IT General

Netflix has released a new app called Playgrounds, essentially serving as an app for kids to play games. While it’s always been possible for parents to set up kids' profiles and monitor their activity and access content on the main Netflix app, this new app throws a couple of useful features in the mix.

It's undeniable that HBO Max has delivered some of the best TV series of all time, with compelling stories that linger long after the credits roll. And since the streamer ended 2025 with more than 130 million subscribers, it's clear that there's still a healthy appetite for the prestige storytelling it delivers.

If you're a Paramount+ subscriber swiping through its library of movies for something good to watch this week, then you're in luck. Every week, I do a bunch of that scrolling for you to try and pull some of the best films from its roster of critical darlings, blockbusters, and hidden gems.

The Samsung Galaxy S26 lineup just dropped a couple of months ago, but we're already getting leaks about the Galaxy S27 lineup.

Korean news outlet ET News (via Phone Arena) reported that Samsung is considering adding a fourth model to the S27 lineup. For years, Samsung has launched three flagship Galaxy S phones every January or February: a base model, a Plus model, and an Ultra model. According to the ET News report, Samsung could add a Galaxy S27 Pro model to the mix next year, which would share a lot of the same flagship features as the Ultra, but presumably with some compromises to get the price down a bit.

As for which features will remain and which will not, the report is vague about that, possibly because we're so far out from these phones launching. The one big nugget ET News shares is that the new, lower-priced Pro would not include or support the S Pen, Samsung's trademark stylus that became a standard feature of Galaxy Ultra phones a few years ago. It could also include the Privacy Display feature that wound up being one of the main selling points of the S26 Ultra, per ET News.

SEE ALSO: Samsung's A37 and A57: midrange phones with some premium features

While this report suggests Samsung will launch four phones in the Galaxy S line next year, it's worth noting that as recently as last year, Samsung was reportedly going to replace the S26 Plus model with a thinner Edge model, inspired by the Galaxy S25 Edge. However, poor Edge sales scuttled that plan, leaving Samsung to launch three S26 phones that were pretty similar to the year before. Samsung could theoretically try that again by replacing the S27 Plus with an S27 Ultra, but based on this report, that's not going to be the case.

Sadly, we don't yet know a lot else about the S27 lineup. A previous leak a few months ago suggested the S27 Ultra could have an upgraded main rear camera sensor, but that report was vague about what the upgrades would actually be. Upgrades to performance, battery life, and AI features would also be reasonable to expect, but we haven't heard firm details about those just yet. It might be a while before we do.

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) would like to remind Americans about the potential dangers of using foreign apps, particularly those based out of China.

In a recently released Public Service Announcement (PSA), the FBI warns mobile users about "many of the most downloaded and top-grossing apps in the United States," which are "developed and maintained by foreign companies, particularly those based in China."

As Forbes points out, China's National Intelligence Law requires that China-based companies provide their data to the government.

"All organizations and citizens shall support, assist, and cooperate with national intelligence efforts in accordance with law, and shall protect national intelligence work secrets they are aware of," reads Article 7 of China’s National Intelligence Law.

"National intelligence work institutions lawfully carrying out intelligence efforts may request that relevant organs, organizations, and citizens provide necessary support, assistance, and cooperation," reads Article 14 of the law.

While the FBI did not name any specific apps, a quick look at the top apps in both Apple's App Store and on Google Play suggests that the bureau is likely talking about apps like CapCut and Lemon8 from ByteDance and shopping apps like Temu and Shein.

"The apps that maintain digital infrastructure in China are subject to China's extensive national security laws, enabling the Chinese government to potentially access mobile app users' data," the FBI's warning says.

The FBI's security concerns about foreign apps echo the national security arguments that eventually led to the forced sale of TikTok. To continue operating in the U.S., the federal government required that ByteDance sell a majority of the company to a consortium of U.S. investors, including Oracle. ByeDance, however, still has minority ownership in the company now known as TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC.

Under President Donald Trump, the federal government has taken steps to shore up specific U.S. industries against competitors in China, particularly drones and routers. While the drone ban cited national security concerns, companies like DJI have said these efforts are merely an attempt to stifle competition.

