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U.S. medical technology company Stryker is currently experiencing a massive cyberattack, which has shut down their computer systems and, as a result, even closed the company's offices.

An Iran-linked digital activist collective known as Handala is claiming credit for the cyberattack against Stryker. This would be the first major cyberattack carried out in the wake of the U.S. war in Iran. Cybersecurity researchers have warned that U.S. companies face an elevated threat risk, primarily from Iran-linked hacktivist groups.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the cyberattack began around midnight on Wednesday as Stryker employees watched data being wiped from company computers in real-time. The company described the attack as a "global network disruption" linked to its Microsoft environment.

During the attack, Handala's logo also appeared on the Stryker login portals, leaving employees scrambling to unplug their computers. Per the WSJ, in some of the company's departments, reportedly 95 percent of computers were wiped.

Stryker's computer network is effectively unusable as of now, and the company reportedly sent employees home and closed its corporate offices entirely.

"Stryker is experiencing a global network disruption to our Microsoft environment as a result of a cyber attack," the company said in a statement posted to its website. "We have no indication of ransomware or malware and believe the incident is contained. Our teams are working rapidly to understand the impact of the attack on our systems."

Stryker manufactures a variety of medical devices such as surgical tools and emergency service equipment. The company has 56,000 global employees and generates $25 billion in revenue each year.

Handala claimed it was launching a “new chapter in cyber warfare" with the attack on Stryker. The hacker group claimed the cyberattack was in retaliation for the bombing of an Iranian school, which Iranian officials say left 175 people, mostly children, dead. An ongoing military investigation has so far found that the U.S. is primarily at fault for the strike on the school, according to the New York Times.

The Iran-linked group said it targeted Stryker as the company works with U.S. military, having recently signed a $450 million contract for medical devices last year, and having previously acquired Israeli company OrthoSpace.

After eight time-jumping, case-blending episodes, Scarpetta ends with a bang. Well, more of a bludgeon.

The Prime Video series based on Patricia Cornwell's books — namely, the first Dr. Kay Scarpetta book, Postmortem (1990), and Autopsy (2021) — finishes up its first season with some answers, but then leaves major question marks and red herrings flapping about in the air.

SEE ALSO: 'Scarpetta' has a cheeky Patricia Cornwell cameo

Let's get into what happened, what Scarpetta (Nicole Kidman/Rosy McEwen) found out, and what burning questions we have for Season 2 (which Amazon has confirmed is coming). Obviously, spoilers ahead.

Who is killed in Scarpetta? Nicole Kidman as Scarpetta. Credit: Connie Chornuk / Prime

Scarpetta could have really given us more information about the murder victims.

In 2026, there are two women murdered: Gwen Hainey, biomedical engineer at Thor Labs, who was selling U.S. biotech secrets to Russia, and runner Cammie Ramada, whose death was ruled as "accidental" despite being anything but.

In 1998, there are five women murdered: ER surgeon Lori Petersen's killing begins the series, after the murders of Cecile Tyler, Brenda Steppe, and Patty Lewis. Then, journalist Abby Turnbull's (Sosie Bacon) sister, Hannah, is also murdered.

Who is the killer in Scarpetta? Jake Cannavale as Pete Marino, Rosy McEwen as Dr. Kay Scarpetta. Credit: Connie Chornuk / Prime

There are two killers in Scarpetta, one in the past and one in the present.

1998 killer: Roy McCorkle

Through glittery government soap and emergency call records, '90s Scarpetta figured out the identity of the serial killer she, homicide detective Pete Marino (Jake Cannavale), and FBI profiler Benton Wesley (Hunter Parrish) had been investigating. The killer is Roy McCorkle (Martin De Boer), a local 911 dispatcher who had chosen his victims based on their voices.

2026 killer: August Ryan

In the present, the murderer is revealed to be a copycat. Officer August Ryan, the braces-wearing cop Scarpetta has worked with since the '90s murders, is the killer of Gwen Hainey and Cammie Ramada.

Scarpetta first meets Officer Ryan at the murder scene of Lori Peterson in Berkley Heights in 1998. "I was never the first on a scene before, of a grisly murder," he tells her, visibly affected by the violence. This murder ignited Ryan's penchant for violence but his traumatic past also played a part (more on that below). Later, at the scene of McCorkle's death, Ryan calls him a "murdering bastard," and scorns "what he did to those women," despite those being actions he will repeat 28 years later.

In 2026, Ryan is the first person Scarpetta talks to at the crime scene where Gwen Hainey is found in episode 1. Ryan leads Scarpetta to the victim, pretending to have just encountered the scene he created. Ryan then meets Scarpetta and Marino at the condo where Gwen Hainey was attacked — he even smugly declares that he "found" the murder weapon and reports that Matt Peterson's fingerprints are all over it (Lori Peterson's husband, the main suspect of the 1998 murders), which sends Scarpetta and Marino off course. In episode 4, Ryan does it again, leading medical examiner Dr. Debbie Kaminsky (Ashley Shelton) to Cammie Ramada's body, a crime scene he also created.

Motive? "I did it to impress just the right gal," Ryan says in the finale, referring to Scarpetta herself.

What's with the 3D-printed organ business?

In Scarpetta, Thor Labs is a tech company that 3D prints human organs. And though the storyline goes off on a tangent with dead astronauts, the most important thing is that the company links the murder victims in 2026.

