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The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Wednesday, April 9, 2025:

AcrossWord after "cheap as" or "old as"

• The answer is Dirt.

Sean ___, director who won four Oscars for "Anora"

• The answer is Baker.

"It's the Hard-Knock Life" musical

• The answer is Annie.

Pastry at a tea shop

• The answer is Scone.

Works on a quilt, perhaps

• The answer is Sews.

Down"Never give a sword to a man who can't ___": Confucius

• The answer is Dance.

"You don't need to tell me!"

• The answer is IKnow.

Straps for a horseback rider

• The answer is Reins.

One might be shady

• The answer is Tree.

Big Mouth Billy ___ (singing animatronic fish)

• The answer is Bass.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Mini Crossword.

If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

Strands requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferrined pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 9 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 9 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: That's quite a (tasty) mouthful

The words are things you eat.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are foods with long names.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is FourSyllables.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for April 9

• Watermelon

• Avocado

• Cauliflower

• Arugula

• FourSyllables

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.

The White Lotus has so far taken place in Hawaii, Italy, and most recently Thailand — but where might be a good spot for Season 4?

Speaking to Howard Stern following the Season 3 finale, creator Mike White revealed that he's about to set off for Colombia to get out of LA.

"Are you thinking maybe the next season will take place in Colombia, so you're going to do research?" asks Stern.

"I don't think we're gonna go South America, I think probably not," responds White. "But I've never been there. Maybe one day we could do it there."

And as for when he'll start writing the next season? "I'll be working on it this summer, I'm sure."

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What does DeskSense do?

First, this doesn't mean you have to learn to use yet another AI model. In fact, DeskSense brings together some of the most popular AI models under one umbrella. That includes GPT-4, Gemini Pro, and more. 

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If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

What cops wear.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

BADGE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

To toss.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 9, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

PITCH

Hurdle Word 3 hint

The third month.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 9 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 9, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

MARCH

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Where you can watch The Real Housewives franchise.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for April 9 Hurdle Word 4 answer

BRAVO

Final Hurdle hint

How a diamond is weighed.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

CARAT

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for April 9 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: They share the same shape

• Green: To strike

• Blue: Mentioned in a popular Shakespeare play

• Purple: The second half of the word is the same

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Round three-dimensional objects

• Green: Punch

• Blue: Animals in the witches' brew in "Macbeth"

• Purple: Fox___

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #668 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Round three-dimensional objects: BALL, GLOBE, ORB, SPHERE

• Punch: POP, POUND, SLUG, SOCK

• Animals in the witches' brew in "Macbeth": BAT, DOG, FROG, NEWT

• Fox___: GLOVE, HOLE, HOUND, TROT

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 9

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for April 9 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for April 9, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A grain.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter W.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

WHEAT.

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 9

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.

Each season, Max's popular series The White Lotus gives itself the ambitious task of telling essentially the same story about greed and lust but featuring different wealthy characters enjoying a new exotic locale. The just-concluded third season brought the concept to an imagined luxury White Lotus hotel in Thailand. 

Despite its aspirations, the show's latest installment strained under the weight of a sluggish plot, overly familiar character types, tired narrative arcs, and unsurprising twists — and at least one bafflingly offensive monologue. 

If you watched the show, you've probably catalogued these shortcomings, and maybe a few others. But these predictable creative problems aren't what made the season a disaster. 

SEE ALSO: 'The White Lotus' Season 3 ending explained: Who died?

Instead, the show's sensationalist handling of two plots involving suicide and incestuous sexual assault sent White Lotus hurtling into new territory — exploiting some of the most painful common human experiences for shock value in ways that could be harmful to viewers themselves. 

That take might seem laughable given how White Lotus embraces outrageous scandal as a matter of practice. 

The second season discarded the beloved Tanya McQuoid (Jennifer Coolidge) in a twisted plot that basically ended shortly after she pleaded for help from a bystander, saying, "These gays, they're trying to murder me!" 