SEE ALSO: The confusing U.S. router ban, explained: Which routers are banned?

The FBI's PSA warns about the data-collection permissions that users frequently grant to apps. For instance, many apps ask for permission to access users' contacts to invite their friends and family to use the same app. This frequently provides those platforms with names, phone numbers, email addresses, physical addresses, and more. This data can then be stored on a company's servers, which the FBI points out could be located in China. The PSA also states that location, photos, and messages could be compromised.

The FBI also warned users about downloading apps from third-party app stores, which could contain malware. This is mostly an issue for Android users, as Apple requires iPhone and iPad apps to be distributed through the official App Store in the U.S.

Regardless of whether you're an iOS or Android user, the FBI issued advice to protect your data. The FBI recommends that users disable unnecessary data sharing, frequently change passwords, and ensure their devices are up to date with the latest operating system and security updates.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

A great movie should either keep you on the edge of your seat, give you all the feels, or make you think. Most importantly, it should entertain you and help you wind down after a long day of work. Netflix's massive range of movies offers plenty of choices for movies capable of ticking one or all of those criteria off, but the problem is finding and choosing the right one.

If you have a homelab, then you’ve likely considered self-hosting every service you use. I’ve thought about that too, but there are certain services that I outright refuse to host at home.

The 53 designation from Mercedes-AMG has traditionally represented the mid-tier model, a balance between daily driving and all-out performance (43 is entry level, while 63 is at the top of the mountain). The 2027 Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 Hybrid is perhaps punching a little further above its class, offering a strong balance of power and all-electric range.

Microsoft is working on making changes to Windows 11's design based on customer feedback to improve the user interface. There will be improvements made to the Settings section, which is being “redesigned for clarity”.

I honestly can’t stop myself from watching 20th-century classic movies, and as long as Amazon Prime Video keeps adding so many good ones to their library, my habit will continue. To help you ease through the week, I’ve selected five favorites from the streamer’s April lineup.

TL;DR: Live stream Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich in the Champions League for free on Virgin Media Player. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The next round of Champions League fixtures includes some really huge matchups. That's what you'd expect from the quarter finals, but Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich is still something special. Fans are getting to see some of the best players in the world battle it out over two legs. That's what the Champions League is all about.

If you want to watch Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich in the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich?

Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich in the Champions League kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on April 7. This fixture takes place at the Estadio Bernabeu.

How to watch Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich for free

Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich is available to live stream for free on Virgin Media Player.

Virgin Media Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Ireland, meaning you can unblock Virgin Media Player to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich for free 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 Ireland

4. Visit Virgin Media Player

5. Watch Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select Champions League fixtures before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Virgin Media Player?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Virgin Media Player, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Ireland

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Watch Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Sporting CP vs. Arsenal in the Champions League for free on Prime Video. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Champions League is reaching its dramatic conclusion, with only four teams left in contention for the top prize.

Sporting CP vs. Arsenal is one of the quarter-final matchups. Arsenal will be expected to progress into the next round, but they've shown some inconsistent form of late. They'll need to improve after losing to Southampton in the FA Cup at the weekend.

If you want to watch Sporting CP vs. Arsenal in the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Sporting CP vs. Arsenal?

Sporting CP vs. Arsenal in the Champions League kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on April 7. This fixture takes place at the Estádio José Alvalade.

How to watch Sporting CP vs. Arsenal for free

Sporting CP vs. Arsenal is available to live stream for free on Prime Video (30-day free trial).

This free stream is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another location, meaning you can unblock Prime Video to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Sporting CP vs. Arsenal for free 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 the UK

4. Visit Prime Video

5. Watch Sporting CP vs. Arsenal for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Sporting CP vs. Arsenal without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select Champions League fixtures before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Prime Video?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Prime Video, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Watch Sporting CP vs. Arsenal in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

If you got a sketchy text last year about an unpaid toll or parking ticket, you weren't alone. Those DMV and E-ZPass phishing scams swept across the country in 2025, targeting drivers in states like California, Florida, and New York with fraudulent messages designed to scare people into handing over their personal and financial information. Now the scammers are back, and they've upgraded their approach.

