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Mar 29, 2025Ravie LakshmananThreat Intelligence / Mobile SecurityCybersecurity researchers have discovered a new Android banking malware called Crocodilus that's primarily designed to target users in Spain and Turkey."Crocodilus enters the scene not as a simple clone, but as a fully-fledged threat from the outset, equipped with modern techniques such as remote control, black screen overlays, and advanced data harvesting via accessibility logging," ThreatFabric said.As with other banking trojans of its kind, the malware is designed to facilitate device takeover (DTO) and ultimately conduct fraudulent transactions. An analysis of the source code and the debug messages reveals that the malware author is Turkish-speaking.The Crocodilus artifacts analyzed by the Dutch mobile security company masquerade as Google Chrome (package name: "quizzical.washbowl.calamity"), which acts as a dropper capable of bypassing Android 13+ restrictions. Once installed and launched, the app requests permission to Android's accessibility services, after which contact is established with a remote server to receive further instructions, the list of financial applications to be targeted, and the HTML overlays to be used to steal credentials.Crocodilus is also capable of targeting cryptocurrency wallets with an overlay that, instead of serving a fake login page to capture login information, shows an alert message urging victims to backup their seed phrases within 12, or else risk losing access to their wallets.This social engineering trick is nothing but a ploy on the part of the threat actors to guide the victims to navigate to their seed phrases, which are then harvested through the abuse of the accessibility services, thereby allowing them to gain full control of the wallets and drain the assets."It runs continuously, monitoring app launches and displaying overlays to intercept credentials," ThreatFabric said. "The malware monitors all accessibility events and captures all the elements displayed on the screen."This allows the malware to log all activities performed by the victims on the screen, as well as trigger a screen capture of the contents of the Google Authenticator application.Another feature of Crocodilus is its ability to conceal the malicious actions on the device by displaying a black screen overlay, as well as muting sounds, thereby ensuring that they remain unnoticed by the victims.Some of the important features supported by the malware are listed below -Launch specified applicationSelf-remove from the devicePost a push notificationSend SMS messages to all/select contactsRetrieve contact listsGet a list of installed applicationsGet SMS messagesRequest Device Admin privilegesEnable black overlayUpdate C2 server settingsEnable/disable soundEnable/disable keyloggingMake itself a default SMS manager"The emergence of the Crocodilus mobile banking Trojan marks a significant escalation in the sophistication and threat level posed by modern malware," ThreatFabric said."With its advanced Device-Takeover capabilities, remote control features, and the deployment of black overlay attacks from its earliest iterations, Crocodilus demonstrates a level of maturity uncommon in newly discovered threats."The development comes as Forcepoint disclosed details of a phishing campaign that has been found employing tax-themed lures to distribute the Grandoreiro banking trojan targeting Windows users in Mexico, Argentina, and Spain by means of an obfuscated Visual Basic script.Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post.SHARE

These rival apps can help you get your fix of short-form videos.

What we've been playing - Unicorns, metaphors, and the bony remains of a giant beastA few of the things that have us hooked this week.Image credit: Eurogamer / Atlus Feature by Robert Purchese Associate Editor Published on March 29, 2025 29th MarchHello and welcome back to our regular feature where we write a little bit about some of the games we've been playing. This week, Bertie finally tries Metaphor: ReFantazio and enjoys it, with some reservations; Tom Orry settles into adventuring in Avowed; and Ed finds time to connect with his Unicorn Overlord.What have you been playing?Catch up with the older editions of this column in our What We've Been Playing archive.Unicorn Overlord, SwitchUnicorn Overlord.Watch on YouTubeWhenever I go abroad, especially on flights, I like to treat myself to a new game for the journey. Usually that's a Switch game and, for my flights last week to GDC in San Francisco, I started Unicorn Overlord to while away the hours between dodgy airplane food and failing to sleep.And what a treat it is! Developed by Vanillaware and published by Atlus, it's a neat little strategy RPG with a wealth of depth. Its narrative is a typical story of recovering a fallen kingdom from the grasp of an evil