• BT and Verizon new joint venture could target $4 billion in annual revenue
• The companies are targeting 3,000 global enterprises across 180+ countries
• AI and cloud are the two primary selling points for this new joint venture

BT and Verizon have come together to form a 50:50 joint venture looking to serve around 3,000 multinational customers across more than 180 countries.

The official announcement details the creation of a new "scaled international connectivity platform" designed for a cloud-first, AI-first world.

Martijn Blanken has been appointed as CEO of the new joint venture, the name of which currently remains unconfirmed.

BT and Verizon target multinational enterprises in new JV

By combining their respective expertise, the two hope to provide enterprise customers more resilient global networking, more secure connectivity and infrastructure designed specifically for local laws, regulations and data sovereignty demands.

"Customers will benefit from new, secure and resilient connectivity platforms, which are designed for the age of AI and sovereign where it matters," BT CEO Allison Kirkby noted.

"Our international customers require secure, flexible connectivity that works seamlessly across borders and cloud environments," Verizon CEO Dan Schulman added.

The announcement also implies that, by spinning off a new JV for global enterprises, it would allow the two companies to improve focus on their domestic markets.

BT boasted about its "resilient communication and network services," and Verizon said it would bring secure connectivity via its enterprise wireline arm.

Though it's unclear which type of enterprises the JV will be targeting, it will likely bid on contracts for some of the biggest enterprises given the target of around 3,000 customers. Private enterprise networks, cloud connectivity, cybersecurity and cross-border connectivity will form the basis of the company.

According to the firms, the join venture could target around $4 billion in combined annual revenue.

• Verizon has launched a loyalty program called Verizon Shine
• This is open to all customers
• It includes weekly freebies and competitions, as well as letting you accrue 'Verizon Dollars'

If you're a Verizon customer, you can now get more for your money, as the network has just launched a loyalty program called Verizon Shine — a play on ‘rise and shine’.

Verizon Shine is available now to all customers, but you have to manually opt in from the My Verizon app. Once you do, you’ll find a weekly drop of rewards every Monday, including various freebies and discounts from partner brands, such as free coffee from Starbucks.

You’ll also be able to enter competitions, with prizes including a three-day trip to see the World Cup final and a breakfast with David Beckham. That competition opens on June 22, and others include a New York City food tour with chef Andrew Zimmern, trips to watch NFL games abroad, and a dance lesson with the Rockettes.

A new kind of dollar

Plus, once you’re enrolled in Verizon Shine, you won’t have to pay any activation or upgrade fees, and you’ll start earning ‘Verizon Dollars’, which you’ll gain each month to the value of 3% of your bill (excluding taxes and fees).

These Verizon Dollars can be put towards purchasing new phones and accessories, or for purchases from partner brands like Hilton, Marriott, Starbucks, Sephora, and Roblox. Though you can’t use them for a discount on your Verizon bill.

So, there’s a lot here, and seemingly no reason not to sign up for Verizon Shine if you’re already a customer. Whether it will prove compelling enough to keep Verizon customers from switching or attract many new customers remains to be seen, but it’s a nice perk for anyone who does stick with the network anyway.

There's big news for Verizon customers this week as the carrier has just unveiled its Simplicity plan, a new flat-rate unlimited plan that — on paper, at least — looks like it could disrupt the entire cell phone plans market.

As someone who covers Verizon's deals and plans all year round at TechRadar, I've been scanning the carrier's site today to determine whether the Simplicity plan is worth checking out (or even switching to).

The top-line message is this: the new Simplicity plan clocks in at a flat rate of $45/mo for existing customers or an introductory price of $30/mo for new customers who switch and use auto-pay.

You can get up to 12 lines on a single plan, but unlike the carrier's other MyPlan unlimited plans, the per-line cost stays the same across the board. In short, you don't get a multi-line discount here, unlike with the carrier's other post-paid unlimited plans.

What you do get, however, is completely unlimited 5G data on the carriers' high-end Ultraband wireless network, 10GB of monthly mobile hotspot allowance, and access to a few new perks. See more details just below.

What does the Simplicity Plan include?

• 5G Unlimited Ultra Wideband
• Verizon Dollars and Shine loyalty perks
• Optional streaming packages
• Unlimited talk, text, and data
• International roaming and satellite texting
• 10GB Mobile hotspot
• Up to 50% off accessory lines

I think the most interesting new additions for the Simplicity plan are the new Verizon Loyalty perks.

