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We've come a long way from the days of lugging boxes of receipts over to your accountant's office. By 2022, 150.6 million individual federal income tax returns were filed electronically, accounting for 94 percent of all individual filings that year, according to Pew Research.

Four years later, many tax services offer their own AI-powered tools to streamline tax filing, including automatic form-filling and deduction calculators, as well as on-site AI assistants to answer basic tax questions. 

SEE ALSO: Government shutdown won't affect your 2026 tax return

Around 30 percent of Americans say they will be use an AI tool, such as ChatGPT, to help prepare their taxes, according to a recent survey by McAfee. Another poll found that nearly half of Americans trust AI to give them tax advice. Those rates are higher among younger taxpayers  — and men — according to surveys. 

But universal chatbots and LLMs are very different than AI tools on tax prep sites from companies like H&R Block and Jackson Hewitt. "You don't want to be using chatbots as your tax consultants," warned Abhishek Karnik, head of threat intelligence research at McAfee. "They're not the experts."

Why chatbots seem like an easy answer 

It makes sense that more people would turn to chatbots for tax help, cybersecurity professionals tell Mashable. The end of the IRS' Direct File program and recent legislation, primarily President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill, has generated increasing confusion about federal taxes — on top of an already complicated tax code.  

"Many individuals see chatbots as an easy way to translate confusing guidance into plain language," explained Christopher Caen, CEO of AI cybersecurity firm Mill Pond Research. "At the same time, rising costs for professional help and increased comfort with AI in everyday tasks are driving experimentation."

As AI becomes more embedded in routine activities, especially among younger generations new to filing, more Americans will naturally turn to their daily AI assistant for tax purposes, said Karnik. 

Don't give ChatGPT your personal information

But deferring to ChatGPT as your personal tax assistant could have real financial and security consequences, experts say. 

Keep personal documents offline

"General-purpose chatbots aren’t designed to securely handle highly sensitive financial information," Caen said. Any personal information uploaded to a platform like ChatGPT is vulnerable to exposure. 

When it comes to taxes, less data shared is always the safer approach. - Christopher Caen, Mill Pond Research

Platform breaches, for example, could expose users' private conversations to bad actors. Users' live chats can be intercepted by malicious browser extensions or compromised devices. Caen says that even publicly shared prompts or copies of chatbot outputs can put users' sensitive information at risk. Both Caen and Karnik warn of an increase in phishing sites masquerading as AI tools, as well as spoofed tax sites enhanced by powerful generative AI. 

"When it comes to taxes, less data shared is always the safer approach," said Caen. 

In addition to the text content of chats, any files uploaded to chatbots are also at risk, Karnik warned. Never upload full tax forms, your Social Security number, or bank account details, experts warn. Avoid other personally identifiable information, too, like your employer's details or your address.

"We don't know where this information is eventually ending up," said Karnik. "It's going somewhere. It's being processed by some Large Language Model. Who knows how it will be utilized for training."

ChatGPT is no math whiz 

Another reason to avoid chatbot accountants, according to Karnik: Most LLMs aren't good at doing the math. Users have shared ChatGPT errors on the r/tax subreddit, like incorrect income tax figures and misunderstandings of capital gains tax brackets. 

And while ChatGPT and its competitors have recently improved in their ability to do complex calculations, they aren't infallible. Nuances in tax law and IRS procedures change frequently, Karnik explained, with chatbot models potentially pulling from outdated sources or coalescing information that spans differing state and federal codes. 

Hallucinations are still a problem, too. "In general, you can't trust the output," Karnik said. "You don't want that to turn into an issue with the IRS, because the IRS doesn't care if you say 'the AI told me so.'"

SEE ALSO: How to file for an extension on your taxes Use chatbots in moderation

Instead, security and tax professionals encourage taxpayers to seek out in-person, professional help if it's available (and financially feasible) for you to do so. Karnik says this lessens the chances of you being victim to tax scams or digital attacks by a bad actor.

