US-based employee screening services provider DISA Global Solutions said it was breached by hackers, putting the personally identifiable information of 3.3 million people at risk.

While DISA informed Maine’s attorney general of the data breach yesterday (thanks, TechCrunch) and reported the hack to Massachusetts’s Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation earlier on February 22, the attack began over a year ago, on February 9, 2024. The unidentified hacker accessed DISA’s network for two months before the company noticed on April 22, 2024. However, there’s allegedly “no evidence of actual or attempted misuse” of personal information.

In a sample notification letter sent to those affected by the hack, DISA claimed it “could not definitively conclude the specific data procured” even after an investigation with third-party assistance. However, the Massachusetts filing listed what the attackers accessed: Social Security numbers, financial accounts, driver’s licenses and credit and debit numbers. DISA didn’t share other details on the attack.

DISA serves over 55,000 customers, including 30 percent of Fortune 500 companies. The company offers drug, alcohol and background checks. This allows it to collect sensitive information, making it a prime target for cybercriminals.

It’s unknown why DISA took almost a year to notify anyone, especially when employee screening is a highly sensitive industry. Those affected can enroll for 12 months of credit monitoring and identity restoration services, a common act of apology companies often take after a cybersecurity incident.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/us-employee-screening-firm-disa-hit-with-data-breach-affecting-over-33-million-people-145658681.html?src=rss

DoorDash has reached an agreement with the New York Attorney General over an old practice wherein the company used customers’ tips to subsidize its drivers’ pay. As the office of New York AG Letitia James explained, its investigation had revealed that DoorDash wasn’t giving its drivers the tips customers sent them through the app from May 2017 through September 2019. Now, the company will pay $16.75 million in restitution that will be divided between 63,000 drivers. The Attorney General told The New York Times that a lot of drivers will receive payments in the low thousands, but some will get as much as $14,000. 

Within the two-year period mentioned above, the service promised Dashers a guaranteed pay for each delivery. When customers checked out an order, they saw a message that said: “Dashers will always receive 100 percent of the tip.” Most customers reading that would take it as their driver will get what they were tipping them on top of their payment. Instead, the service used their tips to cover the drivers’ guaranteed pay. If a customer tipped $6 for an order with a guaranteed payment of $10, for instance, DoorDash would only pay $4 out of its own pocket. That means the driver would still only get $10 instead of $16.

“DoorDash misled customers who generously tipped and deceived Dashers who deserved to be paid in full. This settlement returns millions to the pockets of hardworking Dashers and ensures transparency in DoorDash’s payment practices going forward,” James said in a statement. In 2020, DoorDash also settled a similar lawsuit in Washington, DC for $2.5 million. It settled another lawsuit of the same nature in Illinois last year for $11.25 million. 

The company ended its unfair tipping practices in 2019. In New York, app-based delivery companies are now required to pay their drivers a minimum wage that’s currently set to $19.56 per hour, not including the tips they get from customers. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/doordash-to-settle-new-york-lawsuit-over-misleading-tipping-practices-by-paying-17-million-143018965.html?src=rss

Panasonic’s mirrorless cameras are best known for their video powers, but with its latest model, the company is finally getting serious about photography as well. The $3,300 full-frame Lumix S1R II is not only the company’s first camera capable of 8K video but can fire off 40 fps bursts of high-resolution (45 megapixel) RAW photos. It also offers a more advanced autofocus system, putting it squarely into the conversation with Sony, Canon and Nikon.

I’ve had a pre-production unit for several days now and so far, I’m impressed. The original S1R was a chunky 2.24 pound monster, but the S1R II is much lighter at 1.75 pounds and considerably smaller in size. That makes it less burdensome than before — though still a bit bigger than the Nikon Z8 and Canon R5 II. It also has one of the fattest grips I’ve ever seen that gave me a firm, secure hold on the camera.

Panasonic made other substantial changes to the body, removing the top display and shifting the mode dial from top left to top right. In the latter’s place a dedicated burst mode dial and photo/video/S&Q switch was introduced, while a new autofocus dial was placed at the back. Handling is now near the top among high-end full-frame cameras in my book, matching or even beating my favorite, the Sony A1 II.