empire, all told via some colourful (and somewhat suggestive) anime characters. Battles, meanwhile, mostly take care of themselves after some prior organisation and a bit of prodding. To me, it feels like a mix of Fire Emblem and Final Fantasy 12's gambit system - two games I love.To explain further, your characters can be divided into squads arranged on a small grid, which are then directed across battles. The placement of characters is particularly important - you want your shielding tanks at the front and your mages at the back, for instance - and depending on their equipment they'll unleash a string of attacks and buffs in a set order you can tweak. Then, when these squads meet others on the top-down battlefield, the view switches to a side-on spectacle of magic and animations that plays out automatically. Defeat enemies to earn points you can spend on special abilities; place characters together to deepen relationships; customise your characters with new weapons and accessories. It's all here, with seemingly plenty of depth. And while, in the first few hours at least, it may not be the most original of experiences, it's exactly the sort of game world to get completely immersed in and watch cute characters hash it out, even while bleary-eyed and desperately trying to ignore the snores and baby cries of those around you. Now I'm back, I'm excited to play more from the comfort of my sofa instead.-EdMetaphor: ReFantazio, PS5It's a metaphor. But that actually happened.Watch on YouTubeI'm intrigued by this idea that menus in games have become a kind of artform for Atlus, and that, because it has found success focusing on them - through the Persona series and now Metaphor: ReFantazio - it will probably push them in its games forever more. But how much can it push them before they become too much - before they intrude too much on the game itself?I ask because for me, Metaphor: ReFantazio is on the cusp. Don't get me wrong, I love a sense of style. I love the lavish cutscenes - I've taken scores of screenshots already and I'm only a few hours in - and I love the design of the menus. Why make them grey and functional when you can extend the immersion of the game to them?But there's a point for me at which the overt styling starts to intrude too much. There's a sense in Metaphor that every moment has to be delivered with flair and that simply presenting action without adornment might become too boring or staid - a sense that Atlus might even be a little embarrassed of what the default moment-to-moment action looks like. So it dresses it up. It dresses everything up. And this leads to a rapid slideshow of perspective shifts as we jump between pre-rendered cutscenes, in-engine cutscenes, talking-head dialogues and various other things. There's so much energy nothing ever seems to stay still for long.I get it: that's the vibe, that's the style, and I much would rather a game have one. But there's a point at which all this jumping around and overstyling starts to make my head hurt. There's also a point at which I just want to play the actual game. And I hope it either calms down a bit, or that my reaction to it stabilises, because there's clearly a lot about Metaphor to like.-BertieAvowed, Xbox Series XZoe shares some top tips for getting into Avowed.Watch on YouTubeI've stopped messing about with settings and alternative ways to play Avowed, now, which means I am back playing the game properly - not that I don't frequently grumble to myself about how much nicer the world would look if it didn't turn into a jumbled mess every time I moved the camera. Look, get over it, I'm over it, just play the game!Right, I love it in fantasy games when you walk into a vast area and the designers have done something super cool with the environment. This happened to me in Avowed earlier in the week on the way to talk to a Watcher about something (neat little Witcher nod in this quest, too). I walked to a cliff edge and the world stretched out before me, but seemingly embedded into the cliffface on the opposite side of a gorge was the bony remains of a giant beast. That kind of stuff looks awesome and also serves to help give the world some history. What is this beast? Are they still around? How did it end up there?Anyway, I definitely haven't got out my 5m network cable to hook my TV directly to the router in order to get Geforce Now running like I know it can, just to play Avowed with the pristine visuals it deserves. Absolutely not, so there's no chance this will end badly for me.-Tom O

Converting an Image to a 3D Mesh in Blender By Jan van den Hemel on March 29, 2025 Videotutorials Jan van den Hemel writes:40-minute about an Image to 3D model workflow using the (much improved!) Trace Image to Grease Pencil feature in Blender. This is great for creating a base mesh that you can then use for either boolean, sub-d or sculpting workflows (it's up to you!).

