Best Buy’s Canada’s new list of Top Deals for the week is out now with solid discounts on several product categories, including cameras, laptops, wearables, sounders and more. Notably, Best Buy also has some solid  ‘Marketplace’ sales which are mentioned towards the end of the list below.

The deals mentioned below are available starting today, Friday, December 16th, and end on Christmas Eve.

Check out the deals below:

Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III Wi-Fi 20.1MP Digital Camera with 2 32GB Memory Cards – Black: $949.99 (save $50)

Canon EOS Rebel T8i DSLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm IS STM Lens Kit, 800 SR Bag & Wrist Strap: $1,199.99 (save $50)

Sony Cyber-shot ZV-1 Content Creator Vlogger 20.1MP 2.9x Optical Zoom Digital Camera – Black: $899.99 (save $100)

Canon EOS M50 Mark II Mirrorless Camera with EF-M 15-45mm IS STM Lens Kit, Bag, 32GB Card & Wrist Strap: $979.99 (save $20)

Seagate One Touch 2TB USB 3.0 Portable External Hard Drive (STKB2000404) – Grey: $69.99 (save $20)

Dyson V10 Animal+ Cordless Stick Vacuum – Sprayed Nickel/Iron: $569.99 (save $180)

Google Nest Wifi Pro Wi-Fi 6E Router – Snow – 3 Pack: $419.99 (save $110)

Samsung HW-Q990B 656-Watt 11.1.4 Channel Sound Bar with Wireless Subwoofer & Up-Firing Rear Speakers: $1,499.99 (save $800)

Google Chromecast with Google TV (HD) – Snow: $29.99 (save $10)

Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine (BES870XL) – Stainless Steel: $749.99 (save $50)

Samsung 43-inch 4K UHD HDR LED Tizen Smart TV (UN43TU7000FXZC) – Titan Grey: $449.99 (save $50)

Samsung 65-inch 4K UHD OLED Tizen Smart TV (QN65S95BAFXZC): $2,799.99 (save $400)

Logitech G Pro X Superlight 25600 DPI Wireless HERO Optical Gaming Mouse – Black: $149.99 (save $50)

Acer 27-inch FHD 165Hz 1ms GTG Curved LED FreeSync Gaming Monitor (ED273 PBIIPX) – Black: $199.99 (save $80)

Sony WH-CH710N Over-Ear Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Headphones – Black: $129 (save $120)

Google Pixel Buds A-Series In-Ear Sound Isolating Truly Wireless Headphones – Olive: $99.99 (save $40)

DJI Mini 2 Quadcopter Drone Fly More Combo – Grey – Bilingual: $659.99 (save $70)

Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15.6-inch Laptop – Cloud Grey (AMD Athlon Silver 3050U/128GB eMMC/4GB RAM/Windows 11 S): $219.99 (save $180)

HP 15.6-inch Laptop – Jet Black (Intel Core i3-1115G4/512GB SSD/8GB RAM/Windows 11 Home): $499.99 (save $200)

JBL Flip 6 Waterproof Bluetooth Wireless Speaker – Black: $129.99 (save $40)

Dyson Supersonic Special Edition Holiday 2022 – Vinca Blue/Rosé: $499.99 (save $50)

Fitbit Inspire 3 Fitness Tracker with Heart Rate Monitor – Midnight Zen: $99.99 (save $30)

Samsung Galaxy Watch5 (GPS) 44mm Smartwatch with Heart Rate Monitor – Grey: $324.99 (save $65)

Marketplace Offers

Refurbished (Excellent) Dyson Official Outlet – V15 Detect Cordless Vacuum: $699.99 (save $100)

Narwal T10 4-in-1 Robot Vacuum and Mop with Self Cleaning Station, Self Washing and Drying with LiDAR Navigation, Smart Mapping, 2 Suction Mode for Hard Floor and Pet Hair, White: $799.99 (save $600)

Gyrocopters PRO 6.0 All Terrain Hoverboard – UL 2272, Bluetooth, LED Wheels, APP, Bag, No Fall Technology (Black): $169.99 (save $429)

Apple MacBook Air 13.3- w/ Touch ID (2020) – Gold (Intel Core i7 1.2GHz/512GB SSD/16GB RAM) -En – Open Box: $1,o99.77 (save $299)

Find all Best Buy Top Deals here.

MobileSyrup utilizes affiliate partnerships. These partnerships do not influence our editorial content, though we may earn a commission on purchases made via these links that helps fund the journalism provided free on our website.

Denial of service attack sites shut, a Twitter spy is sentenced, and more.

Welcome to Cyber Security Today. It’s Friday, December 16, 2022.

