How to stay safe online: CNET's security checklist
Do you have good habits? Safeguard your personal information against the most common Internet perils by taking these security measures.
Josh Miller/CNET
It's always better to be safe than sorry. Especially when it comes to your personal information. Keeping your info secure online requires you to take more time and care, but what you lose in moments you'll surely make up in peace of mind.
Follow the steps below to increase your online security.
Protecting your password
Sure, you're not likely to openly share your password with people you don't trust, but unfortunately you don't have to go that far for it to be compromised. Yes, keeping passwords to yourself is a smart first step, but there is room to go further.
One tip is to choose a password that isn't easy for others to guess. Computer security expert, Bruce Scheier, suggests to "Combine a personally memorable sentence with some personally memorable tricks to modify that sentence into a password." So if your sentence is "When I was eleven my sister made me fight the neighborhood bully", your password could be "Wiw11msmmFtnbully". Obviously, don't use that one, but instead come up with your own.
Be sure to check out our password guide for more details on creating a secure password. Also, getting a password manager can make keeping track of passwords much more convenient.
Sharon Profis/CNET
Keep your email from getting hacked
Believe it or not, even in the age of Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat and text messages, people still use email to communicate. And as a consequence, emails still get hacked. As many times as computer users have been told not to click attachments from untrustworthy sources -- or sometimes even from people you do know -- apparently we still click on them. Which unfortunately can lead to your email being hacked or some nefarious program being installed on your machine. So seriously, stop doing that.
If you get an attachment from someone you know that you were not expecting, check with the sender to confirm it was sent on purpose. Clicking on a malicious attachment can install malware on your machine, like a worm or virus.
Here are no less than 10 other ways protect your email from being compromised.
Shopping online
If you're using your credit card to shop online, there is risk that your information will be stolen and used to buy something against your will. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
Only use your credit on websites with the prefix, "https". The "s" in https indicates that the site in question is using a secure protocol to encrypt communications between you and the website. You'll see this protocol used on online banking sites and shopping sites if you're looking at sensitive information.
If you don't see "https", the chances of your information being compromised increases. For more detailed and specialized information on protecting your info online, check out our guides on shopping safely online and protecting your credit card online.
Lexy Savvides/CNET
Better account protection
When most users log into their accounts, they enter their username and a password and they're in. This is known as single-factor authorization and it is indeed secure, but there's an even more secure way to log into important accounts.
Tw0-factor authorization uses an additional security credential to access an account like a fingerprint or a unique pattern. This way, if someone does gain access to your basic login information, they'd also need access to your fingerprint or unique pattern to access your account info.
CNET How To gives you a detailed overview on how to enable two-factor authentication anywhere. If you're looking only to enable two-factor authorization on popular websites or two-step verification on the iPhone, we have you covered there as well.
Dig in to discover a simple way to make your accounts more secure.
Josh Miller/CNET
Protecting your mobile device
Most of the tips outlined above can also be used on your smartphone or tablet, but for more specific mobile device security tips, check out these seven smartphone security tips and our iOS 8 privacy guide for some useful tips specific to the iPhone and iPad.
Staying secure
Look, there's pretty much nothing you can do if someones wants to get your personal information and has the time and means. Sometimes it's out of your hands; however, the tips outlined above are things you can control. Focusing on that is your best bet.
In a crowded field of hybrid computers combining elements of laptops and tablets, Microsoft's Surface Pro 3 still stands out as a prime example of inventive design and expert engineering. But, starting at $799/AU$979 (and $999/AU$1,209 for a standard Intel Core i5 CPU), the 12.5-inch Surface Pro 3 is expensive, especially considering it practically requires a $129 keyboard add-on to be useful.
The engineering and design of the Pro 3 has now trickled down to a more mainstream-friendly model, called the Surface 3. Minus the "Pro" name, similar to Pro/non-Pro variations on Lenovo's Yoga line and Apple's MacBook line, you get a product that keeps many of the features and ideas from the more-expensive models, while cutting other features and specs to hit a lower price.