Panasonic

The rear 1.8-million-dot display was also overhauled and not only flips out for content creators but also tilts up and down for photographers — putting it on par with the excellent screen on Sony’s A1 II. The electronic viewfinder has the same 5.76-million-dot resolution and 120Hz refresh rate as before, but now offers a more natural 100 percent magnification.

The S1R II supports both SD UHS II and fast CFexpress Type B cards (rather than XQD as before) with a slot for each, while also allowing SSD recording via the USB-C port like the S5 IIX and GH7. Other inputs include mic, headphone and a full-size HDMI slot, along with a 10Gbps USB-C port. The battery is the same as the one on the GH7 and G9 III but delivers just 350 shots max on a charge, unless you buy the optional DMW-BLK22 battery grip. The S1R II will also offer full-float 32-bit audio recording, but only with the optional DMW-XLR2 audio accessory. 

Steve Dent for Engadget

Shooting performance is dramatically better with up to 40 fps (RAW 12-bit) burst speeds with continuous autofocus enabled, compared to a rather pitiful 6 fps on the previous model. It can also hit 10 fps speeds in mechanical mode or 9 fps with 14-bit RAW output. That matches the lower-resolution Canon R1 (though that model does it in 14-bit RAW mode) and is only below Sony’s A9 III that can hit a mind-boggling 120 fps burst speeds in RAW mode.

Panasonic also overhauled the phase-detect autofocus system to add more speed and AI smarts. It can now lock onto a subject’s face and eyes quicker and follow their movements more smoothly, but also detect and automatically switch between humans, animals, cars, motorcycles, bikes, trains and airplanes. From my observations so far, it’s not quite up to the speed and fluidity of Sony and Canon’s latest models, but Panasonic is nearly there.

Panasonic

When it comes to image quality, JPEG photos look natural with realistic colors, though I wasn’t able to open RAW files on this pre-production camera. One big improvement is at high ISOs in low light thanks to the dual ISO sensor that keeps noise under control all the way up to about ISO 12800. 

On the video side, the S1R II now supports internal ProRes RAW and 8K video capture, but not both at the same time. ProRes RAW captured to CFexpress or USB-C is limited to 5.8K but uses the full width of the sensor, so it’s a good solution for 4K productions. 8K, meanwhile, can only be captured in 4:2:0 LongGOP MP4 formats at 30 fps (4K tops out at 120 fps in Slow & Quick mode). 

That compares to 60 fps max on the Canon EOS R5 II and Nikon Z8, and both of those cameras can do that format in RAW. Sony’s A1 II, by contrast, can also do 8K 30 fps video but doesn’t support RAW recording at all. And of course, the S1R II supports V-Log recording and promises up to 14 stops of dynamic range, slightly less than the S1R. It’ll also allow for external ProRes RAW recording at up to 8K to Atomos recorders via a firmware update coming after the initial launch. 

Panasonic

Panasonic’s updated stabilization system promises up to 8 stops of shake reduction, but there are a few significant updates. It reduces edge distortion for video without cropping, though there’s a small amount of vignetting if you do that. As before, it supports e-stabilization at regular and high strengths, and now offers the high-strength mode for anamorphic lenses.

That raises the issue of rolling shutter, since the S1R II doesn’t use a stacked sensor like its main competitors, the Nikon Z8 and Canon R5 II. Distortion is definitely more prominent than on those models, but readout speeds are relatively quick so it’s not offensive except when doing whip pans or filming very fast moving subjects.

At $3,300, the S1R II is priced well below the $4,300 Canon R5 II but nearly on par with the Nikon Z8, which can currently be found at $3,400. It’s set to start shipping at the end of March 2025.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/panasonic-takes-on-canon-with-the-full-frame-45-megapixel-s1r-ii-mirrorless-camera-140048286.html?src=rss

A free version of Microsoft Office for Windows might be on its way. Microsoft has been silently testing an ad-supported version of Office reported Beebom. Free versions are currently only available on the web. 