But they also recognize that not everyone is able to hire their own tax pro.

In general, practicing good digital hygiene will keep the impact of potential AI-powered breaches to a minimum. Use secure, well-known platforms, enable multifactor authentication, and avoid accessing financial tools on public or unsecured networks, recommends Caen. Karnik suggests not completing your taxes while traveling or using a VPN if you must, regardless of the digital tools you choose, as unknown networks could open you up to malicious attacks. 

If you can't get away from the allure of the chatbots, both Caen and Karnik recommend using them only for general guidance. "Think of AI as a research assistant," said Caen. 

You can ask AI tools to explain deductions, terminology, or filing steps, without providing your personal tax details. Use ChatGPT's responses to organize questions you'll pose to human professionals. 

"These tools are good guides," said Karnik. "It doesn't mean you can take their advice, especially for tax filing."

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

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

The Champions League is back this week with a number of interesting matchups, but PSG vs. Chelsea might be the best of the bunch. It's the defending champions against the two-time winners — it's shaping up to be something special.

PSG lead Ligue 1, but they've not been as dominant as you'd expect. They are only one point ahead of Lens in the standings and some might argue that they got lucky in the Champions League playoff round against Monaco. The defending champions have a lot of quality, but they'll need to find top form in this contest. Chelsea haven't exactly been great this season, but they possess the quality to progress into the quarter finals.

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

When is PSG vs. Chelsea?

PSG vs. Chelsea in the Champions League kicks off at 8 p.m. GMT on March 11. This fixture takes place at the Parc des Princes.

How to watch PSG vs. Chelsea for free

PSG vs. Chelsea 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 PSG vs. Chelsea 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 PSG vs. Chelsea 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 PSG vs. Chelsea 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 PSG vs. Chelsea in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

Do you ever wish you had a way to message people long-distance without the need for cell networks or a Wi-Fi connection, or even satellites? You're going to want to hear about a tiny, cheap radio I bought and connected to my smartphone.

We've long seen a problem with fraud on Facebook and Instagram. Now the company behind both social networks appears to be going on the offensive against scammers — by announcing a sweeping slate of new AI-powered tools and law enforcement partnerships.

Meta says it removed over 159 million scam ads in 2025, and took down 10.9 million accounts on Facebook and Instagram tied to criminal scams. The company also participated in a disruption operation with the FBI, the Department of Justice, and the Royal Thai Police, resulting in the disabling of more than 150,000 accounts and 21 arrests.

SEE ALSO: Facebook and Instagram might get paid subscription tiers soon

The new tools rolling out across Meta's apps include real-time warnings on Facebook about suspicious friend requests, a WhatsApp alert system that flags potentially fraudulent device-linking attempts, and an expanded Messenger scam-detection feature that uses AI to analyze chat patterns and warn users before they get defrauded.

No new protections were announced for Instagram, which has also seen widespread security problems — most recently a spate of password reset emails.

Meta also says it plans to require advertiser verification across its highest-risk ad categories. Its goal: to have verified advertisers drive 90% of ad revenue by the end of 2026, up from 70% today.

The announcement comes as Meta faces fire on another front. CEO Mark Zuckerberg took the stand in a Los Angeles courtroom this week to defend the company against allegations that its platforms are engineered to hook children for profit.

Depending on where you're standing, Tuesday's announcement could read as a genuine safety push — or well-timed reputation management.

Hybrid vehicles were once viewed as complex alternatives to traditional gasoline cars, raising concerns about long-term durability and repair costs. But years of real-world ownership data are beginning to tell a different story. In fact, some of today’s most reliable vehicles are hybrids, and new research suggests they may actually experience fewer problems than their gas-only counterparts.

A $2.7 billion dollar class action lawsuit against Sony is currently underway in the UK.

