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YouTube TV is getting a big price hike in January

Mashable - Fri, 12/13/2024 - 12:04

YouTube notified its subscribers on Thursday that, once again, YouTube TV prices are going up.

Subscriptions to the cable TV alternative are increasing from $72.99 to $82.99 a month for the Base plan. The $10 price hike is already in effect for new subscribers, and will increase on Jan. 13, 2025 for existing subscribers. According to YouTube TV's support page, "due to the rising cost of content, we’ve updated our membership pricing to reflect the complete value of YouTube TV."

SEE ALSO: YouTube TV: Here's what you need to know

The days of cord-cutting for cheaper subscriptions to streaming platforms are long gone. But the cost of streaming subscriptions is getting to the point where it's the same — or cheaper to opt for cable. According to CableTV.com, which analyzed dozens of different plans, the average cost of cable is $83 and the average cost of cable and internet combined is $134. So it's pretty comparable if you're paying for a YouTube TV subscription on top of your WiFi plan.

When YouTube TV first launched in 2017 with a $35-a-month plan, it was a clearly appealing choice for cord-cutters. But since then, the price has crept up incrementally to the $83 price tag we have today. Unfortunately, other live TV packages are pretty much the same. The basic Hulu plan with live TV is $82 and that's without the ESPN+ and Disney+ add-ons.

If you're a football fan trying to catch every NFL game of the season, you can say goodbye to your money right now. Mashable's Tim Marcin did the math and discovered it would cost a whopping $891.36 to watch every game across all of the different streaming platforms, including YouTube TV's NFL Sunday Ticket which is an additional four payments of $95 on top of the base plan.

Football streaming aside, if YouTube TV's new price hike is too much, you can always cancel your membership. And maybe it's time to start thinking about cable again.

Was your phone targeted by Chinas Salt Typhoon hack? Your provider might not tell you.

Mashable - Fri, 12/13/2024 - 11:35

Telecommunications giants AT&T and Verizon haven't addressed the full scope of victims of an ongoing Chinese phone data hacking campaign, according to a new NBC report.

In a media call last week, the FBI told the press that they have yet to fully evict Chinese state-sponsored hackers from U.S. networks and that the agency has spent the past months alerting "high-value intelligence targets" — including the campaigns of Donald Trump and Kamala Harris — to the extent of the hack, mainly those of interest to the U.S. government.

But the vast majority of the near-million people affected are most likely average Americans, and most of them have yet to be notified that they're victims. According to NBC, the telecom companies haven't clarified plans to notify customers, either.

SEE ALSO: 5 holiday scams that could wreck your season

The China-backed espionage campaign, labelled Salt Typhoon by Microsoft threat detectors, has utilized what is known as advanced persistent threat (APT) attacks to invade at least eight telecommunications companies for the purposes of exposing personal, individual communications. Recent investigations unearthed the years-long initiative involved the hacking of Americans' data in addition to the monitoring of political targets' communications. It's been called the "worst telecom hack in [U.S.] history by far," by Senate Intelligence Committee chairman Senator Mark R. Warner.

According to NBC, Salt Typhoon also accessed device metadata for non-intelligence targets mainly in the Washington D.C. area, which could have been used to track movements and personal communications although does not provide the content of said communications.

The FCC mandates telecom companies notify customers only when its been established that customers have been or could be harmed by the breach. This includes "financial harm, physical harm, identity theft, theft of services, potential for blackmail, the disclosure of private facts, the disclosure of contact information for victims of abuse, and other similar types of dangers." But definitions and the scope of the breach's harm is up to the discretion of companies themselves.

So far, most of the affected telecom networks have remained tight-lipped over the breach. T-Mobile has alerted customers that an infiltration of their network happened, but have retained that hackers were evicted and no customer data was actually accessed.

Elon Musk’s Playbook for DOGE Has a Precedent: X

NYT Technology - Fri, 12/13/2024 - 11:34
Mr. Musk is wielding his X account to single out federal employees and agencies for cuts. He has used this method before.

Still need to tackle your gift list? Shop Targets holiday countdown sale.