In the latest iteration of this scam, consumers receive a text message warning them they are receiving a "final notice" for a traffic violation, warning them to make an urgent payment, and pointing them to a QR code for payment.

According to a new report from BleepingComputer, a wave of these traffic violation phishing texts is making the rounds across at least nine states: California, Connecticut, Illinois, New Jersey, North Carolina, Virginia, and Texas. Mashable also found evidence that scammers are targeting people in Georgia as well.

This time, instead of a simple link, the messages include an image of a fake official court notice and a QR code. The notice is dressed up in convincing legal language, warning recipients that their vehicle is the subject of an outstanding violation and that the matter has entered "formal enforcement stage." Scan the QR code, it instructs, to settle your unpaid balance.

SEE ALSO: 'Castfishing' is the latest scam, and it's scarily like sextortion

That balance, in every case that BleepingComputer documented, is $6.99 — a small enough amount that plenty of people won't think twice about paying it.

Scanning the code takes victims through a CAPTCHA before depositing them on a fake DMV site designed to harvest names, addresses, phone numbers, and credit card information. The stolen data can then be used for identity theft, financial fraud, or sold to other bad actors.

The previous version of the scam, which we covered last year, relied on clickable links that security software could more easily flag. The embedded images on top of the added CAPTCHA make it harder for automated systems and security researchers to catch.

The Illinois Department of Transportation issued an alert this past March warning residents that texts claiming recipients owe money for traffic tickets, tolls, or other fines are not legitimate messages from the state. That warning echoes what DMV agencies in New York and elsewhere have said repeatedly: state agencies do not use text messages to collect payments or request personal information.

Most recently, California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a press release warning Californians about the scam.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. What to do if you receive a traffic violation notice by text

The rule here hasn't changed, even if the scam has. If you get an unsolicited text about an unpaid fine, traffic violation, or court case, regardless of how official it looks, don't scan anything, don't click anything, and don't pay anything.

Contact your local traffic court or state DMV for information about any outstanding violations or fines, which will typically arrive by mail.

Finally, you can report suspected phishing scams to the FTC or the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center. You can ignore the text message or delete it.

Have a story to share about a scam or security breach that impacted you? Tell us about it. Email submissions@mashable.com with the subject line "Safety Net" or use this form. Someone from Mashable will get in touch.

Disposable compressed air dusters are an essential part of the desktop toolkit, as they provide an easy, efficient, and effortless way to clean your computer and everything around it. However, they come with one major downside—they are a one-and-done deal. Once you run out of gas, you need to buy a new can.

With the start of April, Netflix is welcoming entertaining movies that will be available to stream for the foreseeable future. One of the new movies I'm ready to watch is Thrash, a new shark movie where the Jaws-like creatures wreak havoc on a coastal town during a hurricane. It might only be spring, but I'll watch this type of survival thriller any time of the year.

Microsoft has positioned Copilot as a serious tool that can be used as an all-purpose digital assistant, even introducing a new class of laptops: Copilot+ PCs.

But within Microsoft's updated Copilot terms of service — effective October 24, 2025 — is a line that should give pause to anyone using the company's AI assistant for anything more consequential than sorting a list.

The fine print reads: "Copilot is for entertainment purposes only. It can make mistakes, and it may not work as intended. Don't rely on Copilot for important advice. Use Copilot at your own risk."

SEE ALSO: Microsoft says Copilot was summarizing confidential emails without permission

The terms go further, noting that Microsoft makes no warranty that Copilot's responses won't infringe on someone else's rights, and that users are "solely responsible" if they choose to publish or share anything the AI produces. The company also reserves the right to limit, suspend, or permanently revoke access to Copilot at any time, without notice, for any reason it sees fit.

To be fair, most major AI companies include similar hedging language in their terms — acknowledging that their models hallucinate, get things wrong, and shouldn't be treated as authoritative sources. But "entertainment purposes only" is a notably stark framing for a product Microsoft has aggressively positioned as a productivity tool and integrated across its entire Office and Windows suite.

The updated terms also added language covering Copilot Actions, Copilot Labs, and shopping experiences — and clarified that when you ask Copilot to take actions on your behalf, you're solely responsible for whatever happens as a result.