 

Forty-eight criminal internet domains selling denial-of service-for-hire tools have been seized by the U.S. Justice Department. In addition, criminal charges have been laid against six people who allegedly oversaw what are called “booter” or “stressor” services. The FBI is in the process of seizing the websites. Denial of service attacks are aimed at shutting the internet sites of victim firms or governments. Sometimes it’s for blackmail and other times to distract IT departments from a hack going on elsewhere on the network.

A California judge has sentenced a former Twitter employee to three and a half years in prison for acting as an unregistered agent spying for Saudi Arabia. Prosecutors alleged the man was paid to get information on Twitter users who were dissidents and critics of the kingdom. One of the bribes: A Hublot watch, which the man valued at US$42,000 when offering it for sale on Craigslist. He also got another US$200,000, prosecutors said.

Social Blade, a data analytics tool used by companies to track social media activities, has been hacked. According to the Cybernews, the company says the attacker took advantage of a website vulnerability to get the user database. The data includes uses names, email addresses and hashed passwords.

Another big Australian firm has been hacked in the last couple of months. The latest is communications provider TPG Telecom, whose hosted Microsoft Exchange service was compromised. The service hosts email accounts of around 15,000 business users. Other recent targets Down Under were the Optus telecom service and the Medibank private healthcare service.

IT security teams who want to know more about a suspected Iranian-based cyber attack group can find it in a new column from Proofpoint. It calls the group TA453, although other researchers call it Charming Kitten, Phosphorous or APT42. Usually this group goes after academics, researchers, diplomats, dissidents, journalists and human rights workers with expertise in the Middle East. Attempts can start with weeks of benign email conversations before the victim is sent a message with a malicious link or document. One target was the press secretary of an American government official. This person was sent a suspicious message from the hacked email account of a reporter. Another target, an American-based academic, was emailed a complaint by a supposed woman alleging the academic was involved in an accident with her car and demanded she be contacted by email.

Attention Windows administrators and home users: If, for some reason, you haven’t installed the Windows security patches released in September, do it fast. Microsoft now says a vulnerability that was fixed then has been upgraded to critical after some new research by IBM. The problem is in an authentication protocol. If the hole isn’t closed an attacker could do nasty things.

Finally, another email or text phishing scam for stealing Facebook users’ passwords and personal information is going around. It starts with a familiar lure: An email message claiming your Facebook account features have been deactivated because the some posts allegedly have objectionable content. If you don’t log in using the supplied link and file an appeal your account will be terminated. According to researchers at Trustwave, the new twist is that the link goes to an actual Facebook post that looks like a Facebook support page. It’s a fake. So is the page to file your appeal. So is the page requesting your two-factor authentication code. Any information the victim fills in the appeal page — your name, email address, phone number, Facebook page name — goes to crooks. Never click on a link in any email or text message you get that takes you to a login page. If you’re worried about any warning message, go to the website of the service the way you normally do — either by typing the name yourself or using your password manager. One tip: Beware of messages that start, “Dear user.”

That’s it for now. However, later today the Week in Review edition will be out. Guest commentator David Shipley and I will talk about the hack of an FBI database of contacts, cyber war and problems with session cookies.

Follow Cyber Security Today on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or add us to your Flash Briefing on your smart speaker.

The post Cyber Security Today, Dec. 16, 2022 – Denial of service attack sites shut, a Twitter spy is sentenced, and more first appeared on IT World Canada.

There are some great last-minute deals on Sony and Bose wireless headphones and earbuds from Amazon Canada, some to the tune of putting up to 44 percent back into your wallet.

Check out these deals:

Sony WF-1000XM4 Headphones with Alexa are $248 (save 24%)
Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones are $398 (save $20)
Sony LinkBuds S Headphones with Alexa Built-in are $168 (save 44%)
Sony LinkBuds S Earbuds Headphones with Alexa Built-in are $168 (save 44%)
Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones WHCH710N are $128 (Save 49%)
Bose QuietComFort 45 Bluetooth Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones are $329 (save 27%)
Bose QuietComfort Noise Cancelling Earbuds for $229 (save 8%)
Bose QuietComFort 45 Bluetooth Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones for $329 (save 27%)
Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 for $409 (Save 15%)

MobileSyrup utilizes affiliate partnerships. These partnerships do not influence our editorial content, though we may earn a commission on purchases made via these links that helps fund the journalism provided free on our website.

Source: Amazon Canada

TikTok pushes harmful content every 39 seconds, eight social media influencers have been charged in securities fraud scheme and the Department of Energy looks to fund fusion technologies

 

That’s all the tech news that’s trending right now. Welcome to Hashtag Trending. It’s Friday December 16 and I am your host, Samira Balsara.

