Nothing is more frustrating than buying a new pair of headphones, an OLED TV, or a laptop just to find out that you could have gotten it for a lot cheaper somewhere else. That’s why, in order to keep customers happy and prevent them from going elsewhere, many retailers offer price-matching policies in which they promise to match a lower price found elsewhere. That kind of information comes in handy no matter the time of year, but it’s especially helpful during shopping events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Technology
iOS 18's new text formatting and effects in messages
Get ready to jazz up your conversations because Apple’s latest iOS 18 update has brought some seriously cool text editing features to the Messages app. Gone are the days of plain, boring texts. It’s time to add some flair to your chats.
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What’s new in Messages?
Apple has finally given us built-in formatting options for iMessage conversations. Now, you can easily bold, italicize, underline or strike-through your text right in the app. But that’s not all. They’ve also added some fun animated text effects to really make your messages pop.
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Check your iOS version and update to iOS 18
Before diving into the new text formatting and animated effects, it’s essential to ensure your iPhone is updated to iOS 18. Here’s how to check and update your device:
- Tap on the Settings app on your home screen.
- Scroll down and tap on General.
- Tap Software Update. Your device will check for available updates.
- If iOS 18 is available, tap Download and Install. You may be prompted to enter your passcode.
- Agree to the terms and wait for the update to download and install. Your iPhone will restart once the installation is complete.
- Make sure your device is connected to Wi-Fi and has sufficient battery life before starting the update process.
IOS 18: DISCOVER THE NEW FEATURES IN APPLE’S LATEST OPERATING SYSTEM
How to enable Predictive Text
Next, ensure you’ve got Predictive Text enabled to see the Text Effects button:
- Open Settings.
- Scroll down and tap General.
- Tap Keyboard.
- Toggle on Predictive Text if it’s not already enabled.
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How to format your text messages
Here’s how to format your text in the Messages app:
- Open a conversation in the Messages app.
- Tap on the message bar.
- You’ll see a pop-up for Text Effects. Tap it.
- Choose from Bold, Italic, Underline or Strikethrough options.
- Now, type your text message and apply the format you’d like to use. You can apply these before typing or to text you’ve already written.
- Then hit the white up arrow in the blue circle.
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How to add animated text effects to your messages
Want to add some extra pizzazz to your text messages? Try out these animated text effects: Big, Small, Shake, Nod, Explode, Ripple, Bloom and Jitter. Here’s how to use these:
- Open a conversation in the Messages app.
- Tap on the message bar.
- You’ll see a pop-up for Text Effects. Tap it.
- Tap on the animated text effect you’d like to use.
- Type your text message, like Happy Birthday.
- Hit send and watch the magic happen.
How to mix and match formatting and animated text effects
Here’s where it gets really fun. You can combine different formatting options and text effects in a single message. Want to bold one word, underline another and make a third one explode? Go for it. Just remember, you can’t apply both formatting and effects to the same text. It’s one or the other.
- Open a conversation in the Messages app.
- Tap on the message bar.
- You’ll see a pop-up for Text Effects. Tap it.
- Tap on the animated text effect you’d like to use.
- Type your text message, like Happy Birthday.
- Hit send and watch the magic happen.
Note: Just keep in mind that these new features only work in iMessage conversations. They won’t show up in regular SMS or MMS texts. But for those iMessage chats, the sky’s the limit. So get creative and have fun spicing up your messages.
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Kurt’s key takeaways
Apple’s iOS 18 update totally revamps your messaging game with cool text formatting options and fun animated effects. It’s super easy to spice up your chats now, adding a unique touch to every message. These features really change the way you express yourself in iMessage, letting you highlight words or just make your messages pop. The best part? They blend perfectly with the classic iMessage bubble and screen effects.
What aspect of the updated Messages app are you most eager to try out, and how do you think it will change how you communicate with friends and family? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
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Technology
Here are the price-matching policies for Best Buy, Walmart, and others
What follows are the price-matching policies for a variety of major retailers. There are a few things to make note of here. First, all price-matching policies have a number of rules attached to them. We’ve summarized some of the rules here, but we recommend going to the links that we’ve provided and reading the policies carefully. Second, most retailers that serve as marketplaces for other sellers, such as Costco and Sam’s Club, don’t have price-matching policies, and many traditional stores won’t match their prices.