The issue at hand? Lawyers for the plaintiff are arguing that Sony is taking advantage of its "monopoly position" by forcing gamers to buy digital games solely through its PlayStation Store. The suit also claims Sony forced gamers to pay 'unfair download fees'.

The case went to London's Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) this week on behalf of 12 million PlayStation users in the UK.

The class action against Sony addresses similar issues that companies like Apple have experienced in the U.S., UK, and EU. Big tech companies like Google, Sony, and Apple have been accused of forcing developers and users alike to distribute and purchase content through their official digital stores. This allows these companies to set content rules and, crucially, prices. This can also prevent third parties from entering the market to compete.

"Sony can and does set the retail prices ... without facing ​any retail competition for ​digital content," said lawyer Robert Palmer, who is representing the leading plaintiff Alex Neill in the lawsuit. "It ⁠allows [Sony] to obtain monopoly profits from digital distribution."

According to the lawsuit, Sony's monopoly over digital distribution for the PlayStation consoles has resulted in digital downloads costing more than physical hard copies of the games at times.

Sony's defense has been that allowing third parties to sell PlayStation content would bring on security and privacy risks for its users. The company also claims that the commission it makes from PlayStation Store sales covers the costs of its PlayStation consoles. Sony says PlayStation 5 prices, for example, result in low profit margins for the company. 

If the lawsuit is successful, any consumer who purchased a PlayStation game or in-game content in the PlayStation Store over the last 10 years, up until last month, could be eligible for compensation. The legal team believes that there could be more than 12 million eligible users, each of whom would receive more than $200 in compensation.

In the EU, regulations have forced Apple to allow iOS app distribution through third-party app stores. In the UK, Apple is currently undergoing a process to "improve fairness" in its stores, but have not yet had to go the route of allowing third-party app stores. 

CAT has previously ruled against Apple in a similar suit over the App Store's developer commissions, which Apple is currently looking to appeal.

In addition, last month, CAT paved the way for another such case against PC gaming platform Steam to proceed as well.

Whenever we get a new product, it's routine for some to take their sweet time peeling off all the stickers. And you should do this for a lot of stuff. But please, please, don't do it with your new NVMe SSD.

Google Fiber isn’t expanding as quickly as most of us would prefer, but it’s still coming to new cities and towns at a steady pace. Now, one more major city in the United States now has up to 8 Gigabit internet through Google Fiber: Las Vegas, Nevada.

When I began my smart home journey, it was via Samsung SmartThings. I’ve used this platform to control everything from smart switches and thermostats to motion sensors and thermometers. But my latest addition still managed to take me by surprise.

Best sleep week deals at a glance Best mattress deal Brooklyn Bedding CopperFlex Pro Hyrbid Mattress (queen) $999 (save $333 at Brooklyn Bedding) Get Deal Best sleep earbuds deal Soundcore Sleep A30 $199.99 (save $30 at Amazon) Get Deal Best sleep tracker deal CMF Nothing Watch 3 Pro $79 (save $20 at Amazon) Get Deal Best pillow deal Coop Home Goods Adjustable Latex Pillow (queen) $74.50 (save $74.50 at Amazon) Get Deal Best alarm clock deal Hatch Restore 3 Sunrise Alarm Clock $144.99 (save $25 at Amazon) Get Deal

Over the weekend, we lost an hour of sleep. Now, when the morning alarm clock goes off at 7 a.m., our internal clocks think it's 6 a.m. An hour doesn't sound like a ton of time, but it sure felt like it when waking up for work this morning. If nothing else, it's shown us the importance of sleep.

Coincidentally, the National Sleep Foundation has March 8 to 14 dedicated to Sleep Awareness Week. It's a time to focus on why sleep matters, how it impacts our wellbeing and health, and what can be done to improve sleep quality. If you don't remember when you bought your current mattress or pillow, it's possible that it's time for some new sleep gear.

