Technology

Meta reportedly tests way to secretly watch Instagram stories

Mashable - Tue, 03/31/2026 - 17:18

Instagram users might soon be able to anonymously view Instagram stories, a new Meta leak revealed.

Social media consultant Matt Navarra shared a screenshot on Threads of an upcoming "Instagram Plus" service for users of the image-sharing app, according to Engadget. The offer for Instagram Plus has apparently been seen by users in the Philippines and Mexico recently, signaling that Instagram is testing it out in a limited capacity before going wide.

Meta confirmed the existence of Plus to Engadget. The service offers several exclusive benefits, but perhaps the most eye-catching one is the ability to "preview" Stories.

SEE ALSO: The top 10 most-followed Instagram accounts

In the screenshot Navarra posted, that feature is associated with an eyeball icon with a line through it, suggesting that Instagram Plus users can view a Story without being added to the list of viewers.

Of course, that's not the only feature you get from Instagram Plus. Users who pay for it can also post 48-hour Stories, set up multiple audiences for a Story, see who has rewatched a Story, and more. Pretty much all of the benefits extend to Story usage, as far as we can tell. Given that posting Stories is far more trendy than posting to the grid, that makes sense.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Walmart is running its own Spring Sale — deals are still live on Dyson, Shark, Ninja, and more top brands

Mashable - Tue, 03/31/2026 - 17:16
The best Walmart Spring Sale deals at a glance: Best Apple deal Apple AirTags (1st Gen, 4-pack) $59.99 (save $39.01) Get Deal Best headphones deal JLab JBuds Lux ANC Headphones $41.99 (save $38) Get Deal Best vacuum deal Dyson V12 Detect Slim $479.99 (save $250) Get Deal Best Home Deal Dreo 42-inch Tower Fan $79.99 (Save $63.99) Get Deal Best kitchen deal Beautiful 1-Liter Electric Gooseneck Kettle $24.96 (Save $13) Get Deal Best Toy Deal Toniebox 2 Audio Player — Disney Moana Bundle $99 (save $40.99) Get Deal Cheaper than Amazon Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M4) $559 (save $40) Get Deal

Amazon's Big Spring Sale wraps up today, March 31 at 11:59 PM PST. The retailer lead the charge on spring savings, and other retailers, including Walmart, joined in. As Amazon's sale winds down, so does Walmart's sale, but there are deals still live.

SEE ALSO: Amazon's Big Spring Sale is surprisingly good: We found 111+ deals on Apple, DJI, Sony, and Dyson

Walmart's deals have admittedly been the least impressive of all the retailers running spring sales. But we've found some gems, including discounts on a Dyson stick vacuum that you won't see on Amazon. Beyond those, Walmart is also price-matching some of Amazon's Big Spring Sale offers, which is good to keep in mind in case they wind up selling out there.

Read on to see our list of all the best deals worth shopping during Walmart's Spring Sale.

Best Apple deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirTags (1st Gen, 4-pack) $59.99 at Walmart
$99 Save $39.01   Get Deal

Apple launched the new AirTag 2 in January, which, of course, means the original AirTags are priced to move. Walmart and Amazon are both selling four-packs of them for the record-low price of $59.99 (normally $99), which works out to just $15 per tracker. That's a steal.

More Apple deals

AirPods

iPads

Best headphones deal Opens in a new window Credit: JLab JLab JBuds Lux ANC Headphones $41.99 at Walmart
$79.99 Save $38.00   Get Deal

Our favorite budget headphones are the JLab Jbuds Lux ANC headphones, which bring excellent active noise cancellation and 70 hours of battery life. While they won't deliver the best sound you've ever heard, it is going to be clear, well-balanced sound. They're an unbeatable value even when they're not on sale, but right now, you can score a pair for just $41.99 (a $38 savings). Amazon is matching that deal.

More headphone dealsEarbud dealsBest vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson V12 Detect Slim $479.99 at Walmart
$729.99 Save $250   Get Deal Why we like it

Our resident cleaning expert thinks the V12 Detect Slim is the best Dyson vacuum for most people, especially folks who live in small spaces. (It has a runtime of about one hour per charge.) There's a green laser on the front of it that spotlights easily missable crumbs and hairs, and it's light enough to wield with one hand. Walmart has it marked down to $479.99, normally $729.99, which matches a deal on Dyson's website. It's not available on Amazon, on sale or not.