Gwen Hainey and Cammie Ramada both bear skin grafts, pieces of biosynthetic skin made by Thor Labs. Remember, Hainey was a biomedical engineer there, working on the Thor Orbiter Project (3D printing human organs in space). In the finale, Scarpetta receives a call from Officer Blaise Fruge (Tiya Sircar) saying there was a third person in Thor's skin test group, but Fruge is cut off before naming them.

"That's how he met them," Fruge says. "They were in the same group."

That person? August Ryan, who, as a child, burned his arm on a train track the night he witnessed his uncle committing sexual assault. Presumably, Ryan was after a skin graft. As to the pennies? Ryan's uncle distracted him with a penny during his crime, one the kid was trying to retrieve from the hot track when he was burned; pennies were left at the murder sites of Gwen Hainey and Cammie Ramada, and Scarpetta finds a penny on her dining room table.

What's the deal with Maggie and Reddy?

Maggie Cutbush (Stephanie Faracy/Georgia King) spends the present-day storyline basically being a creep and an anti-feminist pain in the ass, but there's more going on here than meets the eye.

In the '90s, Maggie was appointed Scarpetta's assistant when her computer was hacked for information about the Peterson case. Scarpetta wrongfully accused Maggie and fired her. However, the culprit was Dr. Elvin Reddy (Alex Klein), Scarpetta's professional rival, who also tampered with evidence to discredit Kay.

Featured Video For You 'Crime 101's Chris Hemsworth and Halle Berry play our new mash-up game

Now, Dr. Reddy is a piece of work. He wanted Scarpetta's job of Virginia's chief medical examiner back in the '90s, so always had a chip on his shoulder. Reddy hires Maggie as his own assistant, and the show suggests an abuse of power and sexual harassment. In episode 4, Scarpetta looks into Cammie Ramada's death, ruled as "undetermined" by medical examiner Kaminsky. But Scarpetta finds out that Reddy (chief medical examiner by this point) had shown up at the autopsy with a bunch of FBI agents (the crime scene goes across federal and district lines) and essentially bullied Kaminsky to rule Cammie Ramada's death an accident.

In the present, Maggie is deployed again as a "direct line" between Scarpetta's office and Reddy, now health commissioner (and Scarpetta's boss). Importantly, Reddy and Maggie know Scarpetta's secret: She killed McCorkle in self-defense in the '90s — and Marino covered it up for her. Scarpetta did the autopsy, then lied about the findings, but notably, Reddy came into the morgue and indicated he knew there was more to the killer's death than Marino's bullets.

In the finale, Maggie flips the script telling Scarpetta she has proof to bring their dodgy boss down. "Pick a crime," she says. "I'll get you everything you need to nail the bastard. Leave me out of it, and I'll leave you out of it."

What's going on with Benton Wesley? Simon Baker as Benton Wesley. Credit: Connie Chornuk / Prime

Scarpetta's cardboard husband, Benton Wesley, has dark secrets. We know he left his wife and kids for Kay, and is having an affair with his FBI cybercrime partner Sierra Patron (Anna Diop). We also know he had a traumatic childhood involving neurodivergence and reading disturbing material before his career as a serial killer profiler.

In the finale, Scarpetta tracks Wesley to his definitely illegal interrogation truck at home using Find My Friends, and he warns her to stop investigating Gwen Hainey and Cammie Ramada "before it's too late" without elaborating. He's also sent hacker Jinx Slater (Luke Jones) to jail for his girlfriend Gwen Hainey's murder, presumably to keep the FBI's Thor Orbiter investigation under wraps.

However, during the scene, Wesley gets...creepy, saying he has some "strange behaviours" and that "there are some creatures that I enjoy to watch suffer," which seems like he's about to confess to his "real self" being real dark. We all saw him watch that fly die in pain, and we won't forget his creepy childhood lair in the basement. But then he simply asks for a divorce. What a fake-out.

Is Matt Peterson actually innocent?

Matt Peterson (Graham Phillips/Anson Mount), the husband of Lori Peterson, appears to be Scarpetta's red herring. He's the guy Marino (Bobby Cannavale) suspected and punched, who runs a cultish grief farm (where Lucy inexplicably ends up in the finale — girl, wyd). But is he actually as innocent as he seems? Sure, he just happened to meet Gwen Hainey in a bar trying to bring his wife back to life with 3D-printed organs. But in episode 1, when a young Marino is interviewing a young Peterson, the suspect mentions one of the first things he noticed meeting Lori in college was her "contralto" voice. "Stopped me in my tracks," he says. "Its actual tone was perfection." Marino counters, asking, "You notice a thing like that, huh?" How did McCorkle choose his victims? Their voices. Still a red herring?

Who "killed" Janet? Ariana DeBose as Lucy Farinelli-Watson. Credit: Connie Chornuk / Prime

Both Kay and Dorothy (Jamie Lee Curtis) say they didn't "kill" Janet, the AI version of Lucy's (Ariana DeBose) wife that she's been talking to daily since her real death, but she's sure one of them did it. So, was it one of them? Or was it, say, Blaise Fruge, who wanted to exact a little bit of revenge on her lover for walking out during their argument about Blaise losing her job thanks to Lucy's "joy ride" to The Orchard? Or perhaps Janet did find a code back door to walk out of...

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Who's at the door?

In the final moments of Scarpetta, we see that Kay has absolutely baseball-batted Ryan to death. Then, someone arrives at the door, sees everything, and Scarpetta's reaction is one of pure shock: "Oh no."

Who could it be? Is it Lucy coming home from her grief session? Is it Marino coming back to declare his feelings? Is it Fruge, following her partner Ryan's whereabouts? Or is it someone we haven't met yet?

