Majority of Americans shun services that have privacy concerns

More than half of American citizens say they would not to use a product or a service that might disclose their personal information.

In fact, most Americans now believe that their personal information is not secure online. While most U.S. citizens are aware that the Government and private companies may have access to more information than they would like, they’re also now more concerned than ever before about how this data is being used.

The Pew Research survey revealed that anyone who had recently experienced a privacy related incident, like an email or a social media account takeover attempt, unauthorized line of credit or a loan applied in their name or fraudulent charges being billed on their debit or credit cards, were also now more decisive against choosing a product with privacy issues.

Data privacy

Almost 55 percent of respondents with a college or graduate education said they would be more likely to reject such products or services. However only 48 percent of people with an annual income of less than $30,000 were concerned about their private data.

The products that the respondents decided not to use include:

  • Website: 21 percent
  • Electronics: 11 percent
  • Social media: 10 percent
  • DNA, financial and healthcare services: 10 percent
  • Contests such as sweepstakes, quizzes and surveys: 3 percent
  • Games: 1 percent
  • Free trials, downloads, samples: 1 percent

Via: Pewresearch

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How to watch the One World: Together at Home concert online this weekend

Whether you’re cautiously looking towards the end of self-isolation or starting another few weeks of lockdown, this weekend’s must-watch TV is a no-brainer – the music and cultural event of the century is upon us and it’s all happening online. Something of a spiritual successor to Live Aid, here’s where to watch the One World: Together at Home concert this weekend for free.

Hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Colbert, the One World: Together at Home line-up reads like a festival organizer’s dream. There’s musical legends in the form of Elton John, Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder; celebrity royalty like The Beckhams, Oprah and Samuel L. Jackson; and three of biggest acts of 2020 in event curator Lady Gaga, Billie Ellish and Taylor Swift.

Beyond that, disgruntled 90s youths get their fix thanks to Eddie Veddar, Billie Joe Armstrong and Alanis Morissette. Even classical music fans have a treat in store courtesy of Andrea Bocelli and Lang Lang, while those after an even smoother groove can look forward to Alicia Keyes, Usher, and Jenifer Hudson – by way of Pharrell, Rita Ora and Sam Smith.

And for those who like to croon, there’s Chris Martin, Michael Buble and The Killers – because nothing screams ‘lockdown’ like a singalong on Houseparty.

Heck, even the cast of Sesame Street is scheduled to appear! We’re sure you’ll want to tune in to this massive global event, which will see proceeds donated to the World Health Organization and frontline coronavirus healthcare workers, so without further ado – here’s how to watch One World: Together at Home and stream the biggest concert of all-time for free no matter where you are.

How to watch One World: Together at Home from anywhere in the world

How to watch One World: Together at Home in the US – free online live stream

Watch One World: Together at Home – free UK live stream 

Where to watch One World: Together at Home for free in Canada

Live stream One World: Together at Home and watch in Australia for free

The One World: Together at Home concert is being widely shown on free-to-air channels all over the globe, as well as being available for free online streaming via a number of popular services. However, if you can’t access the platform you want due to geo-blocking restrictions, there’s an easy solution.

Downloading a VPN will allow you to stream One World: Together at Home no matter where you are. This simple bit of software changes your IP address so that you can access content from anywhere in the world, simply by pointing yourself to the location where it’s available.

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Reliance Jio, Facebook planning a WeChat-like super app for India

Indian telecom giant major Reliance Jio and Facebook are joining hands to build a super app that could fulfil the digital requirements of every Indian across activities ranging from shopping to booking movie tickets, making online payments to simply chatting with friends or making social media posts. 

Both Facebook and Reliance Jio would bring their own domain expertise for the success of the joint venture. Facebook would leverage its WhatsApp platform user base while Jio would help drive adoption through its subscriber base. Commercial due diligence for the project is underway and Morgan Stanley has been appointed as the investment banker for the deal. 

However, reports suggest that discussions have been delayed due to COVID-19 related lockdown though both companies have hired top lawyers and consultants to explore all aspects of the project including legal issues and taxation.

The app, if and when it materializes, would be something along the lines of WeChat in China where it is the go-to app for much of the Chinese population for managing their everyday tasks. Right now, Indian consumers rely on a myriad of different apps for needs such as messaging, retail shopping, digital payments, and booking tickets. 

If Reliance Jio succeeds in offering all these solutions effectively under a single roof, the opportunity to grow is immense. Moreover, Jio would also gain B2C engagement for its consumer businesses as well as big data about user spending habits. The app would also open up revenue opportunities for Reliance Retail, Ajio.com, and JioMoney businesses. 