So: use it to brainstorm, sure. But think twice before using it as a therapist.

As Earth's 8 billion inhabitants beam well wishes up to the sky, the crew of NASA's Artemis II mission is looking back at us with just as much hope.

The mission's Orion spacecraft sent back its first image of Earth on April 2, a beautiful shot of a crescent Earth peeking out through the dark expanse of space, and the crew has gifted us even more stunning high-quality images in the days following.

This black-and-white picture of planet Earth was taken by an optical navigation sensor on the exterior of the Orion spacecraft. Credit: NASA

The new Artemis II images — coupled with initial shots of the spacecraft hurtling through Earth's orbit, surrounded by glittering, galactic ice — have rendered much of the public awestruck, feeds flooding over with an overwhelming sense of emotion as the astronauts look back at our home.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. SEE ALSO: Artemis II just reached a point of no return. Next stop: The moon.

Artemis II's crew — Commander Reid Wiseman, mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen, and pilot Victor Glover — includes the first woman and first Black astronaut to go to the moon. For many, the diverse team represents the best of what humanity has to offer, the pinnacle of human ingenuity and bravery.

"Trust us: You look amazing, you look beautiful, and from up here, you also look like one thing," Glover said during a broadcast on Flight Day 2. "We're all one people."

The historic, awe-inspiring mission to the moon will take them farther than any humans have gone in space. It will hopefully be the first of a series of efforts to get us back on the lunar surface — and back to the age of Apollo. And it's just getting started.

NASA is sharing images on its website, where you can check out more of the new Artemis II shots:

Wave hello! Artemis II is watching us. Credit: NASA / Reid Wiseman

Well, there we all are. The blue marble. For those who need a little orientation: The large landmass you see in the center-left is Africa. The thin line of glowing green light on the top right and bottom left? The aurora borealis, hovering above us earthbound humans and lighting up our sky as Artemis II sails away.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Credit: NASA Credit: NASA

NASA posted these two shots of mission specialist Christina Koch and commander Reid Wiseman on April 5, a day before the crew expects to slingshot around the moon. They're also NASA's first iPhone selfies, taken with the iPhone 17 Pro Max all the way in space.

Credit: NASA / Reid Wiseman

Take a look at this incredible shot of the Earth through the Orion capsule window, which NASA posted with a cheery "Good Morning" to the spacecraft's inhabitants and the mission's stateside teams.

Stay safe, Orion crew. That's all of us cheering you on.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Curious where the Artemis II mission is right now? Check out NASA's live mission tracker.

UPDATE: Apr. 6, 2026, 1:30 p.m. EDT This story was updated with additional images of mission specialist Christina Koch and commander Reid Wiseman.

There are quite a few microcontroller options on the market, from Arduino and Raspberry Pi to Espressif’s ESP32 platform. Personally, I'm not too fussed about Arduino or Raspberry Pi—here’s why my next microcontroller will be an ESP32.

Artemis II astronauts will watch Earth sink and rise behind the moon's curved edge today and ride through a slow solar eclipse unlike anything anyone has seen from home.

From the windows of the Orion spacecraft, the crew will see Earth as a bright, blue orb hanging above a stark gray foreground. Sunlight reflecting off oceans, clouds, and continents will turn our planet into a luminous beacon in the blackness of deep space. As the spacecraft curves around the moon, that beacon will drift lower and finally slide behind the cratered lunar rim in a slow-motion Earthset.

Unlike a sunset on Earth, where the sun drops beneath a distant horizon, this Earthset involves the entire planet. To the astronauts, Earth will seem to glide across the sky and then vanish. In that moment, the place where everyone they know lives will disappear from view, replaced by a silent, airless world.

All of this unfolds during today's close lunar flyby, the centerpiece of NASA's Artemis II mission. This swing around the lunar far side marks the climax of the 10-day spaceflight, when astronauts Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Jeremy Hansen come closest to the moon's surface, lose contact with Earth for over 40 minutes, and experience the rare combination of Earthset, a drawn-out solar eclipse, and Earthrise in a single sweeping arc.

