Twitter for Android usually works just fine. However, there are times where it experiences hiccups. If you’re experiencing an issue where Twitter keeps crashing on your Android device, something is definitely off either with your device or the app. Figuring out the exact cause of the issue is sometimes difficult. In cases like this, it’s best to rely on standard fixes. These fixes look into some common places that can cause the app to not function on your device. Here’s what to do when Twitter keeps stopping on your Android device. 1. Disable Updates for Twitter If you’ve only read that Twitter crashes on Android phones, and you haven’t installed any app updates yet and haven't had any problems so far yourself, consider disabling app updates on your phone for the time being. This will prevent Twitter from being updated, saving you from any potential issues. Android doesn’t allow you to stop updates for a particular app, and so you’re going to have to disable all app updates (temporarily) on your device: Open the Google Play Store on your Android device. Tap your profile icon at the top-right corner of the screen. Select Settings from the menu that appears on your screen. Tap the first option that says General to expand the general settings menu. In the expanded menu, select the Auto-update apps option. Here, choose the Don’t auto-update apps option and tap Done. Image Gallery (2 Images) When Twitter pushes out the update to fix the issue that's causing problems, enable automatic app updates from Google Play Store as described above. 2. Roll Back the Twitter App Update If Twitter started crashing after you updated it to a newer version, the newer update might be the culprit. In this case, you should roll back the update and that should fix your issue. Some phones allow you to easily and quickly uninstall app updates, and the following shows you how to do just that: Open the Settings app on your device. Tap Apps & notifications and select Twitter on the following screen. If you don’t see Twitter, tap See all apps and then select Twitter. Tap the three-dots menu at the top-right corner of your screen and select Uninstall updates. Image Gallery (2 Images) Twitter should now be back to the old functional version. This option is available on phones from OnePlus and a few other manufacturers, but not all of them. 3. Set the Correct Date and Time on Your Device Apps like Twitter usually require that you have the correct date and time settings configured on your phone. If this isn’t the case, the app doesn’t work the way it should. Luckily, it’s only a few taps job to set the correct date and time options on your Android phone: Launch the Settings app on your device. Scroll all the way down and tap System. Select Date & time on the following screen. Toggle on both Use network-provided time and Use network-provided time zone options. Image Gallery (2 Images) Your phone now uses the correct date and time. Launch the Twitter app and see if it works. 4. Log Out and Back Into the Twitter App Signing out of the Twitter app and then signing back in could fix your problem. This basically refreshes your account settings with the app, and it’s worth trying this: Open the Twitter app on your device. Tap the Twitter menu (three horizontal lines) at the top-left corner of your screen. Select Settings and privacy from the menu. Select Account on the following screen to view your account settings. Scroll down the screen that follows, and then tap Log out. Once you’re fully logged out, open the app and log back in. Image Gallery (2 Images) 5. Clear the Data and Cache for Twitter Like many other apps, Twitter stores cache files on your phone to improve its efficiency. Sometimes, these cache files cause issues and there’s a good chance the app is crashing due to these cache files. Fortunately, you can remove cache files for any app without hurting your device. The following is how you do this for Twitter: Access the Settings app on your device. Tap Apps & notifications and choose Twitter. If Twitter doesn’t appear, tap See all apps and then find and tap on Twitter. Select Storage & cache on the Twitter screen. Tap Clear storage and then tap Clear cache on the following screen. Open the Twitter app and log in to your account. Image Gallery (2 Images) 6. Uninstall and Reinstall Twitter If there’s a core issue with Twitter, uninstalling and reinstalling the app on your device can potentially fix the problem. This is easy to do, and just make sure you have your login details handy before you start: Open the Settings app on your Android phone or tablet. Select Apps & notifications followed by Twitter. Tap See all apps if you don’t see Twitter already. On the App info screen for Twitter, tap Uninstall to remove the app from your device. Tap OK in the prompt to uninstall the app. Once the app is uninstalled, open the Google Play Store on your device. Go to the Twitter download page. Tap Install to install the app on your device. Open the newly installed Twitter app and log in to your account. Image Gallery (2 Images) RELATED:Simple Fixes For Common Google Play Store Problems 7. Download an Older Version of Twitter If Twitter still doesn’t function the way it should, you might want to go back to an older version that didn’t have the issue you’re experiencing. This requires you to download Twitter’s APK file and sideload it on your Android device. Check out our list of best APK download sites, choose a site from the list, and download the Twitter APK file. Then, sideload this APK on your Android phone or tablet. That should hopefully fix the issue for you. Prevent Twitter From Crashing on Android Devices Twitter’s Android app is pretty stable and it rarely experiences issues. However, if the app crashes or doesn’t work the way it should, the methods outlined above should help you fix the problem. And, in a rare case, if the methods above don’t work for you, you might want to consider using an unofficial Twitter client on your device. There are many such clients on the market, so you aren’t limited to just the official Twitter client.

Microsoft Teams is a great chat and video app for communication with colleagues and your friends. But, in some cases, your camera may not work when you try to participate in a video call, even if you've used it just for another application. If you are experiencing this issue, try the solutions listed here to get back to using Microsoft Teams efficiently. 1. Try These Simple Solutions If you want to avoid reinstalling the app or updating Windows 10, try these quick fixes first: Restart your laptop or PC. Restart Microsoft Teams. If you have a USB camera, disconnect it and reconnect it. Connect your camera through a different port to make sure a malfunctioning USB port doesn’t cause your problems. Close other apps that need camera access, such as Zoom or Skype. Usually, these apps might already run in the background, meaning your camera is already in use. 2. Use the Web Browser If you are in a hurry and don’t have enough time to fix the Microsoft Teams app or Windows 10 settings, using the web browser could be the best solution. Open Microsoft Teams on your preferred browser. Sign in using your credentials. Open the Chat menu and select a contact. Click New meeting > Start meeting. Allow your browser to access your camera and microphone. If your browser doesn’t ask for permission and your camera is still not working, you have to configure the browser settings. For Google Chrome: Click the three dots from the top-right corner. Click Security, then head to Privacy and security > Site Settings. Open the Permissions menu, then select Camera. Select the Microsft Team's site. Expand the menus next to Camera and Microphone and select Allow. Note: You have to allow Microsoft Teams access to your microphone because your camera might have a built-in microphone. For Microsoft Edge: Click the three-dots from the top-right corner (or press Alt + F). Click Settings, then head to Cookies and site permissions > All sites. Select Microsoft Teams site. Use the drop-down menus next to Camera and Microphone and select Allow. Note: A few browsers such as Firefox, Safari, or Explorer 11 don't support some of the Microsoft Teams features. 3. Run the Hardware and Device Troubleshooter If you think the problem is caused by hardware or a device malfunctioning, you can use the Hardware and Device troubleshooter to fix the problem. Here is how you can do it: In the Start menu search bar, search for the command prompt and select Run as administrator. Type msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic. Press Enter to open the Hardware and Device troubleshooter. Click Next to start the scan. If it finds any issues, the Hardware and Device troubleshooter will automatically fix them. 4. Update the Microsoft Teams App In general, there’s no need to worry about updates as the Microsoft Teams app updates automatically. However, a bug might stop the app from updating, so you should check for updates manually. Here is how you can do it: Open the Profile menu from the right-top corner. Select Check for updates. If there is an available update, the app will now install it. Close and re-open the app. Make a test call to check if the camera is now working. 5. Reinstall the Microsoft Teams App If you are experiencing more problems besides the camera not working, this could solve them. First, you have to uninstall the app: Click Start, then head to Settings > Apps. From the left-hand menu, select Apps & features. From the apps list, select Microsoft Teams. Click Uninstall. Download and install the app. 6. Update the Camera Driver An outdated driver might cause you camera-related issues. To fix them, follow these steps: In the Start menu search bar, search for device manager and select the Best match. Expand the Imaging devices menu. Right-click the camera and select Update driver. Windows 10 will automatically install the driver update, and your camera should now be working. 7. Change the App Settings Microsoft Teams is designed to detect the camera on its own. However, if you can’t start a video call, you need to take a look at the app settings. Here is how to configure Microsoft Teams settings: Open the app Open the profile menu from the top-right corner. Click Settings > Devices. Below Camera, use the drop-down menu and choose which camera you want to use. Check the preview to make sure everything is working as wanted. 8. Check Privacy Settings Maybe a third-party app changed some of the Windows 10 settings, or you made the change yourself and forgot about it. To get your camera working again, you have to change some of the privacy settings. Allow Camera Access Click Start > Settings > Privacy. Under App permission, select Camera. Under Allow access to the camera on this device, click Change and turn on the toggle. Turn on the toggle below Allow apps to access your camera. Turn on the toggle for Microsoft Teams below Allow desktop apps to access your camera. Allow Microphone Access If you are using a camera with a built-in microphone, you also need to change its privacy settings. Here is how you can do it: Click Start > Settings > Privacy. Under App permission, select Microphone. Under Allow access to the microphone on this device, click Change and turn on the toggle. Turn on the toggle below Allows apps to access your microphone. Under Choose which Microsoft Store apps can access your microphone, turn on the toggle for Microsoft Teams. 9. Disable Other Devices If you have multiple webcams and want to use the in-built one, simply unplug any other webcam connected to your device. However, if you want to use a USB camera, you have to disable the other camera using Device Manager. Here is how you can do it: In the Start menu search bar, search for device manager and select the Best match. Expand the Imaging devices menu. Right-click the camera you want to disable and select Disable device. Open the Microsoft Teams app and check if the camera is now working. To re-enable the camera, go through the 1-2 steps, and at step 3, select Enable device. Get Back in Meetings It might be difficult to identify what caused your camera to stop working in Microsoft Teams. You may be dealing with an old driver, a privacy setting problem in Windows 10, or a defect in your USB port. Regardless of what caused the issue, these solutions will help you resolve the issue so that you don't have to reschedule your important meetings.

Using keyboard shortcuts can improve your productivity as it’s faster to press two or three keys than to search for a feature through a list or menu. You can use keyboard shortcuts for your email accounts, file folders, image editing programs, and more. If you can’t use the keyboard shortcuts advantage on your Windows 10 device, we have put together some quick fixes in this guide. 1. Run Keyboard Troubleshooter A quick and simple solution to fix your problem is to use Windows 10 Keyboard Troubleshooter. Here is how you can do it: Click Start, then head to Settings > System > Update & Security. Click Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters. Under Find and fix other problems, select Keyboard. Select Run the troubleshooter to start the scan. 2. Enable Sticky Keys Keyboard shortcuts could fail to work if you don’t press the key combinations at the same time. If you are having difficulties pressing multiple keys at the same time, you should enable Sticky Keys. This Windows 10 feature allows you to press the shortcut keys one after another. Here is how to enable it: Click Start, then head to Settings > Ease of Access. From the Interaction section, select Keyboard. Turn on the toggle below Use Sticky Keys. If you want to turn on or off Sticky Keys using a keyboard shortcut, check the box next to Allow the shortcut key to start Sticky Keys. This will allow you to turn it on or off by pressing Shift five times. 3. Turn On Windows 10 Key Hotkeys Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog, type gpedit.msc into the dialog box, then press Enter to access the Local Group Policy Editor. Head to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer. Open Turn off Windows Key hotkeys. Select Disabled or Not Configured. Click Apply to save the new settings. 4. Check Human Interface Device Service If you have difficulties using keyboard shortcuts on your Windows 10 device, you should check Human Interface Device Service. Here is how you can do it: Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog. Type services.msc and press Enter. Right-click Human Interface Device Service > Start. If it is already running, click Restart. Right-click it again and select Refresh. Make Your Keyboard Shortcuts Work Again If you restart your PC or laptop, connect your USB keyboard through another port, and the shortcuts are still not working, you need to try some troubleshooting methods.

