to $143. This smart lock is the most versatile I've tested; it offers a variety of unlocking options, a user-friendly app, and easy integration with Apple Home. The Aqara U100 drains the battery quickly, and the app doesn't always alert users, resulting in reduced performance within four months of use. $165.46 at Amazon $179.99 at Best Buy more buying choices The Aqara U100 Smart Lock

Topics: app aqara lock smart u100

Nuki’s Smart Lock is a better retrofit door lock

is a smart home reporter who’s been testing connected gadgets since 2013. Previously a contributor to Wirecutter, Wired, Dwell, and US News. The new Nuki Smart Lock ($159), the company’s first designed for US deadbolts, is the most advanced retrofit smart lock I’ve tested. It features a sleek, compact design that looks and works like a regular doorknob, but it’s much more than a doorknob. It can automatically unlock as you approach, lock behind you, unlock using a keypad or your fingerprint, an

Topics: app home lock nuki smart

ICE-tracking app tops App Store

is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO. ICEBlock, an app that lets users anonymously report sightings of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials, has soared up App Store charts after receiving criticism from the Trump administration. On Monday, US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem responded to CNN’s coverage of ICEBlock in a post on X, calling it an “obstruction of justi

White House condemnation sends ICEBlock to the top of the App Store charts

White House condemnation of a free app has drawn substantial attention to it, helping ICEBlock become the most popular social networking app in the App Store, beating out apps like X and Instagram. ICEBlock alerts people to sightings of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in their area, following a major immigration crackdown by the White House … While the ICE operation is supposed to target illegal immigrants, there have been multiple examples of legal residents and even US citiz

Tired of surprise plan changes? AT&T’s new Wireless Account Lock feature has you covered

AT&T TL;DR AT&T has introduced a new Wireless Account Lock for postpaid and prepaid subscribers. The feature prevents anyone from making unauthorized changes to your account, such as billing updates, line changes, or device changes. It’s available as a toggle on the myAT&T app. AT&T is introducing a new Wireless Account Lock feature that lets you lock your subscriber account to prevent any unauthorized changes. People often complain about reps making changes to their accounts without their k

ICEBlock, an app for anonymously reporting ICE sightings, goes viral overnight after Bondi criticism

In Brief ICEBlock, an iPhone app that allows users to anonymously report sightings of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, has rocketed to one of the coveted top spots in Apple’s U.S. app store rankings. The upshot: criticism from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi helped get it there. ICEBlock had about 20,000 users, mostly in Los Angeles, where ICE raids have become commonplace over recent weeks, according to CNN. Following Bondi’s remarks late Monday, the app went viral overn

Lock down your AT&T account to prevent SIM swapping attacks - here's how

AT&T SIM swapping is a popular type of fraud in which someone transfers your mobile number to a SIM in their own device. By intercepting any messages or phone calls sent to you, they're able to access your two-factor authentication codes and other sensitive information. Now, AT&T is offering customers a way to combat this kind of crime. Available starting today, Wireless Account Lock is an option for AT&T subscribers with postpaid or prepaid wireless accounts. Simply by turning on a switch in

AT&T now lets you lock down your account to prevent SIM swapping attacks

is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO. AT&T is launching a new Account Lock feature that’s designed to protect wireless users against SIM swapping attacks. The feature, which you can enable from the myAT&T app, prevents unauthorized changes to your account, like phone number transfers, SIM card changes, and updates to billing information. SIM swapping attacks have become increasingly co

AT&T's New Lock Option Thwarts Thieves Who Try to Access Your Account

AT&T is rolling out a new feature in its MyAT&T app intended to prevent nefarious individuals from accessing customers' online accounts. Wireless Account Lock, which has been rolling out in waves but will reach wide availability on Tuesday, disables some key actions that are frequently used to circumvent a legitimate owner's access to their account. This type of access is different from large data breaches, such as the two incidents that AT&T has recently agreed to settle for $177 million. Wire

Cloudflare Is Blocking AI Crawlers by Default

Last year, internet infrastructure firm Cloudflare launched tools enabling its customers to block AI scrapers. Today the company has taken its fight against permissionless scraping several steps further. It has switched to blocking AI crawlers by default for its customers and is moving forward with a Pay Per Crawl program that lets customers charge AI companies to scrape their websites. Web crawlers have trawled the internet for information for decades. Without them, people would lose vitally i

Cloudflare will now block AI crawlers by default

The major internet architecture provider Cloudflare will now block known AI web crawlers by default to prevent them from “accessing content without permission or compensation,” according to an announcement on Tuesday. With the change, Cloudflare will start asking new domain owners whether they want to allow AI scrapers, and will even let some publishers implement a “Pay Per Crawl” fee. The Pay Per Crawl program will let publishers set a price for AI scrapers to access their content. AI companie

Senator Chides FBI for Weak Advice on Mobile Security

Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) briefed Capitol Hill staff recently on hardening the security of their mobile devices, after a contacts list stolen from the personal phone of the White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles was reportedly used to fuel a series of text messages and phone calls impersonating her to U.S. lawmakers. But in a letter this week to the FBI, one of the Senate’s most tech-savvy lawmakers says the feds aren’t doing enough to recommend more appropriate secur

Got a Galaxy phone? Samsung says you should turn on these security features now!

Nick Fernandez / Android Authority TL;DR Samsung has advised Galaxy users to activate a set of security features to protect their phones in case of theft. Most of these features made their way to Samsung devices with the One UI 7 update. The company says more Galaxy devices will get these features in the future. Samsung is asking Galaxy users to activate a set of security features on their phones. The company says that because phone theft incidents are rising worldwide, all Galaxy users must

New Smart Glasses Block Out All Real-Life Advertising

When you're online, a browser plugin can block all those annoying ads that pop up and clutter up your screen — but unfortunately we can't do that to ads in real life. Yet, at least. That could all change after an enterprising software engineer posted an experiment with a pair of smart augmented reality glasses. When you don a pair of the specs and look at a billboard, or even the label on a food container, a red rectangle pops up to block the offending visual clutter from your view. "It’s stil

I switched to a Wi-Fi-enabled smart lock with facial recognition - and can't go back

ZDNET's key takeaways As part of its Zeno Series, Lockly's Visage smart lock is available now for $349. The Lockly Visage comes with facial ID support, automatic unlocking when you're near, and Apple Home Kit compatibility. The Lockly app can be more user-friendly, as it's difficult to find certain settings, and it's pricier than most locks. $349 at Amazon $349.99 at Best Buy more buying choices I've always been drawn to Lockly because of its PIN Genie technology -- a system that displays a u

Stablecoins go mainstream: Why banks and credit card firms are issuing their own crypto tokens

In this article PYPL SHOP COIN CRCL V MA JPM Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT A $44 billion IPO. A Senate bill with bipartisan momentum. And now, a wave of Fortune 500 firms launching crypto tokens of their own. Stablecoins — once a niche corner of the cryptocurrency world — are entering the corporate and policy mainstream, potentially reshaping how money moves in the United States and around the world. "Many of the users out there today are not aware of stablecoins, or not