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Coveron may seem like a new identity theft protection platform. However, that's not the case. NordProtect rebranded itself as Coveron in May 2026 to build a brand identity distinct from its other products.

Nord Security, the company behind one of the best VPNs, NordVPN, first introduced NordProtect in late 2023. At the time, it was only offered as part of NordVPN's Prime plan in the U.S. In early 2025, however, the company expanded its availability, and NordProtect became available as a standalone product. It has now been rebranded as Coveron.

In this article, we'll go into the details of the newly rebranded Coveron identity theft protection service, covering its plans and pricing, key features, and interface while comparing it with other seasoned providers in the market.

Coveron: Plans and pricing

(Image credit: Coveron)

Coveron offers monthly, yearly, and two-year plans, allowing users to stay flexible with their subscriptions. However, we'll be talking about the pricing of the one-year plans, as we have done in all our identity theft protection reviews.

Coveron has one of the cheapest entry-level plans, with its Starter plan costing $0.99 per month ($23.76 for the first 24 months). With this plan, you get $10k in identity theft insurance and dark web monitoring, where Coveron scans illegal online marketplaces to look for any of your personal data that may have been breached.

However, Coveron's best value-for-money offering is its Silver plan, costing $4.99 per month ($119.76 for the first 24 months). Along with dark web monitoring, you also get credit monitoring from one bureau and monthly credit scores. There's also credit freeze assistance, where Coveron experts guide you on how to freeze your credit with the bureau. The best part about this plan is its extensive insurance coverage, including up to $1 million in identity theft insurance, $50k in cyber extortion insurance, and $10k in online fraud insurance.

If you're looking for a bundled plan, your best bet is Coveron's Gold plan, which costs $7.49 per month ($179.76 for the first 24 months). Besides everything included in the Silver plan, you also get an additional credit lock feature that allows you to lock your TransUnion credit to prevent unauthorized access, along with $10k worth of cyberattack insurance. Additonally, you get access to a high-speed, secure VPN with 7,400+ servers across 118+ countries, along with Nord's Threat Protection Pro, which can block dangerous websites, detect phishing scams, scan your downloads for malware, and block ads and trackers.

Lastly, there's the Platinum plan, costing $9.99 per month ($239.76 for the first 24 months), which offers credit monitoring from all three bureaus. This is also the first plan where you get detailed credit reports, along with short-term loan monitoring and financial account monitoring. Additional features include malware breach alerts and criminal record monitoring.

Coveron: Key features and offerings

Coveron offers a big bag of identity and credit monitoring features. For starters, there’s dark web monitoring which continuously  scans illegal online  marketplaces as well as forums and  underground communities to detect  any leaked personal  data, such as email addresses, phone numbers, and  Social Security numbers. 

You would receive immediate notifications when your information is compromised, allowing you to react promptly and reduce potential security threats. Then there’s credit monitoring that detects financial identity threats, including unauthorized account inquiries and new accounts opened using your personal information.

(Image credit: Coveron)

One of the standout features of Coveron is that it allows you to lock your TransUnion credit directly from its dashboard with the toggle of a button. You don't need to visit the TransUnion website separately to request a credit lock. Coveron's strategic partnership with TransUnion facilitates seamless credit locking.

Other features included in the highest-tier plans are short-term loan monitoring, which tracks any payday loans opened in your name, and financial account monitoring, which alerts you to new account applications or credit inquiries made using your identity. You also get the Incogni feature on the Platinum plan, which scans top data broker sites and submits personal data removal requests on your behalf.

(Image credit: NordVPN)

Besides this, Coveron offers the standard $1 million in identity theft insurance coverage. This coverage extends to eligible expenses, including legal fees, lost wages due to identity theft, and mental health counseling costs. The identity restoration process is supported by dedicated case managers who provide personalized assistance throughout your recovery journey. The service guides you in freezing your credit and helps you navigate the complex task of restoring your credit score.

The identity protection insurance cover from Coveron also includes a couple of add-ons. The first is cyber extortion protection, which covers up to $50k for cyber extortion incidents such as ransomware attacks. The second is online fraud insurance of up to $10k, which reimburses you if you end up losing money due to incidents like phishing, stolen funds, or other forms of online fraud.

Coveron: Interface and in use

Coveron's features are currently accessible through its web-based dashboard, which means you get a similar browsing and usage experience across platforms including Windows, Android, macOS, and iOS.

Once you log in to your dashboard, you'll see the features laid out in a menu on the left-hand side, divided into five headings: Monitored Assets, Alerts and Notifications, Dark Web Monitoring, ID Protection Benefits, and Credit Monitoring Services.

(Image credit: NordVPN)

Upon clicking each of these tabs, you are taken to a dedicated dashboard showing information related to those specific sections. For instance, when you click on Alerts and Notifications, you'll see all current instances of security breaches or suggestions that Coveron considers important. The alerts are divided into two main categories: security alerts and warnings.

Similarly, the Monitored Assets tab shows you the information being monitored across the dark web. Overall, Coveron's layout is pretty simple and easy to use without much of a learning curve. You can also get assistance in English by phone by dialing +1 (833) 439-5214 between 10 AM and 6 PM EDT.

Coveron: Support

Coveron offers comprehensive customer support primarily through its robust online Help Center, which features extensive FAQs, tutorials, and troubleshooting guides covering various topics, including account management, billing, connectivity, and app usage. For more personalized assistance, customers can readily access 24/7 live chat support, which is recommended for urgent issues due to its typically quick response times.

You can also get assistance in English on phone by dialing +1 (833) 439-5214 between 10AM to 6PM EDT. Alternatively, for more complex inquiries or when immediate assistance isn't critical, customers can opt for email support, with responses usually provided within a few hours. Overall, Coveron's combination of self-help resources and direct messaging options aims to provide thorough and accessible support for its diverse customer base.

Coveron: The competition

At first glance, Coveron may seem pretty bare-bones when it comes to identity protection features. It certainly lacks some useful functions, such as social media monitoring, which is a standard offering with many other providers. Besides this, you only get up to $1 million in insurance coverage, whereas providers like IDShield offer up to $3 million and Aura offers up to $5 million.

Similarly, the three-bureau credit scores on the highest Platinum plan are updated only once a year, which defeats the purpose of regular financial monitoring. Almost all other providers, such as McAfee+, update scores at least monthly (and even daily on some plans) so that you can keep a constant check on your credit standing.

However, one thing to keep in mind while comparing various identity protection platforms is that Coveron comes at a pretty affordable price. Even its highest-tier plan costs only $9.99 per month, which is often the starting price of other platforms. For instance, Aura's individual plan starts at $12 per month, whereas IDShield's individual plans start at around $14.95 per month. Sure, you might get additional features with other providers, but they often cost more than Coveron.

Coveron: Final verdict

If you’re on a budget and looking for a reliable identity theft protection solution, then Coveron from Nord Security is a pretty good choice. Even its highest-tier plan is more affordable than the starting plans of some other platforms. Not only do you get comprehensive dark web monitoring, but you also benefit from three-bureau credit monitoring and the ability to lock your TransUnion credit directly from the Coveron dashboard.

Of course, there's also award-winning VPN protection and comprehensive online protection through Nord's Threat Protection Pro. However, if you're looking for higher insurance coverage or advanced features like social media monitoring, more frequent credit monitoring, credit score simulators, home and auto title monitoring, or medical ID tracking, you'll need to consider alternatives such as IDShield, Aura, or McAfee+.

Why is identity theft protection important?

For many, much of our day-to-day life is now handled online, including financial management, shopping, family connections, work collaboration, and more. While digital technology offers numerous advantages, it also poses multiple security risks that threaten users both financially and personally.

Today's cybercriminals are constantly refining their tactics, deploying increasingly sophisticated attacks, including phishing scams, data breaches, and ransomware threats. These menacing strategies aim not only at financial theft but also often target our most sensitive data, leading to a cascade of complications that can significantly disrupt our lives.

This is where a dedicated identity theft protection service, like Coveron, becomes invaluable. Acting as a real-time shield against potential threats, it provides proactive monitoring that continually watches over your personal information around the clock. Picture receiving rapid alerts at the first hint of suspicious activity; this timely response can make all the difference in mitigating damage before it spirals out of control.

But it doesn't end there. Comprehensive recovery assistance provided by these services ensures that if the worst does happen, you're not navigating the aftermath alone. Specialists work with you to recover compromised accounts, restore your credit, and rebuild your digital identity, guiding you through each step with expertise and support.

The FICO score is a type of credit score developed by the Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO). This is the score most lenders look at when evaluating your credit file. Composed of various components such as payment history, amounts owed, length of credit history, credit mix, and new credit, the FICO score can range between 300 and 850. The higher the score, the better.

While there are various platforms and credit monitoring institutions you can use to keep an eye on your credit score, there's arguably very few better than using the platform developed by FICO itself, MyFICO. MyFICO is a credit and identity monitoring solution that gives you a bird's-eye view of all your important credit accounts, along with identity theft alerts.

In this article, we'll dive into MyFICO's features, pricing, and in-use experience in detail so that you can make an informed decision about whether it’s worth your attention and money.

MyFico: Plans and pricing

(Image credit: MyFICO)

MyFICO offers a range of plans to help consumers monitor their credit and identity, with pricing structured across different tiers. The free plan provides basic coverage, including a FICO Score 8 based on Equifax data, monthly Equifax credit reports, and 24/7 credit monitoring.

For more comprehensive coverage, MyFICO has three paid subscription tiers that automatically renew each month:

Advanced Plan: Priced at $29.95 per month, this plan offers three-bureau coverage (Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax) with credit reports and FICO Score updates every three months. It includes comprehensive credit monitoring, FICO Score monitoring with alerts, and identity monitoring. Additionally, it provides $1 million in identity theft insurance and 24/7 identity restoration. Features like the FICO Score Simulator and "How Lenders View You" analysis are also included.