Lastly, there are always exceptions to the rules. If you’re looking for a deal on a product and you know it’s available for a lower price elsewhere (or it was previously offered at the same retailer), it never hurts to call or chat with a customer service rep and ask if they’ll match the price. You have nothing to lose but time, and there’s always a chance they may find a loophole or make a special exception.
Amazon doesn’t offer price matching. Full stop. You can contact customer support, but even if you’re an Amazon Prime customer, they’re not likely going to help you out.
That said, Amazon does offer a pretty liberal return policy, meaning you can often return an item you purchased from Amazon if it’s available for less elsewhere (or at Amazon). Then, you can just repurchase the product wherever it’s cheapest.
Starting November 7th, Target will extend its price matching policy on eligible items purchased from Target stores or online that drop in price on or before December 24, 2024. Target will also match the price of items purchased from Amazon, Walmart, and a select group of competitors if you ask for it at the time of or within 14 days of your purchase. You must bring the original ad or listing in both instances, whether digital or in print, along with your receipt into the store. Alternatively, you can call for online purchases at 1-800-591-3869 or chat online via contactus.target.com.
Be mindful, however, that Target’s policy excludes doorbusters and competitors’ lightning sales, like those that Amazon offers. It also doesn’t apply to products that require that you log in to see the price, “Marketplace” items from third-party sellers, or lower-priced items purchased from other Target stores.
Best Buy’s Price Match Guarantee states that a product could be eligible for a price reduction if it’s new, identical to the competitor’s product, immediately available at a qualifying competitor’s store or on its site, and not shown on Best Buy’s exclusion list — which includes “items for sale the Thursday before Thanksgiving Day through the Monday after Thanksgiving” (November 21st through December 2, 2024). Best Buy also doesn’t price match discounts that are only available as part of a competing retailer’s membership or loyalty rewards program, which disqualifies member-only events like Amazon Prime Day.
To get the difference, you have to contact Best Buy via its on-site chat and be able to show the ad or website with a lower price point. Alternatively, you can call 1-888-237-8289 or visit any Best Buy or Pacific Sales store.
Best Buy will also, upon request, match an in-store or online price that was lowered during the return and exchange period, which typically lasts up to 15 days.
Walmart doesn’t price match the prices of its competitors, though Walmart’s online store offers price matching on items purchased from Walmart stores if the item is in stock at Walmart.com.
However, the policy doesn’t apply to those who live in Alaska, Hawaii, or Puerto Rico. Additionally, it doesn’t apply to special event prices, like those seen during Black Friday. Walmart also does not retroactively price match items bought from Walmart.com that have dropped in price after the time of purchase. The retailer additionally doesn’t price match items purchased from Walmart Marketplace retailers or third-party sellers.
While we’ve seen some claims that Apple will price match up to 10 percent for products bought at certain major retailers, there is no official policy on the company’s website.
Apple does say that if it reduces the price of an Apple-branded product within 14 days of when you receive your item, you can visit an Apple Store or contact the Apple Contact Center at 1-800-676-2775 to request a refund or get credit for the price difference. However, that doesn’t apply to special sales like Black Friday or Cyber Monday.
B&H says that it might be able to honor a current lower price or match the price of a competitor, but it does so on a case-by-case basis. You have to contact its customer service team using the on-site chat, email, or by calling 1-800-606-6969 / 1-212-444-6615. If approved, B&H Photo will price match one identical item per customer.
Costco does not price match with competitors. However, according to its website, it will issue a credit for the difference between the price a member has paid and a promotional price if you bought the item online at Costco and requested the credit up to 30 days before the change in price. If you bought the product from a Costco warehouse location, visit the membership counter at the store where you made the purchase. Costco doesn’t price match items bought from Costco warehouses with Costco.com purchases.
Dell will price match identical products from Dell, Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, Target, HP, Apple, Lenovo, and a number of other retailers. You can call 1-877-275-3355 or chat online to run a price check, but you’ll need to provide a link to the competitor’s product.
You can also contact the company about a price difference within 30 days of purchase. However, there is a long list of restrictions, and none of this is available between Thanksgiving Day and the Monday following Thanksgiving (or on Green Monday). Dell also doesn’t match membership-only pricing or the exclusive discounts you’ll find during Prime Big Deal Days or Best Buy’s Member Deals Days.