YouTube is one of the most popular social platforms, with billions of videos and more are added regularly. Everyone is familiar with the Youtube comment section. It helps the viewers as well as the one who uploads the videos. The audience can catch the video’s key points by reading the comments or raising their voice to support well-meaning constructive criticism. Many users first read comments before watching videos, as we can get an idea of how the video is? Is it worth watching it or not. Or some of them go through the comment section to get some extra information. But there are times when comments are not loading Chrome browser. If the comment section is not loading on your PC, there might be different reasons, like connection issues, or the user might have disabled the comment section. So, before you go ahead, make sure you check it properly. Best Ways to Fix YouTube Comments Not Loading Error in Google Chrome If the comment section is ON, but it gives a problem while loading, then here are some ways to fix it easily. Try out these troubleshooting steps to solve the issue. Method 1: Reload the Browser If the Youtube comments are loading properly for all the videos on other browsers, you can close the Chrome tab or reload it. The comments might not be able to load due to some connection error also. To refresh or reload the browser, press the F5 key or click on the Refresh button in the browser. If you are having a connection problem or page loading, then this might solve the error. Method 2: Clear Browsing Data Clearing browser data is the best way to load pages faster. Many websites store data locally on your browsing devices, but it can cause such errors and YouTube comments could not load because of this. So, to resolve the issue, it is better to clear all the cookies and cached images and files. Let’s see how it can be done: Open your browser and click on the three dots menu icon on the top right side of the screen. Go to the Settings menu and select Privacy and security from the left-hand side menu. Now, click on the Clear browsing data option. Here, you need to select all the available checkboxes and then click on Clear Data. This will clear all your browser cache and history. Method 3: Reset the Entire Browser Even after clearing the browser cache, you have the same issue, then try to reset the browser settings. This can fix the problem. Let’s check how to do it: Go to Chrome browser, and click on the three dots menu and click on Settings. In Settings windows, on the left-hand side, you will see the Advanced option. Click on it. Now, click on Reset and clean up >> Restore settings to their original defaults. Confirm that you want to reset the settings. This will wipe off the whole browser configuration. Method 4: Disable Browser Extensions Some of the browser extensions might be the cause of the comments not loading. If you are using an extension like ad-blocking or any other, then disable it and check whether comments are loading or not. Disabling browser extension in Chrome is straightforward. Just select the three dots menu icon >> More Tools >> Extensions. A list of extensions that are installed will appear. Select the extension that you think is causing a problem with Youtube, toggle off the button. If you think any other extension is causing the problem, then disable all the extensions. Now, return to the YouTube video and check if the problem is solved or not. If the issue is solved, then the extension is at fault. If you have tried all of these methods but still have the issue, you can change the browser or reset the network settings. Once you fix YouTube comments not loading errors, you can start commenting on the video you want.

The startup sounds of any device are fun. Makers craft their product’s startup sound to be simple and good to impress the user at the very first step. And with Microsoft, it had done well with all the Windows versions till now. But for some reason, the maker has disabled the startup sound in the latest Windows 10 Operating System. This is usual, as software vendors often remove features that seem outdated to make them modern. But, the start-up sound remained addictive to most users, and they are happy to it back. And if you’re one of those, here’s how to bring it back. Remember, Microsoft has just disabled the startup sound in Windows 10 but didn’t remove it altogether. So here’s how to try; Steps to Enable Legacy Startup Sound in Windows 10 Go to Settings. For this, open Start Menu, check the icon right above the power button, or search for Settings and hit Enter upon finding. Here, go to Personalization. Now, click on Themes in the left side menu, which shows various options on the right side like Background, Color, etc. You’ll also find Sounds in them. Click on them. Clicking on Sounds will open a small window where you find the Play Windows Startup Sound check box in the Sounds section. Checkmark the box and click OK to save the changes. Now restart your PC or try hearing the startup sound next time you turn on the PC. You’d feel nostalgic if you’re such a fan of Windows 7 startup sound. This startup sound has served a good go for many after dealing with various hardware diagnostics for years

A class action lawsuit has been filed in South Korea accusing cryptocurrency exchange V Global of defrauding investors. The police reportedly estimate that 69,000 people have invested with the crypto exchange and the damage amounts to 3.8 trillion won. Crypto Exchange Sued for Defrauding Investors South Korean cryptocurrency exchange V Global has been accused of fraud worth $3.8 trillion won ($3.5 billion). A class action lawsuit has been filed by 130 victims. Daegeon, a law firm representing the victims, said: “The 130 victims decided to file a joint complaint with the Gyeonggi Southern Police Agency against three executives and employees, including the CEO of V Global, a cryptocurrency exchange, on June 4.” According to local media: The police estimate that 69,000 victims have invested with V Global and the damage amounts to 3.8 trillion won. Han Sang-joon, a lawyer at Daegeon, explained that there were “actually 20,000 to 30,000 victims who did not get their money back, and 600 billion to 1 trillion won in money that was not returned.” However, he emphasized that “It could be bigger.” In April, V Global filed a complaint against Daegeon for defamation. V Global held briefing sessions across the country from August last year until recently, promising investors that if they open an account with the crypto exchange and deposit at least 6 million won into the account, they “will get back 18 million won, three times the investment in a short period of time.” The victims also said that V Global divided investors into 7 levels and promised to pay them each time they brought in a new member. Investors soon realized that the crypto exchange operated a Ponzi scheme and the investment of existing members is returned with the money from new members. V Global has also issued its own native token. Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency suspected illegal activities at V Global earlier this year and launched an investigation. The police are reportedly expanding their investigation nationwide since the company held investment briefing sessions and recruited investors from all over the country. Last month, the police raided the cryptocurrency exchange and V Global forfeited 240 billion won. Nam Gu-jun, head of the National Investigation Headquarters, said, “We have booked about 60 suspects so far, and we are analyzing the confiscated items before indictment.”

Sina Weibo, the Chinese equivalent of Twitter, banned the accounts of several key cryptocurrency and defi influencers in the country yesterday, according to reports from local sources. This might be a continuation of the anti-crypto stance the Chinese state has been exerting since 2013, and more profoundly in the last days with the crackdown of the state on crypto trading and mining. Sina Weibo Suspends Crypto-Related Accounts Sina Weibo, the Chinese substitute for Twitter, has recently banned the accounts of a large amount of cryptocurrency and decentralized finance (defi) related accounts from its platform. This was announced by Colin Wu, a local cryptocurrency journalist, using his Twitter account dubbed “Wu Blockchain.” According to the reporter, this might be the logical continuation of the latest crackdown the Chinese government is orchestrating to ban trading and mining in its territory. Wu states the suspension of these accounts can have an impact on how Chinese traders conduct business from now on, due to its big following. Wu tweeted on the subject, declaring: The total number of fans of these people is more than 5 million, and their influence on Chinese retail investors may not be less than Musk. The accounts blocked by the Chinese government are mainly recommending investment and trading crypto to retail investors. Weibo, alongside Wechat, is one of the most popular social networks in the country, and a large percentage of Chinese citizens use it daily to be informed about the news that is not normally featured in mainstream Chinese media. But, this alternative platform is also monitored and watched by government censors. While Sina Weibo has not made an official statement of why these accounts related to cryptocurrency were banned, all of the accounts have a thing in common: they have “Bitcoin” (比特币) in their user names. Not the First Time As alarming as this might seem, this is not the first time that Sina Weibo applies actions of this kind. Earlier this year, the social media platform also charged against the accounts of Okex, Huobi, and Binance by suspending them without any warning. This might be just the start of a set of actions directed to intensify the attack on these activities at a legal level. On this, Wu stated: Chinese social media and media are managed by the Propaganda Department. As for cracking down on Bitcoin transactions, the official media are attacking collectively. Therefore, the current ban on social media accounts and content involving cryptocurrency is continuous. Several key exchanges and other companies have preemptively exited China markets, as a caution measure before a possible crackdown in the following months or days against cryptocurrency-related activities.

Progressive Care, a company that operates a chain of pharmacies in the United States, has announced it’s now accepting cryptocurrency for its Covid-19 rapid testing services. Customers are welcome to pay with bitcoin for the quick tests offered at its Pharmcorx locations using a dedicated QR code. Pharmacies Offer Quick Covid Tests for Bitcoin Florida-based Progressive Care Inc. announced in a press release that the company now accepts bitcoin (BTC) as payment for Covid-19 fast testing at its Pharmcorx locations. CEO Alan Jay Weisberg pointed out that the option will allow “those with an alternative view of payment systems to get the testing services they require.” Noting Progressive Care’s dedication to efforts against a resurgence of the virus, the executive stated: We believe in the future of blockchain technologies, generally speaking, and we want to extend our market-leading services in rapid Covid-19 testing solutions to those who prefer to pay through Bitcoin. Weisberg also emphasized that by accepting cryptocurrency the pharmacy chain offers “an excellent alternative for post-pandemic tourists coming into our communities from abroad.” Progressive Care took the decision to introduce the crypto payment option on the eve of the Bitcoin 2021 conference in Miami. The forum has attracted more than 50,000 visitors, including many from abroad, to the Miami metropolitan area which is the company’s main market. Expecting a wave of customers who might require fast Covid testing, the company has generated a QR code for the bitcoin payments to cater to the needs of the cryptocurrency community. Pharmcorx Invites Bitcoin Holders to Its Locations Progressive Care claims that Pharmcorx was the first pharmacy to offer a crypto payment solution for its services some three years ago. The company says that the recently introduced payment option is expanding that commitment. Thus, Pharmcorx is increasing accessibility to PCR tests required by most international airlines as the coronavirus pandemic is still ongoing. Alan Weisberg also said: We are happy to invite Bitcoin holders to our locations for all of their Covid-19 testing needs. “Pharmcorx is invested in becoming the leading testing destination for Rapid Covid-19 Testing solutions for international airlines, Fortune 500 global entertainment companies, chain restaurants, corporate employers, and financial institutions,” the chief executive added. The pharmacy chain has already tested more than 10,000 people for Covid-19, earning over $1 million dollars in revenue.