Premier Plan: This top-tier plan costs $39.95 per month and offers a few additional benefits over the Advanced plan. Firstly, your credit scores and reports are updated every month instead of every three months. Secondly, you get an additional simulator for your FICO mortgage score. This lets you see how different financial actions can impact your FICO Scores 2 and 4, which are used by mortgage lenders. Besides this, all other benefits remain the same as the Advanced plan.

MyFico: Features

MyFICO offers a comprehensive suite of features designed to empower you with knowledge and protection over your credit and identity. With MyFICO, you receive FICO Scores and credit reports from all three major credit bureaus: Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. This is essential because 90% of top lenders rely on FICO Scores. By reviewing your reports from all three bureaus, you can identify discrepancies and errors that may be negatively impacting your scores.

Additionally, MyFICO provides credit monitoring and alerts, continuously tracking significant changes such as new accounts or inquiries. This allows you to quickly detect potential identity theft or fraudulent activity and take immediate action if necessary. You will also benefit from FICO Score monitoring and a history graph, which visually displays your score's progression over time, helping you understand how your financial decisions impact it.

(Image credit: MyFICO)

One particularly helpful tool is the FICO Score Simulator, which enables you to explore "what if" scenarios, such as how paying down debt or applying for a new loan could affect your score. This feature empowers you to make informed financial choices before taking action.

(Image credit: MyFICO)

Beyond credit monitoring, MyFICO offers identity monitoring by scanning the dark web and public records for your personal information. If your information is compromised, you will receive alerts. In the unfortunate event of identity theft, you are protected by identity restoration services and up to $1 million in identity theft insurance. This coverage includes 24/7 access to specialists who can assist you in recovery and provide financial protection for related expenses.

Finally, MyFICO provides valuable credit education and customer support to help you understand the complexities of credit and offer assistance whenever needed. Together, these features give you a complete picture of your financial health, proactive protection, and the tools to confidently manage your credit and identity.

MyFico: Interface

MyFico truly stands out in the realm of identity theft prevention software, especially when compared to many other programs that often resemble outdated tax software from a decade ago.

Once you log into your main MyFICO dashboard, you'll see three gauge charts showing your credit scores from all three credit bureaus. On the side panel, you'll find various options to drill down into your scores, such as General Credit, Credit Cards, Mortgages, and Other Loans, which show how each of these factors is impacting your current credit scores.

(Image credit: MyFICO)

On the top bar, you'll find four options: Scores, Alerts, Reports, and Simulator. The mobile app is also pretty simple to use, with the same gauge chart at the top, followed by the various loan types and insights below.

The app boasts an intuitive layout, allowing users to easily navigate and access key features. Checking your credit score is a swift and straightforward process, while delving into potential credit issues or assessing identity theft notifications is just as seamless.

MyFico: Support

Users who are facing problems can get assistance from the MyFico support team. A direct toll-free number is provided, along with what appears to be an email address but, upon selecting it, directs the user to a support portal. The business is open Monday through Friday from 6 AM to 6 PM and on Saturday from 7 AM to 4 PM PST. However, we didn’t find any live chat option.

Additionally, MyFICO offers a knowledge hub where you can search for frequently asked questions on topics such as payments and billing, FICO scores, credit reports, and more. Overall, the support options are decent, given the platform's relative ease of use. You're unlikely to encounter any unusual technical hurdles while using it.

MyFico: The competition

While MyFICO is the official consumer division of FICO and offers direct access to the widely used FICO Scores, several strong competitors provide comprehensive credit monitoring services, often with different focuses.

One of the most prominent competitors is Experian, one of the three major credit bureaus. Experian offers its own free credit monitoring service, providing access to your Experian credit report and FICO® Score. They also have a unique feature called Experian Boost, which allows users to potentially increase their FICO Score by including on-time payments for utilities, phone bills, and streaming services. While MyFICO also offers FICO scores, Experian's direct connection to one of the bureaus and its Boost feature offer a distinct advantage for some consumers.

However, both MyFICO and Experian are primarily credit monitoring tools rather than identity theft protection platforms. Sure, MyFICO does offer some identity theft features, but they are more ancillary in nature. Other platforms like IDShield and IdentityForce are more focused on identity theft protection.

For instance, both platforms offer comprehensive real-time identity breach alerts coupled with deep dark web and social media scans. There's also a smart SSN tracker that sends you instant alerts if any suspicious names or addresses are associated with your Social Security number. Lastly, some platforms like Norton LifeLock can also scan various data broker websites for your information and submit removal requests on your behalf.

MyFico: Final verdict

If you’re someone with a lot of investments, financial accounts, or lines of credit and want to monitor your finances closely at all times, then MyFICO is one of the best choices for you. You get detailed reports and scores from all three credit bureaus, along with instant alerts for any changes or new accounts. You can view your FICO scores and score history graph, along with a FICO score simulator that helps you plan your future finances.

However, MyFICO is a bit on the expensive side, with plans starting at $29.95 per month. It also isn't a dedicated identity theft protection platform and offers only limited features in that regard. If you're looking for a full suite of identity protection features, such as deep dark web scanning, SSN tracking, address and phone monitoring, as well as identity restoration services, you'll have to consider other platforms such as Norton LifeLock, Aura, or Bitdefender.

We've also highlighted the best identity theft protection

Bitdefender is a popular name in the online security market, primarily known for its robust antivirus solution. However, it also offers an all-around digital identity protection service called Bitdefender Identity Theft Protection.

If you’re an individual (especially a beginner) looking for an easy-to-use, affordable platform, Bitdefender could be the one for you. It helps you actively monitor your online identity, check for known breaches, and manage your financial accounts.

In this article, we will drill down into the various features of Bitdefender Identity Theft Protection, compare it with other products on the market, and examine its user experience. Read on to find out whether Bitdefender Identity Theft Protection is for you.

Bitdefender Identity Theft Protection and Bitdefender Digital Identity Protection are two separate products. This review will examine Bitdefender Identity Theft Protection. For our review of Bitdefender Digital Identity Protection, please click here.

(Image credit: Bitdefender)Bitdefender Identity Theft Protection: Plans and pricing

Bitdefender Identity Theft Protection offers two plans: Standard and Premium. The Standard plan costs $69.99 for a yearly subscription, which boils down to $5.83 per month, making it one of the cheapest identity theft protection solutions on the market. This is also cheaper than Norton LifeLock's entry-level plan, which costs $10.46 per month.

With this plan, you get basic features like breach monitoring, credit reports and score, lost wallet protection, and identity theft insurance up to $1 million, along with one-bureau credit reports and monitoring.

The Premium plan costs $99.99 ($8.33/month). In addition to everything in the Standard plan, you get sex offender registry monitoring, bank, credit card, and investment account monitoring, and an additional $50,000 in ransomware protection and social engineering scams. Along with this, the plan also offers three-bureau credit record monitoring.

Bitdefender Identity Theft Protection: Features

Bitdefender offers a bundled collection of features, ideal for anyone looking for all-around identity monitoring and protection. For starters, there’s a smart SSN tracker, which alerts you if an unfamiliar name or address is associated with your Social Security number.

Then there’s dark web monitoring, which scours thousands of websites, black market chat rooms, and other sources to alert you to any sale of your personal information. You can also access your credit reports and scores from all three credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

There’s also a pretty handy credit score simulator, which helps you plan your finances and see how your future financial decisions may impact your credit score. You are also promptly notified if your personal details are used to apply for new credit, utility payments, or loans.

Much like other platforms, even if you’re unlucky and end up getting your identity compromised, Bitdefender offers restoration services from certified protection experts around the clock. These experts help you with paperwork and legal procedures while actively assisting you through the challenging process of identity restoration.

(Image credit: Bitdefender)

With Bitdefender, you also get up to $2 million in identity theft insurance and an additional $25,000 for ransomware resolution and reimbursement in case you end up losing money due to ransomware attacks during your Bitdefender subscription.

Similarly, there’s a $25,000 social engineering resolution and reimbursement provision, which comes in handy if you fall prey to social engineering scams like phishing and end up incurring financial losses.

The Bitdefender website also lists credit freeze as one of its features. However, I found this to be a bit misleading, since Bitdefender only offers expert assistance with credit freezes. To actually place a credit freeze, you will have to contact the various agencies yourself. In comparison, platforms like Norton LifeLock allow you to instantly freeze your credit from the dashboard itself with a simple toggle button.

Bitdefender also offers a separate Digital Identity Protection product that gives you a 360-degree view of all your personal data. Much like its identity theft protection platform, digital identity protection also scans the public web and dark web for your personal data and sends you instant alerts if it finds any.

Besides this, there are simple one-click actions that help you close gaps in your digital footprint. You also get a graphic digital identity protection score, which tells you how well you are protected against common cybersecurity and identity theft threats.

We would have liked to see these features in the primary identity theft protection suite as well. But sadly, these essential features are missing. If you need them, you’ll have to get both products, but that would increase your total monthly cost to $9.16. Sure, that’s still pretty affordable, but managing two different subscriptions can be inconvenient in practice.

Bitdefender Identity Theft Protection: Interface and in use

In addition to being affordable, it’s nice that Bitdefender is also easy to set up and use. Once you have logged into your account, you will see a sleek and intuitive dashboard with all features suites listed on the left-hand side panel. You need to click on Identity Theft Protection to access all its functions.

Inside that, you'll find options such as Identity Vault, Breach IQ, Alerts, Credits, and Help listed on the top panel. Simply click on any of these options to access your data.

The Bitdefender interface enables you to quickly visualize data and view suggested actions (Image credit: Bitdefender)

For instance, if you click on Credits, you will be able to see your credit score in the center of your dashboard, along with detailed credit summaries including open accounts, credit utilized, and hard inquiries made.

However, the in-use experience is pretty smooth. There are hardly any lags or complicated hidden menus, making the platform very beginner-friendly.

Bitdefender Identity Theft Protection: The competition

Identity Theft Protection’s biggest advantage is its affordable pricing, with plans starting at just $69.99 per year. Even if you’re looking for three-bureau data credit monitoring, you effectively pay only $8.33/month with its annual plan, compared to IdentityForce's $34.90/month or Norton LifeLock's $29.17/month.

