Vice Media will no longer publish content on its website, with the former digital media darling joining BuzzFeed in slashing additional staff this week. Vice also plans to lay off several hundred workers as it shifts a studio-only business model, CEO Bruce Dixon told employees in a memo delivered late Thursday, the Associated Press reported. The women’s lifestyle site Refinery …
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Avast sold privacy software, then sold users web browsing data, FTC alleges
After promising that its software would shield internet users from third-party tracking, Avast allegedly harvested and sold customers’ online browsing data, according to the Federal Trade Commission. The maker of antivirus software deceived customers by claiming it would protect their privacy, while not making clear it would collect and sell their “detailed, re-identifiable browsing data,” the agency announced Thursday. “Avast …
Read More »Yale joins other top colleges in again requiring SAT scores, saying it will help poor applicants
Yale University on Thursday said it is reversing a pandemic-era policy that made standardized test scores like the SAT exam optional for applicants, joining other top colleges such as Dartmouth and MIT. In a statement posted to its website, Yale said it is abandoning the test-optional approach that it began four years ago, when the pandemic shut down testing centers …
Read More »More than half of college graduates are working in jobs that dont require degrees
More than half of Americans who earned college diplomas find themselves working in jobs that don’t require a bachelor’s degree or utilize the skills acquired in obtaining one. What’s worse, they can get stuck there for the entirety of their careers. If a graduate’s first job is in a low-paying field or out-of-line with a worker’s interests, it could pigeonhole …
Read More »United Airlines is raising its checked bag fees. Heres how much more it will cost you.
United Airlines said Friday it is increasing checked bag fees on all flights in North America, joining other carriers that have recently boosted such charges. Economy class passengers on domestic United Airlines flights will now pay an additional $5, raising the cost for their first checked bag to $40. The fee for a second checked bag will also rise $5, …
Read More »H&R Block wiped out tax data of filers looking for less pricey option, FTC alleges
H&R Block marketed its tax-preparation products as free yet deleted the data of customers as way to pressure them into paying for pricier services, the Federal Trade Commission alleged on Friday. The tax-preparation software giant’s online tax-filing products lead users to costlier products made for more complicated tax filings, even if they don’t need the additional forms and schedules offered, …
Read More »Biometric gun safes are recalled because they dont keep out unauthorized users, including kids
More than 120,000 biometric gun safes sold by retailers nationwide are being recalled amid reports of unauthorized users opening them — including a six-year-old boy — posing a serious safety hazard and risk of death. The U.S. Consumer Product and Safety Commission on Thursday announced four separate recalls of biometric safes, with the companies that imported the Chinese-manufactured safe collectively …
Read More »6 smart ways to tackle expensive debt in retirement
Retirement is a time to savor the fruits of your labor, but if you’re facing looming debt, it can cast a shadow on your golden years. And, if that debt comes with a high interest rate, the costs can compound quickly — especially if you haven’t budgeted to pay it off in full as part of your retirement plan. But …
Read More »Oklahoma man hacked government auction site to buy cars for a buck
An Oklahoma man used his computer skills to defraud Uncle Sam, hacking into a government auction site to lower the price of vehicles and jewelry he’d successfully bid on from thousands of dollars down to one buck, federal prosecutors said. Evan James Coker, 41, pleaded guilty to wire fraud in a scheme involving online auctions run by the General Service …
Read More »5 reasons to invest in a short-term CD this month
When it comes to investing strategies, it makes sense for investors to continually seek opportunities that strike a balance between security and return on investment. After all, a well-balanced portfolio is a crucial component of a good investment strategy, as it’s important to try and reduce risk from more volatile assets by adding safe investments to the mix. And, one …
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