More vacuum deals

Robot vacuums

Cannister and stick vacuums

Best home and outdoor deal Opens in a new window Credit: Dreo Dreo 42-inch Tower Fan $79.99 at Walmart
$143.98 Save $63.99   Get Deal

With spring in full swing, warmer temperatures are underway. If things are getting too hot, it might be time to reconsider your cooling setup. A fan is more than a quick fix, but an essential way of keeping cool. Dreo makes our favorite tower fan, which is powerful but safe with its bladeless design. During Walmart's Spring Sale, you can get it for just $79.99. That saves you 44% on its $143.98 list price.

More home and outdoor deals Best kitchen deal Opens in a new window Credit: Beautiful Beautiful 1-Liter Electric Gooseneck Kettle $24.96 at Walmart
$37.96 Save $13   Get Deal

Drew Barrymore's Beautiful collection at Walmart earns its name with affordable yet stunning appliances and furniture. During Walmart's Spring Sale, grab the Beautiful 1-Liter Electric Gooseneck Kettle for just $24.96, saving you $13 off its list price. This kettle catches your eye right away with its vibrant tomato red color. It looks far more expensive than it really is.

More kitchen deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

If Netflix autoplays these 5 shows, don't skip them

How-To Geek - Tue, 03/31/2026 - 17:16

Finding the next show to watch can be overwhelming with how flooded your recommendations seem, but occasionally the answer is right in front of you. Netflix gives you a preview of related programs after you're done watching a title, and you can discover some incredible gems through this feature.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Self-hosting gave me the digital freedom I wish I'd found sooner

How-To Geek - Tue, 03/31/2026 - 17:09

Do you know what self-hosting is? If not, it’s when you take an online service and host yourself on your own computers. Not everyone knows about it, and I want to change that.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Last chance to lock in 2 months of streaming on Paramount+ for under $6

Mashable - Tue, 03/31/2026 - 17:08

SAVE $22: Hurry — it's your last opportunity to snag two months of Paramount+ Premium for just $2.99 per month. Usually $13.99 monthly, that's a total of $22 in savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: Paramount Paramount+ Premium $2.99/month for 2 months (save $11/month) Get Deal

The best streaming deal of the Big Spring Sale is about to disappear. If you haven't already locked in two months of Paramount+ Premium for under $6, you might want to get on it.

Aligned with Amazon's Big Spring Sale, Paramount+ is offering two months of either its Premium plan or Essential plan for just $2.99 per month. Typically, the ad-free Premium plan costs $13.99 per month, while the ad-supported Essential plan costs $8.99 per month, which means you'll save $22 on the Premium plan or $12 on the Essential. The deal is valid for both new and ex-subscribers and it expires at the end of the day on March 31.

This deal looks identical to the streamer's Black Friday offer on the surface. But technically, since Paramount+ raised its prices earlier this year, this discount saves you a bit more. Not to mention, Paramount also discontinued its seven-day trial, so this $2.99 deal is the closest thing you'll get to free.

If you'd rather keep all your streaming services tidy under one roof, you can also grab the same streaming deal as an add-on subscription from Roku or Prime Video.

If you need more convincing, Scream 7 is expected to start streaming on Paramount+ in April, alongside every other movie in the franchise. It's also where you can watch the hit shows like Landman and Criminal Minds Evolution, UFC fights, and old Nickelodeon and MTV shows. If you decide it's not worth paying full price, be sure to cancel before your two-month promo period is up.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Nothing devices are down to stupidly low prices — including the best smartwatch youve never heard of

Mashable - Tue, 03/31/2026 - 17:06
The best Nothing deals from the Amazon Big Spring Sale: Best Nothing Smartwatch Deal CMF By Nothing Watch 3 $69 (save $30) Shop Now Best Nothing Earbuds Deal CMF Buds Pro 2 Wireless Earbuds $46.99 (save $22.01) Shop Now Best Nothing Headphones Deal CMF by Nothing Headphone Pro $69 (save $30) Shop Now

It's the final day of the Big Spring Sale at Amazon which means it’s your last chance to grab these deals. If you’re looking to go out in style and get as much value as possible on the final stretch of this seasonal sale event, check out the deals from under-the-radar budget CMF range from Nothing. 