That said, I found Bitdefender a bit barebones when it comes to its feature set. Sure, it has everything you need to protect your identity, but it does lack certain advanced features offered by competitors. For instance, Norton LifeLock comes with an automatic data broker removal service, where the platform scans top data brokers and submits periodic opt-out requests so your data is not shared or sold on third-party websites.

Also, while Bitdefender’s identity insurance coverage of $2 million is certainly nothing to sniff at, Norton LifeLock gives you up to $3 million whereas Aura up to $5 million.

Bitdefender Identity Theft Protection: Final verdict

Bitdefender Identity Theft Protection is an ideal choice if you're an individual looking for basic identity protection services. The platform offers everything from social media monitoring, dark web monitoring, and identity breach alerts to credit monitoring and three-bureau credit reports. You also get identity theft protection of up to $1 million with the higher-end plan.

That said, if you're looking for identity theft protection for families, Bitdefender might not be the perfect pick, since it only offers individual plans. In that case, you'll have to look at other alternatives such as Aura or Norton LifeLock. Bitdefender also lacks certain advanced features, such as the ability to manage credit freezes from the dashboard and data broker removal services.

We've listed the best free antivirus.

Bitdefender is a popular name in the online security market, primarily known for its robust antivirus solution. However, it also offers an all-around digital identity protection service called Bitdefender Identity Theft Protection.

If you’re an individual (especially a beginner) looking for an easy-to-use, affordable platform, Bitdefender could be the one for you. It helps you actively monitor your online identity, check for known breaches, and manage your financial accounts.

In this article, we will drill down into the various features of Bitdefender Identity Theft Protection, compare it with other products on the market, and examine its user experience. Read on to find out whether Bitdefender Identity Theft Protection is for you.

Bitdefender Identity Theft Protection and Bitdefender Digital Identity Protection are two separate products. This review will examine Bitdefender Identity Theft Protection. For our review of Bitdefender Digital Identity Protection, please click here.

(Image credit: Bitdefender)Bitdefender Identity Theft Protection: Plans and pricing

Bitdefender Identity Theft Protection offers two plans: Standard and Premium. The Standard plan costs $69.99 for a yearly subscription, which boils down to $5.83 per month, making it one of the cheapest identity theft protection solutions on the market. This is also cheaper than Norton LifeLock's entry-level plan, which costs $10.46 per month.

With this plan, you get basic features like breach monitoring, credit reports and score, lost wallet protection, and identity theft insurance up to $1 million, along with one-bureau credit reports and monitoring.

The Premium plan costs $99.99 ($8.33/month). In addition to everything in the Standard plan, you get sex offender registry monitoring, bank, credit card, and investment account monitoring, and an additional $50,000 in ransomware protection and social engineering scams. Along with this, the plan also offers three-bureau credit record monitoring.

Bitdefender Identity Theft Protection: Features

Bitdefender offers a bundled collection of features, ideal for anyone looking for all-around identity monitoring and protection. For starters, there’s a smart SSN tracker, which alerts you if an unfamiliar name or address is associated with your Social Security number.

Then there’s dark web monitoring, which scours thousands of websites, black market chat rooms, and other sources to alert you to any sale of your personal information. You can also access your credit reports and scores from all three credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

There’s also a pretty handy credit score simulator, which helps you plan your finances and see how your future financial decisions may impact your credit score. You are also promptly notified if your personal details are used to apply for new credit, utility payments, or loans.

Much like other platforms, even if you’re unlucky and end up getting your identity compromised, Bitdefender offers restoration services from certified protection experts around the clock. These experts help you with paperwork and legal procedures while actively assisting you through the challenging process of identity restoration.

(Image credit: Bitdefender)

With Bitdefender, you also get up to $2 million in identity theft insurance and an additional $25,000 for ransomware resolution and reimbursement in case you end up losing money due to ransomware attacks during your Bitdefender subscription.

Similarly, there’s a $25,000 social engineering resolution and reimbursement provision, which comes in handy if you fall prey to social engineering scams like phishing and end up incurring financial losses.

The Bitdefender website also lists credit freeze as one of its features. However, I found this to be a bit misleading, since Bitdefender only offers expert assistance with credit freezes. To actually place a credit freeze, you will have to contact the various agencies yourself. In comparison, platforms like Norton LifeLock allow you to instantly freeze your credit from the dashboard itself with a simple toggle button.

Bitdefender also offers a separate Digital Identity Protection product that gives you a 360-degree view of all your personal data. Much like its identity theft protection platform, digital identity protection also scans the public web and dark web for your personal data and sends you instant alerts if it finds any.

Besides this, there are simple one-click actions that help you close gaps in your digital footprint. You also get a graphic digital identity protection score, which tells you how well you are protected against common cybersecurity and identity theft threats.

We would have liked to see these features in the primary identity theft protection suite as well. But sadly, these essential features are missing. If you need them, you’ll have to get both products, but that would increase your total monthly cost to $9.16. Sure, that’s still pretty affordable, but managing two different subscriptions can be inconvenient in practice.

Bitdefender Identity Theft Protection: Interface and in use

In addition to being affordable, it’s nice that Bitdefender is also easy to set up and use. Once you have logged into your account, you will see a sleek and intuitive dashboard with all features suites listed on the left-hand side panel. You need to click on Identity Theft Protection to access all its functions.

Inside that, you'll find options such as Identity Vault, Breach IQ, Alerts, Credits, and Help listed on the top panel. Simply click on any of these options to access your data.

The Bitdefender interface enables you to quickly visualize data and view suggested actions (Image credit: Bitdefender)

For instance, if you click on Credits, you will be able to see your credit score in the center of your dashboard, along with detailed credit summaries including open accounts, credit utilized, and hard inquiries made.

However, the in-use experience is pretty smooth. There are hardly any lags or complicated hidden menus, making the platform very beginner-friendly.

Bitdefender Identity Theft Protection: The competition

Identity Theft Protection’s biggest advantage is its affordable pricing, with plans starting at just $69.99 per year. Even if you’re looking for three-bureau data credit monitoring, you effectively pay only $8.33/month with its annual plan, compared to IdentityForce's $34.90/month or Norton LifeLock's $29.17/month.

That said, I found Bitdefender a bit barebones when it comes to its feature set. Sure, it has everything you need to protect your identity, but it does lack certain advanced features offered by competitors. For instance, Norton LifeLock comes with an automatic data broker removal service, where the platform scans top data brokers and submits periodic opt-out requests so your data is not shared or sold on third-party websites.

Also, while Bitdefender’s identity insurance coverage of $2 million is certainly nothing to sniff at, Norton LifeLock gives you up to $3 million whereas Aura up to $5 million.

Bitdefender Identity Theft Protection: Final verdict

Bitdefender Identity Theft Protection is an ideal choice if you're an individual looking for basic identity protection services. The platform offers everything from social media monitoring, dark web monitoring, and identity breach alerts to credit monitoring and three-bureau credit reports. You also get identity theft protection of up to $1 million with the higher-end plan.

That said, if you're looking for identity theft protection for families, Bitdefender might not be the perfect pick, since it only offers individual plans. In that case, you'll have to look at other alternatives such as Aura or Norton LifeLock. Bitdefender also lacks certain advanced features, such as the ability to manage credit freezes from the dashboard and data broker removal services.

We've listed the best free antivirus.

Allstate Identity Protection is offered and serviced by InfoArmor, Inc. – a subsidiary of The Allstate Corporation – and provides a comprehensive suite of identity protection plans designed to safeguard your personal information and assist in the recovery in the event of identity theft.

It stands out with its proactive approach, providing you with real-time alerts for social media monitoring. If your account is hacked, you receive an immediate notification, enabling you to act swiftly before a small breach becomes a full-blown crisis. But is it the right choice for you? Read on to find out.

Allstate Identity Protection: Plans and pricing

(Image credit: Allstate Identity Protection)

With an understanding that each individual and family has unique needs, Allstate Identity Protection offers both individual and family plans available across several tiers, each tailored with distinct features and pricing to cater to a variety of requirements.

Among the options available, the Essentials Plan is an excellent starting point for individuals and families looking to secure their identities. Typically priced at about $9.99 per month for individuals and $18.99 per month for families, this plan features essential identity monitoring services along with financial fraud protection.

Customers benefit from one-bureau credit monitoring and access to 24/7 full-service remediation support, ensuring help is always available when needed. Additionally, the plan includes lost wallet assistance and significant reimbursement coverage, offering up to $1 million in identity theft expense reimbursement and up to $50,000 in stolen funds reimbursement.

For those seeking enhanced protection, the Premier Plan offers a step up with a monthly cost of around $17.99 for individuals and $34.99 for families. This tier builds upon the Essentials Plan by adding features such as financial account transaction monitoring and social media monitoring, which are crucial in today’s digital landscape. Furthermore, users benefit from stolen tax refund advances and increased coverage for stolen funds reimbursement, which can go up to $500,000, giving families added peace of mind.

The most complete option available is the Blue Plan, usually priced around $19 per month for individuals and $36 per month for families. This comprehensive plan includes family digital safety tools and a cybersecurity toolkit featuring antivirus software and a virtual private network (VPN).

Additional benefits include robocall and ad blockers, three-bureau credit monitoring with credit lock/freeze assistance, and an amplified stolen funds reimbursement of up to $1 million, as well as up to $1 million coverage for stolen 401(k) funds.

All plans share common features designed to provide proactive monitoring and support. Customers receive dedicated 24/7 remediation specialists who can assist with identity theft issues, along with identity theft expense reimbursement and privacy management tools to help individuals maintain control over their personal information.

Besides these tiered plans, there’s a special monthly plan called Identity Restoration, costing $3 per month for individuals and $6 per month for families, designed specifically to help users through the identity restoration process. While this plan does not include any protection or monitoring features, it can assist you with full-service identity restoration if you experience an identity breach. You also get $25k in identity theft coverage with this plan.