According to a new report published Wednesday by the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), TikTok recommends self harm and eating disorders content to some users within minutes of joining the platform. Researchers posed as 13 year olds interested in body image and mental health. Within 2.6 minutes, TikTok’s algorithm recommended suicidal content and eating disorder content within eight mins. Researchers found a total of 56 TikTok hashtags hosting eating disorder videos with 13.2 billion views, over the course of the study. This study comes as more than 1,200 families are pursuing lawsuits against social media companies including TikTok. A TikTok spokesperson challenged the methodology of the study saying; “We regularly consult with health experts, remove violations of our policies, and provide access to supportive resources for anyone in need.”

Source: CBS News

U.S prosecutors said they have charged eight individuals in a securities fraud scheme, alleging they reaped about $114 million by using Twitter and Discord to manipulate stocks. The eight men posed as successful traders on the social media platforms and then conducted a “pump and dump” scheme by hyping particular stocks to their followers with the intention to dump them once prices had risen, Reuters reported. “Securities fraud victimizes innocent investors and undermines the integrity of our public markets,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth Polite of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.

Source: Reuters

After the nuclear fusion breakthrough, the US Department of Energy is now in the process of determining which competing fusion technologies should be funded to try and produce carbon-free fusion power for the U.S. grid by the 2040s, EnergyWire reported. The grant seeks to help private fusion developers create blueprints for a utility-scale pilot plant that could deliver at least 50 megawatts of power to the grid. The funding is supported by a $50 million authorization from Congress in the 2020 Energy Act. The goal is “hopefully to enable a fusion pilot to operate in the early 2030s,” said a senior DOE official.

Source: EnergyWire

The Tokyo metropolitan government said it will introduce a system mandating newly built homes to be fitted with solar panels from fiscal year 2025 in a bid to reduce carbon emissions from the household sector, Kyodo News reported. Major construction companies will be required to install solar panels on buildings with a total floor area of less than 2,000 square meters. The metropolitan government estimates that the 980,000 yen ($7,200) initial cost for installation of the 4-kilowatt panels can be covered within 10 years from electricity sales revenue and can be further reduced down to six years with subsidies. Tokyo has set a goal to halve carbon emissions by 2030 from the level of those in 2000. A supplementary budget of 116.2 billion yen was also approved for the scheme, including subsidies for installing the panels.

Source: Kyodo News

That’s all the tech news that’s trending right now. Hashtag Trending is a part of the ITWC Podcast network. Add us to your Alexa Flash briefings or your Google Home daily briefing. Make sure to sign up for our Daily IT Wire newsletter to get all the news that matters directly in your inbox every day. Also, catch the next episode of Hashtag Tendances, our weekly Hashtag Trending episode in French, which drops every Thursday morning. If you have a suggestion or a tip, drop us a line in the comments or via email. Thank you for listening, I’m Samira Balsara.

The post Hashtag Trending Dec 16 – Harmful content on TikTok; social media influencers charged; Department of energy looks to fund fusion techs first appeared on IT World Canada.

Two people travelling in a vehicle that fell into a remote California canyon were saved with the help of Apple’s Crash Detection and Emergency SOS via Satellite features.

According to tweets by Montrose Search & Rescue Team, deputies and fire were notified of the December 13th crash through a call from the Apple emergency satellite service.

The vehicle had dropped 300 feet. While the occupants extricated themselves, they had no cell service to call for help. But through Emergency SOS via Satellite, the occupants could text a relay center, which then notified authorities.

on Angeles Forest Hwy near mile marker 18.87, Angeles Forest. Their vehicle had gone off the side of the mountain, approximately 300'. They were in a remote canyon with no cellular phone service. The victims were able to extricate themselves from the car. Using the emergency pic.twitter.com/2YT8PxHrWJ

— Montrose Search & Rescue Team (Ca.) (@MontroseSAR) December 14, 2022

This isn’t the first time the features have made headlines for helping people.

Earlier this month, a stranded snowmobiler in Alaska used Emergency SOS via Satellite to call for help. The feature is available on iPhone 14 and 14 Pro models and connects devices out of reach of cellular networks with satellites.

However, recent reports have indicated Crash Detection can lead to accidental calls when skiing or riding rollercoasters. Despite the reports, the importance of either feature is hard to argue about.

Source: Montrose Search and Rescue Team Via: MacRumors

Spirited has become the most-watched Apple TV+ movie to date, Apple has confirmed.

While the tech giant doesn’t reveal exact Apple TV+ viewership figures,Deadline reports that Spirited has brought in 27 percent new viewers to Apple TV+ since premiering on November 11th.