First up, there's a Verizon Dollars cash-back scheme that gets you 3% back on your monthly spend at the carrier. Interestingly, you can redeem that at both Verizon and a number of partners, including Starbucks, Adidas, and Target. According to the carrier, you'll also get discounts on hotels and tickets.

The next Verizon Loyalty feature is Verizon Shine, which looks to me like a straight-up, good-old-fashioned carrier perks program. Every Monday, customers get the chance to win a 'once-in-a-lifetime experience' and there are also daily promotions for free gift cards, merchandise, and other giveaways.

This week's perks include $5 Starbucks gift cards and FIFA wine tumblers, while the 'experience' is the chance to attend the FIFA World Cup finale with David Beckham. Not too bad (unless you hate soccer, of course).

One slightly underrated feature of the Verizon Loyalty program is that you'll automatically waive activation and upgrade fees. Again, a 'nice to have', but your mileage is going to vary here in terms of whether it's a killer feature or not.

What about deals on the latest phones?

When reading about the Simplicity plan on the Verizon website, the plan initially struck me as being similar to those offered at Visible Wireless, one of Verizon's prepaid sub-brands. The Simplicity plan is still technically a post-paid option, but the line between traditional post-paid plans and small-carrier prepaid plans is tending to blur a little these days.

For example, you can either bring your own device, trade in for a discount on a new one, or spend a little extra per month to opt in for the Simplicity upgrade program. This program is very similar to Boost Mobile's Infinite plans, in that you pay extra per month for an included device with a free upgrade cycle every year.

There are two tiers here: Plus and Pro. The Plus tier will clock in at $35/mo and include devices between $350 and $830 in value. That's your option for covering 'standard' flagships like a Galaxy S26 or iPhone 17. The Pro tier is $50/mo extra and includes devices up to $1,200 in value, like the higher-end iPhone 17 Pro Max or Galaxy S26 Ultra.

Paying up to $50/mo extra on your plan is definitely quite a pricey add-on, so I think leveraging the free upgrade cycle is going to be key here for maximizing value. You'll need to make sure your device is kept in pristine condition so you can easily hand it over every year. Note, however, you need at least 33% of the device's cost to be paid off to be eligible for an upgrade.

So, what's the catch?

On paper, I think the Verizon Simplicity plan is a pretty strong offering, but as always, there are still a few things in the fine print that can catch out a potential customer.

One thing I've seen is that video streaming seems to be capped out at 720p, which is better than the Welcome Unlimited plan's 480p SD, but far worse than the Ultimate Unlimited's 4K UHD streaming. I think it's a little annoying that you get access to the super-speedy 5G Wideband network, but you're still limited to 720p mobile streaming.

While we're on the topic, it's worth mentioning that you should really make sure you're covered by the Verizon Wideband 5G network before you sign up. For some, particularly existing customers, this is a given, but if you're new, note that the Wideband network is usually concentrated in major cities.

Other little things I've spotted are that taxes aren't included in the price, and the introductory switching offer really only applies to new customers. To get that $30/mo per line cost, you'll need to combine the $10/mo auto-pay loyalty discount with a $15/mo switching discount. The baseline plan is actually $55/mo, which explains why existing customers will pay $45/mo with the auto-pay discount.

If you are an existing customer, I'd definitely weigh up your options here before transferring over to the Simplicity plan because it's not a like-for-like upgrade over the carrier's myPlan options. For one, it's a separate plan unto itself, so you might miss out on any loyalty discounts or device credits already accrued on your account.

In comparison, the Simplicity plan looks like a great standalone option for new customers who just want a barebones unlimited plan with a fixed single-line price.

• AI-powered hackers now exploit software flaws faster than companies can patch systems
• Mobile phishing scams now outperform traditional email attacks across corporate environments worldwide
• Unauthorized AI tools are quietly leaking sensitive company information across global workplaces

For the first time in nearly two decades, exploiting software vulnerabilities has overtaken stolen passwords as the primary way hackers breach corporate networks.

Verizon's 2026 Data Breach Investigations Report claims the exploitation of vulnerabilities now accounts for 31% of all confirmed data breaches.

Stolen credentials, once the dominant entry point, have dropped to just 13% of reported incidents this year.

Vulnerability exploitation has become the number one threat

The report analyzed over 31,000 security incidents across 145 countries, revealing how the threat landscape has fundamentally shifted.

Attackers are leveraging artificial intelligence to accelerate the discovery and weaponization of known software flaws, which dramatically shrinks the window available for defenders to patch their systems, reducing response time from months to mere hours.

Despite this growing risk, the report found that only 26% of critical vulnerabilities were fully remediated throughout 2025.