This new development comes amidst reports that Facebook was in talks with Reliance Jio to pick up a ten percent stake in the telecom giant. The discussions were inconclusive due to the air travel ban imposed in India following the lockdown on March 24.

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The OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro aren’t overpriced, but they’re way too expensive

The OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro smartphones are out now, and normally we’d be intrigued. Over the years, OnePlus has played a game of priorities, offering the newest processor and latest display enhancements for hundreds of dollars less than its peers do. With Verizon joining T-Mobile this year in offering OnePlus, it seemed like the little phone maker was on the verge of its big breakthrough. 

That breakthrough might not happen, unfortunately. While the newest OnePlus phones certainly bring the goods, with stunning displays, impressive camera arrays, and gorgeous designs, they also bring a change no one will like: Their prices have gone up. A lot. It also doesn’t help that OnePlus is removing its biggest competitive advantage at a time when millions of people are suddenly unemployed, and premium phone sales are cratering.

oneplus 8 bezels Michael Simon/IDG

The OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro both have gorgeous screens.

No matter which model you choose, you’re going to be paying significantly more for the OnePlus 8 than you would have for last year’s 7 Pro or 7T. The top model fetches four figures. Here are the new models and prices:

OnePlus 7T
8GB/128GB: $599

OnePlus 8
8GB/128GB: $699
8GB/128GB (Verizon): $799
12GB/256GB: $799

OnePlus 7 Pro
6GGB/128GB: $669
8GB/256GB: $699

OnePlus 8 Pro
8GB/128GB: $899
12GB/256GB: $999

To be fair, Qualcomm’s pricing for the Snapdragon 865 and X55 5G modem has driven up the price of every premium Android phone this year, including those by OnePlus. And for what you’re getting—a top-of-the-line processor, speedy RAM and storage, great displays, and 5G—the OnePlus prices are right, even good. Still, you’d be paying at least $100 and possibly $300 more for a 2020 OnePlus phone than a comparable 2019 version. 

The best cheap Fitbit sale prices and deals for April 2020

We’ve got you covered for all the latest cheap Fitbit deals today, with loads of sale prices compared at top retailers for every model available. We’ll tell you all about the standard Fitbits for adults and kids alike, along with the enhanced fitness trackers that also function like smartwatches too.

The competition in the fitness tracker world is ever-growing, which is actually good news for lower Fitbit prices as the brand has to push hard to remain competitive. And with each fresh iteration of its fitness trackers or smartwatches we see further improvements, showing that corners aren’t being cut to keep prices down either. New versions usually mean cheaper Fitbit prices on older models too, so there’s always a bargain to be had somewhere.

If you’re not quite sure which Fitbit is right for you. We’ve gone into detail about each one and you can also find a handy breakdown of the specs for a quick look at the vitals of each one as you scroll down throughout our guide. We’re sure you’ll be able to find one you like.

Fitbit deals sales prices cheap

The Fitbit Charge 4 may look similar to its predecessor, but this brand new fitness tracker offers an abundance of new features that set it apart – all at a similar price tag to previous models. NFC is now available in every Charge 4 for contactless payment, and built-in GPS allows you to leave your phone at home when using map features to work out.

Fancy some tunes while you’re out and about? The Fitbit Charge 4 brought Spotify support to the Charge range, and if you need something to keep you motivated, the brand new Active Zone Minutes smart points system makes tracking and goal-setting even easier. This is a fantastic fitness tracker, coming it at an equally excellent price considering all the extra goodies you’re getting. 

Fitbit Inspire prices deals sales

The Fitbit Inspire looks set to eventually replace the Fitbit Alta as a fantastic entry-level fitness tracker that’s not too light on features (yes, we’re talking about you, Fitbit Flex 2). The new Inspire is priced similarly to the Alta yet has a bigger screen. It’s a proper touchscreen too, instead of the less user-friendly tapscreen on the Alta. There’s a new button on the side to act as a ‘Back’ button in the menus, so navigation of the tracker’s features are much easier to cycle through.