Nothing aren't as well known as leading names like Apple and Samsung, but its CMF smart devices are unexpectedly good. These devices are already modestly priced (as Mashable’s reviewer said about the CMF by Nothing Watch 3 Pro, “no one tell Nothing they should be charging a lot more”) but they’ve been hit with discounts of up to 38%.

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You’ll find further deals on other smartwatches and tech on the last day of the Big Spring Sale. And now’s the time to get them — there are literally just hours to go before Amazon shuts up shop on these last chance prices.

Best Nothing smartwatch deal Opens in a new window Credit: CMF By Nothing CMF By Nothing Watch 3 Pro $69 at Amazon
$99 Save $30   Get Deal Why we like it

We reviewed the CMF By Nothing Watch Pro 3 back in October, when our reviewer summed it up by saying, “It’s sleek, modern, minimalist, boasts an OLED display, and certainly doesn’t look like a cheap smartwatch.”

Indeed, with its oversized style and stack of features — including GPS, sleep tracking, 120 sports modes, 13-day battery, and ChatGPT access — this watch punches well above its price point. You will need a Nothing phone for on-wrist ChatGPT access, though the Nothing phone has $200 off in the Big Spring Sale. 

“When I first saw the CMF Watch 3 Pro, I thought it looked damn good for a watch that’s under $100,” wrote our reviewer. “Now that I’ve worn it for several weeks, I think the performance is on par with its good looks. The watch feels, looks, and functions like it costs a few hundred dollars. And its features are incredible given the price.”

Read out full review of the CMF By Nothing Watch Pro 3

More CMF by Nothing dealsMore Nothing deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

Why your next graphics card will cost more and do less than you'd expect

How-To Geek - Tue, 03/31/2026 - 17:00

Whether it's your favorite snack food or the latest PC components, we're getting less in the package for the same price. Yes, shrinkflation happens to PC hardware too, although the ways it manifests can be complicated.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Squeeze your phone: Why Google's forgotten Pixel gesture was better than anything today

How-To Geek - Tue, 03/31/2026 - 16:45

Physical buttons on Android phones come at a premium these days. Most of the buttons you’d find on old phones have been replaced by software gestures. For a few years, Pixel phones had the best of both worlds: a physical gesture—it was super cool.

Categories: IT General, Technology

You’re probably ready for Arch Linux. Here’s how to tell

How-To Geek - Tue, 03/31/2026 - 16:30

If you're new to Linux, you might have heard Linux experts talking about how good Arch Linux is. You might be wondering if you're ready to go beyond your first "beginner" distro and learn a distro that will teach you how Linux actually works. Here are some ways to tell you're ready to take the next step.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This DeLonghi espresso machine is $300 off during the Big Spring Sale

Mashable - Tue, 03/31/2026 - 16:30

SAVE 30%: As of March 31, you can get the De'Longhi La Specialista Touch espresso machine for $699.95, down from $999.95, at Amazon. That's a 30% discount, or $300 in savings.

De'Longhi La Specialista Touch espresso machine $699.95 at Amazon
$999.95 Save $300   Get Deal at Amazon

I pretty much only drink mushroom coffee these days (unless I'm out and about) and don't even own a standard coffee maker anymore — my old Nespresso machine started leaking, so it's currently shoved under a cabinet where I pretend it doesn't exist. But this discounted De'Longhi espresso machine is tempting. It's the kind of premium appliance that makes you want to become a very specific type of morning person (Instagram girlies know what I'm talking about).

SEE ALSO: Amazon's Spring Sale is still live: We found 100+ deals on Apple, Kindle, Bose, and Sony

It features a built-in conical burr grinder and an interactive touch screen with "Bean Adapt" technology that helps you dial in the right grind, dose, and temperature for your specific beans. It also has 10 preset drink options, so you can make specialty drinks whenever you feel like it without it being a whole thing. It even has a dedicated cold-extraction mode that brews cold brew in under five minutes. (I'm literally talking myself into buying it as I write this.)