As the conversation about Bitcoin’s energy consumption reaches a fever pitch, Jack Dorsey’s payment provider Square has unveiled plans to fund a sustainable bitcoin mining facility in conjunction with Blockstream. Mining Project to Serve as Scalable Proof of Concept Bitcoin faces no shortage of consternation, but the spat over the cryptocurrency’s footprint spilled out into the public over the last few weeks following comments from Elon Musk. Although U.S. miners have come together to form the Bitcoin Mining Council following Musk’s critique by promising more transparency on mining’s energy use, Jack Dorsey’s Square plans to lead the way in terms of substantive action. Instead of jawboning the crypto up and down, Dorsey is putting Square’s reputation on the line with an investment allocation to a sustainable mining initiative. The payment giant revealed plans to invest $5 million in a solar-energy-based mining facility in partnership with Blockstream, which will be responsible for providing the infrastructure development know-how. The project will ultimately deliver a proof of concept that underlines how sustainable bitcoin mining can be accomplished at scale, paving the way for more widespread adoption of these techniques. Besides committing itself towards pushing renewable energy into the bitcoin mining conversation, Square envisions the project demonstrating how the cryptocurrency can be an accelerator for heightened sustainability in the future. This action alone contrasts sharply with the more opaque position taken by Musk. However, speculation has also grown that the entrepreneur wants to throw his hat into the ring by introducing a green mining solution of his own by leveraging his existing hardware manufacturing know-how. Square has long been a supporter of cryptocurrencies, and this latest interest in mining echoes other ambitions at the payment provider, like introducing its own hardware wallet solution. During recent tweets, Dorsey underscored that the company was considering collaborating with the community to build a bitcoin hardware wallet to focus on core features like non-custodial functionality, a user-friendly experience, reliability, and minimal setup time.

Nearly 36% of Nigeria’s 106 million adults lack access to both regulated and unregulated financial services, according to the findings of the Enhancing Financial Innovations and Access (EFIA) study. In addition, while the findings do suggest a marginal drop in the percentage of financially excluded adults in the past few years, overall “the actual number of financially excluded adults increased from 36.6 million to 38.1 million.” Population Growth Rate Faster Than Financial Inclusion Growth Rate Additionally, the study findings show this number (financially excluded adults) rising to 52.5 million when not including those that gain access via the so-called informal or unregulated financial services. Meanwhile, in its report, the EFIA attributes this mismatch (between the number of Nigerians that are unbanked (in percentage terms) and the actual number of excluded adults) to the population growth rate. In fact, according to EFIA, Nigeria’s population growth rate is currently outpacing “the rate of financial inclusion growth.” On the other hand, when compared with past studies, the latest findings suggest that Nigeria’s “proportion of formally served adults increased for the first time since 2014.” Yet, despite this apparent drop in the number of unbanked adults, Nigeria still lags behind countries like South Africa and Rwanda where only 7% of the adult population is unbanked. As the findings of the study that was carried between November 2020 to February 2021 show, Kenya (11%) is the country with the next lowest number of adults that are unbanked while Burkina Faso (39%) has the highest number. Importance of Digital Financial Services Also of particular significance for advocates of emerging fintechs is the study’s findings asserting the growing importance of digital financial services in Nigeria. The EFIA study report states: Growth in digital financial services, agent networks, and mobile phone ownership (now at 81%) highlights the opportunity to drive faster financial inclusion growth through digital financial services such as mobile money. The study report, however, fails to share details of the actual digital financial services or products that Nigerians are using. Instead, the report seems to only discuss the potential impact of the increased uptake of mobile money on Nigeria’s financial inclusion targets.

A network security key is a password used to connect devices to a wireless network. It is used to protect a Wi-Fi network from unauthorized users. Only those with the correct key may access a wireless network. Your network security key comes in various forms, from passphrases to digital signatures and biometric data. The keys are used for different services you enjoy daily, such as online shopping and online banking. Types of Network Security Key There are different types of network security keys, which provide varying levels of security. Some options are insecure. WEP Security Key WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) security key uses a 40-bit key to encrypt data between devices such as a router and computer. Over the years, it has become much easier to crack the encryption of connections with WEP keys. This is a major reason why most devices no longer use WEP. WPA/WPA2 Security Key WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) uses integrity checks and a packet mixing function to protect the network. WPA2 is an updated version of WPA. Network security keys encrypted with WPA2 are known to be much more secure. Its security protocol is comprised of a pre-shared key (PSK) authentication. Now that you know what a network security key is, you may be wondering how to find the network security key. The answer to this will depend on the device you use. Here are the different methods you can use to find your network security key to connect your devices to the internet. Finding the Network Security Key on a Router Without the network security key, you may not be able to access internet services as the key ensures that your devices can connect to the router. The network security key for a router is usually found on a label on the device's bottom or back. The key on the label of a router may be marked as "security key," "WEP key," "WPA key," or "passphrase." The network security key on a router can usually be found close to the wireless network name. It is advisable to change the default key after the key is used to access the network. It is important to set a strong password as your wireless network is broadcasted to everyone. RELATED:How To Use Your Android Phone As A Wireless Router If you are not able to find the network security key, you could try and find it through the network control panel on your browser by using the following steps: Type the IP address of your WiFi router into a browser. Enter the username and password that was provided to you by the supplier of the router. Look for options in the control panel related to wireless security, which should show your password. It may not always be possible to use the online control panel to find the security key. For this reason, other options may need to be considered, such as the operating system on a desktop device and mobile devices. Finding the Network Security Keys From Operating Systems on a Desktop Device You may be able to find your network security key on your device, but how you find it depends on the operating system you use. Windows 10 There are different methods you can use to find the network security key on Windows OS. One method of finding the network security key on Windows OS involves using the control panel. Here's how to find your network security key on Windows 10. Go to Control Panel > Network & Internet > View Network Status & Tasks. Select Manage Wireless Networks. Right-click on the network you are looking for and choose Properties. A security tab that shows the password will be available. Clicking on Show Characters will reveal the password, which you can use to add devices to the network. Another method of finding the network key on a Windows OS is to use the Command Prompt. Here's how you find your network security key via the Command Prompt. Type cmd in your Start menu search bar, then select Run as administrator. Input netsh wlan show profile into the Command Prompt to display all networks connected with your device. After the name of the network you plan to use is returned, input netsh wlan show profile ApprovedModems key=clear, replacing "ApprovedModems" with the name of your network. Upon inputting the command, the desktop should return all the Wi-Fi network details, including the key. Linux You can get the network security key on a Linux (Ubuntu) operating system by using the terminal. To find the network security key on Linux, you may use these steps: Change your directory to system connections with the command cd /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/. Files of WiFi connections saved with the name of the WiFi will be in the location. Check for your WiFi file in the directory by typing ls. Providing the file is present, input "cat FILE_NAME" to see its content. Replace the FILE_NAME with the name of WiFi. After you follow the steps outlined, the network details should be displayed by the system. The details include the security key. macOS The steps used to find the password of your router on macOS are the same across versions of macOS: First, you will need to search for "Keychain Access." This can be done by either clicking on Launchpad to complete a search or pressing command and space. Use the search option at the top-right hand corner of the Keychain Access utility to find the network you want to use. Once the network you are looking for shows up on the screen, you can right-click on it to reveal the option to "Copy password to clipboard." The key found through the Keychain Access utility can be used to add a new device to your current network. Chrome OS You will need to enter developer mode to find the network security key on Chrome OS. It is important to note that entering developer mode will restore the Chromebook to factory settings. Backup your data before entering developer mode. Here's how to enter developer mode on a Chromebook. Press Esc, Refresh, and Power simultaneously. Press Ctrl + D on the first screen. Press Enter on the second screen. RELATED:How To Check If Someone Is Stealing Your WiFi & What You Can Do About It After you have entered developer mode, you will be able to enter the Chrome Shell (or crosh, for short) and type the commands needed to get the network security key: Press Ctrl + Alt + T to enter crosh. Type "shell" followed by "sudo su", "cd home/root", and "ls". The system will return a code string that you must copy. Type "cd" and paste the string, then press Enter. Type "shill/shill.profile". After finding your network's name, look for random text close to a line that says "Passphrase=rot47". Enter "echo > yourtexthere | tr ‘!-~’ ‘P-~!-O’." to decrypt the text. Using a Mobile Device to Find the Network Security Keys You can also find your network security key on your mobile devices, too. Android To establish a mobile hotspot on your Android phone, you will need a network security key. The key is required to pair an Android phone with other devices to access the internet using the phone network. The following steps can be followed to enable the mobile hotspot and find the network security key: Access the Wireless & Networks settings on the Android phone. Select the Tethering and Portable hotspot option. Select the WLAN or Wi-Fi hotspot option and enable the WLAN hotspot mode. Select the WLAN hotspot option. Upon selecting the WLAN hotspot option, the Android phone network name and network security key will be displayed. iPhone To find the network security key on an iPhone, follow these steps: Go to iPhone Settings > iCloud > Keychain Enable Keychain. Go back to Setting. Turn on Personal Hotspot. Set up a new password or take note of the randomly generated password Once you have obtained the password, you can input it into the password prompt on the device you wish to connect to the network. Safety First The steps required to access network security keys are usually straightforward, even when some scripting is required. The security keys are typically marked on labels that are placed on the bodies of routers. Even if a network security key is not on the body of the router, it may be found through connected devices or the online control panel for your network provider. It is important to take extra care when trying to access and use your network security key. It is very easy to find and use the key from any device connected to your network. Extra layers of protection, such as a guest wireless network, could be considered to protect your main network.