One impressive thing about Allstate is that its family plans can cover up to 11 members, including yourself. This means the per-member cost can go as low as $32.73 per year per person, even on its highest-tier plan. Moreover, all the plans except the monthly-only one come with a 30-day free trial, letting you trial the service risk-free before committing.

Allstate Identity Protection: Features

Allstate offers one of the most jaw-dropping collections of features we have seen across the industry. Of course, you get excellent identity monitoring, which thoroughly examines multiple sources across the dark web along with public databases for your Social Security numbers, driver’s licenses, and financial account information.

(Image credit: Allstate Identity Protection)

Additionally, Allstate's wide range of restoration features and insurance offerings reflects the confidence the company has in its own capabilities. While most platforms offer home title and auto title fraud reimbursement, Allstate goes above and beyond by offering stolen tax refund reimbursement, which compensates you if someone files a tax return in your name and claims a refund.

You also get up to $1 million in insurance coverage if funds are stolen from your 401(k) or HSA accounts, as well as reimbursement for fraud involving deceased family members.

In case your identity is breached or you become a victim of a scams, you get full support from Allstate Identity Protection through its Full-Service Identity Restoration service. If identity theft strikes you the company provides a dedicated Privacy Advocate to oversee the complete restoration process. The process involves working with creditors to freeze your credit and resolve any fraudulent accounts that have been opened.

(Image credit: Allstate Identity Protection)

Allstate also offers pretty robust credit monitoring features, including three-bureau credit monitoring on its highest-tier plan. You can access reports from all three bureaus and view your credit scores and trackers directly from the Allstate dashboard.

One particularly impressive feature is the ability to lock your TransUnion credit report with just the click of a button through Allstate. Besides this, you can set transaction alerts on your credit cards and bank accounts, and Allstate will send you a notification every time a transaction exceeding a specified threshold (say, $1,000) is made on your account.

(Image credit: Allstate Identity Protection)

Another impressive Allstate feature is its Digital Footprint, which provides a complete record of your online activity, including the sites you've shopped at and online accounts you've created or forgotten about. This enables you to see where your personal data exists across the web and how different companies use this information. Higher-tier plans also provide as essential features that include Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), password managers, antivirus protection, and browsing safety tools.

(Image credit: Allstate Identity Protection)

Lastly, there's the Family Digital Safety suite, which is included in the Blue plan and offers features like web filtering, screen-time management, and location tracking for family protection. Parents can use these features to detect cyberbullying and block inappropriate content and websites. They can also set screen-time limits for their children and monitor their location in real time.

Allstate Identity Protection: Interface

(Image credit: Allstate Identity Protection)

We hope you have a strong appreciation for the color blue, as Allstate Identity Protection prominently features a deep, calming shade of blue on both their website and mobile app.

The interface adopts a no-frills approach, reminiscent of TurboTax, prioritizing straightforward navigation over elaborate design. Users will find essential categories such as Digital Footprint, Credit Monitoring, Dark Web Monitoring, Financial Transactions, and Social Media Monitoring are clearly laid out on the left panel of the dashboard, making the platform easy to navigate and the most important features easy to access.

Allstate also offers mobile apps for both Android and iOS. While they are great for quickly accessing the dashboard and checking various alerts, these apps offer limited options for editing information within Allstate. We also noticed that updates for these apps are not very frequent, which may raise some security concerns.

For this reason, we recommend primarily using Allstate's web interface to manage your identity monitoring needs. Overall, while Allstate Identity Protection has a solid foundation, enhancing the user experience with more intuitive design elements and interactive tutorials could make it an even more valuable tool for safeguarding personal identity.

Allstate Identity Protection: The competition

Allstate offers one of the most affordable identity protection plans considering the vast range of features included. Even its highest-tier plan costs only $190 per year, which comes to around $15.83 per month.

Its most direct competitor would be Aura, which offers similar parental control features such as content filtering and screen-time limits, along with identity theft and credit monitoring features. Aura's bundled plans start at $12 per month and offer features comparable to Allstate.

One advantage of Allstate, however, is that it allows up to 11 individuals on its family plan, whereas Aura only allows up to five adults along with unlimited children. Aura does, however, provide a more comprehensive data removal service, scanning more than 200 data broker sites and submitting removal requests on your behalf. Additionally, its identity theft insurance goes up to $5 million, one of the highest coverage amounts in the industry.

Just as Allstate allows you to lock your credit directly with TransUnion, IdentityWorks allows you to do the same with Experian. The latter also offers comprehensive credit monitoring features such as a daily Experian FICO score tracker and quarterly three-bureau credit reports and FICO scores. That said, IdentityWorks is slightly on the expensive side, with plans starting at $24.99 per month.

If you're looking for something more affordable, you could consider Norton LifeLock, where plans start as low as $10.42 per month for individuals. It offers a good mix of two-bureau credit monitoring, one-bureau monthly credit reports and scores, along with direct assistance from identity restoration specialists.

Allstate Identity Protection: Final verdict

If you're someone who needs a comprehensive security suite instead of just an identity theft protection platform and also doesn't want to burn a hole in your pocket, Allstate is one of the best options you can choose. Its highest-tier individual plan costs only $190 per year, which comes to less than $16 per month. If you want to protect more than one family member, its highest-tier family plan costs only $360 per year and allows you to add up to 11 members. This brings the per-member cost down to around $32.73 per year.

At this price, you get comprehensive credit monitoring, identity monitoring, full-service identity restoration, up to $1 million in identity theft coverage, along with an additional $1 million in stolen funds reimbursement and 401(k)/HSA reimbursement. Additionally, there are several useful privacy management features such as Digital Footprint monitoring, ad blockers, scam alerts, and cybersecurity tools such as a VPN, password manager, antivirus protection, firewall, and webcam protection.

The list doesn't end there. There are also family digital safety tools that allow you to block malicious or harmful websites for your children and manage their screen time. All in all, Allstate offers one of the densest collections of features we have seen in the industry. However, if you're looking for something lighter and not as feature-packed as Allstate, platforms like Norton LifeLock and McAfee+ may offer better value for money.

We've also highlighted the best identity theft protection

The dangers of identity theft are no longer a distant worry; they have become a salient threat that looms over individuals and families as digital footprints continue to grow. This is why you need a dedicated identity theft protection platform to safeguard your identity online.

One such popular provider is IDShield, offering capable identity protection through active breach alerts, as well as comprehensive social media and dark web monitoring. It even offers plans bundled with a VPN and password manager. In this article, we put IDShield to the test and examine its features, pricing, and interface while also comparing it with other similar tools on the market.

Read on till the end to find out whether IDShield is the ideal identity theft protection solution for your needs.

IDShield: Plans and pricing

(Image credit: IDShield)

IDShield pricing varies primarily based on whether you opt for one-bureau or three-bureau credit monitoring.

For individuals, plans typically start around $14.95 per month for one-bureau credit monitoring (usually Experian). If you want more comprehensive credit oversight, the three-bureau option (monitoring Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax) is available for approximately $19.95 per month.

For families, IDShield provides coverage for two adults and eligible dependent children under 18 living in the same household. A one-bureau family plan typically costs around $29.95 per month, while the three-bureau family plan is approximately $34.95 per month.

What we like most about this pricing structure is that you get all the features IDShield has to offer, even with its basic Individual and Family plans. The only point of difference is the number of credit bureaus that track your credit score and financial accounts. So, if you’re someone with limited financial exposure but need a feature-rich identity protection plan, IDShield is a good choice.

This is much cheaper than Identity Force, where you have to pay $34.90/month for credit monitoring. That said, IDShield’s three-bureau credit monitoring is still more expensive than Bitdefender’s Identity Theft Protection plan, which effectively costs only $8.33/month.

IDShield: Features

IDShield has one of the most comprehensive feature sets we have seen across identity theft protection platforms. For starters, you get all the usual protection features, such as Social Security number monitoring, dark web monitoring, and social media monitoring.

Along with this, there are some niche features such as court record monitoring, which scans legal databases to alert you to any criminal identity theft, and address change monitoring, which scans the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) National Change of Address database and alerts you if any change-of-address request is filed in your name.

Besides monitoring your identity, IDShield also does a good job of keeping tabs on your finances with continuous credit monitoring and a monthly updated credit score tracker. IDShield also instantly alerts you whenever a financial institution makes a hard credit inquiry.

(Image credit: IDShield)

The platform also offers a pretty interesting financial threshold monitoring feature, which lets you set alerts on a financial account for large credit card purchases, low account balances, and unusually large withdrawals. There's also a pretty nifty payday loan monitoring feature, which tells you if a scammer tries to secure a payday loan using your identity.

(Image credit: IDShield)

One of the best features of IDShield is its 24/7 emergency assistance from dedicated licensed private investigators who work closely with you to help restore your identity in the event of identity theft. Additionally, there's also $3 million in reimbursement for unrecovered costs and losses incurred due to any identity theft that takes place during your subscription period.

The kicker is the complementary cybersecurity and device protection features that IDShield offers. This includes a VPN, password manager, and malware and antivirus protection. All these features are offered in partnership with Trend Micro. However, we found these add-ons to be quite limited during our testing.

For instance, you can only connect to 30+ VPN locations using the VPN, which also lacks essential features like a kill switch. The password manager lacks password inheritance and secure sharing, and it marked weak passwords as strong in some instances. Competitors like Norton LifeLock and Bitdefender also offer such bundled packages and perform better than IDShield.

IDShield also offers a pretty unique reputation management dashboard, which lets you improve your online reputation by cleaning up social media posts and comments and improving your Google search results. For starters, you'll see a reputation score on a color-coded semicircle graph out of 1,000. Below this, you'll see various suggested actions you can take to improve this score.

(Image credit: IDShield)

You can review each of the scanned results and mark them as positive or negative. Of course, you'll need to connect your various social media accounts, such as X, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. Although a niche feature, this might come in handy for influencers or public figures who are trying to build a personal brand.

IDShield: Interface and in-use

IDShield’s dashboard is pretty simple and easy to navigate. You'll see a list of options on the left: Home, Credit Security, Inbox, and Accounts. The Home dashboard displays your credit score at the top on a color-coded scale, followed by all your recent identity and credit monitoring alerts.