Speaking of performance, tons of reviewers say this machine outperforms Breville by a long shot. One reviewer even noted that, while they loved both, the De'Longhi "edges out the Breville" in reliability and ease of use.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Corolla Cross beats hybrids where it actually matters: your wallet

How-To Geek - Tue, 03/31/2026 - 16:15

Categories: IT General, Technology

Fitness trackers are the highlight of Amazons Big Spring Sale closing day — save $100 on Apple and Garmin

Mashable - Tue, 03/31/2026 - 16:05
The best Amazon Big Spring Sale fitness tracker deals at a glance: Best Fitbit deal Fitbit Inspire 3 $69.95 (save $30) Get Deal Best Apple deal Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) $299 (save $100) Get Deal Best Google deal Google Pixel Watch 4 (WiFi, 415mm) $339.99 (save $60) Get Deal Best budget deal Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro $69 (save $30) Get Deal Best Samsung deal Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic (Bluetooth, 46mm) $369.99 (save $130) Get Deal Best Garmin deal Garmin Forerunner 265 $344.99 (save $105) Get Deal Best Garmin alternative Suunto Run Sports Watch $179 (save $20) Get Deal

Amazon's Big Spring Sale is almost over (it officially wraps up at 11:59 p.m. PT on March 31), but the discounts are still holding strong. We've spotted tons of deals on TVs, outdoor gear, robot vacuums, and speakers, but high-end fitness trackers are quietly getting some of the best price drops of the entire event.

SEE ALSO: Live updates on Amazon Big Spring Sale 2026: Record-low prices on Apple MacBooks, DJI drones, Sony headphones, and Kindles

Because we test wearables year-round, we know a good deal when we see one. Right now, the Mashable Choice Award-winning Fitbit Inspire 3 is down to $69.95 (30% off). If you're an iPhone user, the Apple Watch Series 11 is now just $299 (25% off). They're both sitting at record-low prices alongside the 45mm Google Pixel Watch 4, which is on sale for $339.99 (15% off).

Whether you prefer Garmin, Google, or an Apple Watch, now's the time to buy because we probably won't see discounts like this again until Prime Day.

Here are all the best fitness tracker deals you can shop at Amazon on the final day of the Big Spring Sale 2026.

Best Fitbit deal Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Fitbit Inspire 3 $69.95 at Amazon
$99.95 Save $30   Get Deal Why we like it

If you just want a reliable, no-frills tracker that won't cost more than your gym membership, the Fitbit Inspire 3 is our favorite budget pick. It's normally priced right around $100, but for the Big Spring Sale, it's down to a very affordable $69.95 — an all-time low.

In our review, Mashable's Sam Stone calls it the "budget-friendly fitness tracker of our dreams." It sits easily on the wrist and automatically categorizes your activities (so it knows if you're out for a bike ride or a run) without you having to manually mess with the settings.

Because we actually test these things, we do have to mention a couple of minor quirks. Stone says that the heart rate monitor can occasionally get a little inaccurate if your wrist gets super sweaty during an intense workout. Also, the battery life is closer to six or seven days rather than the advertised 10. But considering it fully charges in under two hours, that's barely an inconvenience — and as Stone points out, it "sure beats the Apple Watch's battery life."

Read Mashable's full review of the Fitbit Inspire 3.

More Fitbit deals Best Google deal Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel Watch 4 (WiFi, 45mm) $339.99 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $60   Get Deal Why we like it

If you aren't already rocking last year's model, the Google Pixel Watch 4 is an easy recommendation — especially while it's $60 off for the Big Spring Sale.

Mashable’s former Senior Culture Reporter, Christianna Silva, said that while it looks similar to the previous version from afar, the new domed design "gives the smartwatch more depth and makes it feel more spacious and modern." One of the coolest upgrades is the new serviceable design. If you're handy with a tiny screwdriver, you can "open up the watch, and fix what you need to fix — including replacing the display and battery — all without breaking your warranty," Silva wrote. It also features a custom haptics engine that’s 15 percent stronger and a much crisper speaker for when you're chatting with Gemini.

Read Mashable's full review of the Google Pixel Watch 4.

More Google deals Best Apple deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) $299 at Amazon
$399 Save $100   Get Deal Why we like it

If you're looking for a solid Apple Watch deal, this $100 price drop on the Series 11 makes it a pretty stellar value. It's been chilling at this price for a while now, and while the Big Spring Sale hasn't dropped it any lower, $299 for the newest Apple Watch ain't bad. In our review, Mashable's Senior Editor, Stan Schroeder, says the Series 11 has a significantly longer battery life compared to its predecessor. "When I got my unit, I charged it to 100 percent and started wearing it at about 4 p.m. I wore it during the night (my sleep score was 81, which sounds a lot better than it felt), and the next day at 4 p.m. it was still at 38 percent," he writes. "That day, I charged it to full power late in the evening, and I only had to charge it again two days later."