Did you know that your Wi-Fi connection uses one of four different security types? While all of them are different, they're not all equal; thus, it's essential to learn what security type your Wi-Fi is using. Let's explore the four Wi-Fi security types and see which ones are the best to use. What Are the 4 Wi-Fi Security Types? Wi-Fi security comes in four different types. They're not all equally secure, which is vital to remember when checking your own network's protocol. 1. The Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) Protocol WEP is the oldest of the security types, entering the computing world in 1997. Because of its age, it's still prevalent in the modern era within older systems. Out of all the protocols, WEP is considered the least secure. 2. The Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) Protocol WPA arrived as WEP's successor due to the flaws that were found within WEP. It has additional features over its older brother, such as the Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP). This feature was a dynamic 128-bit key that was harder to break into than WEP's static, unchanging key. It also introduced the Message Integrity Check, which scanned for any altered packets sent by hackers. 3. The Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2) Protocol WPA2 is the successor to WPA and brings more features into the mix. It replaced TKIP with the Counter Mode Cipher Block Chaining Message Authentication Code Protocol (CCMP), which did a better job with encrypting data. WPA2 was very successful and has maintained its position as the top protocol since 2004. On March 13, 2006, the Wi-Fi Alliance stated that all future devices with the Wi-Fi trademark had to use WPA2. 4. The Wi-Fi Protected Access 3 (WPA3) Protocol WPA3 is the new kid on the block, and you can find it in routers produced in 2019. With this new format, WPA3 brings better encryption on public networks to prevent hackers from harvesting information from them. It's also easier to connect to a WPA3 router with a device with no display, and it has some additional features to protect against brute force attacks. It's likely to be the new WPA standard in the future, so it's a good idea to find out everything you need to know about WPA3. Why the Wi-Fi Security Types Matter Image Credit: maxkabakov/DepositPhotos Knowing your Wi-Fi security protocol is essential for your network's security. Older protocols are more vulnerable than newer ones and are far likelier to suffer a hacking attempt. There are two reasons why older versions are weaker than newer ones: The older protocols were designed in an earlier time before it was fully understood how hackers attacked routers. The more modern protocols have fixed these exploits, while the older versions still have them lurking within their code. The longer a protocol has been around, the more time hackers have to crack the security. Due to WEP being around for a very long time, hackers have found many exploits within it, making it an insecure protocol in the modern era. What Security Type Is My Wi-Fi? Now you understand why checking the type is essential and what you should be using, and why older protocols aren't as good. So, let's explore how you check your connection type to ensure you're using the best. How to Find Your Wi-Fi Security Type in Windows 10 On Windows 10, find the Wi-Fi Connection icon in the taskbar. Click it, then click Properties underneath your current Wi-Fi connection. Scroll down, and look for the Wi-Fi details under Properties. Under that, look for Security Type, which displays your Wi-Fi protocol. How to Find Your Wi-Fi Security Type in macOS Checking the Wi-Fi security type on macOS is very easy. Hold down the Option key and click on the Wi-Fi icon in the toolbar. It will show your network details, including what security type you're on. How to Find Your Wi-Fi Security Type in Android To check on an Android phone, go into Settings, then open the Wi-Fi category. Select the router you're connected to and view its details. It will state what security type your connection is. Note that the path to this screen may differ depending on your device. How to Find Your Wi-Fi Security Type on an iPhone Unfortunately, there's no way within iOS to check your Wi-Fi security. If you want to check your Wi-Fi's security strength, your best bet is to either use a computer or log into the router through the phone. What to Do Next With Your Wi-Fi Security Image Credit: maxxyustas/DepositPhotos Once you've found your Wi-Fi security type, how do you use that information to decide what to do next? Let's break down your ideal plan of action for each protocol. What to Do If Your Security Type Is WPA3 If your connection is using WPA3, congratulations. You're using the best Wi-Fi protocols, and as a result, you don't need to upgrade. You're also very likely to be using modern hardware so that an upgrade can wait for at least a few more years. What to Do If Your Security Type Is WPA2 WPA2 is also a secure protocol, so you don't need to worry about updating your hardware. However, if you're interested in staying up-to-date, it's worth looking at the current generation of routers with WPA3 compatibility. If you liked the sound of the features we listed under the WPA3 protocol, you should consider upgrading to a router that supports it. What to Do If Your Security Type Is WEP Or WPA If your network is either WEP or WPA (without any numbers after it), then you're at risk of a cyber-attack. As a result, you'll want to upgrade to a WPA2 or WPA3-compatible router to secure yourself. It's also worth checking if your router has been set to use a lesser security type. Read the manual for your current router and check if you can toggle the security type. If you can't, it's worth investing in a new router. Thankfully, even the cheaper models available today support WPA2 due to the Wi-Fi Alliance dictating that they have to. Furthermore, you can ensure a quality product by looking out for the best brands when buying a wireless router. The Difference Between "Personal" and "Enterprise" WPA If your protocol is WPA, you may have noticed that it was labeled either "Personal" or "Enterprise." "Personal" is for home use, and "Enterprise" has some additional security features to make it suitable for sensitive business use. Personal level is fine for everyday use, so don't worry if your home router doesn't use Enterprise-level security. Keeping Your Wi-Fi Network Safe If you're worried about hackers getting into your network, it's a good idea to use the best security protocol you can. WPA3 and WPA2 users should not worry, while WPA and WEP users should consider upgrading. Keeping your Wi-Fi network safe can be daunting. Thankfully, you can make it a little less stressful by performing some simple ways to secure your router.

One moment you're dominating the latest online game while streaming a movie, but the next, you can barely load a simple website. Maybe the connection is worse on one device or in a particular part of the house. You can't seem to get full internet speed through your router. If you rely on Wi-Fi for your home network, it's essential to fix fluctuating internet speeds and overcome inconsistent Wi-Fi speeds. We'll guide you through the troubleshooting process. 1. Test Your Internet Connection Before investigating your Wi-Fi network, you should rule out whether the problem lies with your Internet Service Provider (ISP). If you have a laptop, computer, or games console, test your internet connection by plugging your device directly into the router with an Ethernet cable. Using this setup, if the internet still doesn't work, then it's likely a problem with your ISP. Many providers can perform remote diagnostics, so it's worth contacting their support team to get to the bottom of the issue. However, if the internet works then, you may have a problem with your Wi-Fi network. If you were trying to access a particular website, use a site like IsUp.me to see if the website is down for everyone or just you. While still connected via an Ethernet cable, run a speed test. This will help you get an idea of the average Wi-Fi download speeds you should be getting on your network. Keep in mind that cabled connections will have higher speeds, so you should expect a small drop on Wi-Fi-connected devices. 2. Update Your Firmware As with other areas of your digital life, you should ensure that your router's firmware is up-to-date. These updates often come with many bug fixes along with essential security patches, which can make your Wi-Fi speed faster solve all connection issues. Make sure to update your firmware before diving into any further troubleshooting, as it may save you hours of fruitless work. If you were already running the latest firmware, then reboot the router to clear the cache and reset the software. Likewise, if you're experiencing low speeds on a particular device, check for any outstanding software updates. Most connected devices offer system updates and app updates. It's worth checking all are installed and confirm whether the issue still exists before continuing to troubleshoot. 3. Switch Wi-Fi Channels Wi-Fi networks broadcast on many different channels and two separate frequency bands. In the US, there are 11 standard Wi-Fi channels, while worldwide, there are usually 13. In the early days of wireless networking, routers only broadcast at 2.4 GHz. However, as more of us have come to have home Wi-Fi networks, the amount of channels has needed to expand. Many modern routers can now broadcast at either 2.4GHz or 5GHz. While this gives you more options, it's always possible that another nearby Wi-Fi network or other electrical equipment is already broadcasting at your network's frequency. Overcrowding a particular frequency may cause your network to slow down and could be the root of your Wi-Fi problems. To rule this out, make sure you pick the best Wi-FI channel for your router. 4. Check Bandwidth Consumption If you find that your Wi-Fi speeds drop periodically or at certain times of day, then it's possible software or other devices are eating away at your bandwidth. Large downloads, video streaming, or online gaming can be bandwidth hogs, so check for these first. You can find out who's eating your Wi-Fi bandwidth directly from the router or a third-party program. Delving into your router's settings should let you find out which devices are connected to your network. If there are any you don't recognize, then you should remove them. Malware could also be to blame for your slow speeds, so be sure to enable protection and run an antivirus scan. 5. Optimize Wi-Fi Router Placement When first setting up your network, your router's position is probably one of the last things on your mind. However, the environment around your router can cause a significant impact on the quality of your Wi-Fi network. Although we can't see them, wireless signals are passing all around us, but they can get slowed down or, in some cases, blocked entirely. Concrete and metal are so effective at blocking wireless signals that they are even used in Faraday cages. To get around this, you need to optimize Wi-Fi reception in your home. So, if your router is in your concrete-walled basement, you should move it elsewhere in the house. You should also try to position the router in the center of your home. Wi-Fi signals are broadcast in 360 degrees, so it doesn't need to be at one end of the house to get the best coverage. Electrical interference from devices like microwaves and even Christmas lights could also be one of the reasons your Wi-Fi is so slow. 6. Tighten Your Network's Security During your investigations, you may have found suspicious devices connected to your network. In that case, you probably removed it from your network. However, this suggests that someone has gained unauthorized access to your Wi-Fi network. This could be something as innocuous as a neighbor leeching off your network, down to something far more threatening. There are plenty of ways to configure your router to make your home network really secure. However, at a minimum, you should change your router's default admin login. This is often set to user: admin and password: password. As nearly every router uses these default credentials, they are easy to exploit. You should also ensure that your Wi-Fi network is secured with a wireless password. Most routers have this enabled by default, with the password stuck somewhere on the device itself. However, if you want to change this, log in to your router with your newly created credentials, and you can manually set a new wireless password. 7. Upgrade Old Router Hardware If you've had the same router for more than a few years, it may be time to consider an upgrade to boost your Wi-Fi signal. Fortunately, you don't have to spend considerable sums on seeing a dramatic improvement. One of the easiest is to upgrade your router's antenna. Most routers come fitted with standard antennas that only have a limited range. You can buy an aftermarket antenna for as low as $10, so it doesn't have to put a strain on your bank balance either. If you find that the Wi-Fi signal is weak in some regions of your home, then it might be worth investing in a Wi-Fi extender. These reasonably affordable devices connect to your network and rebroadcast the signal so that you can get additional coverage in those hard-to-reach spots. You don't have to break the bank to invest in one of the best Wi-Fi extenders, either. Get Your Wi-Fi Speed Under Control It's not always straightforward when it comes to creating the optimal Wi-Fi setup, but it is well worth the effort. The next time you want to play an online game, stream Netflix, or browse the web, you'll be thankful you put the time into optimizing your network. Keeping your router's hardware and software up-to-date, positioning it well, and selecting the best channel will make a world of difference to your Wi-Fi speed. That said, even with all these adjustments, you may still need some performance improvements. Fortunately, there are plenty of Windows tweaks to speed up your connection.

Want to fix slow internet connection issues on an Android smartphone? Maybe you're facing problems while connecting to the internet using Wi-Fi or cellular data. Whatever the issue is, resetting your smartphone's network settings might be the optimal solution to all such problems. Here in this article, we will discuss how you can reset network settings on your Android device, and also show you what happens when you reset these settings. How to Reset Network Settings on Android Resetting network settings usually helps when you want to speed up slow mobile data or fix Wi-Fi connection errors. It can help with Bluetooth, too, or any other connectivity issues. To reset network settings on your Android device: Head over to your smartphone's Settings. Scroll down and select the System option from the list. Tap on Advanced to expand the available options. Select Reset options and tap on Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth. Tap on the Reset settings button to continue. You'll have to verify the choice by providing the PIN or password to your device. Image Gallery (3 Images) While most Android smartphones have a similar interface and navigation flow, some manufacturers tweak the operating system a bit. This results in a different user interface and experience. Although the terms and labels used might be distinct, options to reset network settings can still be found on every Android smartphone. What Happens When You Reset Network Settings? Resetting the network settings on your Android phone or tablet: Toggles Wi-Fi and Mobile data on Disables your VPN Turns off hotspot and data roaming Turns off Bluetooth and Airplane mode Changes the network selection mode to Automatic Resets the network settings of apps Deletes saved Wi-Fi networks Removes mobile data limits Allows background sync Forgets paired Bluetooth devices Connecting to the Internet With Your Smartphone When you bump into network connection issues on your Android device, resetting the network settings can be quite useful. This removes some custom preferences associated with networks on your smartphone such as Wi-Fi passwords, paired devices, data limits, and more. If you ever face connectivity issues with a Wi-Fi network, changing the network priority can have a positive impact on the transmission speed and performance of the connection.