If you want to use the security suite that comes with IDShield, you’ll have to go through a separate installation and setup process for Trend Micro Maximum Security. You only get the license key with IDShield’s subscription. The same is true for the included VPN and password manager tools.

IDShield: Support

IDShield offers multiple support channels to ensure timely and convenient assistance.

For immediate assistance, customers can call IDShield's dedicated phone support line at 1-888-494-8519, available from Monday through Friday, from 7 AM to 7 PM Central Standard Time (CST). IDShield also offers email support along with a live chat option for customers who prefer real-time assistance.

In addition to these support channels, IDShield also provides a comprehensive knowledge base and frequently asked questions (FAQs) section on their website. Customers can find answers to common questions, troubleshooting tips, and other resources without contacting support directly.

IDShield: The competition

IDShield is a pretty attractive identity theft protection platform, even given its affordable starting price of $14.95 per month. That said, it does not offer the best value for money, even at this price point.

Take Norton LifeLock, for example. While you have to pay $19.95 per month with IDShield for three-bureau credit reports, the same is available for just $16.67 per month with LifeLock. Besides this, you also get new AI protection features such as Card Exposure Control and Suspicious Charge Alerts.

While IDShield promotes its bundled security suite, VPN, and password manager, they don’t perform as well as some other bundles on the market. LifeLock, for instance, offers protection and a VPN for five devices, along with identity insurance and breach alerts, for just $8.33/month, offering better value for money.

Similarly, Bitdefender’s bundled plans start at $89.99/year ($7.50/month), offering a VPN with 3,000+ servers, a password manager, an ad blocker, and essential identity theft protection.

IDShield: Final verdict

You should choose IDShield if you're looking purely for an identity theft protection platform. It has all the important features, such as breach alerts, dark web and social media protection, along with identity restoration services. At just $19.95 per month, you can get three-bureau credit monitoring along with everything the platform has to offer, with nothing hidden behind paywalls.

That said, if you're tempted by IDShield's bundled offering of a VPN, password manager, and security features, there are better value-for-money options available. You could look at Norton LifeLock or Bitdefender's bundled plans for all-round protection, both of which cost less than IDShield.

Take a look at our full guide to the best identity theft protection

The regional crossfire raised the risks that an interim agreement to halt fighting in the war could break down, putting the Middle East again at risk of a wider conflict.

(Image credit: Hadi Mizban)

Smart home security cameras are nothing new. They’ve been protecting Australian homes for well over a decade now, but for a long time I never felt the need for them. This was predominantly because for the majority of my adult life living away from home, I’ve been in rented accommodation, and so I’ve either been unable to install anything of my own, or I’ve been on an upper floor of an apartment building.

I’m now living in a ground floor apartment with my partner, and we’re the owners. That means we’re free to install cameras as we see fit, and so we decided to place an old Ring Outdoor Stick-Up Cam above our front door, mainly as a ‘just in case’ safeguard.

I’m now glad we did, and I’ve just invested in some newer Blink Outdoor 2K+ cameras with clearer vision following an attempted break in. The good news is they weren’t expensive, with a 2-pack currently costing AU$77 in the Amazon Prime Day sales.

I never thought my home would experience an attempted break in, and there’s a chance you’ve had the same thought. For such a low price right now, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

• Follow our live coverage of the best Prime Day 2026 deals, many of which ship to New Zealand as well

These affordable Blink cameras last up to two years with 2 AA batteries, can record colour vision at night and can be installed practically anywhere via a range of mounting accessories. You do need to pay a subscription to view and store footage, but it could be a small price to pay to keep your home safe. View Deal

So, why have I made the impulsive decision to invest more heavily in home security? Well, my partner noticed the street-facing gate to our courtyard left ajar in the early hours of the morning. He suspected I just hadn’t closed it properly when we came home the night before.

Wanting to exonerate myself, we checked back over the footage taken by our Ring camera, which proved my innocence. We noticed more events were recorded around 1am, and sure enough, the Ring captured two youths climbing over the wall in the wee hours of the morning.

To say we were gobsmacked would be an understatement.

Fortunately nothing was stolen and they didn’t manage to get into our home — despite some clear hand prints on the glass door proving they peered in to see if there was anything worth nabbing.

Unfortunately, the Ring camera missed the activity by our door because it was only covering the front yard and fence area. I therefore now want to install more cameras in our outdoor area to ensure there are no blind spots, and the Blink cameras seem perfect for the job.

(Image credit: Future)

Our Blink Outdoor Cam 2K+ review found that recorded footage is clear and sharp, even at night. Perhaps the biggest selling point for me is the two-year battery life with two AA batteries. The Ring camera I have right now relies on a rechargeable battery that needs to be recharged frequently.

The biggest drawback, however, is a new Sync Module Core that requires a paid subscription to store and view back footage. It’s crazy that you need to pay to use the camera you just bought, but hey, it’s 2026. A subscription costs from AU$4.95p/m for one device, or AU$15p/m for unlimited devices. Since I’ve bought two Blink cameras, I’ll need the latter.

Fortunately, the older Sync Module 2 is still available and is compatible with the newer Blink cameras. With this module, you can attach a USB flash drive to store footage on, bypassing the need for a subscription. Based on the AU$15 Blink Plus subscription, I’d make my money back in just under four months.

However, the subscription does also open up extra features, including AI motion detection — you’ll receive notifications only when it detects specific things such as animals or vehicles.

At just AU$77 in the current Prime Day sales, I was more than happy to add the Blink Outdoor Cam 2K+ to my basket. There are many other options to choose from of course, many of which are also on sale right now. I’ve listed a few below, and be sure to check out our guide to the best home security cameras and best video doorbells for total home protection.

• Ring Floodlight Camera Pro (2nd Gen): was AU$449 now AU$329
• Ring Spotlight Camera Pro (2nd Gen): was AU$399 now AU$279
• Blink Outdoor Floodlight Camera Kit: was AU$119 now AU$49

Protecting your digital identity has become increasingly important. With the rise of sophisticated cyber threats, such as phishing scams, identity theft, and data breaches, choosing a robust identity protection service is essential for safeguarding your personal information.

One such popular tool is McAfee identity protection, offering real-time identity breach alerts, recovery support, and a user-friendly interface. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the platform, examining its key features, effectiveness in preventing identity theft, and overall value for consumers.

Additionally, we'll explore how McAfee+ compares with other identity protection services on the market. By the end of this review, you'll have a clearer understanding of whether McAfee Identity Protection is the right solution for securing your sensitive personal information.

McAfee+: Plans and pricing

McAfee does not offer a separate identity theft monitoring plan. Instead, you get a complete suite of protection and security tools. Plans start at $29.99 for the first year for the Basic plan, which covers protection for one device.

From an identity protection point of view, this plan only includes identity monitoring and alert features, which scan for your personal information on the dark web and send you real-time alerts. Additionally, you get a Scam Detector, an award-winning antivirus, a secure VPN, and comprehensive web protection. It's worth noting that these features are available with all of McAfee’s bundled plans.

(Image credit: McAfee)

The identity monitoring features remain fairly limited even in the Premium plan, which costs $49.99 for the first year for individuals and $69.99 for the first year for families covering up to six members. In addition to identity monitoring and alerts, this plan also helps you identify websites that sell your personal information and alerts you so that you can request its removal.

However, we found McAfee’s Advanced plan to offer the best value for money if you are looking purely for identity protection features. It's priced at $89.99 for individuals and $119.99 for the first year for families (up to six members). This is the first plan that offers credit monitoring from one bureau, along with monthly credit scores and reports. You also get up to $1 million in identity theft coverage and identity restoration support. Preventive features such as Security Freeze and Credit Lock are also included in the plan.

(Image credit: McAfee)

Lastly, there’s the Ultimate plan, priced at $199.99 for the first year for individuals and $249.99 for the first year for families (up to six members). In addition to every identity monitoring feature included in the Advanced plan, you also get bank account takeover monitoring, payday loan monitoring, and ransomware coverage of up to $25,000.

Credit monitoring is also more comprehensive in this plan, covering all three bureaus along with daily credit scores and reports, as well as increased identity theft coverage of up to $2 million.

McAfee+: Features

Let’s first talk about McAfee’s Identity Protection solutions, since that’s what you’re here for. For starters, you get identity monitoring and alerts, which cover more than 60 types of personal information across all of its plans, which is a big plus. Besides this, I found McAfee’s identity protection features limited but sufficient for personal and family needs.

(Image credit: McAfee)

In addition to alerts, McAfee offers credit monitoring from all three bureaus and daily credit reports, depending on the plan you choose. You can also get identity theft coverage of up to $2 million, along with dedicated restoration support from licensed experts in case your personal data or identity gets stolen. Real-time alerts for credit card and bank account transactions, along with active bank account takeover monitoring, are also included.

(Image credit: McAfee)

Now, besides identity protection features, McAfee also offers a pretty handy Protection Score, which gives you a numeric score out of 1,000 reflecting how protected you are against online security and cybersecurity threats. This score takes into account various factors such as viruses or malware on your devices, web protection in your browser, Wi-Fi threats, leaked personal data found in data breaches, and more. The higher the score, the better your online security posture.

(Image credit: McAfee)

Some other handy McAfee+ features include:

Antivirus and Antimalware: McAfee+ provides real-time protection against viruses, malware, spyware, ransomware, and other malicious threats. It scans your system to detect potential threats, preventing them from causing harm. Unlike many online identity protection suites, this feature is essential for personal security.

Firewall Protection: A built-in firewall monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic, protecting your device from unauthorized access and blocking suspicious connections.

Web Protection: This feature helps safeguard your online activities by blocking malicious websites, phishing attempts, and dangerous downloads. It also scans email attachments and instant messages for potential threats, making it especially useful for children online.

Identity Theft Protection: McAfee+ helps protect your personal information from being compromised by monitoring potential identity theft risks. This may include features like credit monitoring, social security number tracking, and alerts for suspicious activity. McAfee’s Identity Theft Protection service monitors over 40 data broker sites to identify whether your personal information has been compromised.