The first season's death transpired after the victim, a hotel manager, defecated in the belongings of a guest with whom he'd been feuding, and hid in his closet, only to be discovered and stabbed by his nemesis with a pineapple carving knife. Clearly nothing is too absurd, or off the table, for series creator and sole writer Mike White.  

Yet bizarre murders to which almost no one can relate are one thing. Suicide, incest, and sexual assault are common experiences which have, given their prevalence, likely affected a number of White Lotus viewers. They, or someone they know, has struggled with suicidal thoughts or behavior, or have been a victim of incest or sexual assault. 

A cul-de-sac of dread

In this season, wealthy businessman Timothy Ratliff (Jason Isaacs) arrives in Thailand on vacation with his three children and wife only to discover that he's under federal investigation for financial crimes. Distraught over what this means for his livelihood and family, Tim spends most of the season in the throes of intense, graphic suicidal ideation. 

Exploring how financial crisis can contribute to suicidal thinking is a worthy effort given how money problems are a key risk factor for attempting suicide. 

But White draws out Tim's suicidal thinking partly as a cheap ploy. With each passing episode, the viewer is left wondering whether Tim, who descends deeper and deeper into despair, will be the culprit who takes another character's life, or his own. This will-he-or-won't-he means Tim's fantasies of death and family annihilation make regular, vivid appearances, but to what end? 

Even if White nobly intended to shed light on suicide, scientific research tells us that detail-driven media coverage and storytelling that focuses on hopelessness and a specific method of death can actually increase risk for people who are already vulnerable to suicidal thinking or behavior. Both elements are on full display in several episodes. 

At the very least, White Lotus could've adopted the recommended tactic of including a pre-credits prompt sharing suicide crisis resources with viewers, given the severity and intensity of Tim's suicidal behavior and thinking.

It's possible that some at-risk viewers realized what was coming and opted out of White Lotus' third season, aware that continuing to watch the show wouldn't be worth filling their mind with suicidal thoughts or images. Others still may have known the risk and accepted it, as is every viewer's right. 

It would be a mistake, however, to assume that the graphic depictions of suicide and murder-suicide somehow strengthened the season. 

While Tim's journey through suicidal impulses may reflect what many have endured, the repetitive scenes of death did little except keep the character and the viewer stuck in a cul-de-sac of existential dread and terror. This is arguably the most boring place to be for an audience — and it has the potential to harm. 

This isn't a new debate in film and television. In 2017, the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why generated great concern — and backlash — when it aired the graphic suicide death of a teenage character. Some research conducted in the aftermath suggested an association between the show and an increase in youth suicide. 

Since then, Hollywood has demonstrated notable progress toward responsible yet narratively effective portrayals of suicide (see The Bear and Ted Lasso as prime examples). 

In the end, Tim decides against killing his family and himself, though he accidentally poisons his youngest son in the wake of that choice. The season-finale twist seems to buttress Tim's belief that his family can weather the investigation that will unravel their lives. 

It would've been powerful to show how Tim came to fully embrace his shifting fortunes. But that last-minute development unfolds at the plot's unscrupulous convenience, in the season's dwindling moments, after the real killers are revealed. 

"Satire without substance" 

While Tim is trapped by the fear of losing his wealth, and quite possibly his family's love and loyalty, his two sons are trapped in a separate hell of White's making. 

In a pivotal episode, Tim's sons, Lochlan (Sam Nivola) and Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger), spend an inebriated, drug-addled night on a luxury yacht with two women, Chloe (Charlotte Le Bon) and Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood), expecting a sexual adventure. What happens instead is incestuous sexual assault, with Lochlan physically bringing his unaware brother to climax while simultaneously having sex with Chloe. 

Except White Lotus never fully acknowledges that Lochlan sexually abused Saxon, who wasn't coherent or sober enough to consent, not that Lochlan ever asked permission. 

"It’s essential to call this scene what it is: sexual assault," Dr. Tanya Rawal, director of consulting for the the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), told Mashable in an email. 

"It’s essential to call this scene what it is: sexual assault." - Dr. Tanya Rawal, RAINN

When Saxon encounters both women the day after, Chloe considers her sexual encounter with both brothers as a "threesome." Stunned by this description, Saxon admits he'd blacked out and didn't recall what happened. She brushes it off as a peccadillo. "Everyone has their thing," Chloe says. 