If your Xbox One won't connect to Wi-Fi, you can't do much on the console. Without a network connection, it's impossible to play multiplayer games online, download new titles, or even see which friends are online. Next time your Xbox isn't connecting to the internet, check out these fixes to get your system back online. 1. Reboot Your Xbox and Network Equipment Whenever you run into any problem with a computer or other electronic device, restarting should be your first troubleshooting step. It's easy to do and often clears up your problem, so you should try it first before diving into more detailed fixes. First, press the power button on both your modem and router to shut them off. If they don't have a dedicated power button, simply unplug them. READ MORE:Internet Problems? How To Reset Your Router With your modem and router off, to fully reboot your Xbox One, hold the Xbox button on your controller for a moment to open the Power menu. Choose Restart console > Restart to reboot your system. If needed, you can press and hold the Xbox button on the front of your console for about 10 seconds to force a shutdown instead. Once your networking devices have been turned off for a few minutes, plug your modem back in and let it full boot up. After all the lights are normal, power your router back on and let it fully start up as well. Now, try to get online again. If your Xbox One still won't connect to Wi-Fi, move onto the next step. 2. Run an Xbox Connection Test and Disconnect Headsets Your Xbox One has a built-in connection test that you can run to get more information about your network status. To access it, press your controller's Xbox button to open the Guide, then hit RB to scroll over to the Profile & system tab, indicated by your profile picture. From there, choose Settings > General > Network settings > Test network connection. Run the test and see what happens. Any specific errors will give you slightly more information about your particular problem, which you can hopefully fix by walking through the fixes below. Also, if you use any third-party Xbox One wireless headsets, disconnect them and try the test again. Xbox Support explains that these broadcast on the same frequency as wireless routers, which can cause interference. 3. Check Your Wi-Fi Details Next, you should check to make sure that your Xbox has the correct network ID and password saved for your home Wi-Fi. There's a chance that you mistyped the password, or the network admin changed the credentials without your knowledge. Head to Settings > General > Network settings > Set up wireless network to walk through the network setup steps again. Make sure your Wi-Fi network appears, and double-check to make sure you type the password correctly. If someone else is in charge of the network, ask them if they changed the password. You can also find your Wi-Fi password on a Windows 10 PC, if you have one currently connected. If you still can't connect on your Xbox One, check if you can connect to Wi-Fi with other devices, like your laptop or phone. If you can't get online with any other device, see how to diagnose home network issues for more general help. 4. Improve Your Wi-Fi Signal Strength Many variables can affect the quality of your Xbox One's Wi-Fi performance, or even prevent it from connecting to Wi-Fi. Have a look at the below and correct them (as best as possible) to resolve the problem: Make sure your Xbox One is as close to your router as possible. Wi-Fi performance decreases with distance, so if your Xbox One constantly disconnects from your router or won't connect at all, moving them closer together should improve reliability. Move objects that interfere with Wi-Fi signals. Having your Xbox One in a basement surrounded by concrete walls is an issue, as thick surfaces degrade Wi-Fi signals. If you have baby monitors or similar wireless devices nearby, move them to reduce interference. You should try to keep as clear a line of sight between your Xbox and router as you feasibly can. Reduce other network activity. If other devices on your network are streaming, downloading, and doing other network-heavy activities, your Xbox's network performance might suffer or not work at all. Stop all non-essential activities on computers and other network devices, shutting them off if possible. As you make these changes, head back to the Network settings page and choose the Test network speed & statistics option to see the Wireless strength, Download speed, and Packet loss. These will give you an idea of your Xbox's Wi-Fi connection quality. For more help in this area, read our tips for optimizing Wi-Fi reception at home and how to improve your router's speed. There you'll learn advanced tips, like changing your wireless channel. 5. Review Xbox Live's Status There's a chance that your Xbox One network issues aren't due to your home Wi-Fi, but Xbox Live itself. Occasionally, Xbox Live may suffer an outage that prevents you from using its services. See the Xbox Status page for the latest info. You'll see a green check if everything is working properly. In case you see a yellow warning symbol or red X, you'll need to wait out any issues until the Xbox team fixes them. 6. Check the Settings on Your Router At this point, if your Xbox One still won't connect to Wi-Fi, you should dig into the options on your router and see if there's some setting preventing your console from getting online. MAC address filtering is a common option that may prevent your Xbox One from getting online. On your Xbox, go to Settings > General > Network settings > Advanced settings and find your Wireless MAC address. Note this down, then use the steps in our guide to restricting router traffic to see if your Xbox's network connection is blocked by your router. To troubleshoot, you can use the Alternate MAC address option on your Xbox to enter a new address and see if that fixes the issue. If you see a Can’t connect to your wireless network or Your security protocol won’t work message when you try to get your Xbox One online, you should review your router's encryption type. Make sure you're selecting the matching option when you connect your Xbox One to Wi-Fi, as discussed in #3 above. If you keep getting this error, try changing your Wi-Fi network's security protocol on your router. WPA2 (or the newer WPA3, if available) is the safest option, since WPA is outdated and WEP is basically worthless. In normal cases, you shouldn't have to change the security type to get your Xbox online,. But if it works with another encryption protocol, you should check for firmware updates on your router. If there are no updates available, consider replacing your router and getting one that supports modern standards. 7. Try a Wired Connection for Your Xbox One If your Xbox One still won't get online with Wi-Fi, you should lastly try connecting with an Ethernet cable. Wired connections are much more reliable, as they aren't susceptible to all the issues with Wi-Fi connections. If possible, move your Xbox One close enough to your router that you can connect them with an Ethernet cable. In case this isn't an option, you'll either need to buy a long Ethernet cable or use powerline adapters, which let you run an Ethernet connection over your home's existing wiring. If the wired connection works, check for Xbox One updates (Settings > System > Updates) while you're online, which may fix your Wi-Fi problem. Either way, at this point, you know that some strange issue is preventing your Xbox One from connecting to Wi-Fi. Try updating your router's firmware if you haven't already. In case this doesn't work, you should contact Xbox Support for additional help. It might be necessary to replace your router. Finally, if the wired connection to your router doesn't work, try connecting your Xbox One directly to your modem with an Ethernet cable. If this works, then you have an issue with your router that goes beyond Wi-Fi. You'll need to update, reset, or replace the router. If it doesn't work, your final step is to take your Xbox to a friend's house and see if you can get it online there. Contact your ISP if your Xbox works at the alternate location. And if it doesn't work elsewhere, contact Xbox Support, as your Xbox's internal networking hardware is likely malfunctioning. What to Do When Your Xbox Won't Connect to Wi-Fi We've looked at how to fix Xbox One network issues with Wi-Fi. When your Xbox One won't connect, it's usually an issue related to incorrect credentials, Wi-Fi interference, or a setting on your router.

Grab an Android phone, iPhone, iPad, or even a Windows 10 PC, and you'll see an airplane mode toggle in their various shortcut menus. But what is airplane mode and what does it actually do? How can you use it to your advantage on your phone or PC? We'll answer all your questions about airplane mode so you understand how to use it. What Is Airplane Mode? Airplane mode, sometimes called aeroplane mode or flight mode, is a setting available on nearly all smartphones, laptops, and similar devices. When you activate airplane mode, it stops all signal transmission from your device. You'll see an airplane icon in your phone's status bar when it's turned on. The feature is known as airplane mode because many airlines prohibit wireless devices on their planes, especially when taking off and landing. There's some debate on whether phones could actually interfere with the radio equipment in planes, but most think it's best to err on the side of caution. What Does Airplane Mode Do? Airplane mode disables all wireless functions of your phone or laptop, including: Cellular connection: You can't make calls, send text messages, or use mobile data to access the internet. Wi-Fi: Your device will disconnect from any existing Wi-Fi connections and won't connect to any new ones. Bluetooth: Bluetooth is a short-range connection that lets you link your phone to speakers, headphones, and more. Airplane mode disables this. After enabling airplane mode, you can manually toggle Wi-Fi or Bluetooth back on, while still keeping airplane mode enabled to block cell signals. Modern versions of iOS and Android have also made convenience tweaks for airplane mode. On modern phones, if you turn on airplane mode while connected to a Bluetooth device, it won't drop the Bluetooth connection. You can still turn off Bluetooth manually, if you like. GPS is a bit different. It doesn't transmit any radio waves; your phone's GPS functionality only receives signals from GPS satellites. Depending on your device, airplane mode may or may not turn off GPS. While offline map apps work without an internet connection, features like live traffic won't work in airplane mode, since you have no connection to the internet. How to Toggle Airplane Mode on Android To enable airplane mode on your Android device, follow these steps: Swipe down from the top of the screen two times to open the Quick Settings panel. Alternatively, you can swipe down once using two fingers. Look for the Airplane mode toggle in the grid. If you don't see it, you might need to swipe to the side to access more icons. Tap the toggle, and your phone enters airplane mode. You'll see an airplane icon in your status bar, and all affected radios are disabled. Image Gallery (2 Images) Repeat these steps to disable airplane mode. Note that it may take your phone a moment to reconnect to Wi-Fi and cellular data after leaving airplane mode. If your phone doesn't have this shortcut for some reason, you can toggle airplane mode at Settings > Network & internet > Airplane mode. How to Toggle Airplane Mode on iPhone or iPad If you're an iPhone or iPad user, see our full guide to airplane mode on iPhone and iPad. How to Toggle Airplane Mode on Windows and Mac On Windows 10, you can toggle airplane mode through the Action Center. Press Win + A or click the notification bubble icon in the bottom-right corner of your screen to open it. Once it appears, look for the Airplane mode toggle at the bottom. Click this to enable airplane mode and cut off all network signals. If you don't see the panel, click Expand to show more; it may be hidden by default. As it turns out, macOS doesn't have a dedicated airplane mode option. We've looked at how to effectively put your MacBook into airplane mode, though. Does Airplane Mode Save Battery? Yes, airplane mode definitely helps your device save battery life. The various radios in your phone take up a lot of power. They regularly push app notifications over Wi-Fi, communicate with Bluetooth devices and cell towers, and check your location. That all drains a lot of power, so disabling them all at once is a great way to keep your phone alive for longer. Because your phone doesn't do as much work in airplane mode, it should also charge faster. Can You Use Wi-Fi While in Airplane Mode? This depends on your device, but most modern phones allow you to use Wi-Fi even when in airplane mode. When you enable airplane mode, Wi-Fi will shut off, but you can enable it again manually. On your Android device, swipe down from the top of the screen twice to open Quick Settings again, then tap Wi-Fi. Give it a few seconds, and you'll see Wi-Fi turn on and connect (if your phone allows this). On an iPhone, open Control Center (swipe down from the top-right corner on iPhone models without a Home button, or swipe up from the bottom if your device has a Home button) and tap the Wi-Fi toggle in the same way. Many airlines now offer in-flight Wi-Fi, so you can enable Wi-Fi in airplane mode to enjoy that if applicable. If you're not sure, you should check with an airline employee before you try connecting. Planes typically allow Wi-Fi only when above 10,000 feet, however, so take care to keep Wi-Fi turned off during takeoff and landing. Does Bluetooth Work in Airplane Mode? This is a similar scenario to the above. Enabling airplane mode disables Bluetooth (except with the exceptions mentioned earlier), but on most phones and laptops, you can turn it back on with the shortcut toggle. Airlines don't usually care much about Bluetooth, because its range is so short (about 30 feet in most cases). Enabling Bluetooth lets you pair your Bluetooth earbuds, keyboard, or similar devices. Even when you're not on a plane, you can enable airplane mode to save battery while listening to offline music through Bluetooth headphones. Does Airplane Mode Use Data? No. Because enabling airplane mode prevents your phone from connecting to your mobile provider's cell network, you won't use any data in airplane mode. What Does Airplane Mode Do for Games? If you love playing games on your phone but hate seeing ads, airplane mode can help. Because it disables all internet connections, enabling airplane mode will hide ads in offline mobile games. Just make sure you don't turn Wi-Fi back on after enabling airplane mode. However, if a game requires your device to be online, you won't be able to play it at all in airplane mode. You'll have to give airplane mode a try with your favorite games and see what happens. Do Alarms Work in Airplane Mode? Yes, alarms will sound as normal, even in airplane mode. They don't rely on any kind of internet or mobile connection. Open the Clock app on your device and switch to the Alarms tab to set your alarm as normal. Does Snapchat Work in Airplane Mode? No. Because Snapchat relies on an internet connection, it won't work at all in airplane mode. Can You Receive Calls and Texts in Airplane Mode? No, because your phone has no connection to cellular service. If someone calls you and your phone is in airplane mode, they'll reach your voicemail as if your phone was turned off. You'll see texts that you received while in airplane mode once you disable it. If you use Wi-Fi Calling, however, you won't have this limitation. Your phone and carrier must both support this function, and you have to enable it to run calls and traditional SMS texts over Wi-Fi. READ MORE:Steps To Fix Wi-Fi Calling On Your IPhone Messaging apps like WhatsApp and iMessage are another exception to this. If your phone is in airplane mode but you're connected to Wi-Fi, you can still message others using instant messaging services. How to Listen to Music While in Airplane Mode Image Gallery (2 Images) Since you don't have an internet connection in airplane mode, music streaming apps like Spotify, Apple Music, and similar won't work. The only way to stream music in airplane mode is to turn Wi-Fi back on, as we've mentioned. Assuming you can't connect to Wi-Fi, you have two options for listening to music in airplane mode. First, if you subscribe to a paid streaming service, like Spotify Premium or YouTube Music Premium, you can download music to your mobile device. This lets you listen to it even in airplane mode. If you don't want to pay for a premium streaming subscription, you can still listen to local music you own. You'll need to sync your music to your phone and use an offline music player app to do so. That's What You Can Do in Airplane Mode We've answered some of the most common questions about airplane mode on your phone or laptop. In short, it lets you shut off all wireless activity on your device, which is required on some flights yet handy even on the ground. And you can tweak airplane mode by turning on Wi-Fi or Bluetooth manually if you still want to allow some connections. If you've got a long flight coming up, we recommend downloading your media to your phone so you aren't reliant on an internet connection. That way, you have plenty to enjoy without paying for airline Wi-Fi.