The median time organizations took to apply patches jumped to 43 days, leaving networks exposed for weeks or even months.

"While the velocity of cyber threats driven by AI is increasing, the foundational principles of security remain the most effective defense," said Daniel Lawson, SVP of Global Solutions at Verizon Business.

Ransomware was present in nearly half of all breaches, at 48%, up from 44% the previous year.

However, the report noted that ransom payments have declined, with 69% of victims refusing to pay.

Mobile devices have become a more dangerous attack vector than email, with phishing simulations showing that text messages and voice calls achieve 40% higher click rates than traditional email phishing.

The human element was still involved in 62% of all breaches, as attackers increasingly target mobile-centric communication channels where users are less suspicious.

AI tools create weak points for organizations

Nearly half of all employees, or 45%, now use AI tools at work, representing a significant increase from just 15% the previous year.

But 67% of these workers access artificial intelligence platforms through unauthorized personal accounts rather than approved corporate channels.

Shadow AI has become the third most common cause of non-malicious data leakage, putting company secrets at significant risk of unintended exposure.

Supply chain attacks have also grown substantially, with third-party involvement in breaches increasing by 60% year-over-year.

The DBIR makes it clear that attackers have shifted their tactics, and most organizations have not kept pace with the speed of modern threat actors.

The fundamentals of security and the use of firewalls or malware removal tools still work, but they only work when organizations actually practice them consistently.

Organizations are advised to patch faster, monitor mobile channels, control AI usage, and assume that third parties will eventually be compromised.

The attackers are already acting on that assumption, and the DBIR numbers prove they are right more often than they are wrong.

• AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon are working together to offer standardized satellite connectivity
• It would benefit customers not covered by cell towers, like in national parks
• Operators globally are looking to use satellite for more than emergencies, now

In a rare turn of events, three of the biggest mobile carriers in the US have announced they will be working together to tackle 'dead zones' across the country using satellites.

The joint venture, formed by AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon, should help to improve connectivity in areas where traditional towers can fail, such as national parks and highways.

Satellites could also provide continuity in disaster-struck regions, where land-based infrastructure damages can cause widespread outages.

Satellite technology to eliminate dead zones

Because the joint venture's plan revolves around direct-to-device satellite tech, it would mean that regular smartphone could access signal in rural areas without consumers needing to buy specific satellite phones. While many phones now offer limited services via satellite, it's hoped that the scheme would make roaming between cellular and satellite networks more seamless.

"Having launched the first nationwide, satellite-powered direct-to-device network for text and data, we’ve seen firsthand how critical reliable connectivity can be when America needs it most," T-Mobile CEO Srini Gopalan commented.

T-Mobile already partners with SpaceX, which has been expanding its footprint across voice and data services on top of earlier emergency texting functionalities. AT&T and Verizon also have partnerships with AST SpaceMobile for their satellite services.

The announcement comes amid a broader global shift, whereby satellite networks are becoming more tightly integrated with regular 5G and 6G cell connections, instead of being a separate emergency-only tool.

As well as improving coverage and performance for customers, the joint venture also anticipates industry benefits, such as industry-wide device compatibility and an easier way for mobile network operators (MNOs) to integrate satellite connectivity for their customers.

The agreement in principle is yet to be confirmed, pending regulatory approval and confirmation of the finer details.

I'd never have associated Verizon with Mother's Day, but the carrier has just listed a special on the Samsung Galaxy S26 that's easily one of the best promotions yet on the device. I still don't know what it has to do with Mother's Day, but I'm certainly not complaining.

The deal in question not only waives the usual trade-in criteria needed for a discount, but lets you include a device at no cost on any of the carriers' unlimited data plans.

That includes the entry-level Welcome Unlimited plan, which starts at $55/mo for a single line, or as little as $100/mo when you take advantage of the carrier's multi-line discounts. With the deal above, you essentially bundle up to four devices at no extra cost on a really unlimited postpaid plan.

As a side note, Verizon is also throwing in a Galaxy Watch 8 and Galaxy Tab S10 FE 5G tablet as gifts alongside the phones. Both of these are fantastic accessories, but note that you will need to take out an associated cellular line to claim them as gifts. The devices will be free, but you'll still end up paying a little extra per month for the cellular lines.

Verizon's latest Galaxy S26 deal

• See more: check out all of today's deals at Verizon

Note, it's not just the Samsung Galaxy S26 that's covered under this excellent promotion at Verizon this week. If you're interested, you'll also find an extremely similar deal available on the iPhone 17 — a device that's the perfect alternative for Apple fans.