The Fitbit Inspire is better in the wet and can actually be worn while swimming, too, rather than just being splash and rain-resistant. The casing around the face is now plastic, rather than aluminum, but this makes for a more comfortable wear on the wrist and it’s a touch lighter. All in all, while we’re seeing the Inspire priced at a similar level to the older Alta, the Inspire is the clear winner.

fitbit inspire HR prices

Like the Fitbit Inspire mentioned earlier, the Fitbit Inspire HR looks set to replace our previous budget-friendly option in the Alta HR. As the name suggests, the main difference between this and the other Inspire model is the inclusion of a heart-rate monitor. It’s not a lot of extra money to spend on the feature in all honesty and can be useful in tracking your fitness levels. If that’s a feature you could live without though – you’re very aware of your heart-rate when you can hear it pounding between your ears when running up that hill – then you may as well save yourself some money. The screen on the HR is ever so slightly bigger if you’re looking for the right nudge to opt for the upgrade though.

Fitbit Charge 3 prices deals

The Fitbit Charge 3 is a marked improvement over the still-impressive Charge 2. The thinner design with softer angles on all sides makes it a more comfortable wear. There’s also a proper touchscreen this time, rather than a tap-to-cycle one. The Charge 3 is waterproof up to 50m, meaning it’s absolutely fine to wear while swimming, and it has tracking features to use while you do. Add in a heart-rate tracker, multiple apps for loads of different sports and a seven-day battery (two days longer than before) and the Fitbit Charge 3 prices start to look like excellent value for money. The prices below are for the standard version, if you want to see the special edition version with its woven or silicon straps and Fitbit pay functionality we’ve rounded up the prices for that one on this guide for every edition of the Fitbit Charge 3.

cheap fitbit deals prices

The Fitbit Versa 2 is a great improvement over the original model. It runs apps faster and has a larger and clearer display. This is great for message notifications and checking up on the stats from your latest run.

Fitbit has teamed up with Amazon to add Alexa support too. So you can use the voice assistant to check on the weather, control smart home tech, start timers and so on. 

You’ll still need to take your phone out with you on your runs to track location or listen to Spotify as there’s no support for Spotify downloads directly on the watch, although you can load it with music files directly instead.

While the official MSRP/RRP of the new Fitbit Versa Lite is quite a bit less than the starting price of the more feature-rich original Fitbit Versa we’ve found that the later is often available for a very similar price to the Lite. In these situations is just makes much more sense to go for the full-fat version.

However, prices will drop eventually and that’s when you should consider the Lite if you don’t need the full suite of features. We absolutely love the blue and magenta versions the Lite is available in too. 

As for features, you get connected GPS via your phone, water-resistance up to 50m and a range of fitness apps. However, compared to the regular Versa, you don’t get Wi-Fi, onscreen workouts, floor/swimming lap tracking or music storage. So take a look at the latest prices and compare them with the regular Versa or Versa 2 if these are features you’d want.

Fitbit Versa

While its feature set isn’t quite on par with that of its bigger brother the Ionic, the Fitbit Versa feels like the same watch but with a lighter and friendlier design and a much lower price point. It brings a clear, bright, and beautiful screen, a new and improved heart rate sensor that will apparently be updated with even smarter functionality via a firmware update, smart notifications, contactless payment capabilities, and all the features Fitbit users will have come to know and love.

With the new Fitbit Versa 2 landing recently though, you may want to consider the newer version instead. That being said, prices will start to drop on this one now too.

cheap fitbit ace 2 deals

The upgraded Fitbit Ace 2 is much improved over the previous version if you need a child-friendly Fitbit. There’s extra protection around the screen to better protect against bumps and scratches. The Ace 2 can be worn while swimming too as the water-resistance has been improved. You’re still getting a bunch of child-friendly versions of the tracking apps and incentives to keep active. Separate kid or parent view modes allow you to have a deeper dive on the stats to track activities if you want too.

The colorful and chunky designs might not be for everyone though and depending on how old (and clumsy!) your child is, it might be worth opting for the more feature-rich and more mature stylings of the Fitbit Inspire (mentioned earlier on this page), which is the same price at most retailers.

The Fitbit Alta is a fetching, form-fitting fitness tracker that looks more like a bracelet. But don’t let its looks fool you too much. Underneath, it packs in the same Fitbit smarts, like step, exercise, and sleep-tracking functionalities. 

To top it off, the battery life is astoundingly good. The display, while quite small offers much more feedback than the LED lights of the cheaper Fitbit Flex 2. For us, this used to be the best cheap Fitbit option if you didn’t want to spend a lot on one – the Flex 2 is just too basic on its own. Nowadays though, we’d generally point you towards the Fitbit Inspire models at the top of the article instead.

fitbit alta hr prices deals

The Fitbit Alta HR takes the fetching formula of the original and adds heart-rate monitoring into the mix. During use, we found it to be surprisingly accurate and the OLED display shows the metrics in a simple, easy-to-read fashion.

