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The best Sprint data plans are easy to choose from if you know what you need. That’s because Sprint has cut down on its variety to focus largely on three tiers of unlimited data plans. If you don’t want unlimited data, Sprint only has one other option for your phone. 

If you do want unlimited data, then it has three plans to consider, with each increasing the data speeds and certain data allotments available to you. They naturally increase in price between tiers, but they also come with some extra perks that can more than justify the extra expense if you take advantage of them. If you want a limited data plan but need more than the 2GB option available from Sprint, then the best Verizon data plans will likely be a better choice for you.

If you happen to live in one of the five cities Sprint has launched its 5G network, then you can also get 5G service using a compatible phone like the LG V50 ThinQ or Samsung Galaxy S10 5G. The service comes with the Unlimited Premium plan at no extra charge, and is available in areas of Chicago, Kansas City, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and Atlanta.

If you’re ready to check out the best Sprint plans, we’ve got all the details you need right here.

Sprint unlimited plans: Explained

Sprint’s unlimited plans start at the base tier, Unlimited Basic. This gives you the unlimited calling, texting, and data you’d expect. Mobile hotspot is also allowed on the plan, but with some speed limitations. The plan also comes with a Hulu subscription, service in Canada and Mexico, and international texting. 

For an extra $10 a month per line, you can upgrade to Unlimited Plus, which offers more perks, higher bandwidths for things like streaming and gaming, and more LTE hotspot data. For another $20 per line on top of the Unlimited Basic Plan’s price, you get the Unlimited Premium plan, which offers even more. 

What’s more, all of the plans offer 50GB of data at full speed, so you should only experience throttling during periods of network congestion after you’ve used 50GB of data.

We’ll explain each in greater detail in our plan breakdown below. But first, here’s what you can expect to pay for the Unlimited Basic Plan:

• 1st line: $60/month
• 2nd line: $40/month
• 3rd-5th lines: $20/month
• Limited time discount: 5 lines for $20/line/month

Sprint plans: access charges

Sprint used to list access charges when you go through the process of selecting a plan and a device on its website. These used to be an easy way to turn an attractive plan price sour quickly, as it could tack on over $10 to the price. 

Now, Sprint doesn’t mention it anywhere that we could find so, so the days of access fees may be on their way out. Sprint’s plans will include other taxes and fees though, and they vary by region, so don’t expect the price you see first to be the price you pay.

The right Sprint plan for you

While the focus from Sprint is largely on unlimited data, there is also an option for you if you don’t need much. Here, we’ll go through the finer details of each plan, so you’ll know what you get. This way you can make an informed decision.

Sprint Unlimited Basic plan | Unlimited calls, texts and data | $60/month
As we’ve mentioned, this plan comes with all the service you need. It may not all be the fastest, as there are bandwidth limitations for music and gaming, and video streaming is limited to 480p, but it’s unlimited in quantity and you get a free Hulu subscription. 

The plan also includes 500MB of mobile hotspot at LTE speeds, with unlimited hotspot at 3G speeds after that. On top of that, you get full service and 5GB of LTE data in Mexico and Canada, as well as free texting and basic data in over 200 countries.

Sprint Unlimited Plus plan | Unlimited calls, texts and data | $70/month
The Unlimited Plus plan from Sprint offers everything the Unlimited Basic plan does and more. Video streaming is allowed at 1080p, and you get 50GB of mobile hotspot at LTE speeds before being knocked down to 3G. In addition to the Hulu subscription, you also get Tidal Premium. And, for use in Mexico and Canada, you get 10GB of LTE data instead of the 5GB included in the basic plan.

On top of those upgrades, music streaming is allowed at 1.5Mbps and gaming is allowed at 8Mbps. And, for a limited time, if you bring your own device when switching to Sprint, you can save $10 per month on this plan.

Sprint Unlimited Premium plan | Unlimited calls, texts and data | $80/month
The Unlimited Premium plan takes everything that much further. You still get the unlimited calls, texts, and LTE data, but with this plan, you also keep them while in Canada and Mexico. The mobile hotspot LTE cap is raised even further to 100GB, and 1080p streaming is allowed.