Also available at Verizon this week...

It's been a while since Verizon has bundled in any accessories alongside its phone deals, but this week, one of the carrier's best promotions has returned for both new and existing customers alike.

Right now, you can bundle a free iPad A16 or Apple Watch Series 11 when you pick up any iPhone with a plan at the carrier - a fantastic bonus that stacks on top of the various other discounts you can get on the phone itself.

For example, the free accessories are currently eligible with the iPhone 17e, which itself is available at no extra cost without a trade-in right now. While a new unlimited data line is needed here, it's not restricted to the most expensive options at the carrier right now, making it a decent budget option overall.

One caveat with the free accessories is that you will require an associated accessory cellular line. That's an additional cost on top of your phone line, though the device itself is included at no extra cost. Essentially, you'll still save up to $500 on either an iPad or an Apple Watch.

Verizon is bundling Apple accessories right now

This week's best iPhone deals at Verizon

• Verizon users in Boston are locked out of several big channels
• It’s the result of a contract dispute that’s still unresolved
• Now, Verizon has issued a $10.99 refund to affected customers

Normally, you’d like to think that your TV service is more or less reliable – after all, if you’re paying for channels, you expect to be able to watch them. Yet that’s proved to be anything but the case for thousands of Verizon customers in Boston – and after a month of channel blackouts, they’re finally being issued a refund.

The problems started on December 15, 2025, when a dispute erupted between Verizon Fios and Cox Media Group, which carried some channels for Verizon users. After the contract between the two companies expired, they were unable to reach an agreement on a new deal, meaning access to some programming from Fox and NBC was halted. The result was that Verizon customers missed out on swaths of programming, including NFL broadcasts, among other things.

The affected channels vary by city, but they include WFXT (FOX, Charge!, Laff) in Boston, MA and Providence, RI. In Pittsburgh, PA, WPXI (NBC, MeTV, Laff, Pittsburgh Cable News Channel) is unavailable.

In an extraordinary statement to its users (via Boston.com), Verizon said that it “has exhausted all options to get Cox to play fair on behalf of our customers.” Both sides are blaming the other: Verizon says Cox is asking for too much money, while Cox says Verizon has turned down multiple offers from the company.

As a consequence, Verizon is issuing $10.99 in credit to each user “to show affected customers we have their back.” Boston.com reports that this is intended to “cover the costs of other platforms and services, where the content on the blackout channels is available.” If you’re eligible for the refund, Verizon will reach out to you this week to let you know how to redeem the offer.

No resolution in sight

There’s no doubt that this is a painful move for Verizon. Not only is it having to cough up credit for large numbers of affected customers, it's still unable to resolve the dispute that lies at the heart of this ongoing matter. That’s a bad look for any TV provider.

But it’s an even more painful situation for Verizon’s Boston-based customers, who have missed out on some key TV moments since the blackout came into effect – including the New England Patriots’ run to the Super Bowl.

That game is due to take place on February 8, and local fans of the team will be hoping Verizon can settle the dispute before then. If not, they’ll have to find other ways to watch the game.

With no resolution in sight, it’s unknown how much longer Bostonians will be locked out of the affected TV channels. If you’re affected and want to know how you can catch the Super Bowl, our guide has got you covered.

• Verizon resolves the outage
• It's offering impacted customers a $20 credit
• Even if it knows it may not be equivalent to the pain the outage caused

The dust is slowly settling on the massive Verizon outage of 2026, and while we still don't know what cut out cell service for Verizon customers across much of the United States, the company is getting out in front of the issue with another public apology and a $20 credit for affected customers.

Verizon wrote in an X post that customers can get their $20 credit by logging into their Verizon accounts, which customers who were unable to access the cell network for upwards of eight hours may or may not think is enough. The credit doesn't appear to be there yet, though, and Verizon has told us it will send a text message when it becomes available – that, of course, assumes your service has returned.

In fact, Verizon appears to be anticipating the response, adding in its post, "This credit isn’t meant to make up for what happened. No credit really can. But it’s a way of acknowledging your time and showing that this matters to us."

Do I think $20 is enough? Probably not. A fairer amount might've been the cost of one month of 5G coverage for one month, so somewhere in the range of $50. But I get that could be a huge expense for Verizon across millions of customers. Also, that's not my problem.

And judging from the comments on our live report tracking the outage and aftermath, I have a feeling many folks across the United States won't be happy with this either. Further, while Verizon is upping the communication now, the carrier went for hours without providing an update, and this, as well as a small, $20 credit will likely make for a rightfully unhappy bunch. Though, as some have shared, calling in and chatting with a customer service rep might be a way to score a larger credit – mileage on this will likely vary though.