It also has a tougher design with Ion-X glass that's twice as resistant to scratches, and a Sleep Score and hypertension notifications for flagging high blood pressure.

Read Mashable's full review of the Apple Watch Series 11.

More Apple Watch deals Even more Amazon Big Spring Sale fitness tracker deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

USB 2.0 is still better than USB 3 (and your new laptop agrees)

How-To Geek - Tue, 03/31/2026 - 16:00

USB 2.0 was released to the world early in the year 2000, making it over a quarter-century old at this point. Yet, your new laptop or desktop motherboard almost certainly has at least one USB 2.0 port. Why include such an old standard on modern computers?

Categories: IT General, Technology

Our favorite Nothing smartwatch is $69 on final day of Amazons Spring Sale — record price

Mashable - Tue, 03/31/2026 - 15:57

SAVE $30: The Nothing Watch 3 Pro is on sale for Amazon's Big Spring Sale for a record-low price of $69, down from the standard $99. That's a 30% discount and the lowest we've seen on the black colorway.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nothing Nothing Watch 3 Pro $69 at Amazon
$99 Save $30   Get Deal

We're in the final day of Amazon's Big Spring Sale, which means it's your last chance to save on many popular gadgets until Prime Day this summer. We've already seen some of the best deals vanish, so today is not a day to procrastinate. If your smartwatch, fitness tracker, or sleep tracker needs an update, check out this Nothing smartwatch deal.

As of March 31, the Nothing Watch 3 Pro is on sale for $69, marked down from the normal price of $99. That's a 30% discount on a Mashable Choice winner and the lowest price we've seen yet on the black colorway.

When I first saw the Nothing Watch 3 Pro and its price tag of $99, I said, "Damn, that looks slick for only $99." Then I spent weeks testing it out and ended up floored by its performance-to-value ratio. This is an incredible fitness tracker, smartwatch, and sleep tracker for under $100. And that just gets even more impressive considering you can snag it on sale for $67.67 today.

Here's the thing: I know your friends and family members all have the smartwatch from the fruit brand. Its performance is great, indeed, and it works perfectly with the family of other fruit devices. But it's not cheap, and its battery life is lacking. When I was testing the Nothing Watch 3 Pro, it just would not die. At the end of my initial test, it had been going strong for 13 days and was still at 30%.

SEE ALSO: Amazon is clearing out last-gen tech during the Big Spring Sale: Apple and Sony on sale

My review deadline was approaching, so I turned on way more features, and the battery life finally ran out after about 16 days. Nothing says that 13 days of battery life is normal for most folks. Not having to charge my watch often is something I adore because I love metrics, and I don't want to lose out on tracking steps or a night of sleep because the watch needs to sit recharging.

Speaking of metrics, the Nothing Watch 3 Pro is a stunner when it comes to sleep tracking. You get an overall sleep score each morning, paired with in-depth stats like time spent in REM, deep, and light sleep. It also tracks the number of wake-ups in the night, and it automatically detects napping.

It's been several months since I wrapped up my time testing the CMF Nothing Watch 3 Pro, and I still wear it every day. For the sale price of $69, I can't recommend this smartwatch enough. It should cost much, much more, given its performance. Since we're in the final hours of the Amazon day, I'd jump on this one ASAP before it vanishes!

Categories: IT General, Technology

Stop damaging your 3D printer—5 things you keep getting wrong

How-To Geek - Tue, 03/31/2026 - 15:45

Even with all the shared knowledge about dialing in slicer settings, getting layer adhesion just right, and finding the next exotic filament, it's easy to make mistakes with your 3D printer. Those small errors that come from rushing things or not quite understanding can put a big, lasting strain on delicate parts.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Amazon Big Spring Sale ends today: Grab the new iPad Air and other tablets while you still can

Mashable - Tue, 03/31/2026 - 15:41
Best Big Spring Sale tablet deals Best tablet deal Apple iPad Air (M4 chip, 128GB, WiFi) $559 (save $40) Get Deal Best Android tablet deal Samsung Galaxy S11 $739.99 (save $120) Get Deal Best kids tablet deal Amazon Fire 7 Kids with six months Amazon Kids+ $59.99 (save $40) Get Deal Budget Tablet Deal Apple iPad, 11-inch (A16) $299 (save $50) Get Deal

Amazon's Big Spring Sale ends today, March 31. While the retailer is heavily pushing seasonal stuff like patio furniture and cleaning supplies, the tech deals are still going strong. We're seeing some genuinely great markdowns on tablets right now, which is perfect timing considering Apple just refreshed its lineup.