White has spoken about his interest in portraying sexual deviance, especially amongst gay men. But nonconsensual incest is not transgressive — it's sexual assault. No edgy rationale would have justified a similar act of abuse had it been carried out by Saxon against his younger sister, Piper. 

Rawal says there's a "harmful stereotype that men are always willing participants in sex, that they cannot be victims." While Saxon may see himself as a victim toward the season's end, he doesn't articulate that sentiment, nor does any other character. 

The bias against male sexual assault victims can affect how media, critics, and viewers talk about what happened to Saxon, Rawal says. They may default to framing it as provocative rather than recognizing it as traumatic.

Indeed, some of the media coverage and public commentary about the assault saw it not as a fundamental violation of Saxon's body and familial trust, but as "brother-on-brother action" and a "wild incestuous hookup."

Such interpretations and characterizations matter. Rawal says that assault presented as ambiguous, or even normalized, can harm survivors while simultaneously "reinforcing the broader social dynamics that allow such violations to continue unchecked." 

Some creatives believe that tackling taboos — which White has publicly discussed — means taking the story to the extreme. This approach gets a thrill out of putting our collective discomfort on display, as if doing so is both an act of brilliance and a revelation. 

But even for a satire of wealth and privilege like White Lotus, this strategy has limits not born of prudishness or conservatism. 

If something felt deeply amiss with this season of White Lotus, beyond the narrative missteps and annoyances, it may have been the emptiness of mining taboo for shock value with little else to offer. 

Or as Rawal put it, "satire without substance risks reinforcing the very harm it seeks to critique."

If you're feeling suicidal or experiencing a mental health crisis, please talk to somebody. You can reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988; the Trans Lifeline at 877-565-8860; or the Trevor Project at 866-488-7386. Text "START" to Crisis Text Line at 741-741. Contact the NAMI HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI, Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. ET, or email info@nami.org. If you don't like the phone, consider using the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Chat at crisischat.org. Here is a list of international resources.

If you have experienced sexual assault, call the free, confidential National Sexual Assault hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673), or access the 24-7 help online by visiting online.rainn.org.

In over a dozen books, he explored the failures of journalism and the internet, blaming capitalism and calling for the nationalization of Facebook and Google.

The Trump administration is dialing back its enforcement of cryptocurrency, and criticizing Biden-era prosecutions.

I’m a firm believer that the internet runs on two things: catchy beats and weird little guys. This week’s weird little guy? A French fish with arms, legs, and undeniable star power.

Le Poisson Steve, a chiptune earworm by French musician Tomo, found its way into virality through an animated clip by illustrator Vigz. The concept is delightfully minimal. Steve is a fish. He is orange. He has arms and legs. That’s the whole thing — and it works.

The language barrier doesn’t matter. Even with a handful of French, the song’s appeal cuts through. Steve’s pixelated strut and absurd confidence have already sparked a tidal wave of fan art and edits.

Steve the Fish now belongs to the internet — another funky little guy for the digital canon. Plus, there's a longer version of the song you can listen to on Spotify.

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The well-known advice is that you shouldn't use the same password for everything because it's not safe, but that doesn’t make it any less annoying as you’re mentally shifting through every password and variation as you try to log into a bank account or online shop. Creating strong, complex passwords is your most powerful tool against getting your data stolen, but actually remembering those passwords? Oh, man.

Enter: password managers. AKA your best friend in keeping your online accounts safe and saving you the frustration of having to remember all those different passwords. Google and Apple now have built-in password manager tools, but if you want to add some extra layers of security, here are the best password managers.

What does a password manager do?

The best password managers are essentially a way to safely store all your logins and passwords in a safe place. All you have to do is remember one master password and then your password manager will autofill the rest for you. In other words, a password manager is like a secure list of passwords in your phone's notes (or a notebook, if you’re old-school), except losing your phone or notebook won't mean that your entire life is about to be hacked.