Scarpetta is now streaming on Prime Video.

SXSW 2026 kicks off this week in Austin, and Mashable will be reporting live from the event. Check back soon for a deep dive into all the movies premiering at SXSW. For now, we wanted to break down all the tech news and events kicking off this week.

If the session lineup is any indication, the tech conversations dominating the festival floor aren't going to be comfortable ones. From the creeping fear that AI is quietly hollowing out our capacity to think, to a generational reckoning over what work even means anymore, this year's tech and digital culture programming is shaping up to be one of the most charged in recent memory.

SEE ALSO: 7 of the coolest indie games at SXSW Sydney 2025

Worth flagging for veterans: SXSW has scrapped the Creative Industries Expo this year. In its place, the festival is leaning into the XR Experience and Emerging Tech Expo, so expect the floor to reflect the same themes dominating the panels: AI, immersive tech, and how to create art with emerging technologies.

Here's what's worth paying attention to.

AI, AI, AI, and more AI

You may have heard about The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist, a buzzy new documentary playing at the festival. Mashable entertainment editor Kristy Puchko will be hosting a panel on the film. SXSW is also hosting dozens of events and panels about AI.

One of the most quietly urgent panels on the schedule is AI & the Brain: As We Embrace AI, Let's Not Forget Our Minds, hitting the Westin Austin Downtown on March 12. The panel — featuring MIT professor Sanjay Sarma, Edifii co-founder Izzat Jarudi, and Massachusetts Board of Education chairman Chris Gabrieli — isn't here to dunk on AI. It's asking a harder question: as machines get smarter, are we getting lazier? The session wrestles with what rapid AI adoption is doing to our capacity to reason, create, and learn independently. Expect this one to draw a crowd.

Also happening on March 12 is a sitdown with journalist Tara Palmeri and Imran Ahmed — CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate — for Who Owns the Truth? The session takes a hard look at how algorithms, AI, and a fractured media ecosystem are rewiring how people decide what's real. With trust in institutions continuing to crater, the conversation promises to be less theoretical and more urgent than the title might suggest.

On March 14 at the JW Marriott, Cloudflare co-founder and CEO Matthew Prince — whose company handles 20 percent of all internet traffic — teams up with Mansueto Ventures CEO Stephanie Mehta for The Internet After Search. The premise is blunt: the economic model that has funded the internet for thirty years is breaking. AI systems now answer questions directly, AI agents are completing transactions without users ever landing on a website, and content creators are hemorrhaging traffic and revenue with no clear replacement in sight. Who controls information access? Who gets paid for content? Nobody has figured it out yet — but this session is going to try.

TikTok, trade schools, and the creator economy

The From TikTok to Toolbelt panel tackles what might be the most counterintuitive workforce story of the decade. Over half of Gen Z respondents in a recent survey said they're considering skilled trades — up 12% from last year.

The panel, which includes voices from Frisco ISD, Interplay Learning, and education outlet The 74 Million, digs into how schools are scrambling to modernize career prep and meet students where they actually are.

Not everything has to be existential, however. Spotify co-CEO Gustav Söderström is hosting a session, tracing the company's origin story — born out of the wreckage of music piracy — and laying out what comes next for audio, joined by country star Lainey Wilson and podcast host David Friedberg on March 13. And Keke Palmer is rolling into Austin with the full cast of I Love Boosters — Naomi Ackie, Taylour Paige, Eiza González, Poppy Liu, and Demi Moore — for a live recording of Baby, This Is Keke Palmer. If you need a breather from the AI doom panels, you've got options.

Closing out the festival on March 15, YouTuber and former Instagram and YouTube insider Jon Youshaei takes the stage for the Social Media Masterclass 2026. Youshaei spent eight years inside two of the biggest platforms on the planet before building his own audience past the 1 million follower mark, and he's bringing that institutional knowledge to Austin.

Elon Musk's Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE) was officially disbanded in Nov. 2025. But we're just starting to learn the extent of the damage wrought by this extraordinary IT department, which experts warn still exists in all but name.

Case in point: A whistleblower report filed with the inspector general of the Social Security Administration, first revealed Wednesday by the Washington Post. This anonymous whistleblower alleges that an unnamed ex-DOGE employee took a thumb drive of sensitive Social Security data on millions of Americans to his next employer — while boasting to former colleagues that he still had "god-level access" to highly sensitive agency data.

The whistleblower's claims are being investigated by the agency's still-functional Office of Inspector General, according to a letter sent to congressional oversight committees and obtained by multiple outlets. If true, the allegations would constitute "one of the largest known data breaches in American history," Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon told The Independent, with "the explicit purpose of weaponizing Americans’ sensitive personal data for political gain."

SEE ALSO: Why you shouldn't use ChatGPT to do your taxes

The DOGE employee also told a former co-worker he expected to receive a presidential pardon if his actions were considered illegal, the whistleblower report claims.

This isn't the first DOGE-related Social Security scandal under investigation. Another whistleblower at the agency claimed last August that DOGE had created a "live copy of the country's Social Security information in a cloud environment that circumvents oversight."

According to a six-month investigation by a congressional committee, DOGE's handling of data has put U.S. citizens at high risk. That report quoted an internal Social Security Administration risk assessment, stating the likelihood of a "catastrophic adverse effect" — one that might require every single American with a Social Security number to receive a new one.