Much of this package is also available on the Alta, like the usual Fitbit smarts, including step, exercise, and sleep tracking functionalities. To top it off, the battery life is astoundingly good. 

Opt for this model if heart rate-based exercise is important to you. It’s mostly the same as the original Alta, but the added functionality for not much extra cash down is a good thing in our book. That being said, the new Fitbit Inspire HR mentioned earlier has generally replaced this model now.

Fitbit Ace prices deals sales kids fitness trackers

The Fitbit Ace is aimed at the kids’ market, or more likely, fitness-conscious parents. Thankfully, Fitbit hasn’t gone too far down the targeted design route (unlike the newer Fitbit Ace 2 mentioned earlier) and the Fitbit Ace actually looks very similar to the design of the Fitbit Alta rather than opting for zany colors or ugly armor casing.

The Fitbit Ace fitness apps inside have been simplified a little though to make it much more child-friendly and there are star badges to ‘gamify’ exercise a bit more and give them incentives to be more active. There’s a decent level of waterproofing too as the Ace will withstand splashes, rain and even showers – although it won’t stand for being submerged in the bath or the swimming pool. The smaller wrist-strap can be a better fit for smaller children too.

If your child is a bit older, tech-savvy or growing fast, it may be worth skipping the Fitbit Ace and looking at the Fitbit Inspire as we find it’s generally around the same price nowadays and it’s fully waterproof for swimming too (as is the Ace 2).

Fitbit Charge 2, another modern spin on a Fitbit classic, is packed with improvements and thoughtful tweaks over the original to make it worth your consideration. First off, the screen has been blown out to display even more information than before, including smartphone notifications – even if the feature is a bit limited. 

In addition, the Charge 2 features multi-sport tracking through the comprehensive Fitbit app that we know and love. This Fitbit isn’t the cheapest model out there, but if it’s multi-sport tracking data and on-screen information you seek, the Charge 2 will fit the bill. Better yet, with the Charge 3 out as well now, prices will start to fall on this version.

If the Apple Watch and Android Wear (and now the Fitbit Ionic) smartwatches have caught your eye, but you don’t want to sacrifice fitness know-how (or hundreds of dollars), the Fitbit Blaze may be the wearable for you. It boasts a vibrant display that showcases fitness metrics and a healthy share of smartphone notifications. This is one of the most versatile Fitbits that you can purchase at the moment. This model is splashproof, but not waterproof. But, the Fitbit Charge is much smarter than most and is one to consider if being connected is important to you. Connected GPS allows you to track run routes if you have your phone with you too.

The Fitbit Ionic marked Fitbit’s move deeper into smartwatch territory. It combines the best Fitbit goal-tracking software with all of the major features of a smartwatch, and it’s a little cheaper than an Apple Watch. Plus, it works with both iOS and Android. 

The built-in GPS technology also means you don’t have to take your smartphone out with you to track a route on a run either. You can also upload music to the device and pair it with some wireless headphones for tunes on the go.

If you’re someone who works out a ton, you’ll want to know about the Fitbit Surge. Competing against Garmin’s high-end trackers, the Surge is Fitbit’s most robust offering, packing in a long 7-day battery inside, along with a GPS sensor that can track your run or walk for up to 10 consecutive hours. 

It costs more than many other wearables in the Fitbit range, but it is generally better value than most smartwatches boasting similar specs. The inclusion of GPS, its splashproof design and a battery that can last up to 7 days makes it a smart option for workout enthusiasts.

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Coronavirus: NHS contact tracing app to target 80% of smartphone users

A contact-tracing app could help stop the coronavirus pandemic, but 80% of current smartphone owners would need to use it, say experts advising the NHS.

The University of Oxford’s Big Data Institute has modelled a city of one million people to simulate the software’s impact.

If there is lower uptake, academics say the app would still help slow the spread of Covid-19.

They add that letting people self-diagnose the illness could be critical.

That means users would only have to answer an on-screen questionnaire before being judged to be at significant risk of infection. They would not have to speak to a health advisor or wait for a medical test result.

This would send a cascade of alerts to people they had recently been in proximity to, advising them to go back into self-isolation.

The experts say “speed is of the essence”, and that delaying contact tracing by even a day from the onset of symptoms could make the difference between epidemic control and resurgence.

“There would be more people receiving notifications as a result of false warnings,” explained Prof Christophe Fraser.

“But actually, it results in fewer days of people in self-isolation and quarantine, because the effect of suppressing the epidemic more quickly outweighs the risks in waiting for a test before the notification.”