SEE ALSO: Artemis 2 crew could be the first to ever lay eyes on these lunar areas

As Earth goes out of sight, radio contact with mission control will drop for roughly 40 minutes because the moon itself blocks the line of sight back home. Even without that link, the crew will keep working in the Orion spacecraft, dubbed Integrity, using onboard devices to capture images, measurements, and notes. 

"I would love it if the entire world could come together and just be hoping and praying for us to get that acquisition of signal," said Glover, the mission's pilot.

Apollo 8 astronauts captured Earthrise, the first color photograph of Earth taken by a person in lunar orbit, on Dec. 24, 1968. Credit: NASA

In that radio silence, the crew will also experience a unique kind of solar eclipse. On Earth, when the moon passes in front of the sun, the two appear almost the same size in the sky, and people on the ground see the sun's hazy outer atmosphere, called the corona, spread around a dark lunar disk. 

Near the moon, the geometry changes. From the astronauts' perspective, this is still a solar eclipse: The moon slides in front of the sun and blocks its light. The difference is our planet will appear off to the side, rising and setting near the rim, while the shrunken sun slowly disappears behind the much larger lunar surface.

The crew will use protective eyewear similar to the eclipse glasses people wore during the total solar eclipse across North America in April 2024. Those filters will let them safely look toward the sun in the moments before it vanishes and just after it returns.

"It's a little bit different, just based on the sizes of the objects. When we experience an eclipse here on Earth, the sun is about the same size whenever it's eclipsed by the moon," said Trevor Graff, an Artemis science officer, during a NASA broadcast. "The Integrity crew is going to be much closer to the moon at that time, so they're going to see the sun as a small disk [that] disappears."

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Once the sun is concealed, the scene will change again. With direct sunlight blocked, the astronauts will have a rare chance to study the moon without glare. Subtle features in the landscape may stand out more clearly against the dim, scattered light that remains. In that extended twilight, the moon itself becomes the main subject, lit only by reflected light and the faint glow of the distant universe.

"The moon will look about like holding a basketball at arm's reach," said Jacob Bleacher, NASA's chief exploration scientist, "so they'll be able to see a good bit of the moon."

A stuffie designed by an eight-year-old child serves as the zero-gravity indicator in the Orion spacecraft for the Artemis II mission. Credit: NASA / Youtube screenshot

As they round the moon, the planet will reappear as an Earthrise, echoing the famous scene first photographed during Apollo 8: the gray curve of the Moon in the foreground, with a colorful Earth lifting into view above it. Rise, the mission's zero gravity indicator and plush mascot, celebrates that moment and bridges history with NASA's return to lunar space after more than 50 years. The little guy who freely floats through the cabin was designed by a second-grader in California.

If communications return on schedule, people on the ground may see elements of this sequence almost in real-time, sharing the instant when Earth clears the lunar edge and brightens the spacecraft windows. Behind the scenes, a dedicated science evaluation team will begin sorting through the flood of images and measurements, helping mission controllers decide what to prioritize for early analysis.

By the end of this long day, the spacecraft will have begun the journey home for a nailbiting splashdown off the California coast on Friday, April 10. 

Artemis II is about to have its climactic moment: The crew is heading into their closely choreographed lunar flyby, when their spacecraft will swing around the moon's far side. 

NASA will broadcast the space event live on Monday, April 6. During this pass, the four astronauts will carry out a detailed science plan that calls for 30 different observation targets. Some of the crew will station themselves at the central windows to photograph and document the moon views, while others will offer support from inside the cabin, rotating through roles as the flyby unfolds.

As the spacecraft moves behind the moon, Earth will gradually slide across the windows and then slip out of sight in a dramatic Earthset. During that period, radio contact with mission control in Houston will drop for about 40 minutes, a planned loss of signal caused by the moon blocking the line of sight. Even without that communication link, the crew will keep working.

Check out these Mashable stories for how to watch the historic mission milestone, why scientists are excited about the crew's lunar observations, and what the astronauts will experience from their perspective:

• Artemis 2 crew could be the first to ever lay eyes on these lunar areas

• How to watch the Artemis II moon flyby live

• The day Earth slipped behind the moon: the Artemis II crew's eclipse

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