The Social Security Administration has experienced data breaches prior to DOGE; we've explained what you can do if you fear your number has been exposed. This latest whistleblower complaint, however, seems to put the potential for such risks on a whole new level.

We've come a long way from the days of lugging boxes of receipts over to your accountant's office. By 2022, 150.6 million individual federal income tax returns were filed electronically, accounting for 94 percent of all individual filings that year, according to Pew Research.

Four years later, many tax services offer their own AI-powered tools to streamline tax filing, including automatic form-filling and deduction calculators, as well as on-site AI assistants to answer basic tax questions. 

SEE ALSO: Government shutdown won't affect your 2026 tax return

Around 30 percent of Americans say they will be use an AI tool, such as ChatGPT, to help prepare their taxes, according to a recent survey by McAfee. Another poll found that nearly half of Americans trust AI to give them tax advice. Those rates are higher among younger taxpayers  — and men — according to surveys. 

But universal chatbots and LLMs are very different than AI tools on tax prep sites from companies like H&R Block and Jackson Hewitt. "You don't want to be using chatbots as your tax consultants," warned Abhishek Karnik, head of threat intelligence research at McAfee. "They're not the experts."

Why chatbots seem like an easy answer 

It makes sense that more people would turn to chatbots for tax help, cybersecurity professionals tell Mashable. The end of the IRS' Direct File program and recent legislation, primarily President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill, has generated increasing confusion about federal taxes — on top of an already complicated tax code.  

"Many individuals see chatbots as an easy way to translate confusing guidance into plain language," explained Christopher Caen, CEO of AI cybersecurity firm Mill Pond Research. "At the same time, rising costs for professional help and increased comfort with AI in everyday tasks are driving experimentation."

As AI becomes more embedded in routine activities, especially among younger generations new to filing, more Americans will naturally turn to their daily AI assistant for tax purposes, said Karnik. 

Don't give ChatGPT your personal information

But deferring to ChatGPT as your personal tax assistant could have real financial and security consequences, experts say. 

Keep personal documents offline

"General-purpose chatbots aren’t designed to securely handle highly sensitive financial information," Caen said. Any personal information uploaded to a platform like ChatGPT is vulnerable to exposure. 

When it comes to taxes, less data shared is always the safer approach. - Christopher Caen, Mill Pond Research

Platform breaches, for example, could expose users' private conversations to bad actors. Users' live chats can be intercepted by malicious browser extensions or compromised devices. Caen says that even publicly shared prompts or copies of chatbot outputs can put users' sensitive information at risk. Both Caen and Karnik warn of an increase in phishing sites masquerading as AI tools, as well as spoofed tax sites enhanced by powerful generative AI. 

"When it comes to taxes, less data shared is always the safer approach," said Caen. 

In addition to the text content of chats, any files uploaded to chatbots are also at risk, Karnik warned. Never upload full tax forms, your Social Security number, or bank account details, experts warn. Avoid other personally identifiable information, too, like your employer's details or your address.

"We don't know where this information is eventually ending up," said Karnik. "It's going somewhere. It's being processed by some Large Language Model. Who knows how it will be utilized for training."

ChatGPT is no math whiz 

Another reason to avoid chatbot accountants, according to Karnik: Most LLMs aren't good at doing the math. Users have shared ChatGPT errors on the r/tax subreddit, like incorrect income tax figures and misunderstandings of capital gains tax brackets. 

And while ChatGPT and its competitors have recently improved in their ability to do complex calculations, they aren't infallible. Nuances in tax law and IRS procedures change frequently, Karnik explained, with chatbot models potentially pulling from outdated sources or coalescing information that spans differing state and federal codes. 

Hallucinations are still a problem, too. "In general, you can't trust the output," Karnik said. "You don't want that to turn into an issue with the IRS, because the IRS doesn't care if you say 'the AI told me so.'"

SEE ALSO: How to file for an extension on your taxes Use chatbots in moderation

Instead, security and tax professionals encourage taxpayers to seek out in-person, professional help if it's available (and financially feasible) for you to do so. Karnik says this lessens the chances of you being victim to tax scams or digital attacks by a bad actor.

But they also recognize that not everyone is able to hire their own tax pro.

In general, practicing good digital hygiene will keep the impact of potential AI-powered breaches to a minimum. Use secure, well-known platforms, enable multifactor authentication, and avoid accessing financial tools on public or unsecured networks, recommends Caen. Karnik suggests not completing your taxes while traveling or using a VPN if you must, regardless of the digital tools you choose, as unknown networks could open you up to malicious attacks. 

If you can't get away from the allure of the chatbots, both Caen and Karnik recommend using them only for general guidance. "Think of AI as a research assistant," said Caen. 

You can ask AI tools to explain deductions, terminology, or filing steps, without providing your personal tax details. Use ChatGPT's responses to organize questions you'll pose to human professionals. 

"These tools are good guides," said Karnik. "It doesn't mean you can take their advice, especially for tax filing."

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We've long seen a problem with fraud on Facebook and Instagram. Now the company behind both social networks appears to be going on the offensive against scammers — by announcing a sweeping slate of new AI-powered tools and law enforcement partnerships.

Meta says it removed over 159 million scam ads in 2025, and took down 10.9 million accounts on Facebook and Instagram tied to criminal scams. The company also participated in a disruption operation with the FBI, the Department of Justice, and the Royal Thai Police, resulting in the disabling of more than 150,000 accounts and 21 arrests.