SEE ALSO: Sleep Week 2026: From Oura to Whoop, we tested the best sleep trackers of 2026

Nearly every sleep-centric brand is celebrating the week, so this is a great time to bundle spring cleaning with a bedroom refresh. Get some cooling sheets, a sunrise alarm clock, and sleep earbuds that are comfortable enough for side sleeping. Below, I've rounded up the best Sleep Week deals for helping you get restorative slumber.

Best mattress deal Opens in a new window Credit: Brooklyn Bedding Brooklyn Bedding CopperFlex Pro Hyrbid Mattress (queen) $999 at Brooklyn Bedding
$1,332 Save $333   Get Deal Why we like it

If you sleep hot, the Brooklyn Bedding CopperFlex Pro Hybrid Mattress could be an actual dream come true. After testing the mattress for weeks, I can say I've never slept on a cooler mattress. During Sleep Week 2026, the queen-size CopperFlex Pro Hybrid Mattress is on sale for just $999.

Brooklyn Bedding used a cool-to-the-touch cover on the mattress and paired it with copper-infused memory foam for a truly cooling experience. Plus, it's great for pressure relief. The motion isolation on the bed is also great for couples.

More mattress deals

• Avocado — save up to 15% on organic mattresses and up to 50% off organic bedding

• Awara — save 50% on select mattresses

• Casper — save 20% on the Dream and Dream Max mattresses

• DreamCloud — save up to 60% on mattresses and 66% on bundles

• Essentia — save up to 22%

• Helix Sleep — save 25% sitewide

• Layla — save up to $200 on mattresses and up to 50% off sleep accessories

• Leesa — save 20% on mattresses

• Mattress Firm — save up to 62% on mattresses from Sealy, Beautyrest, and Serta

• Naturepedic — save 15% on organic mattresses and get free sheets with mattresses size twin and up

• Nectar — save up to 50% on mattresses and 66% on bundles

• Nest — save up to 50%

• Saatva — save 15% on purchases of $1,000+

• Purple — queen-size mattresses start at $999

• Silk & Snow — take up 15% off sitewide and $300 off mattresses

• Woolroom — save up to 30%

Best sleep earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Soundcore Soundcore Sleep A30 $199.99 at Amazon
$229.99 Save $30   Get Deal Why we like it

If you're not getting restful sleep on account of noise, the Soundcore Sleep A30 earbuds aim to ease you into restful slumber. Designed to be comfortable enough for side sleepers, the earbuds come with plenty of white noise and snore masking tracks. Plus, the case has built-in lights, so you won't need to fumble around for it in the dark.

Mashable Lead Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard tested out the Sleep A30 earbuds when they launched last August. Not only do they block sounds, they act as a sleep tracker, too. The metrics give you insight into overall time spent asleep, amount in deep versus light sleep, and sleep movements.

It's worth noting that the Sleep A30 earbuds are on sale for $30 off, which brings them down to $199.99. However, Anker just launched the new Sleep A30 Special earbuds, which are now Mashable's favorite sleep earbuds, making some improvements in performance compared to the original Sleep A30. The new Sleep A30 Special earbuds aren't on sale during Sleep Week 2026, but at full price, they come in at $199.99, or the same price as the original A30 earbuds while they're on sale. The new model might be preferred for some.

More sleep earbuds deals

• Soundcore Sleep A20 — $149.99 $179.99 (save $30)

• Ozlo Sleepbuds — $274.99 $349 (save $75)

Best sleep tracker deal Opens in a new window Credit: CMF Nothing CMF Nothing Watch 3 Pro $79 at Amazon
$99 Save $20   Get Deal Why we like it

When I tested the CMF Nothing Watch 3 Pro, I had a hard time getting the watch to run out of battery. In the end, I changed a bunch of setting to get the battery to deplete quicker. And that's an awesome problem when using a smartwatch as a sleep tracker. Instead of having to take the watch off to charge at night, this watch can last for up to two weeks before it needs a recharge.