Sarah Tew/CNET
The non-Pro Surface 3 starts at $499, £420 or AU$699, and presents itself as very similar to the Surface Pro 3, just with a few budget-minded tweaks. It has an adjustable kickstand, although rather than the fully adjustable version in the Pro 3 or the two-angle one in the older Surface 2, the Surface 3 kickstand snaps between three different angles.
The touchscreen has a 1,920x1,280 native resolution, which is more than enough for a 10.8-inch display such as this. The 12.5-inch Pro 3 has a 2,160x1,440 resolution, and both screens have a 3:2 aspect ratio, which makes them feel more like writing on a pad of paper when held in portrait mode (a sold-separately stylus runs $49, £45 or AU$69).
Like every previous Surface, you'll want the optional keyboard cover. With large backlit keys packed into a very slim cover, and connecting via a magnetic hinge, it's the cleverest bit of engineering about the Surface line. Unfortunately, as with the previous models, the add-on keyboard costs a hefty $129, £110 or AU$180 (but comes in a variety of colors). And, as the Surface 3 is a different size than the older models, you'll need the new keyboard cover made specifically for this unit.
Sarah Tew/CNET
When you're adding a $129 keyboard cover to a thousand-dollar tablet, it's an added expense, but doesn't dramatically change the value proposition of the system. Adding the same $129 to a $499 product, however, raises the price by more than 20 percent, and you should really consider the combined cost before getting too excited about getting a low-cost Surface tablet.
Unlike previous non-Pro Surface tablets, the Surface 3 does not use Microsoft's much-maligned Windows RT operating system, which could only run specially approved apps from the Microsoft App Store. Instead, it runs standard Windows 8, and Microsoft says it's ready to upgrade to Windows 10when that operating system is available.
Sarah Tew/CNET
So, with design and features close the the more-expensive Surface Pro line, what's the catch? For those seeking a full-time productivity machine, note that this system is not powered by Intel's Core i-series CPUs, or even by the Core M chip found in some new ultra-slim laptops and hybrids. Instead it uses the latest version of Intel's Atom CPU, a chip that dates back the days of low-end netbook laptops that sacrificed power for portability and price. Newer Atom chips are much better, and work fine in many budget Windows tablets, although most of those are closer to $200-$300. The new Atom x7 (previously known by the code name Cherry Trail) is said to be the most powerful Atom CPU to date, and is even capable of playing back 4K video.
In our brief hands-on time with the Surface 3, the Atom processor provided for a smooth and lag-free experience when using the tile-based Windows 8 menu, as well as apps such as IE11. To Microsoft's credit, those parts of the Windows 8 experience are very well-optimized, and can run smoothly using nearly any processor, even a very low-power one. Your mileage with third-party programs, however, may vary.
Sarah Tew/CNET
In the hand, the Surface 3 feels like a surprisingly premium product, and very close in quality and construction to the Pro models, with the same magnesium outer case. It's only 1.37 pounds (without the keyboard; about 0.62kg), which makes it lighter than even Apple's upcoming 12-inch MacBook. One welcome change is the new Micro-USB charging port, which is easier to deal with than Microsoft's previous proprietary magnetic charging cable. The Surface 3 is not, however, moving to the new USB-C connection, as seen in the 12-inch MacBook and Google's new Chromebook Pixel.
That initial $499 gets you 2GB RAM and a 64GB solid-state drive. Adding $100, £80 or AU$140 doubles both of those specs. Surface 3 will also be available in some higher-priced variations with built-in 4G LTE antennas, adding an additional $100 premium. Carrier partners announced so far are T-Mobile and Verizon for the US, with LTE details for the UK and Australia still to come.
The Microsoft Surface 3 will be available to buy May 5 in the US, Australia and UK, and May 7 in many other countries.
The iconic tablet was a phenomenon out of the gate, but with sales slowing, the iPad finds itself at a crossroads on the fifth anniversary of its original launch.
The iPad Air 2 is Apple's latest flagship tablet, but the device hasn't done much to bolster slumping sales.Sarah Tew/CNET
When Steve Jobs showed off what he called the "truly magical and revolutionary" iPad in 2010, no one guessed just how quickly it would take off.
The 3-year-old iPhone may have been a surefire hit at the time, but the iPad was a wild card. Analysts' predictions for first-year sales ranged wildly between 1.1 million and 7 million units, according toAsymco.