The update would allow users to access PowerPoint, Word, Excel and more for free. There appears to be a few conditions for the fee-free option. It appears to include an ever-present banner on the righthand side and 15-second videos that play every few hours. Any documents must also be stored in One Drive rather than in local files. 

Each system also comes with limitations. For example, Word wouldn’t have drawing and design tools or dictation. Excel foregoes conditional formatting, recommended charts and more. PowerPoint loses all draw, animation and record tools, among other features. 

“Microsoft has been conducting some limited testing,” a representative for the company told PC Mag in an email. “Currently, there are no plans to launch a free, ad-supported version of Microsoft Office desktop apps.” 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/microsoft-is-testing-a-free-with-ads-version-of-office-140030345.html?src=rss

Adobe has launched a brand new Photoshop app for iPhones, which it’s also releasing for Android later this year. While there’s already a Photoshop Express for mobile, the company says the new app was “designed from the ground up” with more features and has an easy-to-use mobile interface. The app, which is free to download and use, comes with Photoshop’s core imaging and design tools. Users can make selections, layers and masks in the app to combine or blend images. They can also replace parts of an image with the Tap Select tool, remove elements from a photo with the Spot Healing Brush and add new elements by using its generative AI tools, such as Generative Fill and Generative Expand. 

Users will have access to free Adobe Stock assets and can link their apps with other Adobe applications, including Express, Lightroom and Fresco. Adobe is, as expected, offering premium upgrades to the app’s capabilities for those willing to pay for the new Photoshop Mobile and Web plan. The $8-a-month service will add features to the app on mobile and iPad and will also include access to Photoshop on the web. Users who already have an existing Photoshop subscription, however, will also be able to enjoy the new Photoshop app’s premium features. 

The premium features included with the new plan include the ability to transition editing from Photoshop mobile to the web if a user needs a bigger screen or more precise controls. Users are also getting extra generative AI features, including Adobe Firefly’s Generate Similar, which allows users to create new variations of an existing image. Subscribers will get access to 20,000 fonts, be able to make precise selections of people and objects with the Object Select too, isolate objects with the Magic Wand, erase elements with the Remove Tool, copy and clone certain elements with the Clone Stamp and fill portions of an image with Content-Aware Fill. They will also be able to control an image’s transparency and lighten or darken certain areas of an image. The new app for iPhones is already available from the App Store worldwide.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/a-new-adobe-photoshop-app-is-coming-to-iphones-140003461.html?src=rss

Educational tech company Chegg has sued Google in federal court claiming that its “AI Overviews” that appear ahead of search results have hurt its traffic and revenue. In order to be included in Google’s search results, Chegg alleges, it must “supply content that Google republishes without permission in AI-generated answers that unfairly compete for the attention of users on the internet in violation of antitrust laws of the United States.” 

Previously, publishers like The New York Times have sued AI companies over copyright infringement, accusing them of training large language models (LLMs) on IP material without permission. However, Chegg is taking another approach, instead accusing Google of abusing its monopoly position to force companies to supply materials for its “AI Overviews” on its search page. Failing to do so, it says, means it could effectively be excluded from Google Search altogether. 

Chegg included a screenshot of a Google AI Overview that takes details from Chegg’s website without attribution, though the page in question appears lower down in the search results.

Google told CNBC that it would defend itself against the suit. “Every day, Google sends billions of clicks to sites across the web, and AI Overviews send traffic to a greater diversity of sites,” a spokesperson said.

Google’s use of its monopoly power in this way “amounts to a form of unlawful reciprocal dealing that harms competition in violation of the Sherman Act,” Chegg claimed, while citing a federal judge’s ruling from last year that Google is a monopolist in search. The tech-ed company said that it is particularly affected by these practices because the “breadth, depth, quality and volume of Chegg’s educational content holds enormous value for artificial intelligence applications.” 