SEE ALSO: Facebook and Instagram might get paid subscription tiers soon

The new tools rolling out across Meta's apps include real-time warnings on Facebook about suspicious friend requests, a WhatsApp alert system that flags potentially fraudulent device-linking attempts, and an expanded Messenger scam-detection feature that uses AI to analyze chat patterns and warn users before they get defrauded.

No new protections were announced for Instagram, which has also seen widespread security problems — most recently a spate of password reset emails.

Meta also says it plans to require advertiser verification across its highest-risk ad categories. Its goal: to have verified advertisers drive 90% of ad revenue by the end of 2026, up from 70% today.

The announcement comes as Meta faces fire on another front. CEO Mark Zuckerberg took the stand in a Los Angeles courtroom this week to defend the company against allegations that its platforms are engineered to hook children for profit.

Depending on where you're standing, Tuesday's announcement could read as a genuine safety push — or well-timed reputation management.

A $2.7 billion dollar class action lawsuit against Sony is currently underway in the UK.

The issue at hand? Lawyers for the plaintiff are arguing that Sony is taking advantage of its "monopoly position" by forcing gamers to buy digital games solely through its PlayStation Store. The suit also claims Sony forced gamers to pay 'unfair download fees'.

The case went to London's Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) this week on behalf of 12 million PlayStation users in the UK.

The class action against Sony addresses similar issues that companies like Apple have experienced in the U.S., UK, and EU. Big tech companies like Google, Sony, and Apple have been accused of forcing developers and users alike to distribute and purchase content through their official digital stores. This allows these companies to set content rules and, crucially, prices. This can also prevent third parties from entering the market to compete.

"Sony can and does set the retail prices ... without facing ​any retail competition for ​digital content," said lawyer Robert Palmer, who is representing the leading plaintiff Alex Neill in the lawsuit. "It ⁠allows [Sony] to obtain monopoly profits from digital distribution."

According to the lawsuit, Sony's monopoly over digital distribution for the PlayStation consoles has resulted in digital downloads costing more than physical hard copies of the games at times.

Sony's defense has been that allowing third parties to sell PlayStation content would bring on security and privacy risks for its users. The company also claims that the commission it makes from PlayStation Store sales covers the costs of its PlayStation consoles. Sony says PlayStation 5 prices, for example, result in low profit margins for the company. 

If the lawsuit is successful, any consumer who purchased a PlayStation game or in-game content in the PlayStation Store over the last 10 years, up until last month, could be eligible for compensation. The legal team believes that there could be more than 12 million eligible users, each of whom would receive more than $200 in compensation.

In the EU, regulations have forced Apple to allow iOS app distribution through third-party app stores. In the UK, Apple is currently undergoing a process to "improve fairness" in its stores, but have not yet had to go the route of allowing third-party app stores. 

CAT has previously ruled against Apple in a similar suit over the App Store's developer commissions, which Apple is currently looking to appeal.

In addition, last month, CAT paved the way for another such case against PC gaming platform Steam to proceed as well.

SAVE $600: As of March 11, get the Bluetti Elite 400 portable power station for $1,298.98, down from its usual price of $1,899. That's a discount of 32% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Bluetti Elite 400 portable power station $1,298.98 at Amazon
$1,899 Save $600.02   Get Deal

Springtime is just around the corner. That means warmer weather and the potential for some seriously damaging storms in certain areas. Where there are storms, there are power outages. Don't be caught unaware this year when your power goes out. Grab a portable power station to keep you afloat when the electricity is out, or at the very least to keep as a backup for other purposes. In fact, you can snag a great option right now for the lowest price we've seen.

As of March 11, get the Bluetti Elite 400 portable power station for $1,298.98, down from its usual price of $1,899. That's $600 off and a discount of 32%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: The EcoFlow Delta 2 Max power station has dropped to its best-ever price at Amazon — save over $500

This absolute unit of a portable power station can go where you go, though it does weigh 80 pounds. It has an attached telescopic handle to make moving it around easier, so you can wheel it around to your closet or garage for safekeeping.

It boasts 3840Wh of power, with a 2600W output (3900W surge power), so it's got you covered if your power is out for a while. It can handle juicing up your phone and laptop, your fridge, even other small appliances all at once, so you don't have to worry about your food going bad or even missing a work meeting.

With nine ports, including four AC outlets, two USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, and a DC port, you can keep everything going at once if needed. And once you've depleted its charge, you can get it back up to full power in a little under 3 hours.

If you're ready to get prepared for any electric emergency, grab this power station while it's still discounted.

SAVE 44%: As of March 11, you can get the Sony ULT Wear headphones for $139.95 on Amazon, down from $249.99. That's a 44% discount or just over $110 in savings.

Sony ULT Wear $139.95 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $110.04   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Walmart Get Deal at Best Buy

If you want premium audio without the premium price tag, the Sony ULT Wear headphones are your best bet. When Mashable's Deputy Shopping Editor, Miller Kern, tested them, she wrote that they deliver "$400 sound on a $200 budget." Now that Amazon has dropped the price to $139.95, that value is even harder to ignore.

As of March 11, you can get the Sony ULT Wear headphones for $139.95 on Amazon, down from $249.99. That's a 44% discount or just over $110 in savings.

SEE ALSO: The 11 best headphones of 2026 — see the top contenders from Sony, Apple, Bose, and Beats

In her review, Kern noted that she preferred the richer, fuller sound of the ULT Wears to that of her $400 Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones. They easily earned a 4.8/5 rating and a Mashable Choice Award for delivering incredible audio quality without the premium price tag.