Norways State Investment Fund Should Dump TeslaIts vast sovereign wealth fund owns nearly 36 million Tesla shares. Better get out while the getting is good.by Ryan Cooper March 28, 20255:15 AMRSSPrintNorways central bank, Norges Bank, manages the Norwegian krone and the countrys foreign exchange reserves. It also runs the largest sovereign wealth fund in the world, the Government Pension Fund of Norway. The international part of that fund, the Government Pension Fund-Global (GPFG) owns about 1.5 percent of all public companies around the world, on average. (The fund is so enormous because Norway wisely chose to invest its oil revenue rather than spending it, to avoid deindustrializing itself and making its economy dependent on the gyrating price of oil.)GPFGs holdings include 35.7 million shares of Tesla, or about 1.1 percent of the company. Norges Bank should sell off that stake immediately, both on the financial merits and to fit with the funds own ethical rules around investment.Let me begin with the business case against Tesla. As I wrote back in January, before Trump took office, the long-term prospects for the company looked dim, despite its sky-high stock price. Elon Musks association with Donald Trump was obliterating Teslas reputation among its core customer base of affluent liberals, while conservatives tend to hate EVs on principle. Teslas poorly constructed product lineup is aging, and its only new vehicle since 2019, the Cybertruck, has been a flop. Meanwhile, competition is ramping up both domestically from Hyundai and GM, and especially internationally, where BYD and other Chinese companies have caught almost every incumbent automaker, including Tesla, with their pants down.Since January, things have gotten much worse. Musks reputation has gotten dramatically more toxic, above all thanks to his throwing a Sieg heil! salute at a Trump inauguration rally and his illegal cuts to federal spending through DOGE. Musks antics have created the kind of headlines and protestsincluding a few instances of vandalismthat any rational company would desperately avoid. Sales are falling sharply in all but one of Teslas top national markets, from 34 percent in the Netherlands to 71 percent in Germany, the biggest car market in Europe. In China, the companys second-largest market, sales are down 49 percent. (The U.K. is so far the lone exception, though I bet not for long.)Indeed, in Norway itselfwhich used to be Teslas eighth-biggest market because almost all cars sold there are EVs nowTesla went from the biggest seller by far in 2024 to, as of March, third place behind Toyota, which has just one distinctly underwhelming EV for sale.The only thing keeping Teslas stock price up is the retail investor cult of personality around Muskbut this is deflating too.As a result, Teslas price has fallen by about 40 percent since I wrote that piece, erasing about $520 billion in market capitalization. But even this is a preposterous overvaluation. It is still worth $888 billion at time of writing, making it the ninth-most valuable company in the world. That puts it at a price-to-earnings ratio of about 136, or roughly 14 times that of Toyota, which sold six times as many cars and earned seven times as much profit last year. Tesla is worth more than TSMC, which made about $35 billion in profits last year, as compared to Teslas $7.1 billion.Musk has promised that autonomous robotaxis and robots are the future of Tesla, but not only has he been promising and failing to deliver this technology for nearly a decade now, his most recent promises are ridiculous on their face. Last year, he claimed his Optimus robots alonehopefully not just some guy in a suitwill turn Tesla into a $25 trillion company. The man is a charlatan.Incidentally, there are companies that actually have figured out driverless taxis, like Waymo, and all indications are that at best it is a low-margin business, because the cars require so much expensive technology, as well as significant human oversight in case of glitches.The only thing keeping Teslas stock price up is the retail investor cult of personality around Muskbut this is deflating too. As John Herrman writes at New York, prominent YouTubers who were previously very friendly to Tesla have started avoiding or criticizing the company. The MAGA-adjacent channel Whistlin Diesel went mega-viral with a video showing how in a bad towing situation, the entire back portion of the Cybertrucks shoddy cast aluminum frame will snap right off. (Every Cybertruck in the country has been recalled because the panels keep peeling away.) Mark Rober, whose channel has 66 million subscribers, did the same with a video showing his Teslas Autopilot crashing directly into a Wile E. Coyotestyle painted wall.At a minimum, it is highly likely that Teslas valuation will eventually fall to something like a normal car company, to maybe $75 billion. It may well fall into a death spiral of collapsing sales and investment and go bankrupt