Safe Browsing: McAfee+ provides secure browsing extensions or plugins for popular web browsers. These tools warn you about unsafe websites in search results and block harmful ads or pop-ups.

Credit Monitoring: Depending on the selected plan, credit bureau monitoring looks for threats to your identity and monitors the Dark Web for associated risks.

Password Manager: This unique tool securely stores your login credentials and assists in creating strong, unique passwords for each website or application you use.

Secure VPN: McAfee+ includes a virtual private network (VPN) feature that encrypts your internet connection and anonymizes your online activities, adding an extra layer of privacy and security.

System Optimization Tools: McAfee+ also offers system optimization tools to improve your device’s performance by cleaning up unnecessary files, managing startup programs, and optimizing system settings.

Parental Controls: McAfee+ products include parental control features that allow you to monitor and restrict your child's online activities, block inappropriate content, and set usage time limits.

McAfee+: Interface and in-use

(Image credit: McAfee)

The McAfee+ interface is pretty similar to McAfee’s other programs. You’ll first need to activate your registration code and sign in to your McAfee online account. On the main dashboard, you will see various shortcuts such as Scam Detector, a Secure VPN button that you can toggle on or off directly from the dashboard, Identity Monitoring, and Personal Data Cleanup.

On the left-hand side, there’s a rail menu listing all the features available with McAfee+, divided into five categories: Scam Detector, Identity, Privacy, Web, and Device. Upon clicking any of the features in this section, you’ll see a dedicated dashboard for that feature. For instance, if you click on Credit Monitoring, you will see your credit score on a color-coded semicircle graph along with your credit reports.

Overall, the platform is pretty easy to use. You’ll need to play around with the options for a few hours to get the hang of it, but there’s no steep learning curve or anything overly technical about using McAfee+.

McAfee+: Support

As would be expected from a veteran provider, McAfee offers numerous methods for support. On the direct side, there's 24/7 phone support along with a 24/7 virtual assistant, and we did find a chat to a real person available for English speaking countries (and 9am to 6 pm on business days for the rest of the world).

There’s also a dedicated Countries and Phone Numbers button, which, when clicked, shows you a detailed list of phone numbers in various countries along with their operating hours. However, we did not find an email address or a support portal as alternative methods for direct contact.

There are some options on the self support as well. I found a Support Home page, with a search bar, which had jump offs to YouTube videos, a FAQ, and related articles. There are also links to McAfee social media sites, including a Twitter feed that is active with recent updates.

McAfee+: Competition

Since McAfee+ isn’t a standalone identity theft protection platform, we’ll need to compare it with similar providers offering bundled plans. Two of the main competitors are Bitdefender and Norton LifeLock.

Bitdefender also offers Ultimate Security plans, which start at $89.99 per year. Much like McAfee+, these plans include device security features such as antivirus and scam protection, along with privacy features such as a password manager and unlimited VPN traffic.

However, we found McAfee+ to deliver better value when it comes to identity protection features. For instance, at the same price of $89.99 per year, you get McAfee’s Advanced plan, which includes credit monitoring from one bureau along with monthly reports. You’ll need to spend at least $119.99 per year with Bitdefender to get single-bureau credit monitoring.

Norton, however, is more comparable to McAfee+ when it comes to features. You get protection for up to 10 PCs, Macs, tablets, or phones across all plans. Even with the base plan, you get up to $25,000 in reimbursement for stolen funds, along with other identity management features such as real-time alerts, dark web monitoring, and stolen wallet protection. Of course, there’s also a VPN, password manager, and antivirus included.

That said, Norton’s packages are quite expensive compared to McAfee+, with its base plan starting at $99.99 for the first year. The Advantage plan costs $199.99 for the first year and adds features such as Identity Lock and bank and credit card alerts. Although the features are robust, the cost outweighs the benefits for many users.

McAfee+: Final verdict

To put it in a nutshell, if you’re looking for a packaged, all-around online security solution that also includes identity theft protection, then there’s hardly any looking past McAfee+.

The platform offers some of the best value for money when it comes to bundling identity theft features with a robust antivirus, secure VPN, and password manager. You get up to $2 million in identity theft insurance, along with real-time transaction alerts and access to McAfee’s proprietary Protection Score, which tells you how well protected you are against online cybersecurity threats.

That said, if you are looking only for identity theft protection features without the bundled security suite, you’ll need to consider other platforms such as Norton LifeLock, Aura, IDShield, or IdentityForce.

We've featured the best internet security suites

• Polish billionaire Michał Sołowow's SGE announces £35bn plan to build 14 GE Vernova Hitachi BWRX-300 reactors across three UK sites
• The project aims to deliver 4.2GW of power starting in 2034, effectively powering 8m homes for over 60 years
• The project is looking to secure government backing, with guaranteed prices intended to be locked in for the power producer before it would be offered to investors

Small modular nuclear reactors seem to be back in favor globally, and a consortium of investors is now looking to bring the technology back to the UK as part of a push to both meet environmental goals and increase energy security in an increasingly volatile world.

Poland-based SGE (Synthos Green Energy) is looking to build up to 14 reactors across three locations in the UK, with six at its primary site and four each at its two secondary sites.

With an estimated build-out cost of £35 billion ($46.5 billion), the project, if approved, is expected to be one of the biggest SMR projects the UK government signs on to as part of its Advanced Nuclear Framework, unveiled earlier this year, to support the development of privately funded projects.

A sign of things to come?

Unlike more monolithic nuclear reactor designs, Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) have not only a lower power footprint but also a smaller overall site footprint than older, larger reactors.

The first disclosed site for SME's project, Oldbury in South Gloucestershire, is a former Magnox nuclear station that generated up to 434MW of power, is now expected to be home to as many as six 300W SMRs, according to SGE's plans.

While the other two sites are not yet publicly named, they are expected to have a 4+4 reactor split, bringing the total to 14 reactors.

Part of the reason the UK government is interested in outsourcing power generation, even nuclear, to private equity is that it expects a spike in power demand from AI datacenters over the next few years, even as the nation's overall power needs increase.

This is also why Google Cloud, a key AI data center player, has joined in on SME's project as a strategic partner that could, as per Michał Sołowow, invest as much as £4.5 billion in data centers in the country to make use of some of the added capacity.

Given that both SMRs (including the proposed GE Vernova Hitachi BWRX-300) and data centers require access to water and space for construction, one can assume that both will prefer cheap, easily accessible coastal, estuarine, or riverside land, which means that the UK's countryside could soon see certain areas change meaningfully in terms of aesthetics at the very least.

Smaller rivers, however, might not cut it, as SMRs also require the water bodies they use to act as 'heatsinks' for their operation, and 6 or 4 in the same location might overwhelm them, limiting the number of areas that are viable for such buildouts, which means that SME's proposed project might set the baseline for how privatized nuclear power will shape the UK countryside in the days to come even as AI data center demand is expected to increase pressure on the national grid.

For now, SME's proposal has yet to be approved by the government, making the £35 billion figure an estimate that may or may not apply, given that it still needs to secure financing and lock in government guarantees on pricing before it moves meaningfully towards construction.

Samsung’s next big event will be in London on July 22. Here’s how to watch the reveal of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and everything else.

I know a frozen-treat machine isn't the most obvious thing to buy in the middle of winter, but Amazon's Prime Day sale has dropped both the Ninja Creami Deluxe and Ninja Slushi to all-time low prices.

That makes these two deals a lot more tempting than they have any right to be in July, especially if you want to get ahead before summer or you just like ice cream, frozen drinks and weekend entertaining year-round.

The Slushi is the one I can speak to personally. I bought mine on June 3 last year for AU$424.15, which was the lowest price I'd seen at the time, and I've since made hundreds of frozen drinks with it across summer and winter.

The Creami Deluxe is the one I’d consider first if you’re more interested in ice cream than drinks. With the Deluxe version now at an all-time low, splurging feels a lot easier to justify, and I’m tempted to grab one myself.

All the deals below are Exclusive Prime prices, so if you don't have a membership already, sign up now and get a 30-day free trial that you can cancel at any time.

Our Ninja Creami review found that the machine could make impressively smooth frozen treats, with plenty of room to experiment with ingredients. Price was one of the main drawbacks at the time, but that's no longer an issue with the Deluxe model at an all-time low for Prime Day.View Deal

I’ve owned the Ninja Slushi for a year and it’s been used almost every day since. Our Ninja Slushi review gave it four stars because it does exactly what it promises: frozen drinks at home with very little stress. I frequently bring it to parties because it’s always a big hit, and I've even run it from a portable power station at the park!View Deal

Ninja products tend to attract a lot of attention, and the Slushi is one of the few that I think mostly deserves it. While you might assume one of the best blenders could do a similar job, it really can’t.

A blender crushes ice into a drink, which usually waters it down. The Slushi chills and churns the liquid itself, so the texture is much closer to a proper frozen drink.

The useful bit is Ninja’s RapidChill technology, which keeps the liquid moving while it freezes. Chilling your drink first can speed things up, but I usually find the Slushi is ready in under 30 minutes, and then it will keep it icy for as long as you need.

That's important at parties, because people can keep coming back for refills without the mix turning into a block of ice or melting into a watery mess.

(Image credit: Danielle Abraham)

The main caveat is that the drinks need sugar to freeze properly. The machine will alert you if the sugar level is too low, so completely sugar-free drinks are not really the point here.

You also need to be careful with alcohol, because too much will stop the mixture from freezing. In practice, I’ve found it works best when you treat recipes as a starting point and adjust them after a batch or two.

Frozen cocktails are the obvious use, but spiced winter drinks that would normally be served hot are surprisingly fun as slushies, too.

At this all-time low Prime Day price, it’s much easier to recommend, and it gives you plenty of time to master a few recipes before the weather warms up again.