Apple sold 14.8 million iPads in that first year.
It's hard to overstate the impact the iPad had on the consumer-electronics industry. Much like the iPhone reimagined the cell phone, the iPad redefined the tablet -- previously clunky, bulky laptoplike devices often built for specific work purposes -- and essentially created a new product category that heavy hitters such as Samsung and Microsoft are still chasing. The iPad, which was the last new product introduced by Jobs, quickly became a household name and further stretched Apple's dominance in the mobile arena.
"It took a tiny, tiny market and turned it into a mainstream product," said Jan Dawson, an analyst at Jackdaw Research. "That's what Apple does."
The numbers are staggering. Apple has sold more than 250 million iPads, making it the fastest-selling product in the company's history. There are more than 725,000 apps designed specifically to run on the tablet.
But the iPad, which first hit the market five years ago Friday, is at a crossroads. Shipments have slumped despite Apple's best efforts to entice consumers with thinner and smaller models. The question that originally dogged the first iPad -- why buy one? -- has arisen again with smartphones getting larger andlaptops getting lighter and more compact.
Apple CEO Tim Cook calls the weakness a "speed bump," and has said he believes the long-term opportunities remain strong. Apple is rumored to be working on a larger-screen "iPad Pro" meant for business customers.
But critics question whether even Apple can reverse the slowing growth in the broader market, which isexpected to grow only 2.1 percent this year, according to IDC. That's a far cry from the 294 percent jump in the market from 2010 to 2011.
"We're not going to see the growth rates we've seen in the market over the last five years," said IDC analyst Jean Philippe Bouchard, adding that he expects a slow year for Apple.
In its last quarterly report, Apple said shipments of the iPad dropped 18 percent, to 21.4 million. Since peaking in fiscal 2013's holiday period, sales have fallen year-over-year in every subsequent quarter.
Still, there's no question that the iPad is a force -- the $9 billion in sales it tallied in the last quarter outgrossed McDonald's total fourth-quarter revenue. Given those robust sales, it's easy to forget that many questioned why people would want an iPad.
From joke to juggernaut
There was no shortage of critics when Apple unveiled the iPad in January 2010. Some ridiculed its name, which could have easily been applied to a feminine hygiene product -- "iTampon" was a popular topic on Twitter after the announcement. Others called it an oversize iPhone. Many questioned its usefulness.
"The biggest problem with the device is coming up with bulletproof reasons to buy one," CNET editor Donald Bell said in his review of the original iPad.
Then Apple CEO Steve Jobs, now deceased, announced the first iPad in January 2010.James Martin/CNET
Consumers didn't care. The iPad's launch drew the kind of crowd that shows up for an iPhone debut. Apple said it sold 300,000 iPads on the first day, and sales would more than double the most optimistic estimates that year. Within 60 days, Apple sold 2 million iPads.
It didn't take long for the iPad to make its cultural mark. Designer Oscar de la Renta showed off a designer iPad clutch at a fashion show. President Barack Obama was even asked to virtually autograph an iPad. Time magazine called it the "Gadget of the Year." Shortly after the iPad 2debuted in early 2011, it was the centerpiece of an episode of "Modern Family."
"It's like Steve Jobs and God got together to say, 'We love you, Phil,'" one of the characters said in the show.
The device's success was so overwhelming that "iPad" quickly became synonymous with "tablet." Just as Kleenex is used for common facial tissues, consumers will ask for an iPad even if they mean another tablet.
Tablet market gets crowded, loses luster
The iPad was a boon to Apple in the early days. In the first year after its launch, the iPad controlled 77 percent of the tablet market.
That dominance couldn't last forever. By 2014, the iPad's share shrank to just 28 percent, according to IDC.
What happened? The market expanded, which is why the amount of revenue that Apple generates now is significantly higher than it was in year one. But the competition gained ground on the iPad when it came to unit sales.