As a general rule, eBay doesn’t match the prices of purchases made during the weeks of Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday. However, it does offer a generous price-matching policy for items bought before or after that period. If you find a lower price from a qualifying competitor on an eBay Deal item that you bought within 48 hours — or on another product with the “Best Price Guarantee” symbol attached to it — you’ll get “110 percent” of the difference. That means eBay will give you an eBay coupon for the difference in price between what you bought the item for and what the competitor is selling it for, plus an additional 10 percent of that price difference. Note, however, that these coupons will expire within 30 days of being issued.
The products must be new, unopened, and identical to the competitor’s item. You have to contact eBay Customer Service, and if they verify your claims are legitimate, you will receive the coupon and be able to use it toward your next eBay purchase.
GameStop does not mention an official price-matching policy on its website. In 2022, however, GameStop tweeted that the store will price match items sold and shipped by Amazon as long as they’re available online or in-store. Although GameStop only mentioned Amazon in the tweet, others have reported that the store will price match items purchased from Target and elsewhere.
If a request is made within the standard return period, Google will match online pricing from select retailers — specifically Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, B&H Photo, and Target. It doesn’t, however, match preorder pricing from other retailers or carrier deals. The product must also be in stock and identical, right down to the color and configuration. Plus, you need to provide a public link to the promo page or product listing to verify the lower price.
Other exclusions apply, too, including limited-time daily or hourly deals; wholesale, business, educational, or member-only pricing; mail-in offers and coupons; product bundles, clearance, and non-new items; and items from third-party sellers on a competitor’s website.
You may also receive the difference if the product you purchased from the Google Store drops in price within the standard return period, though you’ll need to contact Google directly to get the price match or correction.
The Home Depot will match the price of identical, in-stock products from other retailers, except for membership-based wholesalers. The price-match policy does not apply to special events like Black Friday, though, and it doesn’t apply to clearance prices, used and refurbished items, and rebate offers. You must bring the ad or listing with you in-store to the register. (You can also request price matches for online purchases that are shipped to the customer.) Additionally, The Home Depot will only honor requests submitted by the original buyer — no friends or family allowed.
According to HP’s website, the company will match the current pretax price for new comparable PCs and identical HP printer, display, and accessory model numbers from nationally recognized online retailers, such as Dell, Amazon, Newegg, and Best Buy. The specs have to be the same to get a price match on PCs, but the product model number does not need to be identical.
You must ask for the match at the time of purchase by calling 1-800-888-0229. You can’t request a price match via email or chat, though, and the policy does not extend to items bought during promotional periods. It also doesn’t apply to membership stores like Costco and Sam’s Club.
HP also offers price protection on the HP-branded products it sells. If a price drops during your return window, you can request an adjustment by emailing myhpsales@hp.com. This doesn’t apply to products purchased during certain promotional events such as Green Monday and products on sale during the week of Thanksgiving and the week after, plus other seasonal holiday sales.
Lenovo matches pricing on comparable PCs from Lenovo, HP, or Dell with the same key specs as long as they’re sold through a list of recognized retailers. That list includes bigger stores such as Best Buy, Walmart, Amazon, Newegg, and B&H Photo as well as direct competitors such as Dell and HP. The comparable PC must also be in stock and readily available from both Lenovo and the competing retailer, and you have to contact a Lenovo sales rep with specific details about the specs and availability of the product you’re inquiring about in order to facilitate the match.
That said, you can’t take advantage of coupons or special discounts while receiving a price match, and the policy doesn’t apply to membership stores like Costco. The policy also doesn’t apply to “Marketplace” items where third parties fulfill the order, so double-check that you bought the product directly from the retailer.
Lenovo also offers a price guarantee refund for laptops and personal desktop computers bought from Lenovo.com within 30 days of purchase. To receive a refund, you must contact Customer Care and show the lower price of the identical product offered on Lenovo.com. This policy doesn’t apply to doorbuster or clearance products, however.
Lowe’s will match the price of identical, in-stock products when you present an ad, product listing, or photo from a qualifying online or local retailer, including Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart. The product must be purchased directly from the retailer and not a third-party seller, however, and it doesn’t apply to special sales events like Black Friday and other holiday promotions.