entirely. All this is obviousits why company executives and board members have been selling their shares by the hundreds of thousands, while buying precisely zero. The rats are deserting the ship. Norges Bank would be wise to unload its Tesla stake before reality fully sinks in among the Musk fan base.Second: the moral case against Tesla. Norges Bank is not a passive investor. On the contrary, as Matt Bruenig points out at the Peoples Policy Project, the fund is actively managed, it attempts to participate in every shareholder vote, and there are some moral priorities in its investment strategy. As its website says, We aim to promote long-term value creation at the companies and minimise negative effects on the environment and society. Thats why some companies are blacklisted from the fund, according to criteria outlined back in 2014. Tobacco companies, manufacturers of certain kinds of gruesome weapons, and coal companies are ruled out. So might a company that contributes to or is responsible for serious or systematic human rights violations or other particularly serious violations of fundamental ethical norms.Until recently, Tesla made up the majority of Musks wealth, and he used that wealth to buy the American presidency and seize direct control of the federal budget with his DOGE organization. He and his goon squad of fascist cyber criminals have wreaked havoc across the federal budget, and nowhere worse than the foreign aid budget. USAID has been devastated, funding to PEPFAR (which provides HIV drugs to poorer nations) has been frozen, and a vaccine program was recently terminated.If these cuts hold, millions of people will die. Experts told The New York Times that one year of cutting off HIV/AIDS treatment will kill about 1.65 million people; food aid, 550,000 people; vaccine funding, 500,000 children; tuberculosis funding, 310,000 people; and malaria funding, 290,000. Thats a total of 3.3 million per year. The funding freeze to PEPFAR alone has already killed an estimated 27,000 adults and 2,800 children. Its shaping up to be the worst crime of the 21st century so far, and may rival the death tolls of Hitler and Stalin.Any Tesla shareholder is implicated in Musks crimes against humanity, and more implicated the more shares they possess.Furthermore, Musk is also leading a charge to destroy European democracy. He has meddled in German politics to boost the extreme far-right AfD party, and in British politics in an attempt to oust the Labour Party government. As Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre said back in January, I find it worrying that a man with enormous access to social media and large financial resources is so directly involved in the internal affairs of other countries.Indeed, in February Musk personally attacked Norges Bank Investment Management CEO Nicolai Tangen for having the temerity to vote against Musks outrageous $55 billion pay package, calling him a dangerous politician. Norway has an election in September this year, and it would be entirely in keeping with Musks previous behavior to attempt to boost the far-right Progress Party in retaliation for Norges Bank exercising its legal rights as a Tesla shareholder.So, Mr. Tangen: Dump those Tesla shares, and if you need somewhere to sock away the cash, I suggest Rheinmetall.Back to Search ResultsRyan CooperRyan Cooper is the Prospects managing editor, and author of How Are You Going to Pay for That?: Smart Answers to the Dumbest Question in Politics. He was previously a national correspondent for The Week.Read more by Ryan CooperMarch 28, 20255:15 AMIf you enjoyed this article, please consider The American Prospect has delivered independent reporting that exposes corporate power, investigates political corruption, and analyzes threats to our democracy. Unlike many media outlets, were not owned by billionaires or corporationswere powered by readers like you.Todays independent journalism faces unprecedented challenges. Your support makes our reporting possible and keeps our work free and accessible to all. Whether its $5 or $50, every contribution helps sustain our nonprofit newsroom.Join our community of supporters and make a donation todayto help keep independent journalism thriving.

According to a "large US retailer".Following a report from Insider Gaming's Tom Henderson earlier this week suggesting the Switch 2 would launch in June with a "3-phase" software plan, there's now an update.According to "internal emails and documents" provided to the same outlet from a "large US retailer", Switch 2 stock is expected to sell out on the same day as pre-orders open:Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Amazon'sBig Spring Salekicked off on March 25, and the seasonal savings event runs through this weekend until Monday, March 31. The best part? The Spring Sale is open to all customers -- not just Prime members.I've been scouring Amazon's Spring Sale deals since the event was announced on March 18, including all-time-low prices on