More Amazon Prime Day deals in Australia

• All the best Amazon Prime Day 2026 deals
• Best Prime Day deals under AU$100
• Best Prime Day vacuum cleaner deals
• Best Prime Day headphone deals
• Best Prime Day Apple deals
• Best Prime Day Garmin deals
• Best Prime Day coffee machine deals

More Prime Day Ninja deals

This compact Ninja air fryer is a good fit if you're tight on cash or bench space. Its 4.7L single basket should suit one or two people, and the four presets keep things simple if you're still getting used to air frying. The drawer is dishwasher safe too, which makes cleanup easier after quick weeknight meals.View Deal

We haven't tested this exact model, but it's a well-rated Ninja blender with a 1000W motor, which should be plenty for smoothies, dips, sauces and acai bowls. The auto-iQ presets and simple four-button setup are the main appeal here, especially if you want something more capable than a basic personal blender without spending too much.View Deal

The smaller Ninja Crispi is a neat option if you like the idea of air frying in glass, rather than a standard non-stick drawer. It uses two borosilicate glass containers that work as both cooking baskets and serving dishes, and they can handle big temperature changes, so you can take food from frozen to crisp without swapping containers. It also comes with removable crisping grates and snap-on lids for storing leftovers.View Deal

This DoubleStack model earned a spot in our best air fryers guide, with our reviewer calling it the "air fryer of my dreams". The big difference is the stacked design, which gives you two drawers without taking up as much bench width as a traditional side-by-side model. Just be aware that each drawer is 4.75L, so very large pieces of food may still need a bit of planning.View Deal

This is the Ninja air fryer to look at if normal drawer capacities feel too limiting. The 10L basket can work as one large cooking zone or split into two smaller zones with the divider, which makes it useful for larger dinners or cooking two foods at once. It will take up a fair bit of bench space, but the flexibility is the main reason to consider it.View Deal

The Ninja Crispi Pro is now at an all-time low on Amazon, which makes this larger glass air fryer a lot more appealing. In our Ninja Crispi Pro review, our tester said “all the food I made came out well”, and liked its flexible glass containers that can be used for cooking, serving and storing leftovers. It still needs a fair bit of storage space, but at this price, it’s a very tempting option for families or anyone who wants more than a basic drawer-style air fryer. View Deal

The Ninja Luxe Café Premier is a 3-in-1 coffee machine that can make espresso, drip coffee and fast cold brew. Its Barista Assist technology, integrated grinder and weight-based dosing give it a lot of flexibility for the price, especially if you want one machine that can handle different coffee styles. View Deal

The Apple AirTag is, for iPhone owners, one of the simplest trackers to use. Pairing couldn’t be easier, and once you do have it connected, it then lives in the Find My app. You can name it, give it an emoji and easily see where it is on a map.

I’ve had first-hand experience of just how valuable they can be after losing my keys on a late-night walk home (albeit after a fair few drinks). I was able to open the Find My app the next morning and see exactly where my keys and I had become separated. A short walk back to the scene of the crime and I was reunited.

And that’s with the original AirTag. The AirTag 2 comes with better features and while I wouldn’t recommend an upgrade if you already use the OG, the second-gen model can be a stress reliever. Right now, for Amazon Prime Day, you can get the Apple AirTag 2 with up to 21% off. It’s available as a single unit or a four-pack, with the latter offering arguably greater value.

• Follow our live coverage of the best Prime Day 2026 deals, many of which ship to New Zealand as well

Amazon has slashed the price of the 4-pack, resulting in each AirTag costing AU$32.75 each — less than the AU$39 you’d need to pay for a discounted single unit. You can attach them to keys, throw them in a suitcase, even strap one to your dog. You’ll wonder how you ever went without them. View Deal

As I mentioned, I own the first-generation AirTag, and it works a treat. The second-generation, launched at the start of 2026, offers some notable upgrades that make it even more findable.

Said upgrades include a second-generation ultra-wideband (UWB) chip that enables precise AirTag finding from up to 50% farther away than the previous tracker. You will, however, need an iPhone 15 or newer to take advantage of this feature. If you have an older iPhone, you’ll still get the new precision finding feature, but range is limited to around nine metres or 30 feet.

The other notable upgrade is a speaker that’s 50% louder than the previous version, which will help reunite you with items you may have lost around your home much easier.

Fortunately, Apple kept the battery the same. This means it’s user-replaceable, as it accepts a CR2032 battery. I’ve owned the first-gen trackers for almost three years, and I’ve only replaced the battery in the one I use most (on my house keys) twice. Other trackers that have laid dormant still have their first battery inside and I can see them on the Find My app.

As Apple tech goes, the AirTag 2 could be considered affordable even at full price, but thankfully these Prime Day discounts make them even more accessible.

And to make them even more useful, be sure to check out the various accessories available, including key rings, straps, wallets and more.

I hear people all too often tell me that they prefer physical printed books because they like the feel of the paper, the sound of the pages turning, the smell from the ink... Well, if that's what you're focusing on, you really aren't reading, are you? All those should be superfluous if you're deep into a good story.

And given the convenience of an ereader — portable tablet with thousands of titles stored locally, Bluetooth connectivity for audiobooks, the cheaper cost of ebooks, no need for bookshelves that require dusting — you can't convince me that buying one of the best Kindles isn't a good investment.

That's especially true right now since Amazon's Prime Day 2026 sale has seen prices tumble to record lows. In fact, they're even cheaper now than they were on day one of the sale, which has never happened and I've covered every single Amazon sale in Australia since the online retail giant arrived Down Under in 2017.

All the Australian prices listed below are exclusive to Prime members though, so be sure you have a subscription before buying. If you don't, you can sign up now and get a 30-day free trial as a first-time customer, which will cover the entire Prime Day sale. You can cancel any time.

All the Kindle Prime Day deals listed below ship to New Zealand at no additional cost, so do not miss this chance.

With Amazon having ended support for some of its older Kindles, now is a very good time to upgrade or get your first ereader. They even make thoughtful gifts...

• For more deals and discounts, follow my live coverage of the Amazon Prime Day 2026 sale, with offers up to 85% off

Best Prime Day Kindle deals

I love the Matcha Green more than the usual black variant, but if you're looking for the smallest and cheapest Kindle, this is it. You get a 6-inch screen that is an older generation E Ink Carta 1200, but still does a splendid job of displaying text. There's the standard 16GB of storage but Kindle OS takes up a fair chunk of that, so keep in mind you'll only have about 10GB of usable storage here.
(NZ$146.36 with free shipping to New Zealand)View Deal

The 2024 Paperwhite remains one of the best Kindles you can get. Its E Ink Carta 1300 screen is fantastic, page turns are quick and we gave it 4 stars in our review. My only complaint is the same as with the Kindle above — which is a significant chunk of its 16GB storage is taken up by the OS, which isn't really a deal breaker.
If you have the extra cash, the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition will get you double the storage for AU$249 (24% off).
(NZ$246.73 and NZ$265.18 respectively for the Paperwhite and the Signature Edition)View Deal

The Kindle Colorsoft is one of the best ereaders with a colour display, even offering a feature to make the hues more vivid. While I wouldn't recommend at full price because colour E Ink just isn't there yet, this discount sweetens it for anyone who is sold on the Colorsoft hype (and there's nothing wrong with that).
If you'd like more storage than the 16GB version, the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition is also 27% off to AU$326.
(NZ$276 and NZ$340.81 respectively for the standard and the Signature Edition)View Deal

Kindles are known for their reading capabilities, but with the Kindle Scribe, you get that and a whole lot more. With a wide range of writing features, you can take notes, create sketches and brainstorm like a pro. I love its 10.2-inch glare-free screen with an ambient light sensor, and it's battery life is excellent too. It's now the previous-gen model, but arguably better value than the 2025 3rd-gen release.
(NZ$443.27 with free delivery to New Zealand)View Deal

• DeepSeek connected a theoretical browser flaw to a working attack chain
• The ransomware sample targets Android's photo folder through a fake permission prompt
• Check Point classified 1,383 DeepSeek-linked files as malicious or dangerous

A Chinese AI model accidentally stumbled into a working ransomware technique while trying to satisfy an unrealistic, broad prompt.

New findings from Check Point Research say the DeepSeek-generated sample connected a theoretical browser risk to a functioning attack method, requiring no exploit, no app installation, and no real technical skill from the attacker.

It targets Android's photo storage through a legitimate browser feature called the File System Access API, disguised as a simple AI photo-enhancing tool.

How the attack actually works

The technique abuses Android's DCIM folder, which typically holds years of personal photos, scanned identification documents, and banking screenshots.

Victims grant access through a single permission prompt disguised as an AI-powered photo enhancer, unaware they are handing over control of an entire directory.

Check Point's dataset included nearly 3,000 files attributed to DeepSeek, and researchers classified 1,383 of them as malicious or dangerous using VirusTotal and static analysis methods.

The team found a sample implementing a dangerous browser-native technique which has never been observed before in real-world attacks.

The sample, nicknamed InfernoGrabber 9000, was incomplete, yet testing showed it required little additional effort to become fully functional.

“Very little effort is needed. Low-level expertise is sufficient. You don't need to be a sophisticated cybercriminal or advanced persistent threat group,” said Pedro Drimel Neto, malware analysis team leader at Check Point

“In fact, we've already observed evidence of actual threat actors attempting this attack using straightforward LLM prompts.”

Why this marks a turning point

"What we are witnessing is a fundamental shift in how novel cyber attacks are born. For the first time, we have evidence that an AI model can independently reason across legitimate platform features," said Eli Smadja, Head of Research at Check Point

This represents a major shift in how novel cyber-attacks are discovered and developed.

However, the underlying browser risk is not entirely new. A 2023 USENIX Security paper examined how the File System Access API could theoretically enable ransomware.

What changed, according to Check Point, is that DeepSeek connected these previously theoretical ideas into a realistic, working attack chain without human guidance.

When researchers tested the same concept using the latest DeepSeek V4 model, it refused direct ransomware requests but complied once explicit terms were removed.

Comparable testing against other LLMs produced only refusals or heavily constrained, browser-safe implementations lacking the same file-access capability.

