The everyday tech stories our desk judged worth your time, written so anyone can follow them.
PCMag's updated review of McAfee Total Protection praises its scam defense but calls the price steep, a trade-off worth weighing before you buy.
Read more: McAfee Total Protection scores well on scam defense but costs a lotSeminole County's court clerk shut its offices after a cyberattack on its computer system, which could slow filings, records requests and payments for local residents.
Read more: Florida county court clerk closes offices after cyberattackHalloween beat New Year's Eve and St. Patrick's Day for US ride-hailing demand last year, and a Saturday Halloween this year could mean another big night.
Read more: Halloween is the busiest day of the year for Uber and Lyft driversA new method finds the harmless-looking training examples that weaken a chatbot's safety, and removing them cut one jailbreak attack's success by up to 22%.
Read more: Researchers find the training examples that make AI chatbots easier to trickSamsung says demand for memory chips will far exceed supply in 2027 as AI spending grows, which could keep prices up for phones, computers and online services.
Read more: Samsung says the memory chip shortage will get worse in 2027The FBI and fraud experts warn that fake campaign calls and texts, some with AI-cloned voices, are hiding among the flood of real political messages.
Read more: Election season gives phone scammers perfect cover, experts warnGoogle Skills now offers free video courses on using Gemini for finance and legal work, plus a free program that gives teams 35 training credits.
Read more: Google offers free Gemini AI training for finance and legal workersRumors point to a $1,500 Galaxy S27 Ultra, and cheaper Android phones may get pricier or lose features too. Here is what to weigh before buying.
Read more: Next flagship Android phones may cost up to $1,500 as prices keep risingPembrokeshire County Council says fake emails, texts and websites claim you are owed a council tax refund, and aim to get your bank card details.
Read more: Fake council tax refund messages are targeting Welsh residentsThe Better Business Bureau is sharing advice on avoiding scam phone calls, and its main message is simple: slow down before you answer questions or send money.
Read more: Better Business Bureau shares ways to avoid scam phone callsApple says a test version of iOS 27.3 arrives next week with some Apple Intelligence tools for iPhones in China. The new Siri is not part of it.
Read more: Apple plans to bring some of its AI features to iPhones in ChinaA researcher found a database password inside Applebee's Android app, exposing customer details. The flaw is fixed, but scam risk remains for account holders.
Read more: Applebee's app left a database password open to anyoneGoogle's Gemini app now lets you share an AI version of your face and voice with friends, so you can all appear in the same generated images and videos.
Read more: Gemini lets you put your friends in AI photos and videosOpenAI says ChatGPT will get stricter on violent topics and that it will publish safety reports, but none of its claims have been independently checked yet.
Read more: OpenAI tightens ChatGPT violence rules and promises safety reportsPolice say 110 people reported fake Amazon calls in nine days, losing £86,837 in total. The scam works by making a call about your account feel urgent.
Read more: Fake Amazon callers stole £86,837 from shoppers in nine daysA How-To Geek writer says free apps from the Linux world beat Windows' own tools for disk space, PDFs, phone linking and screenshots.
Read more: Five free apps born on Linux that fix Windows annoyancesBluesky's new beta moderation inbox puts reports, strikes and appeals in one place in the app, so you no longer have to rely on email.
Read more: Bluesky adds one inbox for reports, strikes and appealsSocial Security released simple tips to spot scams, since crooks often pose as the agency to get your money or your private details.
Read more: Social Security Offers Simple Tips to Spot and Avoid ScamsA YouTube bug is reportedly pushing viewers out of full screen and cutting audio. No fix has been confirmed, but a few simple steps may help.
Read more: YouTube bug keeps pushing viewers out of full screen and cutting soundWhatsApp is testing a banner photo for regular profiles, and you would choose who can see it. It has so far appeared only in an Android beta.
Read more: WhatsApp is testing cover photos for personal profilesAn Inc. piece argues small startups gain ground against TikTok and YouTube by doing what those giants have no reason to do, not by chasing their audience.
Read more: Small startups win against TikTok and YouTube by going where they won'tApple's iOS 27.2 patches a flaw that could let an app use the camera without asking. Apple has no sign it was used in attacks, but updating is still wise.
Read more: Apple fixes iPhone and Mac bug that let apps skip camera permissionA free, open source Mac app called Mac.apk turns Android apps into Mac apps on Apple Silicon Macs. Early tests show promise, but it is still rough.
Read more: Free Mac app runs Android apps like normal Mac softwareApple's iOS 27.2 lets FaceTime show your face and the room around you at once, now on group calls too, if everyone has updated to version 27 software.
Read more: iPhone update lets FaceTime show you and your room at once