top tech like the Apple Watch Series 10, Apple M4 Mac Mini, and plenty of additional tech fromApple, Roborock, Anker, and more.While you can score savings on select products, it's important to remember that not all deals are treated equally. These deals likely aren't as competitive as they were during Cyber Week. Nevertheless, we've selected our favorite Amazon Spring Sale offers that you can shop now, and we'll be updating this list every 30 minutes so you can shop the best of these spring seasonal savings. (Our sister site, CNET,has extensive coverage of Amazon's Big Spring Sale, too.) And be sure to check out other retailers' offers this week as stores cut down prices to compete.Find your Amazon dealsZDNET's top-selling Amazon Spring Sale 2025 dealsOur team has collected the top-selling products among ZDNET readers during the Big Spring Sale so far. (A note: Your privacy is protected. We only have access to aggregate data from our user base, and we cannot identify individual people's purchases).Anker Nano Power Bank USB-C: $24 (save $6): This tiny power bank is perfect for those on the go. ZDNET's Sabrina Ortizloves this battery boosterfor its compact form and foldable adapter, and ZDNET's Charlie Osborne has purchased one for future trips. Thelightning modelis on sale, too.Energizer Max AA and AAA Batteries (48 Count): $23 (save $16): Deals events like Big Spring Sale are a great time to stock up on essentials, and this mixed variety AA and AAA pack of batteries is 41% off.Soundcore Sleep A20 Earbuds: $120 (save $30): Catching up on lost sleep? Ourexpert says these sleep earbuds help you doze off, and they're on sale again for 20% off.Anker MagGo Qi2 15W Charging Pad: $20 (save $5): Got an extra $20 lying around? Expert Adrian Kingsley-Hughes says this budget charger isbetter than Apple's, and has a longer cord, too. Apple 2024 Mac Mini Desktop Computer with M4 Chip: $529 (save $70): The 2024Mac Miniis a great pick for those who want the latest Apple tech without the high cost. For comparison, the M4 iMac and MacBook Pro deliver a similar experience, but prices for those devices start at over $1,000, while the Mac Mini is on sale for 12% off.Apple AirPods 4: $100 (save $30): It's not too often you see deals on Apple earbuds, but Apple's new AirPods 4 range is back down to their lowest price. These buds "feature significant improvements to sound quality, noise cancellation, and comfort,"our reviewer says.Apple AirPods Pro 2: $170 (save $80): Apple'sAirPods Pro 2consistently ranks among the most premium earbuds on the market thanks to their H2 chip and pioneering features. Right now, you can get them for $170 -- the best price we've seen them sell for.Ecoflow Delta Pro Portable Power Station: $1,798 (save $1,002): Featuring a 3600Wh LFP battery capacity, this portable power station provides strong electrical storage for home battery backup power supply and outdoor camping.LG 65-inch OLED G4 Series Smart TV: $1,997 (save $400): This is the best TV our expert saw in 2024, and he still highly recommends it. Plus, it's nearly 20% off.Nitecore NB10000 Gen 3 Ultra-Slim Power Bank: $52 (save $13): Our expert loves that this 10,000mAh power bank can fully charge most phones two times with power to spare. Plus, its dual USB-C QC ports can fast charge two devices simultaneously.Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition: $225 (save $55): Ourexpert saysthe Kindle Colorsoft brings a smooth color display to your favorite books, and its bright screen looks great outdoors, even in direct sunlight. Right now, it's on sale for the first time at 20% off.Eufy E340 Video Doorbell: $115 (save $65): This battery-powered doorbell has no hidden or extra monthly fees, is on sale for its best price yet, and isloved by our smart home expertfor its dual-camera design.Hisense 55-inch Class QLED 4K S7N CanvasTV: $690 (save $310): As Hisense's answer to Samsung's The Frame TV, this TV comes with a frame and allows you to display artwork when you're not watching your TV in a hi-matte display.Our favorite Amazon Spring Sale deals Adam Breeden/ZDNETLenovo Tab M9 Tablet: $80 (save $70): This 9-inch tablet deal is so good, our expert is tempted to buy two. The Lenovo M9 tablet is nearly half off right now.Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS 42mm): $299 (save $100): The Watch Series 10, Apple's latest smartwatch, is down to its best price yet, and expert Matthew Miller says the Series 10 is better than the Watch Ultra in certain areas. Plus, shop the GPS 46mm model on sale, too.KeySmart SmartCard: Our expert loves this Bluetooth card for its thin profile and rechargeable design, and ZDNET has the only exclusive offer available now. Now through April 9, you can use the code25ZDNET2025at checkout to snag $10 (or 25%) off a singular KeySmart SmartCard, or code23ZDNET2025at checkout to get $20 off (or 23%) off a three-pack of SmartCards.Apple iPad Mini A17 Pro: $399 (save $100): Our expert says this is the best iPad you can get for under $400, it supports Apple Intelligence, and it's 20% off.Shark FlexStyle Hair Styler: $220 (save $80): The FlexStyle is most known for being a Dyson Airwrap competitor, and right now it's on sale for 27% off.DJI Osmo Action 5 Camera Adventure Combo Bundle: $369 (save $80): Our expert says if you're into filming vacations or outdoor activities, the DJI Action 5 Pro is one of the best cameras on the market. Plus, several bundle options are on sale now.SwitchBot Wallet Tracker Card: $13 (save $12): This ultra-thin wallet tracker is shaped like a credit card, is highly reliable and works seamlessly with the Apple Find My network. Expert Maria Diaz says its as good as an AirTag. There's an extra 30% off available via coupon, too, and you can save more with multiple purchases.Apple AirTag 4-Pack: $70 (save $29): Speaking of AirTags ... if you'd prefer Apple's native Bluetooth tracker,AirTagsare great for tracking keys, luggage, wallets, and more, and they're on sale for 29% off.Great deals from other retailersSpring Sale deals under $50: MagSafe gear, mobile accessories, and more June Wan / ZDNETAUFU 240W USB-C Magnetic Breakaway Connector 2-Pack: $13 (save $4): Another top-selling product for ZDNET in February, expert Adrian Kingsley-Hughes calls this USB-C accessory the ultimate breakaway connector thanks to its 180-degree swivel feature. Plus, it's saved his laptop from numerous cord-induced crash situations.Baseus Retractable 60W USB-C Cable: $9 (save $2): Our expert loves this retractable USB-C to USB-C cable for keeping her cords tangle free, and it's on sale for under $10 now. Plus, it comes in a 100W version, is available in multiple colors, and has on on page-promo code so you can save more.Chipolo Card Point Bluetooth Tracker: $24 (save $13 with coupon): ZDNET's best-selling product of February is on sale for 31% off. Expert Adrian Kingsley-Hughes says Chipolo's Android Bluetooth trackers are theperfect substitutes for AirTags, (plus, he says they're even better and cheaper).Jakemy 180-Piece Smart Cordless Screwdriver Kit: $40 (save $30 with coupon): Ourexpert saysthis is the perfect accessory for tinkerers (or to just have on hand) and it's over $20 off now.Blink Mini 2 Indoor Cam: $20 (save $20): One of the best security camera deals is back. Save 50% on the Blink Mini 2 Indoor Cam, which oursmart home expert lovesfor its great connectivity, easy set-up, and more.Amazon Echo Pop Speaker: $30 (save $10): Amazon's smallest Alexa-enabled speaker is on sale for 25% off. The larger Echo Dot is also on sale for $40.Amazon Fire TV Stick HD: $20 (save $15): Nearly every model of the Fire TV stick is on sale now, including this HD model that's 43% off, the 4K Max Stick, and the base 4K Stick.ESR Aura MagSafe Wallet and Stand: $19 (save $6): My favorite MagSafe wallet is the perfect companion for most iPhones, holds up to five cards, and has a dedicated ID slot. Plus, it's a few dollars off and comes in several colors. Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET Current price: $30 or $70Original price: $40 or $90Expert Adrian Kingsley-Hughes says Apple AirTags are bulky and not ideal for wallets. His perfect solution is this SmartCard from KeySmart, which is thin and lightweight enough to fit in your wallet or luggage.Lucky for you, ZDNET has an exclusive pormo code that will nab you up to $20 off, and you can't find this offer anywhere else. Now through April 9, you can use the code 25ZDNET2025 at checkout to snag $10 off (or 25%) off a singular KeySmart SmartCard, or code 23ZDNET2025 at checkout to get $20 off (or 23%) off a three pack of SmartCards. Show more View now at Amazon Spring Sale headphone deals: Sony, Bose, Apple, and more Nina Raemont/ZDNETApple AirPods 4: $100 (save $30): It's not too often you see deals on Apple earbuds, but Apple's new AirPods 4 range is back down to their lowest price. These buds "feature significant improvements to sound quality, noise cancellation, and comfort,"our reviewer says.Apple AirPods Pro Max: $479 (save $70): The only Apple-made over-ear headphones dropped by $70. These promise strong noise cancellation and a comfortable fit suited for air travel, deep work sessions at the office, and workouts at the gym. Deals are available for Starlight models.Marshall Major V Headphones: $112 (save $38): Our expert says these deliver powerful sound, with bass and treble to spare and smooth, subtle mids, and can last for days on a single charge. Right now they're under $120.Shokz OpenRun Pro 2: $150 (save $30): Our expert calls these the best bone conduction headphones she's tested, and right now they're seeing a rare sale.Beats Solo 4 Headphones: $130 (save $70): Ourexpert saysthese refreshed Beats Solo headphones carry all the nostalgia while sounding great. Right now they're over $50 off.Nothing Open Earbuds: $129 (save $60): These are without a doubt thebest earbuds for working out-- whether you're in the gym or outdoors.Apple AirPods Pro 2: $170 (save $80): Apple'sAirPods Pro 2consistently rank among the most premium earbuds on the market thanks to their H2 chip and pioneering health features. Right now, you can get them for $170 -- the best price we're seeing right now.Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones: $328 (save $72): Our expert calls the XM5 headphones "basically perfect," and they're on sale for a decent $72 off.Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds: $219 (save $80): Our audio expert tests earbuds for a living and she can confidently say theBose QuietComfort Ultraare the best noise-canceling earbuds on the market -- and they're $80 off now.Bose Ultra Open: $249 (save $50): These open earbuds deliver immersive audio in a unique form factor that mimics a clip-on earring. They're some of the most interesting earbuds we've tested.Google Pixel Buds Pro 2: $179 (save $51): Ourexpert saysthe Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 deliver comfort, utility, and premium features for Android users. Plus, they're currently on sale for $179, which is their best price drop since their release last fall.Beats Studio Pro Headphones: $180 (save $170): These Beats headphones are 49% off and ourexpert saysthey're the perfect middle-ground headphones for Android and Apple users.Beats Solo Buds: $60 (save $20): The cheapest pair of earbuds Beats offers just got 25% cheaper, andthey feature18-hour battery life and a compact form.Beats Studio Buds: $93 (save $57): Our expert says theBeats Studio Budsare a worthy competitor if you're eyeing Apple's AirPod Pro 2s, and right now they're 38% off. Jada Jones/ZDNET Current price: $349Original price: $429Working in a noisy office or traveling on a blaring airplane? You need a good pair of noise-canceling headphones to immerse you in music and quiet the distractions. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones are our audio expert's pick for the best noise-canceling headphones, and they're on sale for $80 off now. Show more View now at Amazon Spring Sale TV deals: Sony, LG, soundbars, speakers, and more Jason Hiner/ZDNETSonos Era 100 Smart Speaker: $199 (save $50): The Sonos Era 100 is the smart speaker expert Maria Diaz recommends to most people, and it's finally on sale for 20% off.Sony Ult Field 1 Portable Speaker: $98 (save $32): Bring this portable speakers to the beach, on picnics, and more -- it's waterproof, dust-proof, and shock-proof. Our expert lovesthe Sony Ult Field 1 for its crystal-clear sound.Beats Pill Portable Speaker: $100 (save $50): Our expert says this Beats speaker delivers "gloriously smooth sound," and right now it's $50 off -- the same price offered during Black Friday.Samsung 43-inch QN90D Smart TV: $848 (save $450): Select models of the Samsung QN90D TV are on sale. This TV is ZDNET's favoritefor gaming thanks to a base refresh rate of 120Hz that can be pushed to 144Hz, making it great for both console and PC gaming.Hisense 65-inch U6 Series ULED Smart TV: $498 (save $236): This limited-time deal on a Hisense U6 TV offers top features like Dolby Vision and Atmos, Game Mode, Mini LED with dimming, and more for 32% off.Insignia 32-inch Fire TV: $75 (save $55): This 32-inch TV is one of Amazon's top sellers for a reason. Right now it's under $100, and is the perfect size for a dorm, kids room, or kitchen.TCL Q65 65-inch QLED Smart TV: $398 (save $152): ZDNET's pick for thebest budget TV with premium features, the TCL Q65, is on sale for over $150 off. Released in 2024, this TV offers great 4K resolution with a 60Hz refresh rate and Dolby Vision support for smooth action and sharper contrast.Hisense 85-Inch QD7 Series QLED 4K UHD TV: $798 (save $300): If you want a huge amount of display space, check out the discount on this 85-inch Hisense Google Smart TV. Jason Hiner/ZDNET Current price: $1,598Original price: $1,998The Sony Bravia X90L is one of our picks for thebest Sony TVs you can buy, and for good reason. Its color accuracy, precision brightness, 120Hz smooth motion, and 4K image processing make it one of our most recommended TVs you can buy. Editor-in-chief Jason Hiner also considers it one of the most underrated TVs available. And with the 2025 TVs hitting the market, you can save on select sizes of this excellent 2023 model. Show more View now at Amazon Spring Sale laptop deals: MacBooks, gaming laptops, and more Kyle Kucharski/ZDNETApple MacBook Air M3: $1,149 (save $350): Eyeing the M3 MacBook Air? This model is a step up from the older M2 but not quite as fast or fresh as the newest M4. It's still a great option if you're looking for a reliable laptop that comes with some savings. The 16GB Unified memory model ison salefor $999, too.Apple MacBook Pro M4: $1,589 (save $210): Speaking of the M4, if you need a fast and capable laptop with speedy software, this MacBook Pro is $200 off right now.Microsoft Surface Laptop Snapdragon X Elite 15-inch: $1,300 (save $400): Our laptopexpert saysthis model lives rent-free in his head for its sleek look, and right now it's on sale for 24% off.Microsoft Surface Laptop Snapdragon X Plus 13.8-inch: $779 (save $222): Our laptopexpert saysthis laptop (Microsoft's first consumer laptop built for the AI era) puts a big smile on his face. Plus, it's on sale with a discount of $223.Lenovo ThinkPad T14s: $1,340 (save $360): ZDNET's pick forbest laptop for workis on sale for 21% off. 