The perks are increased as well. You get Hulu, Tidal Premium, Lookout Premium Plus, and an Amazon Prime subscription. The plan is Sprint’s priciest, but you can get $10/month off if you bring your own device when switching to Sprint. With this plan, you also can access the 5G network on a compatible phone.

Sprint 2GB plan| Unlimited calls and texts | $40/month
If you don’t use much data and just want to have all the calling and texting with a sprinkle of the web and YouTube on top, this may be the plan for you. Unfortunately, if you think you’ll need more than this, your only other option is to go up to an Unlimited plan.

Sprint plans: Other options

If you’re looking to get more than just a mobile phone plan, Sprint also offers plans for tablets, smartwatches, and mobile broadband hotspot devices. These start from $10 for unlimited data on a smartwatch, $15 for unlimited data on a tablet, and from $30 for 10GB to $60 for 100GB on a mobile hotspot device.

Sprint phones

Don’t forget that with a great smartphone plan, you’ll also want to have a great smartphone. Check out the best smartphones for Sprint.

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If you didn’t snag a discounted TV during Amazon’s Prime Day sale, then you’re in luck. Walmart’s summer clearance sale is in full swing and includes massive price cuts on TVs from top brands such as Sony, LG, Vizio, and more. One of the best TV deals we’ve seen is the TCL 55-inch 4K TV that’s on sale for $399.99. That’s a $300 discount for the smart TV that has the Roku experience built-in.

The TCL 5-Series is a high-quality TV at an affordable price with fantastic features. The 55-inch TV features Dolby Vision HDR technology which results in a premium picture with bright, accurate colors and sharp contrasts. The smart TV has the Roku experience built-in so you can stream over 500,000 movie and TV episodes from the home screen of your TV. The TCL TV also includes an advanced remote that offers voice-control, so you can browse entertainment, adjust the volume, and more completely hands-free.

Shop more of Walmart’s best TV deals below that include a range of different sizes, features, and prices. These discounts are limited-time offers, and it might be your last chance before Black Friday to find a killer deal on a top-brand TV. 

Walmart TV deals: 

See more of best cheap TV deals and sale prices that are currently going on.

You can also shop the best Walmart deals on smart home devices, laptops, appliances, and more.

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Keeping your kids safe online can be a challenge. In most cases, they need access to a laptop or PC for their homework or to play games with friends, but it only takes a few words in a search bar for them to stumble onto material not suitable for their young minds (or any mind, for that matter). One way to limit these dangers is to use the parental controls Microsoft includes with Windows. We show you how to use these to control screen time, filter inappropriate content, and block certain sites altogether.

If you want even more control over what your children can access, especially if they use mobile devices, then you should look at dedicated packages such as Qustodio which give you quick access to settings via your smartphone or PC.

You’ll find a breakdown of its features, along with several other offerings, in our guide to the best parental control software.

How do I set up parental controls on Windows 10?

To access the various content filters offered by Windows 10 you’ll first need to set up a child’s account for your youngster. To do this, go to Settings > Accounts and select the Family & other people tab.

In here you’ll see the option to Add a family member. Select this then click the Add a child option, enter an email for them (you can create a Microsoft one here), give a phone number for security purposes, then follow any remaining instructions to complete the account.

With this done you can now either click Manage family settings online or open a browser head to Microsoft’s website where you’ll see your child’s or children’s account listed. Under each account are several options: Activity, Screen time, App limits, and More options.

Activity is where you to turn on the reporting that keep you up to date with how much time your child is spending online, which sites they visit and the apps they are using. 

Screen time, as the name suggests, allows you to set the hours in which your child can use their devices. This is done via a grid the shows each hour of each day and you just click the ones that you want available to them. The setting also has an option to cover the Xbox One as well (as do all of the family settings), so you can ensure your little ones don’t switch to their console once the daily allowance has been used up.

App limits appears to be preview only at the time of writing, but once enabled it will give parents the options of setting time limits on specific apps. Currently this only supports those installed from the Microsoft store, and even then there are exceptions such as , , and .   

