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Think of something you'll remember forever, something so close to your heart or brain that you wouldn't have to write it down to keep it top of mind. You'll have to type it out every day for 30 days. It has to have 15 characters, an uppercase letter, a lowercase letter, a symbol, and a number. The numbers cannot be consecutive. It cannot be similar to anything you've ever said before. You will have to recall this secret code constantly or risk being locked out of every device and subscription you need.

Of course, we're talking about your password, and it is a nightmare. Now, Microsoft wants to get rid of passwords entirely.

The company announced this week that moving forward, all new Microsoft accounts will be "passwordless by default."

SEE ALSO: A review of 19 billion passwords reveals people are still bad at them

According to a May 1 post on Microsoft's blog, the move is part of a "journey toward passwordless sign-in." Instead of using a password to sign on, Microsoft wants you to use a passkey, which could be a PIN or a biometric option such as facial recognition or a fingerprint scan. (That sounds a lot better than Sam Altman's eyeball-scanning machine, The Orb.)

"[Users] signing in with passkeys are three times more successful at getting into their account than password users (about 98% versus 32%)," the blog post reads. "When you use a passkey, you get into your account much quicker too! Passkey sign-ins are eight times faster than a password and multifactor authentication."

So not only will signing in be less annoying, but it will also be more efficient, Microsoft argues.

"As part of this simplified UX, we’re changing the default behavior for new accounts. Brand new Microsoft accounts will now be 'passwordless by default,'" Microsoft wrote in its blog post. "New users will have several passwordless options for signing into their account and they’ll never need to enroll a password. Existing users can visit their account settings to delete their password."

Microsoft isn't the only tech company moving towards passkey-friendly logins. Amazon, Google, and WhatsApp are all also working towards it.

Synology is raising prices on some of its DiskStation NAS systems. The move is almost certainly another tariff-induced price hike, but the company has not yet confirmed that information. Either way, it’s annoying for anyone looking to get a NAS right now.

The best gift card deals BEST RIDESHARE GIFT CARD Lyft $100 gift card $85 (save $15) Get Deal BEST BEAUTY GIFT CARD Ulta Beauty $50 gift card $42.50 (save $7.50) Get Deal BEST FOOD DELIVERY GIFT CARD DoorDash $50 gift card $42.50 (save $7.50) Get Deal BEST CLOTHING GIFT CARD Fanatics gift card $60 (save $15) Get Deal

Gift cards get a bad rep. While some may see them as the easy way out when gifting, they're more practical and useful than some random trinket or gadget you know will never be used. So, if you're at a loss for gift ideas — whether for Mother's Day, graduation, or any other occasion on the horizon — we say go for the gift card. We even found a few on sale, meaning your giftee will get even more bang from your buck.

From food delivery to rideshare services to cosmetics, there's a little something for everyone.

Best gift card deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lyft Lyft $100 gift card $85 at Amazon
$100 Save $15 Get Deal Why we like it

Whether you know someone who commutes to work every day via rideshare or who likes to go to major events when fare hikes are out of control (like after a hockey game lets out, or when Sabrina Carpenter is in town), a $100 Lyft gift card can go a long way. And, even better for you, it'll only cost you $85 — and your recipient never has to know you saved 15%. Just be sure to click on the $100 option as the gift amount, then enter your recipient's email address, and the $15 savings will be reflected at checkout.

Best beauty gift card deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ulta Ulta Beauty $50 gift card $42.50 at Amazon
$50 Save $7.50 Get Deal Why we like it

Not only does Ulta sell top-notch makeup and skincare products, but it's also home to some of our favorite beauty tech, like the Shark FlexStyle and Solawave skincare wand. A $50 gift card — which you can grab for only $42.50 as of May 2 — can definitely put a dent in a major beauty tech purchase for someone in your life. Select the $50 gift amount and enter your recipient's email address or phone number, then you'll see the 15% savings reflected at checkout.

Best food delivery gift card deal Opens in a new window Credit: DoorDash DoorDash $50 gift card $42.50 at Amazon
$50 Save $7.50 Get Deal Why we like it

Sure, it's not the most glamorous gift around, but everyone's gotta eat. And a $50 DoorDash gift card — which is on sale for just $42.50 — gives your recipient endless options to choose from. Better yet, more than just food delivery, you'll be giving someone the gift of extra time. Just be sure to select the $50 option before heading to checkout to see the savings reflected automatically.