SEE ALSO: Live updates on Amazon Big Spring Sale 2026: Record-low prices on Apple MacBooks, DJI drones, and Kindles

The new Apple iPad Air with M4 chip dropped earlier this month and is already seeing a price cut. Not an Apple fan? Don't worry, there are plenty of other Android options discounted right now, too.

Here are the best tablet deals to grab before the sale ends today at 11:59 PM PST.

Just a heads up: If you see a deal crossed out below, it means it has either sold out or the price has gone back up.

Best iPad deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Air (M4 chip, 128GB, WiFi) $559 at Amazon
$599 Save $40   Get Deal

Read our full review of the Apple iPad Air (M4).

Apple's latest iPad drop is the iPad Air with the M4 chip. It's one of the brand's speediest, most efficient tablets, scoring 13,176 on the Geekbench 6 test, which puts it ahead of most laptops. When Apple released the new iPad Air, they didn't raise the price, keeping the midrange tablet at $599. However, it already received a price cut at Amazon.

During the Big Spring Sale, get the Apple iPad Air with M4 chip for just $559. While that's only $40 in savings and less than 10% off its list price, it's still a great deal considering it's a brand-new tablet.

So while we might like this deal best, if you want some bigger savings, there are plenty more deals to shop.

More iPad dealsBest Android tablet deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy S11 $739.99 at Amazon
$859.99 Save $120   Get Deal

The best Android tablet to compete with Apple's iPad is the Samsung Galaxy S11. It's more expensive than Apple's iPads, but it has everything we want in a tablet. Speedy processing for gaming and streaming, gorgeous displays and crystal clear resolution, adjustable app windows, and an included stylus for note-taking or drawing. We've previously tested the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra, which is a step up from the S11.

During Amazon's Big Spring Sale, get the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 for just $739.99. That saves you $120 off its $859.99 list price for 14% savings.

Samsung tablet dealsTCL tablet dealsLenovo tablet dealsKids tablet deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

These 4 Outlook tools helped me achieve "Inbox Zero"

How-To Geek - Tue, 03/31/2026 - 15:30

Outlook is one of the most versatile email clients out there, even if you don't use Microsoft's own email services. If you're anything like me, you probably leave thousands of unread emails accumulating over time, but it turns out Outlook is pretty good at culling this.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Google researchers just put a new expiration date on Bitcoin

Mashable - Tue, 03/31/2026 - 15:23

A team of Google researchers just set a new date for post-quantum cryptography migration: 2029. Among other things, this means that Bitcoin, as well as many other cryptocurrencies, needs to adopt new cryptographic techniques that are resilient to quantum attacks within three years.

Google announced the new timeline in a blog post. "Quantum computers will pose a significant threat to current cryptographic standards, and specifically to encryption and digital signatures," the post said.

In terms of actual science, two important papers were published on Monday. One is signed by Google researchers, the other by a startup called Oratomic (with ex-Googlers and Caltech folks on board). The papers are a dense read for anyone who's not an expert in cryptography, but can be simplified to this: They describe new ways to break some very important cryptographic systems using quantum computers, with far fewer resources (10x) than previously thought.

This is relevant for Bitcoin because it makes it far more likely that someone can build a quantum computer capable of deriving a Bitcoin private key from a Bitcoin public key. In fact, so much more likely that Google decided not to show the actual quantum circuits they used to do this, instead showing a mathematical proof that this is possible.

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Justin Drake, one of the researchers that co-signed the Google paper, has a good overview. "A superconducting quantum computer, the type Google is building, could crack keys in minutes," he wrote.

Important point: As Adam Back, an important Bitcoin expert, pointed out, Bitcoin (the network) does not use encryption. What Google has found doesn't mean someone can intercept transactions on the Bitcoin network; instead, they could crack someone's private key, and when you have someone's private key, you have their coins.