Content Restrictions is the standard filter you’d expect to see in a parental control app. With this you can specify, by age, the kind of material your child can access. A drop-down menu lets you set the upper age limit, and once this is done your child won’t be able to see anything rated above that parameter.

Next there’s Spending. In here you can top-up your child’s Microsoft account with money they can then use to buy things online. This could be in-game purchase or whatever else they choose. A couple of settings give you the option of requiring any transaction to be authorised by you or just to receive an email after money has been spent.

Finally, there’s the Find your child feature. This is a somewhat limited location tracker as it requires the child to have an Android phone running the latest version of the Microsoft launcher. If you meet these conditions then you’ll be able to see where your child is at any time. In all honesty, while this is a nice addition, you’d be better off using either the Find my device option in Android or a dedicated tracker such as or.

How do I set up parental controls on Windows 8?

As Microsoft introduced the family settings feature in Windows 8, you’ll find the steps above should be pretty much identical when it comes to getting them up and running.

Are there parental controls in Windows 7?

There’s no family setting option in Windows 7, as it was introduced in Windows 8, so it’s a lot harder to implement the kind of features listed above without going to dedicated parental controls software packages.

Another thing to consider is that Windows 7 support ends on 14 January 2020, after which point Microsoft will no longer issue security updates. This will open up PCs running the aged  operating system to potential risks from hackers and viruses, which could be a much bigger problem. With this in mind we’d strongly recommend upgrading to Windows 10 in the near future or possibly looking at a new PC if the budget allows.

Click here for the best Microsoft voucher codes.

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It’s been a while since the JBL Link Bar was announced – nearly a year, in fact – but the all-in-one soundbar, Android TV box, Chromecast device, and Google Assistant speaker has just become available to buy. 

According to Engadget, pre-orders started almost a year ago too – but now the Link Bar can finally be purchased from the JBL website and approved retailers for $399.95 / £349.99. This works out at around AU$630; however it doesn’t appear to be available in Australia yet. 

If you want a little extra bass with your new bar, you can also purchase an optional subwoofer for an additional $299.95 (around £240 / AU$430). 

(Image credit: JBL / Harman)

Smart soundbar

As well as boosting your home cinema sound, this nifty soundbar can also turn your regular old ‘dumb’ TV into a smart TV with Android TV built in, which gives you access to apps like Netflix, YouTube and Hulu.

It also comes with Google Assistant built-in, which means you can search through your Android TV content using your voice alone, as well as controlling your smart home.

If you’d rather browse your music, shows, and radio stations via your smartphone or laptop, the JBL Link Bar comes with Chromecast built-in as well. 

With all these smart features, it appears that you get a lot for your money with the JBL Link Bar; even so, $400 is a significant amount to spend, and some of the best soundbars are much cheaper, like the $250 (£249 / AU$649) Polk Audio Command Bar.

Of course, if you bought a budget soundbar, a Google Assistant speaker, and Chromecast device separately, you could be looking at a bill well over $400 – in which case, the JBL Link Bar is a very attractive prospect indeed.

Via Engadget

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LinkedIn users are being warned to beware emails reportedly coming from the site following a rise in recent message scams.

A report from KnowBe4 found that scammers are harnessing emails from some of the world’s most popular social media sites to launch phishing scams against unsuspecting users. 

LinkedIn has become the most popular tool to target potential victims, with more than half of all social media phishing email using the Microsoft-owned platform as a hook.

LinkedIn scam

Phishing scams see cybercriminals target users with spoof emails designed to look as though they originate from a large-scale organisation. Social media sites have become increasingly popular in such scams in recent years, with social media phishing attacks rose 75 percent in 2019.

Overall, KnowBe4’s tests found that LinkedIn was used in 56 percent of the top phishing emails, more than all the other tests using other social media networks combined.

The report also highlighted that password reset emails were found to be particularly effective, as were fake login alerts, birthday invites, and photo tag alerts. So-called in-the-wild attacks were found to be especially effective when they asked for action from the recipient, such as being invited to share an Outlook calendar or being assigned a task in a Microsoft platform.

KnowBe4 says that its findings show the importance of training users how to spot and manage potentially malicious emails, especially in the workplace.