Vancouver’s own Ryan Reynolds, who co-stars in the Christmas musical comedy alongside Will Ferrell, took to social media to celebrate the milestone.

Spirited is now the biggest movie ever on Apple TV+. I’m buying shots at the Genius Bar! pic.twitter.com/BeOOBGHnNy

— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) December 15, 2022

It should be noted that Apple TV+ only has a couple dozen original movies, so this isn’t as significant a record as it might have been on other streaming services with more content. Still, it’s another feather in Reynolds’ cap, as he’s also the only actor to have three movies — 6 Underground, Red Notice and The Adam Project — in Netflix’s Top 10.

In Canada, his recent critically-acclaimed Welcome to Wrexham docuseries streams on Disney+. It tells the story of the eponymous Welsh sports team, the world’s third-oldest football club, and features Reynolds and fellow co-owner Rob McElhenney.

Apple, meanwhile, has been ramping up its film production as of late. Following a Best Picture win for CODA earlier this year, the streamer has put out notable films like Causeway with Jennifer Lawrence and the Will Smith-led Emancipation. Next year will also see the likes of Martin Scorsese’s Flowers of the Killer Moon and Ghosted with Chris Evans and Ana De Armas.

Image credit: Apple

Tesla has launched ‘Tesla Electric,’ an electricity retailer that will service Powerwall owners.

Tesla Electric lets Powerwall owners generate, use & export sustainable power to run their homes https://t.co/JHZ48NSwUS

— Tesla (@Tesla) December 15, 2022

Available initially in some Texas markets, Tesla Electric will let your Powerwall automatically decide when to charge and when to sell electricity to the grid. Tesla says it will also help users meet their sustainability goals  when importing electricity from the grid as it features energy from 100 percent renewable sources.

Really excited to ship this: Tesla Electric in Texas, a retail electricity offer with real time pricing for Solar and Powerwall exports. https://t.co/1H4bN0MR49 pic.twitter.com/JkKooCvl6k

— Alex Guichet (@AlexGuichet) December 15, 2022

On Twitter, Alex Guichet, head of Tesla’s mobile app product, talked a bit more about Tesla Electric. “It’s a pretty competitive rate offer. It has a peak pricing structure, but Powerwall and Tesla Electric Mode are your buffers to avoid peak prices,” he wrote in a thread.

For now, Tesla Electric is only available by invitation to select customers in Texas, with availability in additional states on the way. It’s unclear if and when it might expand to other markets, such as Canada.

More information on Tesla Electric can be found here.

Image credit: Shutterstock

Via: Elektrek

Motorola is offering Canadians discounts on several smartphones as part of its Boxing Week/Holiday sale. Savings ranges from as little as $50 to as much as $500 off on select devices.

Check out the promotions below:

Motorola Edge (2021): $399.99 (regularly $899.99)

Motorola One 5G Ace: $279.99 (regularly $499.99)

Moto G Power (2022): $249.99 (regularly $299.99)

Moto G Pure: $149.99 (regularly $199.99)

Moto G Play: $169.99 (regularly $249.99)

Motorola Edge (2022): $499.99 (regularly $899.99)

Moto G 5G: $299.99 (regularly $399.99)

Moto G Stylus 5G (2022): $379.99 (regularly $499.99)

Moto G Power (2021): $199.99 (regularly $319.99)

Check out the promotion page here.

Find all of the best Boxing Week deals on tech here.

Image credit: Motorola

Source: Motorola

Bell Canada’s flanker brand Lucky Mobile is offering a solid bonus data promotion to customers on a few plans.

Lucky Mobile is offering 10GB of bonus data for 12 months on $40+ plans for new activations. This deal includes the following:

$40/mo 7GB plan
$50/mo 12GB plan
$70/mo 22GB plan

These plans also include unlimited Canada-wide calling and international texting, while some of the plans also include unlimited calling to the United States.

Vidéotron is offering several discounted data plans and home internet offers for Boxing Week.

One of the notable holiday offers includes 15GB at $45 per month and includes an additional 10GB of data for the year. Other data deals include $50 per month for 20GB, $60 per month for 40GB, and $75 per month for 50GB.

Several smartphones are also available at a discounted rate. For example, you can get the iPhone 13 for $27.75 per month, the Galaxy S22 for $15 per month, the Pixel 6a for $5 per month and more.

You can also subscribe to Vidéotron’s Wi-Fi Unlimited 400 for $73 per month. The Helix Unlimited 400Mbps internet plan includes Wi-Fi 6, the Helix Fi app and more.

There’s also another offer, which includes Unlimited 60 internet with Helix TV 5 popular channels plus 23 basic HD channels, for $100 per month.

Check out some of the best carrier Boxing Day offers here.

Source: Vidéotron