More gift card deals

• Bath & Body Works gift card — $40 $50 (save $10)

• Vudu gift card — $40 $50 (save $10)

• Spafinder — $40 $50 (save $10)

• IHOP gift card — $40 $50 (save $10)

• Red Robin gift card — $40 $50 (save $10)

• Yankee Candle gift card — $42.50 $50 (save $7.50)

• Cinemark Theatres gift card — $42.50 $50 (save $7.50)

• Victoria's Secret gift card — $42.50 $50 (save $7.50)

• Fanatics gift card — $60 $75 (save $15)

• Instacart gift card — $90 $100 (save $10)

For even more gift card deals, check out the Mother's Day selection at Amazon.

SAVE UP TO 30% OFF: As of May 2, you can get up to 30% off select Echo devices at Amazon.

Best Echo deals as of May 2: Best deal overall Amazon Echo Dot $37.99 (save $12 ) Get Deal Best Echo Show deal Amazon Echo Show 5 $64.99 (save $25 ) Get Deal Best budget pick Amazon Echo Pop $27.99 (save $12 ) Get Deal

If you’re looking for a Bluetooth speaker that’s affordable and doubles as a voice assistant and smart home hub, you should probably forgo the stacks and opt for an Amazon Echo.

Right now, you can snag an Echo device for up to 30% off at Amazon. There’s even a cool Star Wars Echo Bundle available that comes with an Echo Dot and a Star Wars Tie Fighter Echo Dot stand.

Here are some of the best Echo devices that are currently on sale at Amazon.

Best deal overall Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen, 2022 Release) $37.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $12 Get Deal Why we like it

The Amazon Echo Dot (2022) is a surprisingly good speaker, given its size. I’ve had mine for years, and still use it all the time.

The Amazon Echo Dot can do everything that a full-sized Echo can do, like playing music, answering questions, setting timers, controlling smart home devices, and making calls. It’s also small enough to fit in any room without being too obtrusive, and you can get it in multiple colors, including charcoal, deep sea blue, and glacier white.

More Echo deals

• Amazon Echo Spot — $64.99 $79.99 (save $)

• Star Wars Echo Dot Bundle — $97.98 $109.98 (save $12)

• Amazon Echo Hub — $129.99 $179.99 (save $50)

Toyota’s bringing the Nightshade trim to the 2026 Camry, and it’s more than just a style play. It’s still hybrid-only, which means top-tier fuel economy without sacrificing punch.

SAVE $100: As of May 2, get the 55-inch Amazon Fire 4K Smart TV for $359.99, down from its usual price of $459.99. That's a discount of 22%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire 4K Smart TV (55-inch) $359.99 at Amazon
$459.99 Save $100 Get Deal

If you've been thinking about buying a new TV, now's the time to do it. You don't want to wait until prices skyrocket due to tariffs. Not when you can score this best-selling Amazon Fire TV for a great price right now and have it set up in your living room before the Nintendo Switch 2 arrives, er, if you managed to get one.

As of May 2, get the 55-inch Amazon Fire 4K Smart TV for $359.99, down from its usual price of $459.99. That's $100 off and a discount of 22%. This is the newest model, released in 2024, so you're getting the most current option available.

This TV is part of the Amazon Fire TV 4 series, and it's an all-rounder that not only will look great in your living room, but it'll treat your favorite shows and movies right. It offers 4K Ultra HD, HDR10, and Dolby Digital Plus support, so you'll get a crisp picture with bright colors and deep contrasting shades as well.

The TV itself is nice and lightweight, with an ultra-slim bezel that looks great when mounted to your wall or standing free. It comes with an Alexa Voice Remote as well, so if you do decide to mount it on the wall, you can control it without having to get out of your seat, which might come in handy on more than one occasion.

Fire TV also means you can stream tons of content from platforms like Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+, and more, with video games and music streaming available as well. And if you want to load the TV with special Alexa skills, that's an option as well.

Snag this TV before prices get higher on account of tariffs, and you'll be feeling like entertainment royalty without having to dig deep into your savings.

Gamers looking for a powerful and budget-friendly machine will want to check out the current 18% discount on the Acer Nitro V gaming laptop. You can get this high-end laptop for $699.99 on Amazon, which is a huge drop from $849.99.

Your password probably stinks. At least that's what a new study shows.

Researchers at Cybernews studied more than 19 billion leaked passwords, and of those just 6 percent were identified as unique, meaning they weren't re-used or duplicated. To make matters worse, the most common passwords are way too simple. Four percent of all passwords studied by Cybernews — meaning roughly 727 million total passwords — included the phrase "1234." Phrases like "password" and "admin" were also quite common, meaning folks are still relying on pre-set passwords.