“It feels good to ‘join my network’ or connect with someone in some way – that’s why social media phishing attacks are so successful,” said Stu Sjouwerman, CEO of KnowBe4. 

“Users innately trust their ‘verified’ contacts so are more apt to click on a link that come from someone they know. It’s becoming harder to identify phishing attacks, but our users are smarter than the bad guys think and can absolutely be trained to identify and avoid phishing and social engineering attacks.”

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Update: This review was updated 7/23/19 to cover the tweaks and updates Adobe has made to Acrobat Pro DC. The verdict remains the same.

Adobe created the PDF two decades ago and its PDF editor has continued to rule the category, despite what many users felt was its exorbitant price. But a couple of years back, Acrobat adopted a cloud subscription model that now makes it more affordable for folks without an enterprise budget.

Acrobat Pro DC is composed of three components: Acrobat DC, which allows you to perform a variety of editing functions on your PDFs on desktop and mobile devices; Adobe Document Cloud, which lets you create and export PDF files, as well as store and send files and collect electronic signatures; and Acrobat Reader DC, which enables you to read, print, and sign PDFs.

Acrobat’s workspace sports an easily navigable tabbed interface. The Home tab is where you land if you don’t have a PDF open. It gives you quick access to recent files; PDFs you’ve sent for review or signature; and files stored locally, in Adobe Document Cloud, or in third-party services like Box or Microsoft OneDrive.

Michael Ansaldo/IDG

The Tools tab organizes Acrobat Pro DC’s wealth of tools in a single pane, organized by function: “Create & Edit,” “Share & Review” “Forms & Signatures,” “Protect & Standardize,” and “Customize.” Any of the individual tools can be added as a shortcut to a right sidebar so you can get to them with a PDF open without having to toggle back here. Selecting a tool opens the commands specific to it, or its associated toolbar if you are in an open document.

Each PDF file opens in its own tab in Document view. A toolbar with some basic editing tool runs across the top of the document and navigation and task panes sit at the left and right of the document, respectively.

Adobe continues to offer everything you need to work with PDFs in a business environment. You can create PDFs from a variety of file types (Microsoft Office files, images, HTML, scanned documents), send them out for comments and electronic signatures, and safeguard sensitive information with encryption, password protection, and text redaction.

Michael Ansaldo/IDG

Adobe recently streamlined its document sharing experience. The interface gives you the option of sending a PDF as an email attachment or as link to the file in Adobe Document Cloud. Filling and signing a document has also gotten easier, thanks to a new tool that asks you who needs to fill and sign first— you or others—and prompts you through completion of that task.

Sky customers have been told to change their passwords immediately, raising fears that the company may have been hit by a data breach.

The company has sent out emails to customers across the UK urging them to reset their passwords as part of a “security measure”.

The email contains a link for users to choose a new passwords as Sky has had to change their existing logins, raising fears that the company has suffered some kind of breach or attack.

‘Incident’

“At Sky we take the security of your data and information extremely seriously. To help keep your account safe we have reset the password for your Sky account,” the email read.

Several Sky customers took to Twitter to ask Sky if the emails were genuine, or part of a phishing scam, with the firm’s official Sky Help Team account replying that they were.

‘To help keep customer’s accounts safe we occasionally reset the password for Sky accounts. Customers can reset their password online at Sky.com,’ a Sky spokesperson said, adding that the company has not been breached.

However the account also told some customers that the reset was linked to “part of the incident that happened last week”, possibly referencing a recent attack.

 “We have been informed by the provider of Sky.com email that a number of email accounts have been accessed without permission,” its official disclosure on the incident read, “as a precautionary measure these accounts have been locked.” 

According to Forbes, this apparently concerns a breach of email accounts on an unspecified date, and could even be linked to the Yahoo 2014 data breach, as the American firm provides the sky.com email. 

However Sky’s disclosure on the attack was undated, making it hard to know when the incident occured. It does mention that it concerns a “credential stuffing” attack, where hackers bombard a service with user login details (often stolen or bought on the Dark Web) in an attempt to breach user accounts.

Sky says it has already locked the accounts of all affected users, who will need to contact the company to get control back.

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