Technologies

T-Mobile Data Breach Settlement Checks Are Arriving Finally: Here’s the Scoop

Who wouldn’t like a fresh chunk of cash? Check your bank account — payouts for a 2021 data breach are finally showing up.

Some extra cash would be useful about now, right? Check your bank account — there may be an unexpected deposit from a company you may not recognize. It could be the money you’re due from T-Mobile’s 2022 class-action settlement. Those who qualify were told to expect settlement checks in April, but then that was moved to May. And now, in mid-June, as cited by Android Authority, Reddit users are saying they are seeing money in their bank accounts. Some are saying they received $56, but others are reporting amounts as high as $375. The account the money comes from may say T-Mobile Data Breach Settlement — which you’d clearly understand — or Kroll Settlement Payouts.

A representative for the settlement did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The settlement is the result of a class-action lawsuit filed against T-Mobile after a 2021 cyberattack exposed the personal data — names, addresses and Social Security numbers — of 76 million US customers. In 2022, T-Mobile agreed to a $350 million settlement to resolve claims that its negligence led to the data breach. It remains the second-largest data breach settlement in US history, following Equifax’s $700 million settlement in 2019.

How much will you get?

If your data was exposed but you haven’t already filed, it’s too late to get in on the settlement. T-Mobile agreed to pay $350 million into a settlement fund that will be used to make cash payments for out-of-pocket losses and lost time, provide identity-defense services, provide restoration services, make payments to notify class members and administer the settlement, pay the class representatives who brought the suit, and pay attorney fees and costs.

According to The Hill, payments might be smaller than $25 for some, as priority will go to those who can prove they suffered out-of-pocket losses. Those who lived in California at the time of the data breach are eligible for $100. And those who spent money at the time to recover or avoid identity theft or fraud — like freezing their credit, spending money on credit monitoring services, incurring losses or were told to document their losses — are eligible for up to $25,000, according to The Hill.

Those who made a valid claim for identity-defense services will be sent information on how to activate those services. Monetary payments will be made in the manner each customer selected at the time they filed, which could mean a paper check will be mailed, or a digital deposit will be made. You can read the full documents for the lawsuit online.

Technologies

The Latest Android 16 QPR1 Beta Is Out Now. Here’s How to Get It on Your Pixel

The overall update is minor, but it comes with the latest security updates for your Pixel.

The latest Android 16 QPR1 Beta is available for Pixel owners who’ve signed up to receive the latest releases from Google. Since it’s just a .1 update, it doesn’t bring any new phone features to the table, but a handful of bug fixes, as well as the June Security patch — something the QPR1 2.0 update from earlier this month was missing.

Although Android 16 is now officially available, it lacks the visual overhaul, Material 3 Expressive, that Google showed off during the Android Show this past May. Luckily, Google transitioned its Android Beta Program to Quarterly Platform Releases, and a large chunk of Material 3 Expressive found its way to Pixel devices that installed the first QPR1 update.

Below, we’ll show you what’s new in the latest QPR1 release and how to enroll your supported Pixel device in the Beta program to get these updates moving forward. For more, don’t miss when we expect the Pixel 10 to launch.

What’s new in the latest QPR1 Beta?

The sparse release notes for QPR 2.1 reiterate that there isn’t much to gawk at in this release. The QPR 2 beta added in support for enhanced windowing on connected devices, bringing a desktop-like experience. It’s nowhere near as slick as what Apple is doing on the iPad with iPadOS 26, but it is nonetheless a welcomed addition when you need more space to work with and have a display you can connect your phone to.

Here’s what’s new in the Android 16 QPR1 2.1:

Fix for the «Approve» button in the Device Admin settings being transparent and invisible.
Fix for the lockscreen sound toggle showing as off, but sounds still playing.
Fix for the Android back button intermittently failing to function.
Fix for a launcher crash when swiping up from the bottom.

In addition, and as mentioned before, this release also comes with the latest June security patch.

Android 16 QPR1 has some Material 3 Expressive baked in

The latest QPR1 builds include several pieces of the Material 3 Expressive design overhaul. It’s a fresh take on the OS while still looking like a natural progression of what was there before. It’s easier to find important actions within the OS, and the new design will eventually make its way to apps when developers adopt the new design language. Google has already shown off a few of the apps it plans to update with Material 3 Expressive, including Gmail, Fitbit and Google Photos.

While the public release will include more of Material 3 Expressive, the biggest visual changes are present here. The launcher, notifications, quick settings and lock screen all «pop» like never before.

What Pixel devices can install the Android 16 QPR1 2.1?

In order to install the Android 16 QPR1, you’ll need a compatible Pixel. Here’s the full list of supported devices.

Pixel 6, 6a, and 6 Pro
Pixel 7, 7a, and 7 Pro
Pixel Fold
Pixel Tablet
Pixel 8, 8a, and 8 Pro
Pixel 9, 9a, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, and 9 Pro Fold

How to install the Android 16 QPR1 2.1

Installing the Android 16 QPR1 2.1 build is easy.

If you’re running the last Android 16 QPR1 release, you don’t need to do anything. You should be able to check for a system update and the QPR1 2.1 beta should begin to download.