Amazon.com CEO Jeff Bezos introduces the all-new Kindle Fire HDX 8.9", right, and Kindle Fire HDX 7" tablets in Seattle in 2013.Amazon
Apple essentially had the run of the tablet market until Amazon came along with the Kindle Fire in November 2011. Amazon's core innovation: a price tag that was dramatically lower, at $199 (the iPad started at $499). If the iPad taught us what a tablet was supposed to look like, the Kindle Fire reset our expectations for how much we had to pay for one.
Google gave a boost to affordability with its Nexus 7, which was also priced at $199 but was packed with decent specifications and the latest version of the Android operating system.
Nowadays, Android tablets have proliferated, from Samsung's high-end Galaxy Tab S line to Verizon-branded tablets given away with certain smartphone purchases. Today, more than two out of every three tablets runs Android, according to researcher Gartner. Nearly 400 million Android tablets have shipped, according to IDC.
But there's a clear difference between bargain tablets and the premium tier, which is where Apple continues to dominate.
"Apple is doing really well in the part of the market where it sits," Dawson said.
That's not to say the iPad doesn't face questions about its future. Apple tried to expand its potential market with the smaller and lower-cost iPad Mini in October 2013. At the same time, it tried to inject some energy by slimming down the original tablet, creating the iPad Air. Last year, with the iPad Air 2, it added a fingerprint sensor, made the body even more svelte and added a gold variant.
The improvements so far haven't worked: iPad shipments continue to fall.
"What made the iPad unique doesn't quite set it apart as much as it used to," Dawson said.
A future in business
So what has Cook so optimistic about the iPad's long-term prospects? One thing might be Apple's deal with International Business Machines to work together on industry-specific applications.
The pact could drive big businesses to adopt iPads as a formal workplace tool.
Apple executive Phil Schiller shows off the entire iPad lineup in November.James Martin / CNET
"I think we're really going to change the way people work," Cook said in an earnings conference call in January. "I'm really excited about the apps that are coming out and how fast the partnership is getting up and running."
The iPad is already a fixture in many offices. CNN commentators were caught using Microsoft Surface tablets as kickstands for their iPadsduring the last round of election coverage in November. The British government said last month that all members of its parliament would be given an iPad Air 2.
Cook's not the only one who thinks there's an opportunity in the workplace. Apple archrivalSamsung has launched a program of its own to sell mobile devices to business users and work with them on apps and security.
And there's a reason rumors persist that Apple will build a larger "iPad Pro" better suited for workplace use. The tactic worked for Microsoft -- its supersized Surface Pro 3 helped turn its fledgling tablet family into a billion-dollar business.
Apple has also made a push to get more iPads in schools. In 2012, it launched iBooks Textbooks and iTunes U, which gave users access to free educational content. Last year, there were more than 750,000 iPads in kindergarten to 12th grade schools in Texas alone.
Apple's not alone in angling to get into schools. Google has been pushing its Chromebook laptops as an affordable education tool. In 2014 -- just three years after they were introduced -- Chromebooks accounted for about one third of the education market, with a 29.9 percent share. Windows still had the lead with 39 percent, while Apple had 32 percent, according to IDC.
The core consumer, meanwhile, could eventually come back and upgrade to a new tablet. Perhaps now that they've spent their limited funds on the iPhone 6 or 6 Plus, which came on the market late last year, they could be eyeing an iPad upgrade for the next time around.
Bouchard said he believes the period between device upgrades is around three-and-a-half years, longer than the upgrade cycle for a new smartphone, which is closer to 18 months to two years. Apple has the benefit of a huge base of customers.
Apps aren't going anywhere, but lately more companies are offering services through text messaging. Here's what you need to know.
Josh Miller/CNET
Before Messenger, WhatsApp and Snapchat, texting was the number one way to communicate, and according to the developers behind a new wave of apps, texting is still king.
In recent months, there's been an explosion of what I'm calling no-app "apps." These services use SMS to communicate with you and carry out actions that you would ordinarily do in an app. You send a text toa specific phone number and within seconds you'll get an appropriate reply to your question or request.
Meant to be as streamlined as possible, with no design or UI to navigate, there's hardly anything standing between you and the service, which span from personal assistants to money management.
Why not have an app?
Apps are huge part of our smartphones, so why would developers want to ditch them? In part because it's much easier just to build a service that interacts with you over text. Instead of pouring resources into designing and building a native app, developers can just focus on creating an amazing service.