"I did a sound test comparison with the Sony WH-1000XM5 and Sony ULT Wear headphones because I know the XM5s have amazing sound quality," writes Kern. "Both headphones sounded crisp and clear, but the ULT Wear’s sound was fuller and felt more like surround sound. And even on the standard setting, the bass sounded richer on the ULTs."

They also feature active noise cancellation, 30 hours of battery life, and a dedicated "ULT" button to punch up the bass. If you want high-end audio but can't afford flagship prices, we recommend grabbing these before they're gone.

Wordle lovers might have a new obsession on their hands.

Josh Wardle — the creator of the popular games now owned by the New York Times — released a new word-game creation. It's called Parseword, and it's far more difficult than Wordle. It's a tricky, cryptic crossword puzzle.

It's...quite difficult, especially for a beginner. It's certainly a game for word nerds. I was an English major, and I write for a living, and my first attempt on Wednesday was a total, frustrating failure.

Frankly, it's confusing. Credit: Screenshot courtesy of Parseword.

Whereas Wordle is a simple game that is more about the process of elimination than wordplay, Parseword demands a firm grasp on the English language. You click around, using synonyms, pulling parts of words, or playing with definitions to match one word to another.

You can try out Parsword at its site, and there is a helpful tutorial to help folks get the lay of the land. Perhaps it'll become your new favorite game.

Credit: Screenshot courtesy of Parseword.

The New Yorker wrote about the new game from Wardle, who said his aims for this new creation are modest after the stunning success of Wordle.

"Releasing Parseword is happening more on my own terms, instead of happening to me," he told the magazine.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.

If you were planning on making any birthday wishes or wishing upon a star anytime soon, the trailer for upcoming horror film Obsession may make you reconsider.

SEE ALSO: 'The Hawk' teaser: Will Ferrell embraces his inner golf champion

From Focus Features and writer and director Curry Barker, Obsession introduces Bear (Michael Johnston), a hopeless romantic with a serious crush on his friend Nikki (Inde Navarrette). In order to ensure she reciprocates his feelings, he breaks the mysterious "One Wish Willow," wishing for Nikki to love him more than anything in the whole wide world. And boy oh boy, does he get what he wishes for... and then some.

Obsession's latest trailer shows that the "One Wish Willow" makes Nikki instantly smitten with Bear. But what starts as cuddly affection soon curdles into something darker. If Bear was obsessed with Nikki before, she's a hundred times more obsessed with him now. She becomes a horrifying shell of herself, going feral over her magically induced love for Bear. (And is that blood all over her in the trailer her own, or someone else's? Either way, we're worried!)

According to the trailer, the magic of the "One Wish Willow" will only dissipate after the wisher's death, so looks like Bear's stuck in the bed he's made for the rest of his life. Hey, maybe next time, just ask your crush out instead of wishing for her undying love and trapping you both in a horrible web of magic! Just a thought!

Obsession will screen at SXSW. It hits theaters May 15.

TL;DR: Unblock ITVX for free from anywhere in the world with a VPN. The best service for unblocking free streaming sites is ExpressVPN.

ITVX is the home of massively popular British shows like Love Island, plus live sports, thrilling dramas, and so much more. The problem for interested streamers is that this service is only available in the UK. Haven't we heard this before? It's a common problem, with a simple solution.

If you want to unblock ITVX for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to unblock ITVX for free

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but you can access this popular site from abroad with a VPN. These are useful tools that can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in the UK. This straightforward process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can access sites like ITVX from anywhere in the world.

Unblock ITVX by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit ITVX

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for unblocking streaming sites are not free, but most do offer free-trial peiods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock free sites like ITVX without spending anything. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you the opportunity to temporarily retain access to ITVX before recovering your investment. This works great if you're on vacation.

If you want to retain permanent access to sites like ITVX from anywhere in the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for bypassing content restrictions is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for unblocking streaming sites like ITVX, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Unblock ITVX for free with ExpressVPN.

SAVE $50: The new 13-inch Apple iPad Air (M4, WiFi, 128GB) is on sale for $749 at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart as of mid-March. That's $50 off its usual MSRP of $799; it's never been cheaper.

Apple iPad Air, 13-inch (M4, WiFi, 128GB) $749 at Amazon
$799 Save $50   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Walmart Get Deal at Best Buy

Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart are celebrating the release of Apple's latest tablet with a decent launch day deal. As of March 11 — its first day on the market — the new 13-inch iPad Air with the M4 chip is $50 off at all three retailers. The base configuration with 128GB of storage is now just $749 (normally $799), which is its lowest price yet.

This is the first time the new 13-inch iPad Air has been on sale, but its 11-inch counterpart was marked down to $559 (or $40 off) during its preorder phase. Blessedly, that discount was still live at the time of writing. The two tablets are identical aside from their screen sizes and brightness. The 11-inch model's display is a hair dimmer.

The M4 iPad Air comes in blue, purple, starlight, and space gray. Credit: Apple

Mashable tech editor Timothy Beck Werth got a chance to test the M4 iPad Air right after Apple announced it last week, and in its words, "it delivers iterative updates that improve an already stellar tablet." It's super thin, light, pretty, and probably way too powerful for the average user. Werth thinks "creators, artists, and college students" will take the fullest advantage of it. (Read his full review.)