The thought of someone tracking your every move is scary, whether it's your employer, government, or even a stalker. All smartphones on the market today come with built-in location services that could be used to reveal location data. But what if you don't want to share your location data with anyone? If you disable location services on your phone, is it still possible for it to be tracked? Read on to find out whether your phone can be tracked after you disable location services. Can Your Phone Be Tracked If Location Services Are Off? Turning off location services on your phone is supposed to make it untraceable. But this is not always the case, as there are other ways that your device can still be tracked. To be fair, turning off the built-in location service on your device does a good job of concealing your location. However, trackers can use other technologies and techniques to reveal your device location, whether or not location services are turned on. Four Ways Your Phone Can Be Tracked Without GPS Turning off location services on your device works well to keep your device location hidden, but only to an extent. There are other technologies and techniques that can be used to track your phone even with location services turned off. Let’s talk about some of them below. 1. Cell Carrier Towers Yeah. They’re everywhere. Cell carriers can track your phone’s location by identifying the towers you’re connected to and measuring the time delay that a signal takes to make a round trip between the towers and your phone. This delay is then calculated and converted into a specific distance or range, which returns a fairly accurate phone location. RELATED: The Best Free Online Virus Scan And Removal Sites This works very well because your phone (when on) stays in constant connection with nearby cell towers. 2. Public Wi-Fi Networks Free Wi-Fi networks are all the rage these days. They’re everywhere, and it can be tempting to connect to one when you have a slow connection. But here’s the thing: public Wi-Fi networks are another way your device’s location can be tracked, even with location services turned off. Most free Wi-Fi providers collect your device’s media access control (MAC) address in exchange for the connection. Providers can use your phone’s MAC address to keep logs of the places you visit whenever you connect with any hotspot from the same provider. 3. StingRays StingRays (also known as cell-site simulators) function a lot like cell towers, except their only use is to track your phone instead of providing you with a real network connection. A StingRay simulates a cell tower to get nearby mobile devices to connect to it. StingRays are mostly used by law enforcement to track devices in a given area. They broadcast stronger signals than cell towers, which forces mobile phones to disconnect from legitimate cell towers and connect and ping to them instead. Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons Just like with legitimate cell towers, your phone’s location can then be deduced by measuring and converting the time it takes for the signal to make a round trip between your phone and the StingRay. 4. Spyware and malware Pre-installed malware can also be used to track your device even when your GPS is turned off. The most common way this malware gains access to your device is through a Trojan horse, accessing your system through a backdoor. The Skygofree malware tracks the location of the device it’s installed on and disguises it as an update to improve the user’s internet speed. Once installed, Skygofree tracks the location of the device it’s installed on, turns on audio recording, controls Wi-Fi networks as well as manages apps like Facebook Messenger, Skype, Viber, and Whatsapp. How to Stop Your Phone From Being Tracked There are many reasons why you may want to stop your phone from being tracked. It could be for privacy and sometimes even for security reasons. Whatever is your reason, here are a few things that you can do if you want to stop your phone from being tracked. Image Credit: maxkabakov/Depositphotos | VectorStory/Depositphotos 1. Turn Off Wi-Fi In Public Places Most smartphones generally have a connection preference for Wi-Fi networks. You may have experienced a time when your device automatically switched from using your mobile data to using an available Wi-Fi network. This happens rather often if your Wi-Fi is always on. Disabling your phone’s Wi-Fi connection when in public places eliminates the risk of your device automatically connecting to a Wi-Fi network that collects location data. 2. Turn off GPS There are ways your device could still be tracked even after turning off location services but not turning it off is worse. Turning off location services on your phone provides a layer of security against the most common location trackers. 3. Browse Using a VPN A Virtual Private Network (VPN) enables you to browse the internet anonymously by creating a private network from a public internet connection. When you use a VPN while browsing, it encrypts your internet data, hiding your IP address and physical location. This way, you're covered even if you visit a site that collects visitor location data. 4. Mind Your Download Sites Only install apps from official stores. There are other ways malware could be distributed, but disabling the installation of apps from third-party sources and minding your download sites is the best way to keep them out. RELATED:How To Spot And Avoid Fake Virus And Malware Warnings You can also install an antivirus to better secure your device from malicious apps and files, suspicious websites, and dangerous links. 5. Scrutinize App Permissions All apps require certain permissions to function properly. But you should be wary of dubious permission requests. When an app that doesn’t require your location data to function requests for location permission, that’s a sign that the app may be doing more than it’s supposed to. Uninstall any app that requests more permissions than you think is reasonable. You can find replacements on the app store if you absolutely need to use the function. How to Stop Your Cell Carrier From Tracking Your Phone’s Location You’ve probably already noticed that none of the tips shared above can protect your phone from being tracked by your service provider. There's an explanation for that. It is because your phone needs to be in constant communication with nearby cell towers to function properly. The only way to stop your device from being tracked by your cell carrier is by switching it off— and removing the battery. This is the only way you can be guaranteed that your device is not being tracked. Anyone trying to track your device after it’s been switched off will only be able to trace it to the location it was before it was switched off. Which, ideally, should not be your home address.

It goes without saying that you want the best internet connection at all times. Having your iPhone or iPad automatically prioritize and connect to the strongest Wi-Fi network around you is going to help out with that. Whether you've got multiple access points in your home or a lot of saved networks in one area, setting network priority will get you the best connection at all times. If you're looking to set it up, here's what you need to do. How to Set Network Priority on iPhone or iPad There isn't actually a way to set Wi-Fi network priority on the iPhone or iPad. Rather, your device will do it automatically in the background. Built into iOS is a set of criteria to judge and join Wi-Fi networks automatically. Following these criteria, your iPhone or iPad will usually connect to the best network available. iOS tries to connect to Wi-Fi networks considering the following criteria: Your "most-preferred" network The private network you most recently joined Private versus public networks RELATED:Fixes To Improve Wi-Fi Performance On Your IPhone As you can see, iOS considers a number of different factors to help automatically prioritize the best network for you to use. When considering each of these factors, iOS actually assigns a hidden score to different Wi-Fi networks to prioritize them. Your different actions when connecting to Wi-Fi change the score assigned to each Wi-Fi network. For example, if your iPhone connects you to one network, and you instantly connect to another instead, the first network's score decreases. Unfortunately, Apple offers no more explanation on how the iPhone's Wi-Fi priority works, so there isn't any more information on the topic. But as long as it works, that's not too much of a problem. How to Sync Network Priority From Mac to iPhone You'll be glad to hear there's a sneaky way to get around the lack of a Wi-Fi priority setting in iOS. If you own a Mac, you can set network priorities there and then sync them with your iPhone or iPad. You'll need to have signed in with the same Apple ID on both devices, and have iCloud Keychain turned on. To check these settings, open System Preferences on your Mac, click on Apple ID, and make sure that the box for Keychain is ticked. On your iPhone, open Settings and tap your name at the top. Go to iCloud > Keychain and make sure it's toggled on. As long as you've got both of those settings turned on, you're ready to sync your Mac's Wi-Fi priority settings to your iPhone. On your Mac, click on the Wi-Fi icon in the top menu bar and then click Network Preferences. Next, you'll need to click on Advanced. You'll see a list of all your saved Wi-Fi networks. The networks at the top of the list have a higher priority than those at the bottom, and you can drag networks into the order you want. Click OK and then Apply to save the changes. Once you've done this, your preferences will save and should sync automatically with your iPhone. If you notice the settings haven't synced with your iPhone, try restarting both devices. While this method isn't particularly difficult, you need to own a Mac and it's much less convenient than a feature built directly into iOS. The Mac and iPhone work great together as part of Apple's ecosystem, but it's an unnecessary extra step to take. Hopefully, Apple adds a way to set Wi-Fi priority directly on the iPhone soon. How to Manually Connect to a Network on iPhone or iPad Just to clarify, you do always have the option of manually connecting to a Wi-Fi network on your iPhone or iPad, if Apple's automatic prioritization doesn't work. It's a bit more inconvenient than having a Wi-Fi priority setting built into iOS, but it's easier than plugging your device into a Mac. On your iPhone or iPad, you can manually switch Wi-Fi networks from either the Control Center or the Settings app. From the Control Center, tap and hold on the Wi-Fi icon in the top-left section to bring up the larger panel, hold the icon again, and choose another network from the list. From the Settings app, tap on Wi-Fi in the first section, and then choose a network from the list. Image Gallery (2 Images) If you know that there's a better Wi-Fi network you can connect to, this method works very well. Unfortunately, you will need to keep an eye out for suitable other networks. Prioritizing Your Networks Will Give You the Best Connection Whether you rely on Apple's automatic prioritization, syncing your Mac settings, or manually switching networks, prioritizing better Wi-Fi networks will improve your connection speed or range.

