Deals & savings
- Verizon is waiving late fees and offering flexible payment arrangements for federal workers affected by the partial DHS shutdown, a short-term consumer relief move to watch for if you or family are impacted. (Source: Engadget)
Subscriptions & price moves
- Crunchyroll is now available as a channel in the Apple TV app, giving subscribers an alternative way to access and manage the service after last year’s price increase and subtitle controversy. (Source: Engadget)
- PlayStation 5 prices have risen again in the U.S.; Sony cites ongoing global pressures for the tweak — keep this in mind if a console purchase is on your shopping list. (Source: Engadget)
Security & account safety (why this matters to deals)
- Two recent cybersecurity stories underscore risk to consumer accounts: the European Commission confirmed a cloud infrastructure breach, and hackers linked to Iran published material from an accessed personal email account associated with a public official. Breaches like these can impact how services authenticate, bill, or notify users. (Sources: Engadget)
Quick tips
- If you or a household member is a federal worker affected by the DHS shutdown, contact Verizon about waived late fees and flexible payment plans.
- When subscribing through platforms (Apple TV channels, carrier billing), confirm billing method and cancellation terms to avoid surprise charges.
- Harden accounts now: enable 2FA where available, use unique passwords, and monitor email and payment notifications for suspicious activity.
Key takeaways
- Verizon offered short-term billing relief for some federal workers.
- Crunchyroll can now be subscribed to through the Apple TV app.
- PS5 has another U.S. price increase — delay purchases if price-sensitive.
- Recent breaches highlight the importance of securing streaming and carrier accounts.
Sources
- Verizon waives late fees for federal workers affected by partial DHS shutdown — https://www.engadget.com/mobile/verizon-waives-late-fees-for-federal-workers-affected-by-partial-dhs-shutdown-221814382.html?src=rss
- Kash Patel’s personal email account was accessed by hackers linked to Iran — https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/kash-patels-personal-email-account-was-accessed-by-hackers-linked-to-iran-212618474.html?src=rss
- Mark Zuckerberg offered to ‘help’ Elon Musk with DOGE in 2025 — https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/mark-zuckerberg-offered-to-help-elon-musk-with-doge-in-2025-211737138.html?src=rss
- Meta will fund seven new natural gas plants to power its biggest data center yet — https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/meta-will-fund-seven-new-natural-gas-plants-to-power-its-biggest-data-center-yet-201000045.html?src=rss
- European Commission confirms data breach — https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/european-commission-confirms-data-breach-200000982.html?src=rss
- Crunchyroll is now available as a channel in the Apple TV app — https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/crunchyroll-is-now-available-as-a-channel-in-the-apple-tv-app-182500579.html?src=rss
- The PS5 is getting more expensive… again — https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/the-ps5-is-getting-more-expensive-again-133141514.html?src=rss
Disclaimer: Not financial/professional advice.