Here's a quick overview of the M4 iPad Air's specs:

• Apple M4 chip with an 8-core CPU and 9-core GPU

• 12GB RAM

• Liquid Retina touchscreen display with True Tone, a 60Hz refresh rate, 500/600 nits of brightness, and an anti-reflective coating

• 12MP Wide rear camera and 12MP Center Stage camera

• Landscape stereo speakers

• Dual mics

• Apple N1 wireless networking chip (WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 6)

• Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard support

• Apple Intelligence support

• Blue, purple, starlight, and space gray color options

If you need more storage and don't care about having the freshest, most future-proofed specs, consider opting for a last-gen M3 iPad Air instead: The 13-inch model with 512GB of disk space is on sale for $949 on Amazon. (It usually retails for $1,099, so you save a cool $150.) That's a match of its record-low price from last Black Friday.

SEE ALSO: M4 iPad Air review: A tablet that thinks it's an AI laptop

Compared to the newer M4 variant, the M3 iPad Air has older connectivity technology and 8GB of memory instead of 12GB. Their overall designs, displays, and camera systems are exactly the same, and both are plenty fast for running intensive apps. Per Mashable's Werth, the M4 model's upgrades make it just a little better for "[handling] as many AI features as possible."

Between 2025's Happy Gilmore 2 and the Owen Wilson-led Apple TV series Stick, golf comedies are having a moment. Now, Netflix and Will Ferrell are getting in on the game with the upcoming series The Hawk.

SEE ALSO: 'Margo's Got Money Troubles' trailer teases a single mother starting an OnlyFans

Creator Ferrell stars as Lonnie "The Hawk" Hawkins. He was the world's top golfer in 2004, but his career has since lost its magic. His son Lance (Jimmy Tatro) has since taken on the mantle of golf's golden boy, while his ex-wife Stacy (Molly Shannon) believes Lonnie's golfing days are done. But Lonnie's ready for the greatest comeback in golf history: He just needs one more major win to finish out his golf Grand Slam and cement his legacy as a legend.

To help him on his quest for glory, Hawk will need the help of Lance, Stacy, Lance's fiancée Natalie (Katelyn Tarver), and new caddy Sam (Fortune Feimster). His journey won't be without foes, as he'll have to face down rivals like fellow golfer Golden Fisk (Luke Wilson), PGA Tour board member Anton (Chris Parnell), and Stacy's new boyfriend Radford (David Hornsby).

Netflix's first teaser for The Hawk unveils Ferrell in all his golfing glory, but that's not all. The streamer has released two more teasers on Instagram. Watch all three to meet Lonnie for yourself.

The Hawk premieres this summer on Netflix.

SAVE $21: As of March 11, get the Renpho Smart Scale for $42.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $63.99. That's a discount of 33%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Renpho Smart Scale $42.99 at Amazon
$63.99 Save $21   Get Deal

Whether you're just starting out on your fitness journey or you want to get more technical with it, a smart scale can help you reach your goals. And the good news is that these days, you don't have to spend an arm and a leg to get one. In fact, you can get a great one right now for less than $100 at Amazon.

As of March 11, get the Renpho Smart Scale for $42.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $63.99. That's $21 off and a discount of 33%.

SEE ALSO: Score the Amzmerit smart scale for its best-ever price on Amazon — save $50 with this handy coupon code

This affordable smart scale comes with a wide variety of features to help offer more information about your body. Right away when you step on, it gives you 7 key body metrics on its large display, including body weight, water percentage, muscle mass, BMI, bone mass, body fat, and metabolic age. All of these measurements can be tracked and synced with the accompanying app as well as your favorite companion software like Apple Health or MyFitnessPal.

There are up to 13 body metrics that the scale can offer, as well as multiple customizable profiles, pet and baby weighing modes, and a range of other options that make it the perfect fit not just for one person, but an entire household.

If you're ready for a leg up on your fitness journey, grab this smart scale while it's at an even lower price than usual.

SAVE 54%: As of March 11, you can get the Shark AV2501AE AI robot vacuum for $299.99, down from $649.99. That's a 54% discount or $350 in savings.

Shark AV2501AE AI robot vacuum $299.99 at Amazon
$649.99 Save $350   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Walmart

A robot vacuum isn't saving you that much time if you have to follow it around to rescue it from getting stuck, or if you have to manually empty its tiny dustbin every single day. If you want a hands-off cleaning experience, you need one with smart mapping and a self-emptying base. And it just so happens, Amazon has a few options on sale right now.

As of March 11, you can get the Shark AV2501AE AI robot vacuum for $299.99, down from $649.99. That's a 54% discount or $350 in savings.

SEE ALSO: I found the best robot vacuums for every floor, budget, and level of laziness (after testing 30+ models at home)

This model uses LIDAR navigation to accurately map your floor plan and clean in a precise grid. And thanks to its HEPA filter, which traps dust, dander, and allergens, it's also a great choice for pet owners. You'll get up to 120 minutes of battery life on a single charge, and if it runs low mid-clean, it'll automatically return to the dock to recharge, then pick up right where it left off.

Its best feature, however, is its self-emptying base. It holds up to 60 days' worth of dirt, so you can largely forget about it for two months at a time. It's also entirely bagless, which means you won't be stuck paying for expensive replacement bags down the line.

SAVE $73: As of March 11, you can pick up a like-new Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition (32GB) at Amazon for only $206.99. A new device is typically $279.99, so you'll save about $73 or 26%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Kindle Like-New Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition (32GB) $206.99 at Amazon
$279.99 Save $73   Get Deal

Looking to up your reading in 2026? A Kindle is the ticket. There's plenty of options to choose from, but if reading in color is a priority to you, you'll need a Colorsoft model. The Kindle Colorsoft lineup comes with pretty steep price tags, but if you opt for a refurbished model, you can get one for a steal.