Chegg is the latest in a long list of companies suing Google over alleged misappropriation of IP content, though as mentioned, using the Sherman Act is a novel approach. As of January 2025, 38 copyright lawsuits related to AI have been filed in the US, according to a site keeping track of the claims — so far with mixed results. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/educational-tech-company-chegg-sues-google-over-ai-overviews-133017759.html?src=rss

If you’re currently in the market for a music streaming subscription, have we got a deal for you. Pick up six months of Apple Music for just $3. That’s not a typo. This discount brings the price down to, checks math, $0.50 per month. The cost is typically $11 per month, so this sale represents a savings of more than $60. You’ve got a few more days to grab it as well, since the deal runs through February 27.

The usual caveats apply. This is an enticement to bring in new subscribers, so current members are out of luck (myself included.) It’s also not available for those who currently qualify for a three-month free trial of the service. Finally, this deal must be redeemed on an Apple device, and only iPhones running iOS 16 and later, Mac computers running MacOS 13 and later and the Vision Pro headset are applicable here.

Apple Music is a fine little streaming platform. The audio quality is on point, with lossless streaming available at no charge, and the UI is easy-to-navigate. It may not allow exclusive access to Joe Rogan episodes, like Spotify, but that’s because Apple Music seems dedicated to, well, music.

To that end, the app places a heavy emphasis on curation. There are all kinds of playlists that were created by actual humans, and they receive regular updates. Many artist pages include playlists of deep cuts, essential hits and more. Albums are often accompanied by a review or synopsis, which is a nice touch. The app also gives access to several live radio stations that are hosted by actual DJs, and not AI simulacrums.

Apple Music still uses an algorithm for many of its custom playlists unique to each user, but the human touch is still appreciated. The Spotify algorithm for discovering new music is a bit more adventurous, but the Apple algo gets the job done.

On the downside, the service works best on Apple devices. There’s also no free tier, which is something of a bummer. To that end, make sure you cancel before the six months runs out, if it’s not your bag. Otherwise, you’ll start getting charged $11 each month.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/apple-music-deal-get-six-months-of-access-for-only-3-130027527.html?src=rss

Security cameras can give you peace of mind by watching things when you’re out of the house. They can also help keep tabs on your pets’ actions or let you check in on other parts of your property like your backyard. Set them up outdoors or at a window and you can get notifications when someone’s delivering a package or heading to your door.

Of course, anything that takes footage in and around your home is a privacy risk, so you’ll want to look for security cameras with proper privacy features. And if you’ve already got some smart devices, it’s important to know whether your new camera will work with them. Some cameras are practically useless without a subscription, while with others, the subscription is just nice to have. There’s a lot to consider — so we tried out over a dozen well-regarded models, filming our cats, dogs and other household members for weeks to help you pick the best security camera for your home.

What to look for in a security camera

Hardware and design

One of the first things you’ll want to consider before buying a security camera is where you intend to put it. Do you want an outdoor or indoor setup, or cameras that can work in both environments? That’s the first decision to make, since not all cameras are designed to be weatherproof. Next, consider where those cameras will live: do you need ones that can easily mount to the side of your home or above your garage? Do you want cameras in every room of your house, installed up in a ceiling corner out of reach? Should those cameras be able to swivel and turn on their own to track subjects or give you a wider field of view?

Check the specifications for the cameras you’re considering to see if they come with any mounting hardware in the box, or if you’ll need special attachments to get the capabilities you want. For example, an extra feature like solar power for outdoor cameras typically requires buying the solar panel separately, or buying a configuration of the camera that includes the panel in the box.

Another hardware component to consider is the proper connection for local storage. Many security cameras give you the option to save footage locally by connecting a thumb drive or a microSD card either to the camera itself or to its base station. If you don’t intend on using cloud storage (which typically comes with a subscription cost), choosing a security camera system that allows for local storage will be key.

Battery life

Battery life considerations will only apply to wireless cameras, so you’ll want to make note of the expected battery life of any wireless camera you’re considering. For most that use rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, it will come down to how “busy” the camera will be on a regular basis recording video. Some could estimate a minimum battery life of a couple weeks to one month with high usage, but you could get even more than that if the camera is in a low-traffic area.

