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Score an M1 MacBook Air refurb and save a ton of cash

Mashable - Sun, 10/06/2024 - 05:00

TL;DR: On sale for $514.99 (reg. $1,499), you can own a "Grade A" refurbished M1 MacBook Air that’s good for your budget and the planet.

Looking to upgrade your tech without draining your bank account or adding to e-waste? A refurbished M1 MacBook Air (2020), currently marked down 65% to $514.99, could be the answer to all your eco-friendly, budget-saving dreams. This isn't just about owning a sleek Apple device; it’s about making a choice that’s good for you and the planet. After all, why buy new when you can save money and help reduce waste with a high-quality refurbished model?

The M1 MacBook Air is a legendary laptop. It was so well-designed that it was showing up in Mashable's best laptop guides four years after its launch. With Apple’s powerful M1 chip under the hood, this MacBook Air is more than just good looks. It handles everything from streaming and editing to multitasking like a champ. Plus, it’s so lightweight, you can easily toss it into your bag without feeling weighed down. This is the laptop you’ll be proud to bring to the coffee shop, work remotely, or simply flex at home — all while knowing you’ve made a sustainable choice.

Score a great deal on a powerful MacBook without that “new” price tag. You still get all the Apple cred and performance, but you’re saving cash and cutting down on waste by giving a refurbished device a second life. It’s a win-win. And with an "A" refurbished rating, you might not even notice it's been used before.

So, why not save the planet (and some money) with this refurbished 2020 MacBook Air? You’ll be doing good while looking good.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Refurbished Apple M1 MacBook Air 13.3" (2020, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD, Space Gray) $514.99 at the Mashable Shop
$1,499.00 Save $984.01 Get Deal

3 signs of online grooming you're likely to miss

Mashable - Sun, 10/06/2024 - 05:00

Teens and parents alike may consider themselves familiar with classic signs of online grooming. For victims, that includes withdrawing from friends and family, becoming secretive about online activity, and sharing explicit images of themselves.

But predators are so skilled at deceiving their victims that signs of online grooming can actually be subtle and hard to detect, says Lauren Coffren, executive director of the exploited children division at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.

In fact, when grooming takes place over a period of time, the dynamic can look much like any other friendship in the beginning, filled with conversations about mutual interests.

But another type of grooming, known as financial sextortion, can happen within hours and minutes, which prevents victims and their parents from picking up on the traditional or obvious warning signs. In these cases, predators may pose as a peer and send nude or explicit pictures to their victim, which is not uncommon for teens.

"These bad actors are really good at what they do," Coffren says. "They figured out these tactics of how to trick kids."

SEE ALSO: Why teens are telling strangers their secrets online Signs of grooming you might miss

1. The child is receiving a lot of compliments from a new friend.

Predators often earn a child's trust by complimenting them, says Coffren. They may have taken note of the child's interests or likes and dislikes, as indicated by their social media activity. Then they'll flatter the child by remarking on their good taste.

Compliments may also be based on the child's personality traits, such as their sense of humor or intelligence. Such remarks are designed to break down a child's defenses, and they may be particularly effective when a child already craves validation.

Parents might feel thrilled that their child is talking to someone online who appears to genuinely like them, but the new contact may have a predatory motive. It's important that parents have ongoing conversations with their child about the nature and frequency of online interactions that involve compliments and flattery.

2. The new friend is engaging your child's interests.

Predators can skillfully talk to children about their hobbies and passions, including gaming, music, sports, and pop culture, Coffren says. They build trust with a victim by being curious about and sharing those interests.

Again, this dynamic is something that parents typically embrace for their children when it involves trusted friends. But online, that new connection could be anyone, unless that person legitimately belongs to a child's broader in-person social circle.

If a child is excited by a new online relationship in which shared interests play a key role, parents should remain aware of how that continues to develop. While it could be an authentic peer-to-peer relationship that's fulfilling for both children, predators know how to make it hard for a child to know the difference between that and a bond based on deceit.

3. Their relationship looks like a friendship—with some differences.

Coffren says that traditional online grooming will often look like a typical friendship until the predator's behavior slowly starts to escalate. They might offer the victim gift cards, in-game currency, or other presents to appear generous and supportive. A young recipient will likely consider themselves lucky, not manipulated.

Escalation can also involve riskier chat topics, such as sexual interests. For a teen who wants to feel mature, or who is curious about their own sexuality, these conversations can feel like a step toward adulthood. Unfortunately, predators will ultimately take advantage of this.

Coffren says threats toward the child may follow soon after these exchanges. A predator will often threaten to share screenshots of the chats if the victim doesn't continue to talk to them, or if they refuse to share explicit imagery of themselves.

Coffren urges parents to regularly talk to their kids about what healthy relationships and boundaries look like so that they understand the potential implications of behaviors like gift-giving and riskier chats online. Parents should also discuss what a child can do if they're being targeted by a predator, which can include telling a trusted adult and blocking and reporting that account.