When you sign up with an Internet Service Provider (ISP), they usually send you a modem and a router. At first, it's convenient that you don't need to buy your own, but sticking with your ISP's hardware does have its disadvantages. So, why should you buy your own router, and what advantages do they bring? 1. Buying a Router Can Be Cheaper in the Long Run When you sign up for an ISP's service, they'll often give you a set of equipment to get you online instantly. Sometimes a router comes as part of this package, and there's not much you can do about it. Sometimes, however, the ISP will ask you if you'd like to rent its approved router. This rental becomes an added cost on your monthly bill. If you already have a router, you don't need to rent out the ISP's model. While the upfront cost of buying your own router is more, the long-term costs of paying monthly for the ISP router vs. your own router will save you money. 2. Your ISP's Router May Have a Weak Wi-Fi Signal Don't get us wrong; some ISPs produce powerful routers with a Wi-Fi signal that covers the entire household. Some, however, have feeble Wi-Fi strengths or download speeds that make using the internet a chore. Your best bet is to check the ISP router's specs, then compare it to the speed of your internet plan. If the router can't move as much data, you'll benefit from a better device. You can also use Wi-Fi signal measuring tools to check how strong the signal is. If you're getting a weak signal and moving the router around doesn't fix it, you should try getting a more powerful router. Some routers are also made to provide better Wi-Fi in difficult places. The Amplifi HD system, for example, uses high-density mesh points throughout your house to eliminate dead spots. If you live in a house with lots of signal-stopping walls, something like this can provide a speed boost. Features like tri-band Wi-Fi can also keep speeds up when you're using multiple devices. 3. You Can Opt for Routers With Better Parental Controls Storebought routers have great options for parental controls. While parental apps on a computer do work, parental controls on the router are more effective and harder to crack. While some ISP routers support parental controls, you're not likely to get as many options as you are if you buy your own. Netgear routers, for example, come with a free app that lets you adjust the control settings directly from your phone. You can also set up specific times where some sites are blocked, but others are allowed. 4. Storebought Routers Have Better Guest Network Tools Most routers can create guest networks. With a click, you give Wi-Fi access to guests with a custom password without giving away your private network's one. This feature is useful for keeping people off of your network, where all your files and devices are stored. You can also turn the guest network off when it's not in use if you're worried about hackers. Guest networks don't let users see what else is attached to the network, access other devices, and sometimes keep guests from seeing each other. Guest networks provide a lot of conveniences and added security, but not all ISP routers support them. As such, if you're considering an ISP router vs. storebought routers, it's best to go with the latter. 5. Storebought Routers Have Better Bandwidth Prioritization Quality of service (QoS) lets you choose apps or devices that get priority bandwidth. You could use these settings to make sure that Netflix on your Roku gets priority for streaming, for example. Some routers also give you more advanced capabilities related to QoS so you can customize how it treats different types of traffic. If you're using several devices simultaneously, you can ensure that your router is making the right decisions on data transmission. You'll probably need to do some research to find how to configure QoS best, but if you do it well, you can significantly improve the quality of your Wi-Fi. 6. Third-Party Firmware Works Better You probably don't give a lot of thought to your router's firmware. However, if you want to get the best performance from your router, you can upgrade or even change the firmware. Installing DD-WRT, for example, can open up more options than your standard firmware. Having freedom over your router's settings allows you to fine-tune its performance. There are plenty of ways to improve your router's speed, and having control of its firmware helps you get the best from your equipment. You can't choose firmware on an ISP-provided router. Even upgrading your router to the latest firmware is hard when your ISP is slow with updates. 7. Storebought Routers Are More Secure and Stable When you purchase a router directly from a manufacturer, they control the firmware and don't have a specific affiliation toward a particular ISP. This means the company can keep your router secure via updates and should work on any ISP you choose. This isn't always true for an ISP's router. For one, the ISP may not produce the router in the first place; they may delegate that task to another company. If a flaw appears in your router's security, the ISP must get in touch with the router's manufacturer to fix it. Similarly, the router is built to work with its ISP and isn't guaranteed to work well outside its default settings. The Register reported on how Sky customers had their routers bricked after a firmware update. It only affected those that used a custom DNS server, which shows how users face problems if they stray off the ISP's intended path. Which Routers Are Better Than ISP Equipment? We've made an excellent case for grabbing a new router instead of settling for what your ISP gives you. However, now the question remains: if your ISP's router isn't good enough, what is? There are plenty of routers out there, and not all of them are winners. Before you hit the store to find something better, be sure to read our picks for the best modem/router combo for every budget. Do I Have to Use the Router Provided by My ISP? If you want to replace your ISP's equipment, you may wonder if your ISP forces you to use their router. The answer is no, but sometimes sticking to your ISP's router will make things easier. It's up to you to weigh the benefits of buying a router with the ease of using the ISP's tools. These days, some ISPs will provide a modem/router combo when you sign up. All you need to do is plug in the router, and you're set. When replacing this kind of router, you also need a modem alongside it. Some ISP routers will allow their routers to be put in "modem mode" so you can connect it to a router of your choice. Otherwise, you'll need to get your own. You can also opt for a modem/router combo of your own. Just be sure the router fits the requirements of your ISP, else it may not function as intended. Getting the Best From Your Router ISPs are keen to give you a router to set you up, but they're not always your best option. Now you know the pros and cons of an ISP router vs. an aftermarket router and whether or not you should buy a router. Don't throw out your ISP's router, though; there are ways to reuse an old router and give it a second life.

Windows 10 gives you a lot of options for lock screen customization. Among these customization options is Windows Spotlight. If you have turned Windows Spotlight on, your PC’s lock screen will cycle between random wallpapers throughout the day. While almost all spotlight images are nice to look at, some are truly breathtaking. This is why people are always in search of spotlight images to use as their desktop backgrounds. If you find yourself in the same boat, you’ve come to the right place. Let us see how you can store Windows Spotlight images before they disappear forever. Where to Find Windows Spotlight Images? To start with some bad news, Windows Spotlight images are stored inside a hidden folder. So, you won’t be able to find them in File Explorer no matter how hard you try. Therefore, you must first enable hidden files and folders inside File Explorer. In the File Explorer, select View in the top left corner. Then, click Options and select Change folder and search settings. In the Folder Options box, hit View and enable Show hidden files, folders, and drives. Finally, click on Apply. Now, that you have enabled hidden folders, navigate to This PC > Local Disk (C:) > Users > [YOUR USERNAME] > AppData > Local > Packages > Microsoft.Windows.ContentDeliveryManager_cw5n1h2txyewy > LocalState > Assets. RELATED:How To See Hidden Files On Your Mac Unfortunately, this is where things get a little obscure as Windows doesn’t store Spotlight images in a recognizable image format. So, you won’t find any JPGs or PNGs in the folder. To get around this problem, look for files that have sizes in MBs. High-resolution images usually result in large files, which is why you need to look for files that are larger than the rest. After locating them, press CTRL + A to select the files, Ctrl + C to copy them, then navigate to a folder of your choice and hit Ctrl + V to paste. Afterward, rename each file by placing the .jpeg file extension at the end of the filename to give them a valid image format. Open all of these images one by one and choose which ones to keep and which ones to delete. Windows Spotlight Images Change Frequently If you see a Spotlight image that you want to keep, be quick because you never know when that image will disappear. Finally, when you have found the image you were looking for, hide the files and folders again by retracing the steps listed above.

As part of government efforts to get the digital yuan going, authorities in Shanghai will distribute $3 million worth of the central bank-issued currency among residents of Shanghai. The digital money will be dispersed through a lottery, a method that has already been implemented elsewhere in China. Lottery Winners to Get 350,000 Digital Red Envelopes The city of Shanghai is going to hand out 19.25 million yuan in digital currency, or around $3 million. The money will be distributed among local consumers through a lottery system, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported quoting the Shanghai Municipality. Municipal government headquarters, Shanghai. Lottery winners will receive a total of 350,000 digital red envelopes. Each one of them will be loaded with 55 units of the Chinese central bank digital currency (CBDC), the municipal information office announced Friday through its official Wechat account. In Chinese tradition, red envelopes are small packets with money usually given to children, family members, friends, and employees, which are intended as a good luck wish. The red color in China is also perceived as a symbol of energy and happiness. Shanghai authorities have invited individual consumers to sign up for the lottery. They can do that through the official Wechat accounts of the local branch of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and the cloud service of the Bank of Communications in Shanghai. The registration window will be open on June 5 – 6. Shanghai Joins a List of Cities Testing the Digital Yuan As one of the four directly administered municipalities in China, Shanghai is governed by the State Council of the People’s Republic. The Chinese government has been pushing forward with the implementation of its Digital Currency Electronic Payment (DCEP) system, as the digital yuan infrastructure is officially called. It has already given away millions of dollars’ worth of Chinese digital currency. Shanghai Skyline Similar trials have been launched in a number of other Chinese cities, including the capital Beijing, Shenzhen, Chengdu, and Suzhou. Residents who receive the handouts are free to spend the funds at merchants that already accept the digital currency issued by the People’s Bank of China (PBoC). Media reports have suggested, however, that Chinese citizens have been reluctant to participate in the trials due to various concerns related to privacy and government surveillance. Many have also been hesitant to switch from popular mobile payment apps such as those offered by platforms like Wechat and Alipay.