“The ‘default password’ problem remains one of the most persistent and dangerous patterns in leaked credential datasets. Entries ‘password’ (56M) and ‘admin’ (53M) reveal that users overwhelmingly rely on simple, predictable defaults,” said Neringa Macijauskaitė, information security researcher at Cybernews, in a statement. “Attackers, too, prioritize them, making these passwords among the least secure.”

The researchers also discovered lots of passwords that relied on names or, funnily enough, curse words. Sixteen million passwords included the F-bomb, for instance.

Studies have show time and again that we suck at creating passwords. As Mashable covered at the end of last year, for instance, a study from NordPass found the most common passwords are wildly simple.

Here were 2024's top 10 most-used passwords globally, according to NordPass:

1. 123456

2. 123456789

3. 12345678

4. password

5. qwerty123

6. qwerty1

7. 111111

8. 12345

9. secret

10. 123123

So if you read this article and it seemed...a little too familiar, perhaps it's time to update your passwords. At the very least, don't use "123456."

Baseus has issued a voluntary recall for its 65W 30,000mAh (BS-30KP365) power bank, citing fire hazard. Approximately 55k of these batteries are impacted by the recall. Customer who show proof of purchase and disposal will receive a replacement power bank for free.

Your passwords aren't just hanging about on a server waiting to be stolen—there's a whole process that goes on behind the scenes to keep them safe. Just make sure they aren't common—or they'll take mere seconds to crack.

SAVE $41.88: New (or returning) to Audible? Through May 6, you can get your first three months of Audible Premium Plus for only $0.99 per month (a grand total of $2.97). Usually $14.95 per month, that's a total of $41.88 in savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: Audible Audible Premium Plus $0.99/month for three months (save $13.96/month) Get Deal

Craving some screen-free entertainment? I highly recommend audiobooks. Listening to a book still feeds your imagination like traditional reading, but it doesn't tie you down to one place. You have the freedom to multitask as you take in the content. Just pop in some earbuds and open the Audible app to escape the mundanity of ordinary tasks like cleaning and cooking.

If you're new to the audiobook world, Audible is running its outrageous introductory offer again. Through Tuesday, May 6 at 2:59 a.m. ET, new (and eligible returning) subscribers can get three months of Audible Premium Plus for only $0.99 per month. The Premium Plus membership usually costs $14.95 per month, so you'll save about $13.96 or 93% monthly — a grand total of $41.88 in savings.

A Premium Plus membership unlocks access to hundreds of Audible Original audiobooks for free, as well as a monthly credit you can use to purchase titles in the premium collection (regardless of price) and exclusive access to members-only sales. Most recently, members could use a single credit to purchase two select titles in an exclusive BOGO sale.

If you need a break from screens, Audible's Premium Plus catalog will keep you endlessly entertained. It includes bestsellers and new releases like The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins and Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins, as well as BookTok faves like Intermezzo by Sally Rooney and Funny Story by Emily Henry. Turn off Netflix and tune into many of the books that inspired the shows in the first place — it'll cost you less than $3.

SAVE 20%: As of May 2, you can get the Garmin Forerunner 165 running smartwatch for $199.99, down from $249.99, at Amazon. That's a 20% discount and a $50 savings. It's also the lowest price we've seen on this model since November.

Garmin Forerunner 165 $199.99 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $50 Get Deal

If you’re looking for a smartwatch that can handle your fitness routine, you might want to hop on this deal.

As of May 2, you can get the Garmin Forerunner 165 for $199.99, down from $249.99, at Amazon. That’s a 20% discount for $50 in savings. It’s also the lowest price we’ve seen on this model since November.

SEE ALSO: Garmin’s epix Pro Gen 2 Sapphire smartwatch is $362 off, and yes, it’s as stacked as it sounds

The Garmin Forerunner 165 is tough enough to handle any workout and comes with 25+ built-in activity profiles, including running, cycling, swimming, strength training, and more. With an 11-day battery life in smartwatch mode and up to 19 hours in GPS mode, you could go backpacking for a whole weekend without having to charge it. That’s more battery life than most Apple Watches, which only last up to 18 hours.

The Forerunner 165 can monitor your heart rate, sleep, stress, and blood oxygen levels. Plus, each morning you'll get a report that summarizes how you slept and what your training outlook is for the day ahead.