Sleep metrics on the CMF Nothing Watch 3 Pro are impressive. The watch's app will give you an overall sleep score each morning, details on sleep duration, sleep stages, and it can even track naps automatically. The CMF Nothing Watch 3 Pro usually sells for $99, but it's on sale for Sleep Week 2026 for $79.

More sleep dealsSunrise alarm clocks, sound machines, and essential oil diffusers

• Ambient Dreamie — $224.99 $249.99 (save $25 with code SLEEPWELL)

• Blueair Mini Restful Air Purifier and Sunrise Clock —  $139.99 $199.99 (save $60)

• Hatch Rest Baby Sound Machine — $59.99 $69.99 (save $10)

• Hatch Restore 3 — $144.99 $169.99 (save $25)

• Loftie Alarm Clock and Loftie Lamp — save 20%

• Vitruvi — save up to 40% on diffusers and humidifiers sitewide

• Yogasleep Hushh Portable White Noise Sound Machine — $25.99 $29.99 (save $4)

Pillows and bedding

• Blissy — buy three silk pillowcases, get one free, plus $114 value in free gifts

• Brooklinen — save 20% sitewide plus up to 50% on bundles

• Buffy — save 20% sitewide

• Ettitude — save up to 25% sitewide

• Kitsch — save 26% sitewide

• Mellow CloudAlign Pillow — $49 $100 (save $51)

• Pluto Pillow — save $40 on pillow and pillowcase bundles

• Purple Pillow — buy two, save 25%

• Rest Evercool Cooling Comforter and Cooling Sheets — save up to 30%

SAVE $600: As of March 11, get the Bluetti Elite 400 portable power station for $1,298.98, down from its usual price of $1,899. That's a discount of 32% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Bluetti Elite 400 portable power station $1,298.98 at Amazon
$1,899 Save $600.02   Get Deal

Springtime is just around the corner. That means warmer weather and the potential for some seriously damaging storms in certain areas. Where there are storms, there are power outages. Don't be caught unaware this year when your power goes out. Grab a portable power station to keep you afloat when the electricity is out, or at the very least to keep as a backup for other purposes. In fact, you can snag a great option right now for the lowest price we've seen.

As of March 11, get the Bluetti Elite 400 portable power station for $1,298.98, down from its usual price of $1,899. That's $600 off and a discount of 32%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: The EcoFlow Delta 2 Max power station has dropped to its best-ever price at Amazon — save over $500

This absolute unit of a portable power station can go where you go, though it does weigh 80 pounds. It has an attached telescopic handle to make moving it around easier, so you can wheel it around to your closet or garage for safekeeping.

It boasts 3840Wh of power, with a 2600W output (3900W surge power), so it's got you covered if your power is out for a while. It can handle juicing up your phone and laptop, your fridge, even other small appliances all at once, so you don't have to worry about your food going bad or even missing a work meeting.

With nine ports, including four AC outlets, two USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, and a DC port, you can keep everything going at once if needed. And once you've depleted its charge, you can get it back up to full power in a little under 3 hours.

If you're ready to get prepared for any electric emergency, grab this power station while it's still discounted.

Most of us don't give much thought to file managers, but on Android, we used to—the built-in one simply didn't do enough. That has changed. Now, if you're still in the habit of seeking out an alternative, it may be time to consider the ways apps like Files By Google and Samsung My Files are simply better than most of what you find in the Play Store.

Do you plan to upgrade your tool collection this year, or would you like to be better prepared for upcoming DIY projects? Everyone has a preferred tool brand, and it's no secret that Makita is a fan-favorite among users. If you want to get your money's worth, here are five Makita tools that you'll absolutely love.

SAVE 44%: As of March 11, you can get the Sony ULT Wear headphones for $139.95 on Amazon, down from $249.99. That's a 44% discount or just over $110 in savings.