What's missing thus far is an explanation of the outage's root cause. There are numerous theories, including a cyberattack, bad code, and equipment failure. Any one of them could account for the scale of the event (and its duration), but until Verizon does its post-mortem, we simply won't know. That process can take hours, days, or even weeks.

In the meantime, whatever percentage of Verizon Mobile's nearly 150 million customers affected by the outage will have to decide if $20 is enough to assuage their frustration over lost communication opportunities, business, and even the inability to reach emergency services when they needed them.

If you're currently searching for that $20 credit, you might want to wait a bit until that text from Verizon comes through. Many people, including this Verizon customer, have yet to see any indication of the credit on their accounts. I even tried to engage with chat on the issue, and it, though automated, knew nothing about the credit offer.

In the meantime, let us know what you think about Verizon's $20 credit in the poll below.

Verizon's service should now be restored following a major outage that lasted for around 10 hours and impacted hundreds of thousands of people.

It was the popular United States wireless carrier's first major outage since October 2024, and it was a bad one, with customers across the country seeing 'SOS' in place of network bars.

Many users reported no network bars, and on phones like the iPhone, those were replaced with SOS, with no ability to make or receive calls or texts beyond using data.

The problems started at around 12:30PM ET, with thousands of Verizon cellular customers reporting issues with the network on social platforms including X (formerly Twitter) and Threads, as well as in the comments below on this article. At its height, Down Detector reported more than 180,000 issues.

Verizon eventually confirmed to TechRadar that its network was experiencing a disruption shortly after 1 PM ET, then was relatively quiet on the issue until issuing a substantial update around 9 PM ET.

Verizon noted then that it majorly let customers down and that credits would be on the horizon for those affected, then added that it was "working non-stop and making progress," . Verizon's statement continued with: "Our teams will continue to work through the night until service is restored for all impacted customers." Finally, at 10:24 PM ET, Verizon confirmed the outage was resolved.

If you're still having issues, it's best to try restarting your device.

We invite you to vote in our poll below to let us know if you're on Verizon and are still being impacted by the outage, and to comment down below.

We're still continuing our live coverage of this major Verizon outage ahead and have reached out to the carrier for more information on what caused the outage.

The spike is real on Down Detector – as of 12:16PM ET there are over 46,000 reported outages and a few of my colleagues who use Veirzon are seeing 'SOS' in place of network bars on there iPhones.

For those counting, Down Detector is now at over 90,000 reported issues, with many in the comments noting that on their phones, 'SOS' is appearing instead of network bars. This likely indicates that the device can't reach the cellular network and instead defaults to satellite connectivity, a feature offered by the iPhone and other smartphones.

Here's a look at what that looks like, courtesy of TechRadar's Editor-at-Large, Lance Ulanoff's iPhone 17 Pro Max, which is connected to Verizon's network here in New York City.

Verizon's own Network Status isn't showing any issues

Interestingly, Verizon's Network Status checker doesn't appear to show any issues, and I've tried plugging in a few different locations to get it to update. Please let us know in the comments if you're on Verizon and experiencing this outage.

Based on social media posts and Down Detector comments, it's clear that the New York Metro Region, Texas, Florida, Las Vegas, Nevada, and South Carolina are experiencing issues.

I am also encountering a 'please try again' pop-up when using the tool, so it might be experiencing an outage.

I am keeping an eye on Verizon's own social channels – mainly @Verizon, @VerizonSupport, and @VerizonNews on X – to see if any comment or acknowledgment is being issued, but there's nothing as of yet.

Meanwhile, here's a sampling of impacted users taking to social platforms to report issues with Verizon.

I use Visible, one of Verizon MVNO's, and still have service

I swapped from Verizon to Visible this past November during the carrier's Black Friday - Cyber Monday sale and am still seeing service on my iPhone 17 Pro Max, actually 5GUW with two bars of service.

Now, Visible is Verizon's MVNO, which means it's a 'mobile virtual network operator' that actually offers its service via Verizon's network, so it's peculiar that it's not impacted by the outage ... at least as of yet.

Verizon just confirmed the issue with TechRadar and is working on a fix

We've heard back from a Verizon spokesperson, and the carrier has confirmed that an issue is impacting its network.

"We are aware of an issue impacting wireless voice and data services for some customers. Our engineers are engaged and are working to identify and solve the issue quickly. We understand how important reliable connectivity is and apologize for the inconvenience."