Fast cars don’t have to come with a sky-high price tag or crazy insurance premiums. Whether you're after weekend thrills or a fun daily driver, there are legit options out there that won’t empty your wallet.

SAVE $250: As of May 2, get the Shark AI Ultra robot vacuum (AV2501S) for $299.99, down from its usual price of $549.99 at Amazon. That's a discount of 45%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Shark AI Ultra robot vacuum (AV2501S) $299.99 at Amazon
$549.99 Save $250 Get Deal

A robot vacuum is something that still seems like it came out of a sci-fi movie. You mean this machine is going to tidy up the house all on its own? Like it's sentient or something? Whether you know how much fun it can be to slap a pair of googly eyes on yours or revel in the feeling of a house successfully cleaned with little or no input form you, you should consider getting a robot vacuum, especially when it's a great model at an even better price.

As of May 2, get the Shark AI Ultra robot vacuum (AV2501S) for $299.99, down from its usual price of $549.99 at Amazon. That's $250 off and a discount of 45%.

This robot vacuum is a serious multitasker that you can leave largely on its own to handle all types of messes, whether that's pet hair or tough, ground-in dirt or crumbs left on the kitchen floor. It works on all floor types, so you're covered there. It cleans in a special grid pattern so it can take multiple passes over your house, and then it empties itself. Its self-emptying base can hold up to 30 days of dirt, and when that time is up, you just need to empty it.

The vacuum uses 360-degree LiDAR vision to get around your home while creating a map to avoid accidental bumps and other setbacks that keep it from doing an efficient job. And if you're someone who suffers from allergies, its HEPA filter claims to capture and trap about 99.97% of dust and allergens to reduce all that sneezing.

If you're ready to leave the cleaning to your ever-present robot vacuum companion, be sure to snag this one while it's on sale, since this is such a great discount.

HP is offering a great deal on its 14-inch laptop, currently priced at $169.99 on Best Buy, but that's a big drop from its regular price of $219.99. This is a great laptop if you need a PC for basic web browsing and productivity work.

You'll have to wait a little bit longer for that video game you've been waiting 12 years for already.

Rockstar Games posted a message on its website on Friday morning confirming the news that you may have seen coming, but didn't want to hear: Grand Theft Auto VI has been delayed. The game, which until now had a vague release window of late 2025, is now confirmed for launch on May 26, 2026. The full message from Rockstar is as follows:

Hi everyone,

Grand Theft Auto VI is now set to release on May 26, 2026.

We are very sorry that this is later than you expected. The interest and excitement surrounding a new Grand Theft Auto has been truly humbling for our entire team. We want to thank you for your support and your patience as we work to finish the game.

With every game we have released, the goal has always been to try and exceed your expectations, and Grand Theft Auto VI is no exception. We hope you understand that we need this extra time to deliver at the level of quality you expect and deserve.

We look forward to sharing more information with you soon.

Sincerely,
Rockstar Games

SEE ALSO: The 5 Nintendo Switch 2 launch titles I can't wait to play (besides 'Mario Kart World')

The story of GTA VI has been a long and winding one. Its predecessor came out in 2013, long enough ago that it was originally an Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 game. I was in college when I played GTA V, and now I'm in my 30s. The incredible financial success of GTA Online and Red Dead Redemption 2 in the meantime meant Rockstar had no incentive to rush the next GTA to market, so after a decade of rumors and leaks, we got one lone trailer in late 2023. This delay announcement is the first thing we've heard from GTA VI since then.

All we really know about the game is that its set in a modern-day rendition of Vice City, the GTA universe's take on Miami. It has two central playable characters, who appear to be in a Bonnie & Clyde kind of relationship with one another, and it generally looks very expensive and pretty. And that's probably all we'll continue to know about GTA VI for a while longer.

At least we have a date now!

Ireland slapped TikTok with serious fines and, perhaps more worrying for the social media company, allegations of questionable data practices. That's a major issue for TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, which has been attempting to convince the West, most notably the U.S., that its users are safe from their data being shared with China.

The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) fined TikTok 530 million euros — roughly $600 million — because it could not guarantee that users' data was being stored in accordance with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requirements. The DPC also said that TikTok admitted it had stored limited European user data in China, which it had previously denied. TikTok told the DPC it had since deleted that data.

"The GDPR requires that the high level of protection provided within the European Union continues where personal data is transferred to other countries," DPC Deputy Commissioner Graham Doyle said in a statement.