I personally think you should be getting at least three weeks of battery life out of any rechargeable-battery security camera — anything less and it becomes a hassle just to keep the device in working order. Also, be prepared to access your cameras (including those mounted in high places) whenever you need to recharge their batteries. Scant few options today (looking at you, Blink), run on AA or AAA batteries, and those tend to last up to two years before you need to replace them.

Audiovisual features

Nearly every security camera can send you a notification when it detects motion. Most also offer more sophisticated alerts, like person, package, pet and vehicle detection, though those sometimes require a subscription. You can decide under which conditions you’d like to be alerted as well. Many cameras will let you set location preferences, using your phone to discern where you are, so you’re only alerted when you’re away. Some can then be programmed to turn off completely when you’re home, or you can decide to keep the camera recording without alerting you of activity. Systems without location tracking can be armed on a schedule or manually turned on and off.

Almost every security camera can listen as well as see — some can send you an alert when specific sounds are detected, such as breaking glass, barking dogs or fire alarms. Those microphones also let you hear what’s going on in the room, while built-in speakers allow for two-way conversations.

If viewing events at night is important to you, you’ll want to consider a camera’s ability to see in the dark. Most use infrared LEDs to detect motion and record events after the sun goes down. Infrared will work in total darkness, but can only produce a black and white image. A few cameras can capture color video at night through a combination of larger sensors and onboard image processing, but they won’t work in total darkness. A couple of the options we tried have an onboard spotlight you can manually turn on to light up a space for a better picture.

Subscription features

Without exception, every camera we tested has an optional subscription component. These typically run between $3 and $15 per month, though some offer a discount if you pay for a year up front. Advanced (and sometimes basic) features are paywalled behind these subs, so if you’re looking for things like person detection, extended live feeds, cloud storage, event labeling and longer event history, you’ll want to check whether you get those for free or only if you pay up.

Cloud storage for video clips beyond a day or so is the most common subscription-only feature, but some cameras have the option of using local storage with a microSD card or flash drive. Cameras that work with Apple’s HomeKit will usually let you store clips using your iCloud+ plan, so you might not need a separate subscription for those. To help make sense of whether you need to pay for a plan or not, we detail the monthly prices and membership features for each pick below so you can gauge the full cost of the level of monitoring you want.

Privacy settings

The majority of security cameras use cloud storage for clips. Even those that store your footage locally on SD cards or USB drives are usually connected to the world at large through Wi-Fi. Anything that’s in communication with other networks has the potential to be accessed by bad actors. Manufacturers take measures such as encrypting video before it’s sent to the cloud and requiring two-factor authentication to sign into any account to make systems safer. Users can go one step further by regularly installing security updates and making sure the passwords they use are strong and not reused elsewhere.

As for keeping your personal activity private, all cameras have a disarm feature, but some can automatically turn off when you are home if you share your location. Others will also let you set privacy zones and won’t capture footage or send alerts for movements in designated areas. That could be a part of the house you don’t want recorded or, for outdoor coverage, parts of your neighbor’s yard or driveway.

All the units we tested have indicator lights that turn on when a live view is being accessed or recording is taking place. But you’ll have to check what your particular camera’s LEDs mean, as nearly every one is different. Recording in progress is sometimes indicated with a red light, sometimes that light is blue, and on other cameras, it’s green. Some security cameras let you disable the recording light too, if you don’t want to alert would-be intruders that you’re watching them.

Compatibility

If this is your first foray into smart home gear, you just need to ensure that the camera you buy will work with your phone — and all of our top picks here have apps that work with both iOS and Android. If you already have TVs, smart monitors, home hubs, doorbells and other smart devices, check that what you buy now will work with what you already have if you want the most seamless system.

We’ve listed which of the three major smart home ecosystems each of our picks will work with, but in general, Alexa has the widest compatibility with third party brands, followed by Google. Apple’s HomeKit has a smaller number of compatible cameras on the market, but the list is still sizable enough and includes well-regarded brands like Ecobee, Logitech and Aqara, so you’ll likely be able to find one with the features you want.

Best security cameras for 2025

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/best-security-camera-130035012.html?src=rss