Sony ULT Wear $139.95 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $110.04   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Best Buy Get Deal at Walmart

If you want premium audio without the premium price tag, the Sony ULT Wear headphones are your best bet. When Mashable's Deputy Shopping Editor, Miller Kern, tested them, she wrote that they deliver "$400 sound on a $200 budget." Now that Amazon has dropped the price to $139.95, that value is even harder to ignore.

As of March 11, you can get the Sony ULT Wear headphones for $139.95 on Amazon, down from $249.99. That's a 44% discount or just over $110 in savings.

SEE ALSO: The 11 best headphones of 2026 — see the top contenders from Sony, Apple, Bose, and Beats

In her review, Kern noted that she preferred the richer, fuller sound of the ULT Wears to that of her $400 Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones. They easily earned a 4.8/5 rating and a Mashable Choice Award for delivering incredible audio quality without the premium price tag.

"I did a sound test comparison with the Sony WH-1000XM5 and Sony ULT Wear headphones because I know the XM5s have amazing sound quality," writes Kern. "Both headphones sounded crisp and clear, but the ULT Wear’s sound was fuller and felt more like surround sound. And even on the standard setting, the bass sounded richer on the ULTs."

They also feature active noise cancellation, 30 hours of battery life, and a dedicated "ULT" button to punch up the bass. If you want high-end audio but can't afford flagship prices, we recommend grabbing these before they're gone.

Wordle lovers might have a new obsession on their hands.

Josh Wardle — the creator of the popular games now owned by the New York Times — released a new word-game creation. It's called Parseword, and it's far more difficult than Wordle. It's a tricky, cryptic crossword puzzle.

It's...quite difficult, especially for a beginner. It's certainly a game for word nerds. I was an English major, and I write for a living, and my first attempt on Wednesday was a total, frustrating failure.

Frankly, it's confusing. Credit: Screenshot courtesy of Parseword.

Whereas Wordle is a simple game that is more about the process of elimination than wordplay, Parseword demands a firm grasp on the English language. You click around, using synonyms, pulling parts of words, or playing with definitions to match one word to another.

You can try out Parsword at its site, and there is a helpful tutorial to help folks get the lay of the land. Perhaps it'll become your new favorite game.

Credit: Screenshot courtesy of Parseword.

The New Yorker wrote about the new game from Wardle, who said his aims for this new creation are modest after the stunning success of Wordle.

"Releasing Parseword is happening more on my own terms, instead of happening to me," he told the magazine.

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

Many people avoid Power Query because they think it's too technical, but it's actually one of the safest and easiest ways to organize your data. It handles the dirty work with an intuitive interface, records your clicks as you go, and automates your workflow before your coffee gets cold. So, if you've never stepped outside basic Excel formulas, today's the day to start.

If you were planning on making any birthday wishes or wishing upon a star anytime soon, the trailer for upcoming horror film Obsession may make you reconsider.

SEE ALSO: 'The Hawk' teaser: Will Ferrell embraces his inner golf champion

From Focus Features and writer and director Curry Barker, Obsession introduces Bear (Michael Johnston), a hopeless romantic with a serious crush on his friend Nikki (Inde Navarrette). In order to ensure she reciprocates his feelings, he breaks the mysterious "One Wish Willow," wishing for Nikki to love him more than anything in the whole wide world. And boy oh boy, does he get what he wishes for... and then some.

Obsession's latest trailer shows that the "One Wish Willow" makes Nikki instantly smitten with Bear. But what starts as cuddly affection soon curdles into something darker. If Bear was obsessed with Nikki before, she's a hundred times more obsessed with him now. She becomes a horrifying shell of herself, going feral over her magically induced love for Bear. (And is that blood all over her in the trailer her own, or someone else's? Either way, we're worried!)

According to the trailer, the magic of the "One Wish Willow" will only dissipate after the wisher's death, so looks like Bear's stuck in the bed he's made for the rest of his life. Hey, maybe next time, just ask your crush out instead of wishing for her undying love and trapping you both in a horrible web of magic! Just a thought!