Mashable - Fri, 12/13/2024 - 11:08
Best Target Holiday Countdown Sale Best headphone deal Bose QuietComfort Headphones $199.99 at Target (Save $150) Get Deal Best gaming deal PlayStation 5 Slim Console (Digital Edition) $374.99 at Target (Save $75) Get Deal Best kitchen deal Ninja Creami $179.99 (Save $50) Get Deal

Just when we thought we were done with the holiday shopping events this year, with Black Friday and Cyber Monday wrapping up, Target is springing one last savings event on us. From Dec. 12 to 14, Target is running its holiday countdown sale event to keep a little extra in your wallet this holiday season.

The deals are expansive, with Target offering sales on every category from clothing, beauty, toys, kitchen, home, and tech. You can find this year's hottest products, including the PlayStation 5 and the Ninja Creami.

Plus, find special offers including $10 off when you spend $50 on toys & craft kits. Here are the best deals to shop during Target's holiday countdown sale.

Best headphones deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort headphones $199.99 at Target
$349.99 Save $150.00 Get Deal Why we like it

We know and love Bose headphones for their exceptional comfort and impressive sound, but they're one of the pricier models among the headphones we've tested. Bose's base QuietComfort headphones provide a more budget-friendly alternative — especially when they're on sale.

The Bose QuietComfort headphones are down to $199.99 during Target's holiday countdown event. That saves you $150, for 43% off.

Best gaming deal Opens in a new window Credit: Sony PlayStation 5 Slim Console (Digital Edition) $374.99 at Target
$449.99 Save $75.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Anytime the PS5 goes on sale, we're all eyes. While the Cyber Week sales on the console were limited and fleeting, Target is giving you one last chance to snag the device ahead of the holidays.

Find the PlayStation 5 Slim Console for just $374.99, saving $75 off its listing price. The Slim edition of the device provides a slightly smaller frame, without cutting back on the tech. Plus, this device is on the digital edition model, so you don't have to worry about switching out discs when you play. Instead, store all your games with the device's 1TB of storage.

Grab it now for 17% off, and there's still plenty of time for it to arrive by Christmas.

Best kitchen deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja Creami $179.99 at Target
$229.99 Save $50.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Ninja Creami is that girl. TikTok loves this ice cream maker and so do I, as it makes whipping up sweet treats a breeze. In just minutes, the Ninja Creami spins your frozen concoctions into smooth, creamy desserts.

For the person on your list with a sweet tooth, get them the Creami know that it's down to $179.99. You'll save $50 for 22% savings.

More Target holiday deals to shopTarget Countdown Sale Offers

Stock up on bedtime stories with buy 2, get one free one select kids books at Target

Mashable - Fri, 12/13/2024 - 10:42

BUY TWO, GET ONE FREE: As of Dec. 13, buy two, get one free on select kids' books at Target with a Target Circle membership.

Opens in a new window Credit: Target Buy two, get one free kids' books for Target Circle members Get Deal

Whether your kid is a voracious early reader or you love to curl up with them before bed and enjoy a story together, keeping a well-stocked library is always a good idea. But books don't go on trees, and it can be costly to buy several at a time, especially if you have multiple munchkins. That's why it's a great idea to take advantage of this Target deal that nets you multiple books at a great price.

As of December 13, buy two and get one free on select kids' books at Target with a Target Circle membership. This deal is valid both in-store and online, and it's auto-applied at checkout. There are thousands of books to choose from, all available through the sale landing page. Signing up for a Target Circle membership is free, so make sure you do that before you take advantage of this deal.

Right now, there are tons of holiday-appropriate books to choose from like How the Grinch Stole Christmas! and How to Catch Santa Claus, but there are also books for reading throughout the rest of the year too, like The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, and Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?. There are plenty of different genres and reading levels to choose from, including picture books and junior chapter books, depending on what your kid is currently into.

So whether you need some gift ideas for the kids in your life or you want to grab some more books for the rugrats in your very own home, head over to Target now and see what you can find. This deal is valid through December 14.

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