In general, she warns parents of the dangers related to children talking to any strangers online, given how swiftly exploitation can happen. To learn more about what online grooming looks like, and how to discuss it with children, Coffren recommends NCMEC's comprehensive resources on the topic.

Most importantly, Coffren advises parents to be unequivocally supportive of a child who shares that they've become a victim of online grooming.

"We put all of this pressure on children to be able to say, 'Never put yourself in that position,' instead of saying, 'OK, if you find yourself in that position, here's the steps you can do to be able to get out,'" Coffren says.

If you are a child being sexually exploited online, or you know a child who is being sexually exploited online, or you witnessed exploitation of a child occur online, you can report it to the CyberTipline, which is operated by the National Center for Missing Exploited & Children.

How to watch Packers vs. Rams online for free

Mashable - Sun, 10/06/2024 - 04:00

TL;DR: Live stream Green Bay Packers vs. Los Angeles Rams for free on 7plus. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The NFL action continues today with a showdown between teams from NFC North and NFC West, with the Green Bay Packers at the Los Angeles Rams.

Both teams have had patchy starts to the season. The Packers have alternated wins and losses over the first four weeks and took a hit when quarterback Jordan Love injured his MCL — but he was back in a loss against the Vikings and will look to secure the Packers' second win on the road so far this season.

The Rams, meanwhile, have struggled to get going this season but will have the edge on home turf. Their only win came at SoFi — against the 49ers, no less.

If you're interested in watching Green Bay Packers vs. Los Angeles Rams for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Packers vs. Rams?

Green Bay Packers vs. Los Angeles Rams starts at 4:25 p.m. ET on Oct. 6. This fixture takes place at the SoFi Stadium.

How to watch Packers vs. Rams for free

Green Bay Packers vs. Los Angeles Rams is available to live stream for free on 7plus.

7plus is an Australian streaming site that's geo-restricted to viewers in the country. But anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy online tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) while connecting you to a secure server based in Australia. That will allow you to bypass geo-restrictions to access 7plus from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the NFL by following these simple steps:

  1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia

  4. Visit 7plus

  5. Live stream Green Bay Packers vs. Los Angeles Rams for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not technically free, but top VPN providers usually offer free trial periods or money-back guarantees. By making the most of these deals, you can access free live streams of the NFL without parting with any cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it will give you enough time to watch Green Bay Packers vs. Los Angeles Rams and other select NFL games before recovering any upfront investment.

What is the best VPN for the NFL?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the NFL live, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including Australia

  • Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

  • Fast connection speeds

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95, which saves you 49% off the regular price. As part of this limited-time deal you'll also get an extra three months of coverage at no additional cost, a whole year of unlimited cloud backup for free, and a money-back guarantee within 30 days.

Live stream Green Bay Packers vs. Los Angeles Rams for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

How to watch Giants vs. Seahawks online for free

Mashable - Sun, 10/06/2024 - 04:00

TL;DR: Live stream New York Giants vs. Seattle Seahawks for free on TVNZ+. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

As we enter Week 5 of the 2024 NFL season, the New York Giants are about to visit the Seattle Seahawks in a clash between AFC East and NFC West.

The Seahawks are looking good so far, having won in the first three weeks of games. They dropped a game against the Detroit Lions last week but still have the edge over the Giants, who have only managed a single win so far and lost three.

But there's a long way to go in the season. It's still all to play for — and you can stream the Sunday football action for free.

If you want to watch New York Giants vs. Seattle Seahawks for free from anywhere around the world, here's all the information you need.

When is Giants vs. Seahawks?

New York Giants vs. Seattle Seahawks starts at 4.25 p.m. ET on Oct. 6. This fixture takes place at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington.

How to watch Giants vs. Seahawks for free

New York Giants vs. Seattle Seahawks is available to live stream for free on TVNZ+.

TVNZ+ is a New Zealand-based streaming site that's geo-blocked outside of the country. However, you still can access this free streaming platform from anywhere around the world by signing up for a VPN. A VPN is a useful online tool that will hide your real IP address (digital location) while also connecting you to a secure server in New Zealand. This will allow you to sidestep geo-restrictions and access TVNZ+ no matter where you're based.

Access free live streams of the NFL by following these simple steps:

  1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in New Zealand

  4. Visit TVNZ+

  5. Live stream New York Giants vs. Seattle Seahawks for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not actually free themselves, but the leading VPN services will usually offer free trial periods or money-back guarantee deals. Take advantage of this to access free live streams of the NFL without spending anything. It's obviously not a long-term solution, but it will give you enough time to watch New York Giants vs. Seattle Seahawks before recovering any initial downpayment.

What is the best VPN for the NFL?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the NFL live, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including New Zealand

  • Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

  • Fast connection speeds

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95, which is a huge saving of 49% on the regular price. Within this limited-time deal you'll also receive a bonus three months at no extra cost, a full year of unlimited cloud backup, and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Giants vs. Seahawks for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

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