Password managers can be apps on your mobile phone, plugins in your browser, or desktop software you install. Some will also help you create, not just store, some super secure passwords that a hacker wouldn’t be able to guess so you don’t have to keep thinking of variations based on your pets’ or kids' names. 

The best password managers will also allow you to secure your devices — like your Kindle or Apple Watch — and even your photos and other private documents that you won’t want easily accessible on your computer or smartphone. Think of it as a form of personal encryption to add even more security to your digital life.

Things to consider when choosing a password manager:

• Do you want passwords to be remembered on your phone and laptop? If so, you'll need to make sure the password manager allows syncing on multiple devices. (As you'll see, most free versions other than LastPass do not allow more than one device.)

• Are you storing passwords just for personal use or do you need to share with a group? Some password managers will allow you to share logins with colleagues or family without actually telling them what the password is. That will allow you to give them access to a site or platform you all use — and remove their access if you need to — without having to worry that they can share the password with people you don’t approve. Others will allow you to set up a family account so that you and your spouse or children can share passwords easily.

• Two-factor authentication: Using the Google Authenticator app, an external device, text message, or something similar, does the password manager require a second form of insurance to make sure that it's actually you trying to log in? Without this, if someone gets ahold of your master password, they have access to all of your stuff.

• Emergency contacts: If you forget your master password, you need to make sure you're not completely screwed. Many password managers are equipped with emergency contacts, which are basically the password version of writing someone into your will. This is where you give a trusted friend, family member, or boss access to your master password in the event that you can't provide it.

What is the best password manager?

Interested in employing a password manager to help make your online life a little easier? We’ve sifted through a whole bunch of password manager programs out there so you don’t have to. Below, we’re listing seven of the best password managers and exactly what each plan offers, so you can easily find the one that best fits your individual needs.

If there's one thing people with iPhones and Android phones can agree on, it's this: Robocalls suck. They're annoying autodialers at best and illegal scams at worst, and they're part of an ongoing problem the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has been trying to crack down on for years.

A report conducted by the visual voicemail and robocall-blocking software company YouMail estimates that about 52.8 billion robocalls were placed to U.S. consumers in 2024, which worked out to nearly 200 robocalls for every adult with a phone throughout the year. That's down from a pre-pandemic peak of 58 billion robocalls placed in 2019 thanks to FCC enforcement actions in recent years. But it's still enough to make unwanted calls the agency's single largest source of consumer complaints and No. 1 consumer protection priority.

SEE ALSO: Why am I getting so many spam calls? And how do I stop it?

"The FCC knows that these calls are a major concern of millions of Americans, and scam calls in particular can result in very real financial losses and serious consumer frustration," the agency writes on its website.

The FCC has extended its efforts to robotexts in recent years, calling them a "growing problem" and one of the "latest scamming trends." It received more than 24,000 consumer complaints about unwanted texts in the first 10 months of 2024.

You may think you'd be savvy enough to know whether someone trying to reach you about your car's extended warranty is a scammer. But as robocalls have increased in frequency over the past few years, they've gotten more convincing, too. In its latest U.S. Spam & Scam Report, the robocall-blocking app Truecaller called out scammers' increased use of artificial intelligence to make robocalls and robotext scripts "sound more realistic and effective." The report noted that one in four Americans reported losing an average of $452 to phone scams in 2023.

What is the best way to stop robocalls and robotexts?

Then-FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel created a dedicated Robocall Response Team in 2021 "to leverage the talents of enforcers, attorneys, policy makers, engineers, economists, and outreach experts" in the agency's fight against robocalls. Since then, the FCC has required phone companies to implement caller ID authentication, enacted rules that stop international robocalls from entering American phone networks, and expanded the restrictions of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act to count AI robocalls as illegal "junk calls." Most recently, it proposed a fine of nearly $4.5 million against a communications provider that appeared to allow robocallers posing as FCC staff.

But federal efforts alone won't be the answer to all of our robocall woes. "Advances in technology have unfortunately allowed illegal and spoofed robocalls to be made from anywhere in the world and more cheaply and easily than ever before," the FCC concedes. "That's why it's become more of a problem for consumers and a more difficult problem to solve." Bad actors' constant rule-skirting has created an infinite game of whack-a-mole.