Unfortunately, that's not always the case. Below I'll highlight four SMS-based "apps" that have been gaining attention lately, covering what they do and some of the downsides of them.
First up is Cloe, a personal assistant that knows your city inside and out. "She" can give you recommendations for restaurants, stores and services like hair salons or florists. Billed as a more personal version of Siri, you can ask Cloe for help deciding between businesses or just find local hot spots. Instead of just showing you a list of search results, like Google or Siri, Cloe will zero in on one particular suggestion and give you all the info you need.
In my testing, Cloe was fast, responsive and more engaging than just searching for an answer myself. She'll offer more human-like tips that you won't necessarily find elsewhere. The service is part bot, part human, so it can find you results fast, but also understand your more nuanced requests, like a tailor in downtown San Francisco open until 6pm tonight.
Screenshot by Sarah Mitroff/CNET
Magic
While Cloe will help you find a place to go, Magic will help bring things to you. You can text the service to order food, purchase nearly any product and even book airline tickets.
Magic gets your payment information up front so it can make purchases on your behalf, with your consent. You don't get much control, especially when it comes to food, but that's the point; the service is supposed to cut out a lot of the work for you. For instance, if you want to order a pizza, you can simply tell it "I want a cheese pizza and a liter of Pepsi," Magic will find a suitable option, confirm the purchase price and send it to you.
While Magic has the potential to be a personal assistant that does everything for you, the real-world results are mixed. Writing for Wired, Brent Rose had a positive experience where Magic came through for all of his requests, while Jason Del Ray at Recode had some issues. I didn't get to try out Magic (I'm still on the waitlist), but I can't help but think that it's a lot like Kozmo.com, which flopped in the tech bubble.
Screenshot by Sarah Mitroff/CNET
Ask Alexis
For guys who want advice to woo a lady, Alexis can help. You text Alexis for tips on date ideas and she'll give you recommendations for places to go, wine tips, style advice and more. I tested out the service and the advice I got was great, if a little delayed. My first query took several hours to answer, but once I made a connection with her, Alexis helped with my request.
I asked for tips for a low-key first date under the pseudonym Sean, and Alexis asked me how my date and I met and where the date would take place. After some back and forth, she gave me a suggestion for a dessert bar, with a description and website.
Screenshot by Sarah Mitroff/CNET
Digit
Unlike the personal assistant services on this list, Digit is all about helping you save money, without you noticing. You connect your bank account on Digit's website, using your bank's online portal, and then the service keeps tabs on your spending.
Over time, it figures how much you spend in a typical week and when your bills are due to identify how much money you can save without missing it. With your permission, Digit will save that money into a separate, FDIC-insured account that you can deduct from at anytime. I wish that Digit was able to save money for me in my own savings account, instead of a separate account.
Digit also texts you your balance every day and you can text it to get that information on demand, as well as your upcoming bills, recent transactions and savings balance.
How to use Facebook's new Messenger sharing features
Facebook now lets you send content from other apps in your chats in Messenger. Here's how to do it.
Facebook
Today at Facebook's developer conference, F8, the social network announced new ways to share via Messenger. The company built a sharing platform that lets outside apps share their content, such as videos, music and GIFs, through the Messenger apps, available for Android, Windows Phone and iOS. You'll be able to share with apps on iOS and Android, but it's unclear when this will be available on Windows Phone.
One of the first apps to take advantage of this is Ditty, which launches today and sends custom musical messages. You type in a message, pick a song, and the app sings your message to the tune of the song you chose.
JibJab, a GIF messaging app, is also partnering with Facebook to share through Messenger. Other apps that are using the sharing platform at launch are The Weather Channel, Fotor, Giphy, Bitmoji and ESPN, plus many more. For a full list, check out Facebook's developer site. Below, I'll give you a primer of how to use the new sharing features, available starting today.
Get sharing
First, you'll need to have one of the eligible apps installed on your phone. You can either just go straight to Google Play or the App Store, or you can check out the list of apps in Messenger. Just open a conversation and tap the More button on the menu bar (which looks like three dots) to see the list. Then you can tap any of the apps to hop over to your phone's app store to download it.