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In fact, it's a bit more complex than that. The two papers above reference Shor's algorithm, a quantum algorithm developed by Peter Shor back in 1994, that makes it a lot faster to break certain types of encryption with quantum computers. Shor's algorithm could be used to derive a Bitcoin private key from a public key, but only in certain cases. This includes some old Bitcoin addresses, including those used by Bitcoin's elusive creator Satoshi Nakamoto himself; this is notable, as these addresses hold over one million bitcoins, meaning that the potential prize for someone cracking them is in the tens of billions of dollars (not to mention the havoc it would cause on the network as everyone scrambled to figure what's next).

Newer addresses can also be cracked, but not until they're broadcasted within a transaction, meaning there's a short (typically 10-minute long) window in which someone could use Shor's algorithm to get that private key. No known quantum computer that could do this exists right now, even considering the optimizations found by Google and Oratomic researchers. But it's not unfathomable that someone builds it in the future.

Bitcoin is traditionally slow to make any changes. Adam Back, in particular, advised in 2025 that "some quantum readiness" should be added in the next five years, though he said he's not expecting it to be used "in a few decades."

In contrast, the new papers demonstrate that the quantum threat for Bitcoin is much closer than that, and that serious action should probably be taken now.

SEE ALSO: Bitcoin biopic 'Killing Satoshi' leans into generative AI

What can be done? Google's paper suggest ways in which blockchains (including Bitcoin) could mitigate the issue. This includes simple steps such as moving coins from old addresses to new ones if possible, but also updating protocols to include post-quantum cryptography. This process is not easy for large, established cryptocurrency networks, and it may take years to even agree on a best solution (an internal strife over block size on Bitcoin's network took about two years to resolve), let alone implement it.

Other cryptocurrencies, such as Ethereum, are also vulnerable to these issues. The Ethereum Foundation, a non-profit that stewards Ethereum's long-term growth, recently published a post-quantum roadmap, aiming to solve these issues before it's too late.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to check your SSD's health and spot potential problems

How-To Geek - Tue, 03/31/2026 - 15:01

You don't have to wait for your SSD to go sideways before testing it for issues. Instead of waking up one day to sudden crashes and other erratic behavior, you can take preventive measures from time to time to check your drive's health and back up your data before it's too late.

Categories: IT General, Technology

You can still shop Apple iPads on the final day of Amazons Spring Sale — prices as low as $299

Mashable - Tue, 03/31/2026 - 14:55
The best Amazon Big Spring Sale Apple iPad deals: Best budget pick Apple iPad, 11-inch (A16, WiFi, 128GB) $299 (save $50) Get Deal Best iPad Air deal Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M3, WiFi + Cellular, 256GB) $769 (save $80) Get Deal Best iPad Pro deal Apple iPad Pro, 13-Inch (M5, WiFi, 256GB) $1,370 (save $129) Get Deal

Today, March 31, is the final day of Amazon's Big Spring Sale. This annual event ushered in discounts on all sorts of items, giving you an early-year treat before the major sales get going later in the year (like Prime Day). These discounts include Apple products, a lot of which have fallen to record-low prices over the past week.

If you’ve been eyeing an iPad, we've spotted discounts of up to $290 across Apple's tablet lineup. The just-updated M4 iPad Air has a small price cut, while its M3 predecessor is nearly $100 off. Some models have sold out, so don't wait too long to add one to your cart because these tablets are shifting very fast indeed.

Below, we've rounded up the best live iPad deals so you don't have to go digging through Amazon's listings yourself. Note: Offers marked with a 🔥 have dropped to an all-time low.

Best iPad deal overall Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad, 11-inch (A16, WiFi, 128GB) $299 at Amazon
$348.97 Save $49.97   Get Deal Why we like it

On the final day of Amazon's Spring Sale, iPad deals are moving quick. Early in the sale, the iPad Air was down to its lowest price ever. While we think it's the best Apple tablet for most people, it's no longer at its lowest price so there are better deals to shop.

Instead, shop the already budget-friendly iPad which is down to $299. That saves you $50 off its $349 list price. For under $300, you're getting a stellar tablet. Is it the best price we've ever seen on the tablet? No, that price would be $271.29. For right now, $299 is pretty darn close.

But there are plenty of other iPad deals to shop, and we rounded up the best ones.

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