SEE ALSO: The FCC has decided: Those realistic AI robocalls are illegal.

There's also the issue that many robocalls you get are, in fact, legal, and maybe even wanted — think appointment reminders and emergency alerts. (A robocall's legality depends on several factors, including the technology used to make it, whether it's to a landline or mobile number, and whether it's from a telemarketer who's gotten your consent.) Weeding out illegal calls in real-time without blocking lawful calls is the "most complex part" of the agency's robocall smackdown, it says.

So where does that leave consumers? Along with ignoring calls from unknown or unfamiliar numbers (then blocking them) and listing your phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry, the FCC says consumers can also utilize robocall-blocking apps and services.

Many major phone carriers offer apps for dealing with unwanted calls (ex: AT&T's ActiveArmor, Verizon's Call Filter, and T-Mobile's Scam Shield), so check with yours to see what's available. Phone manufacturers like Apple and Google offer opt-in silencing services that prevent unknown numbers' calls from ringing, too. But if you don't think those tools are powerful enough — most don't actually stop robocalls; they just identify their sources or send them directly to voicemail — you've also got the option of downloading a third-party robocall-blocking app that's purpose-built to stop scammers in their tracks.

What's the best robocall blocker app?

First, some important fine print about these third-party solutions. The pros: Upfront costs for your average call blocker app aren't exorbitant, and most don't require much storage space on your phone. Oftentimes, you won't even be able to tell the app's there. (Some of them are capable of screening and blocking unwanted calls before a user's phone even rings.)

But as former Mashable tech reporter Ray Wong reported, that convenience comes at a cost:

"According to TechCrunch and Dan Hastings, a security researcher at NCC Group, many top robocall-blocking apps share your phone number with analytics firms and [upload] device information such as device type and software version to companies like Facebook without your explicit consent."

To further quote Wong: "Yikes!"

Not every robocall-blocking app is an offender, but even if the one you use doesn't share or sell your data under the table, it probably still collects it. (Many apps rely on a crowdsourced database of numbers to cross-check anonymous callers with already-identified culprits, and those numbers have to come from somewhere — i.e., users' contacts lists.) It's safe to assume, then, that when you're using a third-party blocker app, you're putting personal information like your name, your IP address, and/or your smartphone's name, model, and operating system up for grabs.

All of that being said: If you can get past those privacy concerns, installing a third-party robocall-blocking app remains one of the best and most reliable ways to prevent robocallers, telemarketers, and even pesky political campaigns from reaching you on your smartphone. Just be sure to do your due diligence and pore over its privacy policy first so you know exactly what you're signing up for.

Here are four robocall-blocking apps and tools that we recommend looking into based on their features and user ratings.

Screen time is arguably one of the hottest parenting topics of the past 20 years. For some, screen time literally just refers to the amount of time a kid spends looking at a tablet or phone each day. For others, screen time is a catchall term for the beast of an issue that asks what's behind the screen that kids can't seem to stop tapping and swiping on.

Confiscating the phone may have been the only option for parents a couple of decades ago, but caregivers these days have the option to use parental control software instead.

SEE ALSO: Apple's child safety changes put more of the onus on app developers

Fortnite may be distracting them from their school work, or maybe you'd just feel more comfortable about this increase in screen time if you knew that your child wasn't landing on any inappropriate sites or scrolling through Instagram at 3 a.m. Maybe you want them to engage more in family time together, sans screens. Whatever your reason, parental control software offers a solution to managing your child’s screen time.

How does parental control software work?

Parental control software lets you monitor your child's device — phone, tablet, or computer — remotely. The corresponding apps let parents monitor the big worries like internet searches and browsing history, block problem apps (or block distracting apps during homework hours), limit screen time altogether, track location, and more.

The nice thing about parental control apps is that they can be as invasive or as chill as they need to be, based on the kid's age, proven level of responsibility, and more — including the ability to customize strictness across different devices in the same household.