Verizon states that it's aware of the issue hitting both voice and data for some customers, but doesn't show how far-reaching the impact is. It's clear it's quite wide; scroll down and read the comments below.

There is no timeline for a resolution, but Verizon's engineers are working on it. So that's a positive.

It's a good time to try Messages via Satellite on your iPhone

If you see "SOS" on your iPhone 14 or newer, now is a good time to try "Messages via Satellite." Apple originally designed this for when you're out in the wilderness or a place that's intended to have no cellular reception, but it's a good way to stay in contact with family and friends during a network outage.

You can see our guide to using Messages via Satellite here.

Verizon's responding back to frustrated users on social media

While we still haven't seen a formal Tweet from the @Verizon account, the @VerizonSupport account is responding to individual customers who are tweeting about network connectivity issues. And it appears to be the same message to most folks, likely automated and asking for a DM to help troubleshoot the issue.

Other carriers are spiking on Down Detector, but it's likely not another outage

As we see with almost all service outages, competing services tend to spike when one carrier is experiencing one. With mobile carriers, it's generally the case that one person has Verizon and is in the midst of the outage, and they're reaching out to someone at AT&T, T-Mobile, or another carrier; if they don't, they fail to do so.

Generally, it's that Verizon can't connect to that network, not that AT&T or T-Mobile is simultaneously experiencing another outage, though it's possible.

A look at 'Messages via Satellite' on iPhone

While I'm still seeing service on Visible – Verizon's own MVNO – with 5G UW, my colleague, Lance Ulanoff, on Verizon proper, is still seeing SOS and is attempting to use 'Messages via Satellite' on his iPhone 17 Pro Max. Here's what that looks like: it's a pretty nice visual interface that takes over the Dynamic Island.

Down Detector reports are dropping, but many are still reporting issues

Let's take a quick status check on Down Detector – while reported issues with Verizon were at nearly 180,000, it is starting to drop to around 120,000. A significant drop, which might point to some recovery, but also still way above the number we expect Verizon or any cellular carrier to be at on a normal day.

Lance headed onto the streets of NYC to give 'Messages via Satellite' a go, as his iPhone 17 Pro Max in Cosmic Orange that's connected to Verizon is still showing SOS. He connected via satellite, following the prompts, but the four messages he sent me still haven't been received on my end.

Verizon's outage is impacting voice, text, and data for cellular customers

Here's a quick update – reported outages for Verizon began spiking a bit before 12:30 PM ET on January 24, 2026, and Verizon confirmed the issue shortly after 1 PM ET. The outage is affecting nearly all parts of Verizon's cellular service in the areas covered, including New York, New Jersey, the Carolinas, Texas, and Florida, among others. Just look at the comments below.

Additionally, it affects voice, text, and data, with many affected phones displaying an SOS icon instead of the usual network bars and 5G/5G UW/4G in the top corner. For iPhone users with a 14 or newer model, you'll be directed to satellite services, including 'Messages via Satellite'.

Verizon's provided an update, but there's still no estimate for a fix

Verizon just shared another update via @VerizonNews on X. As expected, its engineering team is still investigating the issue and working to resolve it, but there is no estimate yet for when recovery will occur.

And further, Verizon's not sharing any information on what's causing the issue – we've reached back out to Verizon to ask for more information, though we might not hear back until this is resolved.

Let's talk about those network bars

If you see bars but are unable to make a call or receive data, remember that those bars simply indicate a connection to a cell tower. In that case, you're in range, and it's still casting, but it's similar to a home Wi-Fi network that is casting without a direct pipeline to the World Wide Web.

In this case, as Verizon works to restore its network and resolve the issue, you may be able to reach a cell tower and have a strong signal, but it's not sending any data or voice traffic back to you. Meaning that you won't be able to use the internet, or at least use it at close to normal speeds, make calls, or send a message.

It's also likely that when Verizon is unaware that recovery is underway, a full restoration will take longer and can vary by location. Of course, there's a chance you don't even see those network bars as of right now, as many are seeing those swapped for SOS.

New York City's official emergency notification system has commented on the situation, noting that if you're on Verizon and are impacted by this outage, it may affect your ability to dial 911 in an emergency. It advises you to try calling from a landline or another device, or to visit a precinct, if you have an emergency.

You can also try using 'Emergency SOS via Satellite' if you're an iPhone 14 or newer.

We have a slight update, at least from folks on Verizon, but it's not a fix, more like a glimmer of recovery.