Check Point ultimately built a working proof of concept, successfully encrypting photos on Android devices running Chrome 148, confirming the danger extends well beyond a single flawed sample.

Organizations embedding AI into their workflows must now treat every browser permission prompt as a genuine security decision rather than a routine click.

Millions of low-cost, off-brand Android devices were hijacked to help criminals hide online.

• Dire Straits' keyboardist/producer Guy Fletcher post about mixing their albums in Dolby Atmos
• He says immersive mixing of the original recording sessions is "quite addictive" and often very emotional
• 3D audio can reveal details that were previously buried when engineering for stereo

One of the things I love most about audio technology is how it can reveal things you've never heard before either because they were buried in the mix or because your setup, speakers or headphones weren't delivering all the detail.

And according to Dire Straits' keyboardist and producer Guy Fletcher, Dolby Atmos is delivering revelation after revelation not just to music fans, but to the musicians and producers who made the records in the first place.

The majority of records are made with stereo in mind, and according to Fletcher "stereo remains an extraordinary format". But as he explains on LinkedIn, redoing a stereo record for Atmos enables you to rediscover "the little things that get sacrificed along the way when you're making a stereo record. The tiny details. The decisions nobody notices because they're buried beneath more important decisions."

Fletcher makes an intriguing claim. Taking a stereo record and making it three-dimensional isn't about making it sound the same; "it's more to do with matching the emotional impact" as he says. It's not what you hear. It's what you feel.

What immersive audio delivers – and doesn't quite deliver

I think Fletcher is correct, and I'm going to compare audio to another art form: video games. I've been replaying some very old favorites recently and I'm amused by how terrible the graphics are; in my memories, those games were photorealistic as well as utterly compelling. When those games are remastered to higher visual quality they're effectively enabling me to play what I remember, not what I actually saw.

As Fletcher describes it, taking recordings into spatial audio does much the same. "The moment you begin placing objects or building beds around the listener, the music seems to breathe and expand. Mix or bus compression suddenly seems rather pointless. Sounds are no longer confined to a flat line between two speakers. Instead, they occupy a living, sculptural environment with depth, height and dimension."

It's not perfect by any means, because people listen to Atmos and other spatial audio on all kinds of different hardware that may be suboptimal: headphones, soundbars, and a range of speaker systems that don't deliver the full experience.

"Creating extraordinary Atmos mixes is no longer the obstacle," Fletcher says. "The real challenge is ensuring that the sense of space, scale and emotional impact that makes immersive mixing so exhilarating, can be faithfully experienced by the vast majority of listeners who do not own a dedicated Atmos speaker system.

Fletcher describes spatializing Dire Straits' biggest hit album, Brothers in Arms, whose original multi-tracks took him straight back to the recording studio in 1984. Although the album had previously been remastered for 5.1 audio, the Atmos edition still required extensive detective work as well as painstaking restoration.

"The real challenge lay in respecting an album that has become woven into the lives of millions of listeners," Fletcher recalls. "While 5.1 and Atmos share some similarities, Atmos offers a very different creative canvas. The challenge was never technical — the challenge was emotional."

For Fletcher, "Atmos has a curious ability to reveal not just the details within a recording, but also the memories embedded within it. In that respect, at its best, the spatial audio experience is as much about rediscovery as it is about technology."

Of course Atmos doesn't guarantee a mix is good: the record industry is very good at remastering records as a quick cash grab, and there are plenty of famous records by big artists whose remasters caused howls of outrage. But when an album is approached with care, patience and above all else, a love of the original material, the move to 3D can make songs sing even more beautifully.

• LongCat-2.0 contains 1.6 trillion parameters and a million-token context
• Meituan trained the model using over 50,000 domestic AI accelerators
• The model completed pre-training entirely without any Nvidia hardware involved

Meituan has released LongCat-2.0, an open source large language model containing 1.6 trillion parameters and supporting a 1 million-token context window.

This scale places the model roughly on par with DeepSeek's flagship V4-pro, which launched back in April this year.

Meituan says LongCat-2.0 completed full process training on a computing cluster containing more than 50,000 domestic AI accelerators, making it the first trillion-parameter model to achieve that scale.

Domestic hardware reaches a new training milestone

The announcement comes as China continues expanding domestic computing capabilities amid export restrictions limiting access to advanced United States graphics processors.

Unlike DeepSeek V4-pro, which relied on Chinese chips only during inference, LongCat-2.0 also completed the far more demanding pre-training stage using domestic hardware.

This means that the company has entirely avoided the use of foreign AI hardware such as those from Nvidia.

The company said the system was built entirely on large AI ASIC superpods while using Huawei's Collective Communication Library to improve communication stability across processors.

China’s home-grown AI chips have been widely adopted for model inference amid Beijing’s push for technology self-reliance, although pre-training has remained significantly more difficult.

Meituan claims that LongCat-2.0 showed strong performance in coding and agent-based tasks while exceeding Google’s Gemini 3.1 Pro across several benchmarks, including Terminal-Bench 2.1 and SWE-Bench Pro.

Nevertheless, it acknowledged that its latest model still trails OpenAI’s GPT-5.5 and Anthropic’s Claude 4.8 Opus on broader frontier capability assessments.

“This put to rest any concerns of Atlas-950 SuperPoDs [being] unable to train large LLMs for [Zhipu AI] and DeepSeek,” said tech analyst TP Huang.

Technical hurdles remain despite larger ambitions

Despite the successes recorded by Meituan, this does not come without the significant hurdle of replacing Nvidia hardware.

The company faced major engineering difficulties throughout development despite completing training without relying on restricted foreign graphics processors.

Meituan said memory became the primary bottleneck because each domestic accelerator offered substantially less capacity than Nvidia’s H800 chip, which remains unavailable for export to China under United States rules.

Engineers therefore built additional optimisation systems intended to maintain stable, secure, and scalable training across the cluster despite its considerable size and complexity.

Hanchi Sun, a computer science PhD researcher, described the achievement by writing, “Near frontier performance, trained on 50k Chinese domestic accelerators,” before adding, “The first ever to achieve this!”

LongCat-2.0 has not yet appeared on major independent evaluations including Artificial Analysis, Arena, Agents’ Last Exam, or CyberGym, leaving external verification of several reported capabilities outstanding.

However, the release suggests Chinese developers are attempting to reduce Nvidia dependence by expanding domestic hardware beyond inference into large-scale training.

Broader benchmark results across AI tools will ultimately determine how competitive this approach becomes going forward.

Via SCMP

The Helio Strap Pro was designed for Hyrox and hybrid athletes who want in-depth training insights.

• Disney is paying a share of $50 million to YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream subscribers
• This is part of a settlement it has reached with a class action lawsuit claiming it leveraged its control over channels like ESPN to force higher prices on users
• FuboTV users are also part of this class action, but they are not part of this settlement, meaning their portion of the case is ongoing

If you were subscribed to YouTube TV or DirecTV Stream at any point between April 1, 2019, and March 31, 2026, you could be owed a share of $50 million as part of a class action lawsuit.

The class action alleged that Disney violated federal and various state antitrust and consumer protection laws by raising the prices of streaming packages. It claims it did this by forcing ESPN and other premium Disney-owned channels into basic packages offered by YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream, making these bundles pricier for end users and leaving them without more affordable alternatives that include premium sports channels.

Disney has strongly denied the allegations laid out in the lawsuit, and this settlement doesn’t determine whether it was right or wrong. Still, it does mean that subscribers — even folks who are no longer subscribed but were at some point during April 1, 2019 and March 31, 2026 will get a cut of the $50 million payout.

FuboTV was also involved in this suit, but its plaintiffs have not settled with Disney. This means its segment of the class action is still ongoing, and you’ll need to wait and see how it resolves if you were/are a subscriber to this service.

Beyond the $50 million, Disney has also agreed to entertain proposals for channel packages that exclude ESPN or contain fewer Disney-owned channels overall. This would create more package flexibility and potentially offer non-sports fans more affordable, sports-free groupings that better fit their needs and budgets.

How do I make a claim?

(Image credit: OpturaDesign/Shutterstock)

The easiest way to submit a claim is to visit https://onlinetvsettlement.com.

From here, head to the Submit a Claim tab, which will ask you for the Unique ID printed on the notice that you received in the mail or email — this is a document that has been sent out to eligible plaintiffs in this case.

If you haven’t received this information, you can email info@OnlineTVSettlement.com for help, or send a written claim form (along with any required documentation) to Biddle v. Disney, Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 4720, Portland, OR 97208-4720.

Any claims must be submitted before September 8, 2026, with mailed forms requiring a postmark of that date or earlier.

If you do nothing, you will not get your share of the settlement.

Am I eligible?

(Image credit: DIRECTV)

You should have received a notice if you are eligible to make a claim, but if you haven’t and think you should, you can check the full eligibility criteria by visiting https://onlinetvsettlement.com.

As the front page explains, “The Settlement Classes consist of the YouTube TV Settlement Class and the DirecTV Stream Settlement Class."

“The “YouTube TV Settlement Class” includes all Persons who purchased a YouTube TV subscription from the period beginning April 1, 2019, through March 31, 2026.

“The “DirecTV Stream Settlement Class” includes all Persons who purchased a DirecTV streaming live pay TV subscription (including DirecTV Stream, DirecTV Now, and AT&T TV Now) from the period beginning April 1, 2019, through March 31, 2026.”

How much will I get?

(Image credit: ESPN)

You won’t get $50 million, instead, you’ll just get a share of the money determined by how many people claim their stake and how long you were subscribed for — someone who signed up for a couple of months won’t get as much as someone who was subscribed to either of these services for the full seven-year period between the cutoff dates.

The state you live in can determine what share you get as well.

Finally, on January 14, 2027, the court will hold its final approval meeting. On this date, it could decide to object to the settlement, meaning you wouldn’t get anything, at least not until a new verdict or settlement is reached. We can’t say how likely it is that this case specifically will fail the approval process, as we aren’t legal experts; however, it’s rare that they do.