"TikTok’s personal data transfers to China infringed the GDPR because TikTok failed to verify, guarantee, and demonstrate that the personal data of [European Economic Area] users, remotely accessed by staff in China, was afforded a level of protection essentially equivalent to that guaranteed within the EU."

SEE ALSO: Trump delays TikTok ban for another 75 days

The fines from Ireland's privacy watchdog could prove damaging for TikTok, especially amid its fight to remain available in the U.S. A renewed U.S. TikTok ban was averted in early April after President Donald Trump once again issued a 75-day extension.

The U.S. law that would ban TikTok does so, in part, over concerns quite similar to those laid out by Ireland's DPC. The U.S. does not want its citizens' data in the hands of China's government. TikTok has insisted it doesn't share U.S. user data with China.

Still, U.S. companies are lining up to purchase TikTok, which may be necessary for the platform to remain in the States.

You might have seen Microsoft Word's Hyphenation tool but have never fully known how to use it. In this guide, I'll explain what hyphens are, show you how to use them in Microsoft Word, cover some less-known hyphenation options, and offer some troubleshooting tips if they're not working as expected.

SAVE UP TO $40: New and returning customers can sign up for Max yearly streaming subscriptions for up to 20% off. Ad-supported subscriptions are down to just $79.99 per year from $99.99, while ad-free tiers are down to just $139.99 and $169.99 per year from $169.99 and $209.99. But act fast; this deal is only around until Wednesday, May 7.

Opens in a new window Credit: Max Max annual subscriptions save up to $40 on any plan Get Deal

For the next few days, you can still score one of the best streaming deals we've seen since Black Friday. Max randomly decided to drop the cost of its annual streaming plans for a limited time and we recommend jumping on it ASAP if you haven't already.

Through May 7, new and returning subscribers can score a yearly subscription to Max for up to 20% off the usual cost. The ad-supported tier is down to just $79.99 per year from $99.99, which breaks down to just $6.67 monthly. Meanwhile, the ad-free tiers are just $139.99 per year (just $11.67/month) instead of $169.99 or $169.99 per year ($14.17/month) instead of $209.99. That's up to $40 in savings. Not to mention, compared to the monthly plans, you'll save up to 33%.

Whether you want to see what all The White Lotus hype is about, catch the new season of The Last of Us, or tune into some of the latest box office hits like Babygirl, Y2K, Heretic, and the Oscar-winning Flow, Max is a treasure trove of excellent content. The Warner Bros. Discovery-owned streamer is home to not only Warner Bros. films, but also new A24 theatrical releases and an insane array of original series. Not to mention, the Standard and Premium tiers give you access to live sports — including select games from the NBA playoffs and the NHL playoffs. Translation: you'll never be bored.

Sadly, like Netflix, the service is expected to start its password sharing crackdown very soon. Hence, there's never been a better time to sign up for your own Max account. Just note that the Max streaming deal is only valid for your first year. Afterwards, the price per year will revert back to full cost. Be sure to cancel before the year is up if you want to avoid that price jump.

SAVE 25%: As of May 2, you can get the Levoit LVAC-200 for $149.99, down from $199.99, at Amazon. That's a 25% discount and a $50 savings.

LEVOIT Cordless Vacuum Cleaner, Stick Vac with Tangle-Resistant Design, Up to 50 Minutes, Powerful Suction, Rechargeable, Lightweight, and Versatile for Carpet, Hard Floor, Pet Hair, Black & White $149.99 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $50 Get Deal

Stick vacuums are pretty much hit or miss. There’s nothing worse than spending $300 on something that only works for a few weeks before crapping out on you. But there are ways to get around paying a fortune for a top-notch cordless vacuum.

As of May 2, you can get a Levoit LVAC-200 for $149.99, down from $199.99, at Amazon. That’s a 25% discount and a $50 savings.

SEE ALSO: The best cordless vacuums include 3 Dyson models (and 1 alternative)

This vacuum’s built to clean up pet hair, dust, and crumbs from your hardwood floors, rugs, tile, and carpets. It has a 50-minute run time with the Crevice or Pet Tool in Eco Mode, 30 minutes with just the vacuum head, and 12 minutes in Turbo Mode. Plus, the flexible and lightweight design makes it easy to carry around, even up and down stairs.

With three LED lights, an anti-tangle brush head, and a five-stage filtration system, this budget-friendly vac is a solid choice for anyone looking to upgrade their cleaning routine.