Here in NYC, my colleague Lance Ulanoff is now seeing two bars of service and 5G after a restart on his iPhone 17 Pro Max, which is connected to Verizon. Though it's super spotty and has quickly gone back to SOS, meanwhile, other colleagues are still seeing SOS and not even seeing the network bars after a restart.

So, fair to say that Verizon's network is still impacted, and we're waiting on further updates from the carrier on what's causing the outage and when recovery might be. Judging from the comments below, though, it appears many are seeing it come back, then disappear back to SOS or no bars.

As we noted earlier, other carriers are operating normally, with T-Mobile posting on X (formerly Twitter) that its network is performing well. It does note that if you're attempting to reach someone on Verizon, you may not be able to establish the connection.

We're still waiting for an update from Verizon as well on the current network issues.

Just like T-Mobile, AT&T is also confirming that its network is operating just fine ... albeit with a bit more sass.

The carrier writes, "Our network? Solid." and then notes that if you're having issues, it's due to another network but doesn't mention Verizon by name. AT&T then shouts out some switching offers as well.

Verizon is finally showing some proof of life in NYC

We won't call this a full recovery just yet, but my colleague Lance Ulanoff is now seeing three bars and 5G UW. His first call to me failed, and it showed 'Call Failed' on the iPhone, but on the second attempt, after a brief delay, I was able to hear him, and he was able to hear me.

I also had him run a quick speed test, and on Verizon 5G UW from a 17 Pro Max, he got 19.8 Mbps download and 5.97 Mbps upload. So this is progress, but we're not sure how widespread the recovery is. Let us know if service is starting to come back in the comments below.

Of course, we'll update you if this disappears again or if we get another comment from Verizon.

Quick update – Lance's phone quickly went back to SOS and then back to a few bars, so it's likely that Verizon is working on restorations and that there is a flood of iPhones and other phones like Pixel and Galaxy devices trying to get back online.

We're keen to hear Verizon provide another update on what exactly is going on, as the last one was at 2:14 PM ET – over an hour ago.

We reached out to Carolina Milanesi, President and Principal Analyst at Creative Strategies, Inc., for her thoughts and expertise on the current outage impacting Verizon:

"Sadly, we are getting accustomed to outages, whether they are network Verizon today, ATT in 2024, AWS at the end of 2025, and I fear this is the new reality as cyber attacks increase and reliance on major cloud and AI providers increases," wrote Milanesi.

While there is no evidence that today's issues are a cyberattack, such outages are certainly on the rise. One thing that I'd hope we see improved is communication from the impacted services, but that's not the case yet ... with Verizon today, Verizon in 2024, or the outages in between.

And here's the latest look at the reported outage map from Down Detector – Verizon's outage is very widespread, hitting the East Coast – Northeast and Southeast – Midwest, and even select metropolitan cities on the West Coast.

Here's where we stand 4 hours in

This is officially the biggest and longest outage of 2026, but I'll level with you, it's also the first outage of 2026. Even so, this will stand as a major outage for Verizon, disrupting cell service for countless customers, and it's still ongoing.

Verizon's latest update on the outage came at 2:14 PM ET, close to two hours ago, and it didn't provide much of a real needle pusher. It noted that the engineering team is focusing on addressing the interruption and is fully committed to resolving it. No mention of what's causing it or the estimated time for resolution.

We've reached out to Verizon to ask for more information and are waiting to hear back; that'll likely be the case until another wide statement is issued. For now, though, if you have Verizon, your ability to make calls, send texts, and use data – aka browse the web on 5G or even 4G – is likely affected. If you're on an iPhone, you're likely seeing network bars replaced with SOS. You can see our guide to sending messages via satellite here.

Keep posting in the comments below to let us know if your service is still out, if it's showing signs of coming back to life, or if it's being a bit of a tease like my colleagues have been seeing. For what it's worth, I still have two bars and 5G on Visible, but Lance is seeing Verizon with no bars and no mention of 5G with no connectivity.

Krispy Kreme to the rescue, sort of

While it's not a service recovery, Krispy Kreme is at least making those impacted by Verizon's major outage today feel a little bit better. The iconic doughnut chain has confirmed to TechRadar that it'll be serving up free original glazed doughnuts from 5 PM to 7 PM across the United States at its locations as a 'sweet backup plan.'

That's pretty great, and I can confirm a Krispy Kreme original glazed can really hit the spot. If only Verizon would provide another update!

Verizon provides an update, but still no time for a resolution

Well, Verizon's finally shared another update on the ongoing network disruption as of 4:12PM ET. It doesn't state the cause of the issue or how long it'll take for it be resolved, but it does read, "Verizon's team is on the ground actively working to fix today’s service issue that is impacting some customers."