If you're an iPhone family, downloading external software for this might not even be necessary. Apple's parental controls that are built into the settings of any iOS device are actually pretty exhaustive, from screen time controls to location services. With apps like TikTok and YouTube also offering their own in-app versions of parental control tools, you may be able to create a safer internet surfing environment without your kid feeling like they're being "watched" on a whole separate app.

Below, we're diving into the pros, cons, and overall strictness levels of the top four best parental control apps in 2025.

SPEND $100, GET $30: As of April 8, Target will give you a free $30 gift card when you spend $100 on select baby care, like diapers and wipes.

Opens in a new window Credit: Parasol Free $30 Target gift card When you spend $100 on diapers or wipes Get Deal

Diapers are expensive. It's a fact of life that new parents find out before the baby's even born, and a fact that baby shower attendees find out as they're shopping for the diaper raffle.

Whatever your need for buying diapers this spring, you'll save some money by stocking up at Target. As of April 8, Target is giving away free $30 gift cards to anyone who spends $100 on select diapers or wipes in-store or online. The gift card will have to be used on a later purchase, but it's still an indirect savings of 30%.

SEE ALSO: 15+ eco-friendly gifts that someone would actually use

Anyone caring for a newborn will be able to hit $100 quickly, but if you're just shopping for a single baby shower, see if any friends or family members want to go in on the total together. Even if you have to split the free gift card afterward, it could still cover a cute add-on gift from the registry. The gifting gets expensive, so that extra money could come in handy to cover an add-on from the registry.

Participating brands include The Honest Company, Pampers, Huggies, and Parasol. A few training pants and swim pants are also thrown into the mix.

It's important to have a great antivirus software package that can protect your PC from threats while you browse online. Viruses, malware, ransomware, and phishing threats are all potential dangers when you're online, even if you think you're being careful. New threats are emerging every day, which is why many antivirus software manufacturers take a holistic approach, protecting your system from all kinds of potential threats, not just the obvious ones.

There are plenty of options out there, so it's important to find the right one for you. While free apps are available, they typically offer fewer features. Generally, you get what you pay for, so it's important to choose the antivirus software that's best for you.

SEE ALSO: The best free VPNs we've tested

A dangerous virus or piece of ransomware can lock you out of your system. You could lose banking details, private documents, and personal photos that can never be recovered. Fortunately, if you install the right paid antivirus software, you won't have to worry. 

There are a lot of options out there, but we've picked out top packages that we feel are the best on the market. Find our picks for the best antivirus software below.

EDITOR'S NOTE: We've updated this story to remove Kaspersky following the US government's ban of the software.

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Nintendo has shined a light on an important detail about the Nintendo Switch 2. The company is introducing Game-Key Cards — physical cards that don’t contain game data but instead trigger a digital download when inserted into the console.

SEE ALSO: How much will Nintendo Switch 2 games cost? Here's what we've learned so far.

Nintendo said the cards won’t be locked to user accounts.

In a conversation with GameSpot, Nintendo executive Tetsuya Sasaki clarified that Game-Key Cards “will start up on the console or system that it is slotted into, so it’s not tied to an account or anything.”

That means if you sell or trade the card, the next person should still be able to use it — as long as they’ve got a Switch 2. But there are still caveats. Nintendo’s own support page notes that the card must remain inserted in order to play the game, effectively turning it into a physical DRM key. Think of it like PlayStation Plus: you can install the game, but access is dependent on a condition — in this case, having the card physically present.

SEE ALSO: Nintendo Switch 2 preorders delayed in the U.S. due to tariffs

While the lack of account locking is a win for secondhand buyers, it’s also a reminder that even physical games are becoming increasingly digital and disposable.

Tesla is reportedly refusing Cybertruck trade-ins as inventory. Meanwhile almost $200 million worth of Cybertruck inventory is piling up.

According to Electrek, Cybertruck owners that have tried to trade in their vehicles were told that "Tesla currently doesn’t accept its own vehicle as a trade-in." Additionally, Tesla is reportedly telling drivers that have owned Cybertrucks for a while to go through the Lemon Law process, which protects owners who have bought an irreparably defective car, but only within a short window after purchasing a car (the window varies by state).