As of March 11, you can pick up a like-new Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition (32GB) at Amazon for only $206.99. Usually $279.99 brand new, that saves you 26% or about $73. Amazon has tested, refurbished, and certified this model to work and look like it's brand new. It even comes with the same warranty as a new device.

The first-ever color Kindle, which launched back in fall 2024, brings a richer digital reading experience to the e-readers everyone knows and loves. It really shines for those who like to read graphic novels and comics, want to see a book cover in all its colorful glory, or prefer highlighting in sentences in vivid hues.

The seven-inch e-reader is basically the same as the Paperwhite Signature Edition, only its display supports a full spectrum of shades. It packs 32GB of storage, an auto-adjusting front light, wireless charging capabilities, adjustable warm light, a fully waterproof body, and an eight-week battery life (slightly shorter than the Paperwhite). It also omits lockscreen ads, which usually cost a premium to remove.

Mashable's e-reader expert doesn't typically recommend the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition at full price, as other color e-readers are much cheaper. But with this deal on a like-new refurbished model, the price is much easier to recommend.

SAVE $300: As of March 11, get the Dreame Matrix10 Ultra robot vacuum and mop for $1,499.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1,799.99. That's a discount of 17% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Dreame Matrix10 Ultra robot vacuum and mop $1,499.99 at Amazon
$1,799.99 Save $300   Get Deal

If you're tired of spending your precious time pushing around a vacuum or mop at home, it's time to assign that kind of busywork to a machine. A robot vacuum is always up to the task, and there's a great pick on sale now that's more than capable of getting the job done.

As of March 11, get the Dreame Matrix10 Ultra robot vacuum and mop for $1,499.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1,799.99. That's $300 off and a discount of 17%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: Top 4 robot vacuums for hardwood floors that scrub without scratching, tested on my floors at home

This robot vacuum and mop is a more sophisticated unit that can handle both chores beautifully. It offers 30,000Pa of suction power for handling dirt and debris or even tangled hair if needed, so it's keen to push through even the more difficult messes, say from pet hair or the ground-in dirt in your carpet.

It can automatically detect when it's cleaning carpets, in fact, and adjust its suction type accordingly. It can also effortlessly switch to mop pads, so rugs and carpets don't get damp before it's time to start cleaning hard flooring.

It can accomplish this as well as avoid over 240 types of objects with its OmniSight navigation and LED lighting for more accurate mapping. Plus, the robot always heads back to an all-in-one base that automates everything: mop switching, drying, water refilling, and even cleaning and sanitizing. It truly can handle it all so you don't have to think about tidying up.

If you want this type of clean without having to so much as lift a finger, don't miss out on this deal.

SAVE $152: As of March 11, the Samsung 55-inch Q7F QLED 4K TV is on sale at Amazon for only $377.99. That's about 29% off its original list price and less than $10 away from its best price ever.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 55-inch Q7F QLED 4K TV $377.99 at Amazon
$529.99 Save $152   Get Deal

While the fanciest (and most expensive) TVs on the market are certainly impressive, they're overkill for most people. A budget-friendly TV from a premium brand will still pack a decent screen for streaming. And that's what most of us are using our TVs for, right?

If you're looking to upgrade your TV and don't want to spend a fortune, the Samsung Q7F QLED 4K TV should do the trick. As of March 11, it'll only cost you $377.99 at Amazon if you pick up the 55-inch model. It usually retails for $529.99 (as seen on Samsung's own website), so you'll be saving about 29%. That's also less than $10 away from its best price ever.

The Samsung Q7F may fall into budget-friendly territory, but it doesn't skimp on features. It has integrated voice controls (Alexa, Bixby, Hey Google), 4K upscaling, and Bluetooth connectivity for those who want to add a soundbar or custom speaker setup. It also features Samsung Knox security for privacy and data protection, and of course, access to any streaming app you can imagine. Its quantum-dot display with HDR10+ enhances details and colors for vivid imagery, no matter what you're watching. The refresh rate is fairly low, so we wouldn't recommend this TV for gamers. But if you just want a solid streaming TV, the Q7F is one of the best budget options Samsung has to offer.

SAVE 12%: As of March 11, you can get the Apple MacBook Pro (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) for $1,399.99 at Amazon, down from $1,599. That's a 12% discount or $199.01 savings.

Apple MacBook Pro (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,399.99 at Amazon
$1,599 Save $199.01   Get Deal at Amazon

Apple just launched its new $599 budget MacBook Neo today, and everyone's scrambling to place preorders. But while everyone else is distracted by the new budget model, Amazon is quietly cutting prices on its "older tech," like the current-generation M5 MacBook Pro.

As of March 11, you can get the Apple MacBook Pro (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) for $1,399.99 at Amazon, down from $1,599. That's a 12% discount or $199.01 savings. (While that may not sound like a doorbuster deal, $200 is $200.)

SEE ALSO: MacBook Neo vs. MacBook Air (M5): How Apple's new laptops compare

The MacBook Pro comes standard with 16GB of memory and 512GB of SSD storage, and is built from the ground up to handle Apple Intelligence and heavier workloads without breaking a sweat. In fact, Mashable named the M5 MacBook Pro the best upgrade pick of the year thanks to its beautiful 120Hz mini-LED display, port options, and battery life.

If you need a reliable machine that'll help you breeze through your workflow for the next five years, this is the one to grab while it's on sale.