The over-70s have not been factored in, on the basis they would remain “shielded” by staying at home, he added.

The Oxford University academics are a mix of epidemiologists and ethicists advising NHSX – the health service’s digital innovation unit – on what basis the contact-tracing app should be created. They are not involved in coding or designing the software itself.

Their model takes into account different age groups, household structures and movement patterns in an effort to try to maximise the number of people who could be allowed to freely move about once a contact-tracing app has been launched.

“We’re looking at introducing the app towards the end of lockdown,” Prof Fraser added.

“When you install it, it needs a few days to start recording data before it can be fully functional.”

The group first published a paper about their work at the end of March.

Since then, they have adjusted their model to take account of changing factors, including the fact that Covid-19’s infection rate has been faster than they had anticipated.

They have also changed plans from using a system that relied on GPS location readings and scanning QR codes to one that exclusively depends on Bluetooth signals. This has been done to provide users more privacy, which in turn could encourage take-up.

The hope is that using the app, as well as other measures such as hand-washing and social distancing from vulnerable members of the population, will prevent a second peak in infections or the need for repeated national lockdowns.

The team estimates that 56% of the general population must use the app to halt the outbreak. Prof Fraser said that equated to 80% of all existing smartphone owners, based on data from Ofcom.

“That’s a very ambitious target,” the professor acknowledged.

“It’s not something that would typically happen for a new app – even an incredibly popular one – but if we can explain that this is a public health intervention, that will be new and different.

“Some of my colleagues have… commissioned large surveys in multiple European countries including the UK.

“More than 80% of people surveyed said they were likely to or would install this app when it was explained in detail what it would be doing.”

Even if fewer people install the app, the team estimates that one infection will be averted for every one to two users.

Opt-in app

The Oxford team suggests that use of the tool should be voluntary. However, this will pose a challenge.

On 20 March, Singapore became one of the first countries to deploy a voluntary contact-tracing app, TraceTogether.

But only about 12% of the population installed it, and after a spike in new cases the city-state introduced a lockdown on 7 April, which it termed a “circuit-breaker”.

To further complicate matters, a small number of phones still in use in the UK do not support the Bluetooth Low Energy system required, making the target even harder to reach.

Prof Fraser said that officials were discussing giving smartphones to those without – or cheaper, wearable Bluetooth devices – in order to boost the number of citizens involved.

NHSX is also keen to keep the app opt-in.

But some have already started exploring the implications of it becoming obligatory.

Internet law expert Prof Lillian Edwards has drafted a law to safeguard citizens’ rights that says:

  • any compulsion must be public, legitimate, necessary and proportionate to the public goal of defeating coronavirus
  • sharing of data for any purpose beyond defeating corona must require users’ consent
  • a new Coronavirus Safeguarding Commissioner should act as watchdog

Others – including the cyber-security expert Ross Anderson and AI entrepreneur Kai-Fu Lee – have cast doubt over whether contact-tracing apps have any chance of success, and fear they could give “false hope” to politicians looking for a way out of lockdowns.

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This fantastic VPN deal gets you 73% off and a year of free cloud storage

Great news! If you sign up to IPVanish before the end of April, you’ll get a whole year of VPN protection and secure cloud storage from SugarSync for just $39.

When it comes to VPN goodness, we rank IPVanish extremely highly – the provider has 24/7 customer support, zero traffic logs, unlimited bandwidth and an excellent Windows kill switch. It really is one of the very best around.

And then throw in that freebie and discount, and you’re laughing. The SugarSync addition gets you a full 250GB of secure data storage. This means that all your photos, videos and personal documents (whatever you choose to store) will remain safeguarded from outsiders. That means that for the next 12 months your VPN and storage needs are completely covered for the equivalent of just $3.25 a month.

Still unsure if this is the deal for you? Scroll down to see this deal in full, or why not also check out our best VPN deals guide for all of the very best offers on cyber privacy.

This amazing VPN deal in full:

How good is IPVanish?

As well as unblocking Netflix, (hello streaming!) and being one of the best value for money VPNs, it also has a 7-day money-back guarantee and servers in over 75 countries. 

Plus, it boasts incredible download speeds so you don’t need to worry about the VPN slowing down your device and it’s got plenty of powerful, configurable apps. So whether privacy, streaming or cost is your reason for getting a VPN, IPVanish ticks all the boxes. 

Still undecided? Check out our IPVanish review.

  • Not sure this provider is the one for you? Check out our best VPN guide
  • Want to try before you buy? See your choice of VPNs with free trials
  • Or pay nothing at all! These are the best free VPNs

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