SEE ALSO: Every Tesla Cybertruck recall since the launch. See the list

Compounding the issue, Tesla has almost 2,400 Cybertrucks sitting in inventory, which amounts to about $192 million, based on the Cybertruck's roughly $80,000 starting retail price, according to TeslaInfo data.

Cybertrucks have faced multiple recalls since launch. In March, Tesla recalled nearly every Cybertruck ever made because the cant rail (a steel piece above the doors was falling off. That's the eighth Cybertruck recall to date. There's also the issue of Tesla's CEO Elon Musk creating a bit of a PR issue for Teslas and Cybertrucks. Musk's actions as head of DOGE in the Trump administration has prompted Tesla boycotts and Cybertruck vandalism.

Around the time Tesla announced the Cybertruck recall, inventory shot up and has remained consistently higher than other Tesla models, according to TeslaInfo.

President Donald Trump's tariff policies are going into effect, and people who like buying affordable technology are starting to feel it.

Just a few days into the Trump tariff policy, in which some of the hardest-hit countries are manufacturing centers like China and Vietnam, we're already seeing reactions from both tech companies and consumers. Some people are panic-buying new phones to get ahead of possible price hikes, while certain hotly anticipated gaming consoles have had pre-orders delayed indefinitely in the United States.

Here is a list of just some of the biggest names in tech that have been affected by tariffs so far.

SEE ALSO: Trump's China tariffs reportedly tanked the TikTok deal Framework stops selling some laptops due to tariffs This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Framework may not be quite as big of a name as some of the other companies on this list, but for laptop enthusiasts, this one might hurt the most.

The company, which specializes in selling highly repairable laptops with modular parts that can be easily replaced even by casual users, announced on X that certain base Framework laptops are no longer on sale in the U.S. These include the Ultra 5 125H and Ryzen 5 7640U models. It's not clear at this point when (or even if) they will go on sale stateside again.

Framework also provided some clarification in a separate post on X, stating that this is due to tariffs on Taiwan specifically. Interestingly, Framework said other unspecified companies are also doing this, but haven't been open about it.

People are buying iPhones ahead of price hikes

Interestingly, Apple has yet to announce any alterations to iPhone prices or availability due to tariffs, but that hasn't stopped people from apparently flooding Apple Stores over the weekend, trying to get a new phone before price hikes go into effect.

Bloomberg reported that there was a rush on iPhones over the weekend from people who are afraid of prices going up imminently. Trump placed a staggering 54 percent tariff on goods from China, where iPhones are manufactured. According to some very rough calculations courtesy of Reuters, iPhone prices could rise to as high as $2,300 due to these tariffs. However, it should be noted that this may not be likely, as Trump could strike a deal with China in the near future, or Apple could choose not to pass all of the increased costs onto consumers.

Nintendo has delayed Switch 2 pre-orders

Last week was supposed to be the biggest week in years for Nintendo, as it fully unveiled the highly anticipated Switch 2 console with a $450 price tag and an April 9 date for pre-orders in the U.S. Now, both of those things may be off the table.

Nintendo announced in a news blast to media on Friday morning that pre-orders in the U.S. have been delayed indefinitely, explicitly due to tariffs. The global launch date of June 5 is still apparently in effect, but we have no idea when Switch 2 will be available for pre-order in the States, or how much it will cost to get one. To be clear, Nintendo has said nothing about increasing the price of the console yet, but it's hard to imagine there's any reason to delay pre-orders other than to possibly increase the price of the unit.

Much of Nintendo's console manufacturing occurs in Vietnam, which was hit with a huge 46 percent tariff by Trump. Again, due to the possibility (however slight) of a deal between Trump and Vietnam, and the fact that Nintendo might just eat some of the increased cost of the console, it's impossible to say whether or not Nintendo will increase the Switch 2 price, or by how much right now. But if that happens, it will likely be the first big new tech product to explicitly see a price hike due to tariffs before it even launches.