Additionally, Lowe’s doesn’t match prices from one Lowe’s store to another, nor any rebate discounts or those available only to a select group of customers (such as loyalty clubs). To request a price match, you can head to the store, call 1-877-465-6937, or chat online.
Now through January 31st, 2025, Microsoft will refund you the difference if it drops the price of an in-stock physical product purchased from the Microsoft Store. The same policy also applies if you find the identical product on sale at a lower price at a qualifying retailer like Amazon or Best Buy, though it doesn’t extend to the Surface Hub, HoloLens, Windows DevKits, or digital products.
Furthermore, some eligible products have specific retailer exclusions. For example, price matches for Surface products at other retailers are limited to Amazon and Best Buy, while Xbox products are limited to the two aforementioned retailers as well as Target, GameStop, and Walmart.
You’ll need to contact Microsoft’s Sales and Support team at 1-877-696-7786 within 60 days of delivery to request a refund. If you purchase an item from a Microsoft Experience Center, you’ll have to go back to that location with your receipt. In both instances, Microsoft will credit your original payment method the difference between the price you paid and the current lower price, which typically takes between three and five days to process.
Newegg offers price matching on select items; these products are identified by the label “Price Match Guarantee” that appears in the price box on the right side of the product page. This applies whether you find that lower price on Newegg or at what Newegg judges as a major retailer, which includes Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, Target, GameStop, and Sears. The product must be identical, and the match won’t apply to rebates, coupons, or price drops that are only available as part of a retailer’s membership or loyalty program.
You need to notify Newegg of the lower price within 14 days of purchase. You’ll then be issued a credit you can use on the Newegg website, though you’ll only have 90 days to do so. Newegg’s price-match guarantee is not valid during major holiday sales events, including Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Green Monday.
You can request a price match against other Sam’s Club stores but not competitors. Note that this doesn’t apply to items on markdown or clearance.
Update, October 30th: Added a mention of Black Friday and adjusted the copy to reflect current retailer policies.
Technology
Massive data breach exposes 800,000 insurance customers' personal information
Over the past few months, we’ve seen a wave of data breaches affecting millions of people, from health care giants to government contractors and more. This latest incident is yet another in a long line of alarming breaches. Now, the insurance administrative services company Landmark Admin has warned that a data breach from a May cyberattack impacted over 800,000 individuals.
Landmark Admin has partnered with some of the largest insurance carriers in the U.S., including American Monumental Life Insurance Company, Pellerin Life Insurance Company and American Benefit Life Insurance Company.
Through these partnerships, millions of policyholders and their sensitive information, such as names, Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers and passport numbers, could be at risk of exposure, further amplifying the potential impact of this breach.
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What you need to know
In a report to the Maine attorney general’s office, Landmark revealed it spotted unusual activity in its systems May 13, 2024, prompting it to disconnect affected systems and block remote access to its network (via Bleeping Computer).
Landmark brought in a specialized third-party cybersecurity team to help secure its systems and run a thorough investigation to understand the extent of the breach. But while they were looking into it, the hackers managed to break back into Landmark’s system June 17, 2024.
The cybersecurity team’s findings showed data was both encrypted and stolen from Landmark’s systems. According to the investigation, hackers may have gained unauthorized access to the personal details of impacted individuals, which could include full name, address, Social Security number, tax ID, driver’s license or state-issued ID number, passport number, bank details, medical info, health insurance policy number, date of birth and details about life and annuity policies.
MASSIVE DATA BREACH EXPOSES 3 MILLION AMERICANS’ PERSONAL INFORMATION TO CYBERCRIMINALS
What is Landmark doing after data breach?
Landmark is offering free identity theft protection services for those affected by the data breach. It’s also notifying everyone whose personal information may have been in its systems during the breach. Individual notices will be sent by U.S. first-class mail, going out in batches as they identify potentially affected individuals. The first wave of letters was sent Oct. 23, 2024.
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WORLD’S LARGEST STOLEN PASSWORD DATABASE UPLOADED TO CRIMINAL FORUM
9 ways to protect yourself from data breaches
1. Enable two-factor authentication: Activate two-factor authentication (2FA) for an extra layer of security on all your important accounts, including email, banking and social media. Two-factor authentication requires you to provide a second piece of information, such as a code sent to your phone, in addition to your password when logging in. This makes it significantly harder for hackers to access your accounts, even if they have your password. Enabling 2FA can greatly reduce the risk of unauthorized access and protect your sensitive data.