An advertising campaign across some of Ukraine’s most populous cities is now aiming to attract new traders to the world’s largest digital asset exchange, Binance. The Eastern European nation is known as a promising market and a leader in terms of cryptocurrency adoption. Binance Ads Appear on Trains and Trolleys in Ukraine Cryptocurrency exchange Binance has embarked on a mission to entice more Ukrainian traders to its world-leading coin trading platform. The company has recently launched a nationwide campaign showing Binance ads to the residents of the capital Kyiv and three of the country’s largest cities, Kharkiv, Odesa, and Lviv. The organizers are now playing clips advertising Binance onboard the Intercity trains connecting these cities, Forklog reported. The ads run under the slogans “Blogger by Day, Trader by Night” and “Designer by Day, Trader by Night” on the trains’ infotainment systems, a video posted on Youtube shows. The ads call on crypto users among commuters to “Trust the Best” and “Join the Community.” Source: Forklog Binance advertisements have also appeared on public transport vehicles in the cities. A photo posted by the crypto news outlet shows a sticker reading “Today With a Trolley, Tomorrow With a Geliк” on a trolleybus branded with the Binance logo and colors. The text accompanies a picture of a luxury SUV, with Gelik being a slang word for the posh Mercedes-Benz G-Class (Geländewagen). Not the First Crypto Signs in Bitcoin-Friendly Ukraine This isn’t the first time Ukraine’s mass transit has displayed crypto-related messages. About two years ago, LED signs flashing the text “Bitcoin to the Moon” were spotted on a tramcar in the city of Vinnytsia, as Bitcoin.com News reported. The pro-bitcoin boards were mounted on a new Vin Way tram, manufactured locally by the Vinnytsia Transport Company. Ukraine has emerged over the past few years as a crypto-friendly destination. Chainalysis ranked the country first among more than 150 nations in last year’s edition of its Global Crypto Adoption Index. The government in Kyiv has been working with the crypto industry on a project to issue a central bank digital currency, and Ukraine’s Public Radio recently broadcasted a podcast episode devoted to Bitcoin. In 2019, the world’s largest crypto exchange by daily volume signed a memorandum of understanding with the Digital Transformation Ministry of Ukraine to cooperate on the establishment of a legal framework for cryptocurrencies and other digital assets. Last year, Binance offered users the option to deposit and withdraw fiat amounts in Ukrainian hryvnia using bank cards.

Chipper Cash, an African fintech firm that specializes in facilitating cross-border payments, recently closed a $100 million Series C funding round. Taking the lead in what is now Chipper Cash‘s third fundraising round in the past twelve months is the venture capital (VC) firm, SVB Capital. The VC firm is an investment arm of U.S. high-tech commercial bank, Silicon Valley Bank. The New African Fintech Unicorn Other notable participants in this Series C round include Deciens Capital, Ribbit Capital as well as the Jeff Bezos backed Bezos Expedition. Following the conclusion of this Series C funding round, Chipper Cash has now raised a total of $143.8 million in just a year. As a consequence, some observers now estimate Chipper Cash’s valuation to be between one and two billion dollars. Notably, with this capital raise, Chipper Cash becomes the latest African fintech firm to attract the interest of leading venture capital firms. Other African fintech start-ups that similarly received support from major VC firms include Flutterwave, Tymebank and O Pay. Crypto Services and the CBN Prohibition Chipper Cash’s significant capital raise in a short space of time came as it expanded the range of products it offers. According to a report, the fintech firm now offers cryptocurrency trading options as well as other business payment solutions. The report also quotes Ham Serunjogi, the fintech’s CEO explaining some of the factors that prompted Chipper Cash to add new services. He said: Our approach to growing products and adding products is based on what our users find valuable. As you can imagine, crypto is one technology that has been widely adopted in Africa and many emerging markets. So we want to give them the power to access crypto and to be able to buy, hold and sell crypto whenever. Nevertheless, the CEO clarifies that Chipper Cash is not currently offering crypto-related services to its clients in Nigeria. He cites the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s anti-crypto directive as the sole reason why the fintech firm cannot extend its cryptocurrency-related services to Nigerians. Serunjogi meanwhile says his company is still “looking forward to any development in Nigeria that allows it to be offered freely again.”

The decentralized group Anonymous has published a message for Elon Musk in a video where they called the Tesla CEO “nothing more than another narcissistic rich dude who is desperate for attention.” They shed light on many things people may not know about Musk, including how he treats his employees, harms the environment, where his fortune came from, how Tesla actually makes money, and his attempt to centralize and control bitcoin mining. Anonymous, a decentralized international activist and hacktivism movement, posted a video Friday directed at Tesla CEO Elon Musk. It is unknown if the people behind this video are the same Anonymous as the hacktivist group known for cyber attacks against several governments since 2003. The video begins with a message: “Greetings citizens of the world. This is a message from Anonymous for Elon musk.” Elon Musk Is ‘Nothing More Than Another Narcissistic Rich Dude Desperate for Attention’ The video starts by explaining why Elon Musk became popular. “For the past several years you have enjoyed one of the most favorable reputations of anyone in the billionaire class because you have tapped into the desire that many of us have to live in a world with electric cars and space exploration,” the group described, adding: But recently your carefully created public image is being exposed, and people are beginning to see you as nothing more than another narcissistic rich dude who is desperate for attention. “It appears that your quest to save the world is more rooted in a superiority and savior complex than it is an actual concern for humanity,” they declared. Employees, Young Children, Local Environment Suffer Under Elon Musk Anonymous then emphasized that Elon Musk’s lack of concern for humanity “has been obvious to [his] employees for a long time who have faced intolerable conditions under [his] command for years.” The group referenced an article in the Observer titled “Elon Musk, Tesla are pushing factory workers to the brink as profits soar.” The article explains that “Tesla workers and worker advocates say the company is risking the health and safety of its workers in relentless pursuit of these gaudy numbers.” In addition, Anonymous referenced a different article on The Times titled “‘Blood batteries’ fuel the fortune of Elon Musk,” stating: It is also obvious to the young children working in your overseas lithium mines, which are destroying the local environment as well. “You have been open about your willingness to stage coups in order to install dictators in places where your toxic products are being mined,” the group also said. “You have even prematurely crowned yourself ‘Emperor of Mars,’ a place where you will be sending people to die,” the group continued, pointing to an article titled “Elon Musk proclaims himself emperor of Mars.” “Your fanboys overlook these issues because they are focused on the potential good that your projects can bring to the world,” Anonymous suggested. However, the group added: “you are not the only show in town, and your competition is growing more intense with each passing day. There are plenty of other companies working on space exploration and electric vehicles. You are just the only CEO who has gained a cult following through shitposting and trolling the world on social media.” Tesla’s Main Income Is From Government Subsidies, Not Cars Anonymous then talked about how Tesla makes its money. “Many people are now learning that the vast majority of Tesla‘s income doesn’t actually come from selling cars. It comes from government subsidies, selling carbon tax credit for your innovation with clean energy,” the group detailed. However, they pointed out: This technically isn’t your innovation though because you aren’t actually the founder of Tesla. You simply purchased the company from two people much more intelligent than you are. The two people Anonymous referred to were Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning. In an interview with CNBC, Tarpenning said Musk was an investor of the company. “He was always supportive from the beginning but he wasn’t the founder. We started it,” he confirmed. Eberhard added: “He actually accomplished some amazing things … I’m not sure why he has to also said that he was the founder when he wasn’t. I don’t understand that.” Tesla’s founders Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning. Source: CNBC Referencing an article titled “Tesla: Bitcoin sales and environmental credits boost profits,” Anonymous suspected: Tesla has also made more money holding bitcoin for two months than they did in years of selling cars. It is also more than likely that this bitcoin was purchased with money from these government subsidies. Elon Pretends to Be Clueless About Energy Use When Tesla’s Main Income (Government Money) Is at Stake On the subject of bitcoin and Tesla’s income from the government, Anonymous said: “It is now widely believed that you have been forced to renounce your company’s involvement with bitcoin in order to keep that green government money flowing into Tesla’s coffers.” The group noted that “The energy use argument about proof-of-work mining is a very nuanced conversation that requires a fairly complex understanding of how power grids work and how excess energy is wasted by power companies and sought out by crypto miners,” emphasizing: This is a conversation that you have been having for over a year and were intimately aware of. But as soon as your main source of income was threatened, you pretended to be clueless in an attempt to play both sides of the fence. Elon’s Attempt to Centralize and Control Bitcoin Mining The video then talked about Elon Musk’s attempt to centralize and control bitcoin mining. On May 24, the Tesla CEO announced on Twitter that he had met with leading North American bitcoin miners. During the closed-door meeting hosted by Microstrategy CEO Michael Saylor, he said the miners have agreed to form a Bitcoin Mining Council. However, Anonymous said: [Elon’s] move to create a Bitcoin Mining Council was rightly seen as an attempt to centralize the industry and take it under your control. The group then referenced an article on Bitcoin News titled “Crypto proponents become skeptical of closed-door meeting between billionaires and bitcoin miners.” Elon Destroying Crypto Holders’ Lives With Memes and Twitter Posts Anonymous also accuses Elon Musk of destroying crypto holders’ lives with his memes and tweets, stating in their video: Reading from the comments on your Twitter posts, it seems that the games you have played with the crypto markets have destroyed lives. Millions of retail investors were really counting on their crypto gains to improve their lives. “This is something that you will never understand because you were born into the stolen wealth of a South African apartheid emerald mine and have no clue what struggle is like for most of the working people in the world,” the group further opined, referencing an article titled “Elon Musk’s family once owned an emerald mine in Zambia — here’s the fascinating story of how they came to own it.” While acknowledging, “Of course, they took the risk upon themselves when they invested and everyone knows to be prepared for volatility in crypto,” Anonymous maintained, “but your tweets this week show a clear disregard for the average working person.” They concluded: As hard-working people have their dreams liquidated over your public temper tantrums, you continue to mock them with memes from one of your million-dollar mansions.

At the Bitcoin 2021 conference in Miami, El Salvador’s president, Nayib Bukele, appeared via a Zoom presentation and noted that he plans to submit a bill next week that recognizes bitcoin as legal tender. Bukele revealed a partnership with the company Strike, a bitcoin payments firm launched by Jack Mallers. Progressive President Nayib Bukele Says Bitcoin Will be Legal Tender in El Salvador El Salvador is looking to become the first country to adopt bitcoin (BTC) as legal tender, as the country’s president Nayib Bukele announced El Salvador’s BTC support at the Bitcoin 2021 conference in Miami. Bukele revealed that the country has formed a relationship with the firm Strike, a Lightning Network payments company created by Jack Mallers. Mallers explained during the conference that it will go down as the “shot heard ’round the world for bitcoin.” Mallers added: “What’s transformative here is that bitcoin is both the greatest reserve asset ever created and a superior monetary network. Holding bitcoin provides a way to protect developing economies from potential shocks of fiat currency inflation.” “Next week, I will send to congress a bill that will make bitcoin legal tender in El Salvador. In the short term this will generate jobs and help provide financial inclusion,” Nayib Bukele said at the conference via Zoom. After the president of El Salvador announced he would submit the bill, the conference attendees went wild with excitement. The news of course went viral on crypto forums and started trending on social media as well. Nayib Bukele is well known for being progressive since he took office in 2019 and has spoken about bitcoin before. “One small step for bitcoin. One giant leap for mankind. Thanks, Jack Mallers you made [history] today,” one individual tweeted.