If you’re new to installing Android 16 on your device, here’s how to get things moving:

Go to the Android Beta site and log in to your Google account.
Click or tap on «View your eligible devices» or just scroll down to the section.
You should see the devices associated with the Google account you’ve logged in with.
Under the device on which you’d like to install the Android 16 update, click or tap the «+ Opt in» button.
Agree to the terms of the beta program and click or tap «Confirm and enroll.»

Once your device is enrolled, you can check to see if the update is waiting for you. It typically doesn’t take long.

On your Pixel, go to your Settings menu.
Tap System.
Tap Software updates.
Tap System update.

From there, the Android 16 QPR1 2.1 build should start downloading to your device. If it continues to say «Your Pixel is up to date,» give it a few more minutes or try restarting your phone, then try again.

Alternatively, you can flash the update to your Pixel.

Want more on Pixel? Don’t miss what we know about Google’s new AI Assistant, Pixel Sense.

Technologies

YouTube’s Rolling Out Two AI Tools. Here’s What We Know

Premium members will have access to one new tool while another is more familiar.

You’re probably hearing about artificial intelligence from every angle possible. Meta is planning to use AI to create ads for its company portfolio, including Instagram and WhatsApp. And Google has an AI-mode search tool and even use it for its apps. Now, YouTube is in the mix with new AI features coming soon, too.

Here’s what you can be on the lookout for on YouTube, and how it could change your watchlist.

AI-powered YouTube search tool

YouTube will be rolling out a new AI-powered search tool, it said in a statement on Thursday. The carousel will suggest videos from YouTube creators. It will highlight video clips based on your search, and share descriptions and videos based on your search request.

Premium members can test it now. A release date for other users is yet to be announced.

Conversational AI tool will be more widely available, too

YouTube shared its conversational AI tool in Nov. 2023, and first made it available to YouTube Premium subscribers in the US on Android devices. Soon, some non-premium users will have access to it.

The conversational AI tool answers questions and suggests content with the Ask icon at the bottom of the video. The Ask about this video prompt will appear at the bottom of the screen for you to choose from select prompts or ask questions about the video while continuing to play your content without interruption.

YouTube’s statement said to expect this tool in the coming days.

Technologies

Microsoft Is Getting Rid of Passwords in One Month. Here’s What You Need to Do ASAP

You’ll still be able to access your passwords, but Microsoft’s new approach is a safer way to log into your accounts.

If you rely on Microsoft Authenticator to store your passwords, time is winding down.

Starting in August, Microsoft will require you to use passkeys instead of keeping all of your Microsoft passwords on its mobile app and your old passwords will vanish.

But that’s not bad news. Passkeys can cut out risky password habits that 49% of US adults have, according to a recent CNET survey. Making it a practice to use the same password for multiple accounts or include personal hints, like your birthday, can be risky. It could be an easy giveaway for hackers to guess, which can lead to identity theft and fraud.

Here’s what you need to know about Microsoft’s timeline for the switch and how to set up passkeys for your Microsoft accounts before it’s too late.

Microsoft Authenticator will stop supporting passwords

Microsoft Authenticator houses your passwords and lets you sign into all of your Microsoft accounts using a PIN, facial recognition such as Windows Hello, or other biometric data, like a fingerprint. Authenticator can be used in other ways, such as verifying you’re logging in if you forgot your password, or using two-factor authentication as an extra layer of security for your Microsoft accounts.
In June, Microsoft stopped letting users add passwords to Authenticator, but here’s a timeline of other changes you can expect, according to Microsoft.

July 2025: You won’t be able to use the autofill password function.
August 2025: You’ll no longer be able to use saved passwords.

If you still want to use passwords instead of passkeys, you can store them in Microsoft Edge. However, CNET experts recommend adopting passkeys during this transition. «Passkeys use public key cryptography to authenticate users, rather than relying on users themselves creating their own (often weak or reused) passwords to access their online accounts,» said Attila Tomaschek, CNET software senior writer and digital security expert.

Why passkeys are a better alternative to passwords

So what exactly is a passkey? It’s a credential created by the Fast Identity Online Alliance that uses biometric data or a PIN to verify your identity and access your account. Think about using your fingerprint or Face ID to log into your account. That’s generally safer than using a password that is easy to guess or susceptible to a phishing attack.

«Passwords can be cracked, whereas passkeys need both the public and the locally stored private key to authenticate users, which can help mitigate risks like falling victim to phishing and brute-force or credential-stuffing attacks,» Tomaschek added.

Passkeys aren’t stored on servers like passwords. Instead, they’re stored only on your personal device. More conveniently, this takes the guesswork out of remembering your passwords and the need for a password manager.

How to set up a passkey in Microsoft Authenticator

Microsoft said in a May 1 blog post that it will automatically detect the best passkey to set up and make that your default sign-in option. «If you have a password and ‘one-time code’ set up on your account, we’ll prompt you to sign in with your one-time code instead of your password. After you’re signed in, you’ll be prompted to enroll a passkey. Then the next time you sign in, you’ll be prompted to sign in with your passkey,» according to the blog post.

To set up a new passkey, open your Authenticator app on your phone. Tap on your account and select «Set up a passkey.» You’ll be prompted to log in with your existing credentials. After you’re logged in, you can set up the passkey.