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Editor-in-chief Jason Hiner says theMac Mini M4 introduceda "long-awaited redesign [to] one of Apple's quirkiest and most utilitarian products," and this is one of the lowest prices we've seen since its release.Plus, theMac Mini is a great pick for those who want the latest Apple tech without the high cost. For comparison, the M4 iMac and MacBook Pro deliver a similar experience, but prices for those devices start at over $1,000. Show more View now at Amazon Spring Sale smartphone and accessory deals: iPhone, Samsung, chargers, and more Prakhar Khanna/ZDNETGoogle Pixel 9 Pro XL 256GB Unlocked: $949 (save $251): Our smartphone expert loves the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, but says the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL is the better deal, especially while it's on sale.Spigen Rugged Armor Case for Google Pixel 9 Pro: $13 (save $17): If you're taking advantage of these spring savings on a new Pixel 9 Pro, don't forget a case. 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Do not make this dangerous messaging mistakeCorbis via Getty ImagesThe secure messaging apps on your phone are dangerous. Not because their own security measures are vulnerable to attack although that does happen, but because their security is only as good as your behavior. And millions of iPhone and Android users dont realize that simple mistakes can open your phone to attack.That was the crux of the NSAs warning that has now been made public and which has been headlined as a Signal vulnerability in the wake of Trump officials inadvertently inviting a journalist onto a sensitive group chat. But its not. Its a user vulnerability. The NSA notification is a warning to change messaging settings. Nothing more.The NSA warning last month was prompted by Googles Threat Intelligence Group discovering Russias GRU was tricking Ukrainian officials into opening access to their Signal accounts, allowing the Russians to listen in. This wasnt a Signal flaw the app was working as intended. And it wasnt limited to Signal. Google warned this threat also extends to other popular messaging applications such as WhatsApp and Telegram.The two vulnerabilities relate to features in both Signal and WhatsApp that make them easier to use. Linked Devices and Group Links. The first enables you to sync and access your secure messaging apps on all your eligible devices. The second provides a simple way for you to invite new members into a group chat by sending them a link, rather than adding them one-by-one from within the group.The Group Link threat only extends to the group itself, and is easily mitigated. In Signal, disable the Group Link from within the groups settings. In WhatsApp you dont have that option, but do not use links for sensitive groups; you should also set sensitive groups in WhatsApp such that only Admins can add members.The Linked Devices option is much more dangerous as it can establish a fully syncd replica of your messaging app on someone elses device. But again this risk is easily mitigated. In both apps there is a clear settings menu entitled Linked Devices. Go there now and unlink any device you dont 100% recognize as belonging to you. If in doubt, remove. You can always add it back later if you make a mistake. On both apps, your primary phone is the base and all other devices can be linked and unlinked there.There is a twist to this. In the Russian attack, the Signal group invite link was hijacked to link a device instead. But there is no way for someone to link a device without it showing in the settings per above. Regularly checking those links is key. Its also worth periodically unlinking browser web app links (as opposed to apps) and relinking.The NSAs other messaging advice should be common sense. Set and regularly change your app PIN and enable the screen lock. Do not share contact or status info, certainly not outside your contacts. The DOD agency also recommends keeping phone and app contacts a separate, albeit thats painful for everyday use.The concept of secure messaging is widely misunderstood. End-to-end encryption is a transmission safeguard. Content is scrambled by your device and unscrambled when it reaches a recipient. Each end (phones in a chat) is vulnerable to a compromise of that device, a user saving content, or the wrong person invited into a group. None of these apps are bulletproof if your other security is flawed or you make a mistake.You can read the NSAs full advisory here. Take heed and make sure you keep your work plans, your party plans and even your war plans secret.