Once the app is installed, there are a few ways to share. I'll use Ditty as my example, but the process will be nearly identical with other apps.
Option one: Open a conversation in Messenger, and select Ditty from the menu bar toward the bottom of the screen. It's the same place where you can select stickers, emoji, photos and voice recordings to share in a conversation.
Ditty will automatically open, and you can create a new message by following the prompts on the screen. When you're done, tap the Messenger button to share your message, which will take you right back to your conversation. The message from Ditty will appear in line in the chat, where your recipient can view it just like any other message in Messenger.
Option two: Open Ditty and create a message. When you're done, tap the Messenger button, which will open that app. Pick one or more people to share your message with, and Messenger will send it to those people, either in an existing chat (if available) or a new one.
Facebook
Option three: If someone has sent you a shared message in a chat, and you have the same app installed, you can simply tap the reply button in the chat to send a message back. You can see this example above.
This is the first time that Facebook is letting you share media from other apps into Messenger, and the process is seamless overall. In most cases, you'll need to tap the screen only once to share something to your Facebook chats. Facebook expects more apps to take advantage of this, so you may soon be able to share much more in a message than before.
If the preset snooze options don't line up with your daily routine, you can change them. Read on to find out how.
Nicole Cozma/CNET
An update rolling out to the Inbox by Gmail app is allowing users to set a custom time and date for snoozed email reminders. But did you know that you can also adjust the preset time reminders in the app?
Let's say your day starts at 9 a.m., but the preset time for a morning reminder is 8 a.m. It can be annoying to get alerted early about a message that you're not ready to deal with. And the same issue may arise for your afternoon and evening schedules, since not everyone has the same workday hours. Here's how to change the preset times so you can easily snooze an email for the appropriate hour:
Note: Screenshots depict these steps on Android for easy viewing, but they can be done on the Web, too.
Main menu inside Inbox by Gmail.Screenshot by Nicole Cozma/CNET
Step 1: Open the left-hand slide-out menu in Inbox by Gmail and choose Settings (near the bottom).
Settings menu for Inbox by Gmail.Screenshot by Nicole Cozma/CNET
Step 2: Choose the account you want to change the preset values for.
Set the times that work for you.Screenshot by Nicole Cozma/CNET
Step 3: Select Snooze settings and then adjust each to an hour that fits into your schedule.
Now you'll be able to instantly snooze a message without needing to fiddle with the time and date.
NEW YORK -- Unique front and rear fascia, the streamlined tonneau cover and the minimalist bikini top should be your first hint that the 2016 Porsche Boxster Spyder is something special. The strongest and fastest Boxster of this generation, the new range-topping Spyder is also the lightest thanks to its "less is more" approach to tech and amenities.
The 2016 Boxster Spyder adds lightness by removing tech and amenities.Sarah Tew/CNET
Lighter
The Spyder jettisons the standard Boxster's power fold motors for the soft top. The new lightweight manual fabric roof is opened and closed by hand and features two fins that stretch back, snapping into the roadster's tonneau and completing the silhouette.
The Spyder is only available with Porsche's six-speed manual transmission; there is no automatic option, which saves weight and should appease purists. To those same ends, the Boxster Spyder also has no navigation, no radio, no speakers and no air conditioner in its stock form. Though Porsche is quick to point out that all of these bits can be added back in at no cost to the buyer and the entire range of Boxster audio upgrades and Porsche infotainment with navigation are also available as paid options.
The Spyder is available without navigation, a stereo or even air conditioning. However, it's telling that the only example on display was not so spartan.Sarah Tew/CNET
The driver (and up to one passenger) sits on a standard Sport Seats Plus and commands the Spyder's improved steering with a unique steering wheel that's 10mm smaller in diameter than the rest of the Boxster models'.
Stronger
The entire car sits 20mm lower than the standard Boxster thanks to a stiffer, sportier suspension. Sitting amidships is Porsche's 3.8-liter horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine making 375 horsepower. That output makes the 2016 Boxster Spyder the most powerful Boxster yet. (Though, it's still kept just a hair short of the more track-centric Cayman GT4's 380 horsepower.)
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