Does Matter Need a Hub? Here's What the Smart Home Standard Actually Requires
Ray KowalskiMatter promises one app for every brand's gadgets. Whether you also need a separate box on your network depends on one detail most product pages skip.
What FERPA actually permits before a new app touches student data
Naomi BergmanThe 'school official' exception is why a class can start using an app without a permission slip for every family — but only when a vendor clears three specific conditions written into federal regulation, not its own privacy page.
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What COPPA actually covers when your child under 13 signs up for an app
Naomi BergmanThe federal children's privacy rule governs data, not content. Here is what it requires of an app, what the 2025 amendments changed, and where the decision is still yours.
What a p-value actually means (and what it doesn't)
Naomi BergmanA p-value is the probability of data at least as extreme as the observed data if the null hypothesis were true — not the probability that the hypothesis is true, and not the size of the effect.
The Best Smart Plug for Most Homes, Per the Documented Specs
Ray KowalskiOn the supplied evidence, a $13 Matter-certified plug from a major brand covers most households — with two catches worth knowing before checkout.
FTC Sends Refunds to Consumers Who Bought Pyrex Glass Manufacturer’s Products Falsely Advertised as Made in USA
William ElliottThe Federal Trade Commission is sending more than $ 88,000 in refunds to consumers who bought Chinese-made measuring cups marketed as “ Made in USA ” by Instant Brands , the maker of Pyrex-brand kitchen and home products.The FTC took action against Instant Brands in 2023 charging that the company
FTC Warns Companies to Stop Warranty Practices That Harm Consumers’ Right to Repair
William ElliottFederal Trade Commission staff sent warning letters to eight companies about their warranty practices that may be standing in the way of consumers ’ right to repair products they have purchased.The warning letters inform the companies of FTC staff ’ s concerns that their practices violate the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act
Apple Inc. Plans: Research and Apple
Brandi Reed
How to set up a passkey and stop relying on passwords
Brandi ReedPasskeys replace your password with a cryptographic key tied to your device. Here is what they actually protect against and how to turn one on for your Google account and your Apple devices.