Obsession will screen at SXSW. It hits theaters May 15.

TL;DR: Unblock ITVX for free from anywhere in the world with a VPN. The best service for unblocking free streaming sites is ExpressVPN.

ITVX is the home of massively popular British shows like Love Island, plus live sports, thrilling dramas, and so much more. The problem for interested streamers is that this service is only available in the UK. Haven't we heard this before? It's a common problem, with a simple solution.

If you want to unblock ITVX for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to unblock ITVX for free

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but you can access this popular site from abroad with a VPN. These are useful tools that can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in the UK. This straightforward process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can access sites like ITVX from anywhere in the world.

Unblock ITVX by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a 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 ITVX

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 unblocking streaming sites are not free, but most do offer free-trial peiods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock free sites like ITVX without spending anything. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you the opportunity to temporarily retain access to ITVX before recovering your investment. This works great if you're on vacation.

If you want to retain permanent access to sites like ITVX from anywhere in the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for bypassing content restrictions is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for unblocking streaming sites like ITVX, 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 always secure

• Fast streaming 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).

Unblock ITVX for free with ExpressVPN.

When most people think of their LAN (Local Area Network) it's in the context of connecting your devices to the internet. However, your LAN doesn't actually have anything to do with the internet in particular.

SAVE $50: The new 13-inch Apple iPad Air (M4, WiFi, 128GB) is on sale for $749 at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart as of mid-March. That's $50 off its usual MSRP of $799; it's never been cheaper.

Apple iPad Air, 13-inch (M4, WiFi, 128GB) $749 at Amazon
$799 Save $50   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Walmart Get Deal at Best Buy

Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart are celebrating the release of Apple's latest tablet with a decent launch day deal. As of March 11 — its first day on the market — the new 13-inch iPad Air with the M4 chip is $50 off at all three retailers. The base configuration with 128GB of storage is now just $749 (normally $799), which is its lowest price yet.

This is the first time the new 13-inch iPad Air has been on sale, but its 11-inch counterpart was marked down to $559 (or $40 off) during its preorder phase. Blessedly, that discount was still live at the time of writing. The two tablets are identical aside from their screen sizes and brightness. The 11-inch model's display is a hair dimmer.

The M4 iPad Air comes in blue, purple, starlight, and space gray. Credit: Apple

Mashable tech editor Timothy Beck Werth got a chance to test the M4 iPad Air right after Apple announced it last week, and in its words, "it delivers iterative updates that improve an already stellar tablet." It's super thin, light, pretty, and probably way too powerful for the average user. Werth thinks "creators, artists, and college students" will take the fullest advantage of it. (Read his full review.)

Here's a quick overview of the M4 iPad Air's specs:

• Apple M4 chip with an 8-core CPU and 9-core GPU

• 12GB RAM

• Liquid Retina touchscreen display with True Tone, a 60Hz refresh rate, 500/600 nits of brightness, and an anti-reflective coating

• 12MP Wide rear camera and 12MP Center Stage camera

• Landscape stereo speakers

• Dual mics

• Apple N1 wireless networking chip (WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 6)

• Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard support

• Apple Intelligence support

• Blue, purple, starlight, and space gray color options

If you need more storage and don't care about having the freshest, most future-proofed specs, consider opting for a last-gen M3 iPad Air instead: The 13-inch model with 512GB of disk space is on sale for $949 on Amazon. (It usually retails for $1,099, so you save a cool $150.) That's a match of its record-low price from last Black Friday.

SEE ALSO: M4 iPad Air review: A tablet that thinks it's an AI laptop

Compared to the newer M4 variant, the M3 iPad Air has older connectivity technology and 8GB of memory instead of 12GB. Their overall designs, displays, and camera systems are exactly the same, and both are plenty fast for running intensive apps. Per Mashable's Werth, the M4 model's upgrades make it just a little better for "[handling] as many AI features as possible."