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21 Nov 2024

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Billionaire Gautam Adani indicted in New York on bribery charges
Those bribes were "to lie to investors and banks to raise billions of dollars, and to obstruct justice," the Deputy Assistant Attorney General said.

Banks struggle to harness full potential of cloud tech
A new report reveals traditional banks struggle to leverage cloud investments effectively, contrasting with fintechs that prioritise sales growth.

Inquest opens into death of Suzy Lamplugh suspect
John Cannan was serving a life sentence for the murder of Shirley Banks. He died in HMP Full Sutton.

Black Friday power bank deals: What to expect and early sales
Black Friday 2024 might be weeks away still, but the early power bank deals have already begun. Retailers have started offering early deals on some great portable chargers and we’ve scoured all the sales to share the best values, whatever size or capacity you’re in the market for. We’re already seeing some great discounts on power banks from the likes of Mophie and Anker, two highly respected names in the portable charging game. We’ll continue to track down and highlight the best power bank deals leading up to and during Black Friday. Best early Black Friday power banks deals Anker 633 MagGo Battery, 10,000mAh/1x USB-A/1x USB-C/MagSafe charging, $39.99 (27% off on Amazon) Mregb Solar Charger, 42,800mAh/2x USB-A/1x USB-C/Flashlight/Solar charging panel, $29.97 (67% off on Amazon) INIU Slim Portable Charger, 10,000mAh/USB-C in and out, $17.99 (40% off on Amazon) JIGA Portable Charger, 30,000mAh/2x USB-A/1x USB-C/1x micro USB/Flashlight, $19.72 (27% off on Amazon) OHOVIV Portable Charger, 50,000mAh/2x USB-A/1x USB-C/1x micro USB, $33.99 (56% off on Amazon) Anker 737 Power Bank, 24,000mAh/140w output/2x USB-A/1x USB-C, $106.48 (29% off on Amazon) Loveledi Portable Charger, 15,000mAh/2x USB-A/1x USB-C/1x micro USB, $19.99 (75% off on Amazon) Anker PowerCore 10K, 10,000mAh/1x USB-A/1x USB-C/1x micro USB, $18.99 (21% off on Amazon) Anker Power Bank 20,000, 20,000mAh/1x USB-A/2x USB-C/87w charging, $47.99 (20% off on Amazon) My top picks: Deals on portable chargers and power banks are already excellent this far out from Black Friday. The Anker 633 MagGo Battery for $40 off on Amazon is a personal favorite thanks to its charging stand as well as its ability to attach magnetically to your phone for convenient on-the-go charging. If you need something rugged and reliable that you can bring on even the harshest of adventures, then look no further than the Mregb Solar Charger Power Bank on sale for $60 off on Amazon. This absolute tank of a power bank can recharge without the need for an outlet thanks to its built-in solar panel, and its IP67 waterproof rating means it can be submerged in water for up to 30 minutes without damage. FAQ 1. When is Black Friday? Black Friday 2024 will fall on Friday, November 29. However, many retailers have already begun offering great discounts on power banks. Keep your eyes tuned to PCWorld for the best deal alerts. We’ll be covering discounts now through the Thanksgiving weekend, and on to Cyber Monday, December 2. 2. What should I look for in a portable power bank? Quality can differ greatly among power banks, so it’s best to stick to recognizable brands like Anker, Mophie, Belkin, and the like. That said, there are a few things you should always look for when shopping for a power bank. First, make sure the battery pack is Quick Charge 2.0, 3.0, or PD certified. Next, don’t put too much stock in a company’s claims about specific charging times, such as charging an iPhone 15 in two hours. Focus more on the battery capacity, along with weight and size. Larger capacities, in the 20,000 mAh or higher range, should be enough for most small devices such as tablets or smartphones. Finally, make sure that the power bank comes with all of the correct connectivity options you need—USB-A or USB-C, etc. 3. What battery capacity should you look for? For a portable power bank that you can easily travel with, you should look for a minimum of 10,000 mAh. Most models these days even offer 20,000 mAh for reasonable prices. The more mAh, the better. Just be sure to weigh your capacity needs against the physical size of the power bank. Generally, the more mAh a power bank has, the larger its physical size and the heavier it is, as well. Therefore, we recommend that when looking at a power bank, you first consider the amount of power you need to charge your devices, and then adjust your expectations according to the size and weight you are willing to carry around with you.

Banks lead industries in adoption of generative AI technology
A report reveals that 60% of banking leaders are integrating generative AI technology into operations, outpacing other sectors in adoption rates.

Watch out for fake online stores as Black Friday approaches
A few months ago, I shared a story about how I nearly got taken in by a fake online store when I went shoe shopping. (I eventually got the shoes, thanks for coming with me on this journey.) It looks like those fake stores are ramping up, as thousands of malicious online storefronts have been identified as part of a new scam ring to steal payment info. Be careful if you’re shopping for holiday gifts. Threat researcher EclecticIQ (via BleepingComputer) identified a ring of about 4,700 fake online storefronts in October. The storefronts are targeting shoppers in the US and Europe, hoping to amass a huge collection of credit card numbers and other identifying info, presumably to be used for identity theft and other fraudulent purchases. Based on IP info, the researchers believe the sites are operating out of China. They’re calling this ring “SilkSpecter.” EclecticIQ outlines some sophisticated methods used to create and distribute these fake storefronts, imitating popular brands like The North Face, LL Bean, and IKEA. Many of them integrate Black Friday into their promotional images and URLs, and they can dynamically translate their content based on the location of the user. They’re using the Stripe API system to retrieve and record personal info. Again, I would caution shoppers to be wary of any store that pops up in a Google search, even if they’re using Google’s dedicated shopping tool. I’ve personally seen similar fakes show up there, and Google’s automated verification system leaves a lot to be desired. Ditto for any kind of advertising (especially on social media) or links sent via email. Remember, if a deal seems too good to be true — like, say, half off for extremely popular shoes that are magically available in every size — then it probably is, even during Black Friday. When in doubt, take a minute to open up a fresh browser tab and search for the verified storefront. EclecticIQ also recommends using virtual credit cards, a sort of “dummy” card offered by many banks that be assigned a spending limit and/or quickly discarded, for an extra layer of security. Oh, and PCWorld is checking all of the links in our own Black Friday deals coverage to make sure they’re safe. We got you, fam.