2. Monitor your accounts and transactions: You should check your online accounts and transactions regularly for any suspicious or unauthorized activity. If you notice anything unusual, immediately report it to the service provider or authorities. You should also review your credit reports and scores to see if there are any signs of identity theft or fraud.
3. Contact your bank and credit card companies: Landmark hackers obtained your bank and credit card information, which they could use to make purchases or withdrawals without your consent. You should inform your bank and credit card companies of the situation. They can help you freeze or cancel your cards, dispute any fraudulent charges and issue new cards for you.
You should also contact one of the three major credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian or TransUnion) and request a fraud alert to be placed on your credit file. This will make it more difficult for identity thieves to open new accounts in your name without verification. You can even freeze your credit if need be.
4. Use personal data removal services: In light of these ongoing data breaches, protecting personal data has become essential. One proactive step is to consider personal data removal services, which specialize in continuously monitoring and removing your information from various online databases and websites. These services employ advanced tools and techniques to identify and eliminate your data from people search sites, data brokers and other platforms where your information might be exposed. By using a data removal service, you can minimize the risk of identity theft and fraud, especially after a data breach. Additionally, these services often provide ongoing monitoring and alerts, keeping you informed of any new instances of your data appearing online and taking immediate action to remove it. Check out my top picks for data removal services here.
5. Have strong antivirus software: As cyberthreats grow in frequency and sophistication, strong antivirus software is also crucial to fend off malware and phishing scams, both of which could expose your sensitive information if left unguarded.
The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe. Get my picks for the best 2024 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.
6. Use strong, unique passwords: Secure access to your accounts is paramount. Using strong, unique passwords for each account is an effective barrier against unauthorized access, especially when data breaches place your information at heightened risk. Avoid reusing passwords across multiple accounts. A strong password typically has a mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers and special characters and is at least 12 characters long. Consider using a password manager to help generate and store complex passwords securely.
7. Keep your software updated: Outdated software can have vulnerabilities that hackers exploit. Ensure your operating systems, apps and browsers are updated to the latest versions to close any security gaps.
8. Limit sharing of personal information online: Be mindful about sharing personal information on social media or other platforms, as hackers can use this data in phishing schemes. Make sure to adjust privacy settings on your social media accounts so only trusted friends can view your profile information.
9. Avoid public Wi-Fi for sensitive transactions: Public Wi-Fi networks are often less secure and can be vulnerable to hackers. When accessing sensitive accounts, use a VPN or wait until you’re on a trusted, secure network. For best VPN software, see my expert review of the best VPNs for browsing the web privately on your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices
WINDOWS FLAW LETS HACKERS SNEAK INTO YOUR PC OVER WI-FI
Kurt’s key takeaway
The Landmark data breach is just one of several data breaches I’ve covered this year. While it’s still unclear what type of cyberattack hackers used to break into the insurance company’s systems, one thing is certain – they accessed sensitive data. Even more concerning is that hackers got into Landmark’s system not once but twice, hinting at some major cybersecurity gaps. If you think you may have been affected, stay vigilant and follow good cybersecurity practices.
Do you think companies are investing enough in their cybersecurity infrastructure? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact
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Technology
Dropbox cuts its workforce by 20 percent in latest round of layoffs
“We’re making more significant cuts in areas where we’re over-invested or underperforming while designing a flatter, more efficient team structure overall,” writes Dropbox CEO Drew Houston in a blog post titled An update from Drew. At the same time, Houston mentions that the market is moving towards where the company placed its “biggest bets,” which includes Dropbox’s Dash AI search product.
For its second-quarter earnings this year in August, Dropbox reported an increase of 63,000 paid users quarter over quarter, which is light compared to its total 18 million-plus user base. As reported by TechCrunch, Q2 was Dropbox’s slowest growth in company history, and its shares lost more than 20 percent of their value year to date in August.
Houston says Dropbox will say more about its 2025 strategy to grow its core business and speed up new products in the coming days. Affected employees will get sixteen weeks of severance pay, equity, bonus plan lump sums, payouts of approved leave, and immigration consultation for those on work visas. Dropbox says most of the payouts will take place in fiscal Q4 2024.
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