Verizon's clearly working fast to resolve the issue, but as of now many, many customers are still without connectivity. We'll keep you updated!

Krispy Kreme donuts are secured

Lance and I headed to a Krispy Kreme in NYC and can confirm that donut deal is real. You're entitled to one free Original Glazed donut and the offer is valid from 5PM to 7PM, it certainly helps for a tasty treat after a stressful day – that's contuining to the evening – for Verizon customers.

Patience is a virtue, right?

Lance Ulanoff here.

We're nearing hour 6 of this Verizon outage, and while some are reporting restored service, many of us are struggling to maintain even LTE support on what's supposed to be a 5G network. Plus, coverage is wildly inconsistent. Some people have a few bars of 5G, others have just LTE, and some have nothing.

On the ride home, I notice some people on their phones happily scrolling through their feeds. It was hard to tell, though, what network they're on. In my own house, my wife has 5G while I'm suffering with SOS.

This will be a slow road back.

The impacts of the Verizon outage

Beyond not being able to access the internet, make calls, or receive texts, the implications of Verizon's major 6+ hour outage today are far-reaching. Take this, for example: live sporting events are affected, especially when you need connectivity to pull up tickets on your phone to enter the venue.

In New Jersey this evening, the NJ Devils take on the Seattle Kraken, and the team recommends fans save their tickets to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet before leaving for the venue.

And here's an update on the current number of reported outages at Down Detector – it's fallen to about 43,000, which is still an abnormally high number pointing towards an outage by down from the over 180,000 reports from earlier today. Meanwhile, we're awaiting further updates from Verizon on the timeline for resolution.

Verizon's outage is now stretching on for 6+ hours

We're now stretching into 6 hours of this Verizon outage that's knocked out phone, text, and data for a huge swath of customers across the United States. The issues began shortly before 12:30PM ET, and Verizon confirmed a network disruption after 1 PM ET.

While at its peak, Down Detector reported over 180,000 incidents; it has since fallen to around 40,000, but hundreds of thousands of customers have reported issues. You can see many of those on social platforms, like X (formerly Twitter) or Threads, and even see more of them by scrolling below to the comments.

Now, my colleagues and I at TechRadar want to know whether you've been affected by today's Verizon outage, so please take the poll below and feel free to comment.

We're still awaiting an update from Verizon on the resolution timeline or the cause of today's issues. The carrier last posted an update at 4:12 PM ET, noting that teams were on the ground working to resolve the outage. And if you're on an iPhone and seeing SOS, here's a guide to trying to send messages via satellite.

We're now in hour 7 of this Verizon outage

We're now into 7 hours of what is still a very active and ongoing Verizon outage, so let's take a look at the outage map on Down Detector that's based on the most recent reports. It shows fewer outages, but it's still quite high for a typical day at Verizon, with over 37,000.

It seems that the Northeast, specifically New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, is a bit of a hotspot for Verizon's network issues. Still, Boston, Washington DC, Florida, LA, and Phoenix are all on here as well.

From the comments below, I see that TechRadar readers on Verizon are still experiencing issues in Massachusetts, Alaska, Mississippi, Maryland, Virginia, and New Hampshire, among others, and remain affected by this outage.

I'm on Visible – Verizon's MVNO – and haven't been impacted, but I spoke with my colleague, Lance, who still has no service. His wife, though, has 1 bar showing and 5G with the ability to browse the internet and make calls, though not to Lance, and his son has LTE.

One of my friends in NYC has an iPhone 16 and is still seeing "SOS" instead of network bars or 5G on his device. He tried a restart, a soft reset, and turning Airplane mode on and off – all to no avail so far. He hasn't attempted to try Messages via Satellite, though that is a bit hard to pull off in metro areas with tall buildings like NYC.

And our poll is still open, so please vote on what you're currently experiencing with Verizon, and thank you to the 20,000+ who have already voted.

Some things to try on your phone

If you're starting to see a bar or two return, or want to try and make that happen while we wait for further updates from Verizon, here are a few ideas on what to do.

Given that the network outage is still active and Verizon is working to resolve it, there's no guarantee these will work. You might find that even if you're seeing a bar or 5G appear, you can't connect either, and as Lance wrote earlier, that can be par for the course as parts of the network come back online, but not fully online, or they get pulled back down again as Verizon attempts to ensure 100% recovery.

Unfortunately, the recovery will likely be slow.

• Sounds simple, but try restarting your phone.
• Try a soft reset if you're on an iPhone – press and hold the volume up button, press and hold the volume down button, then press and hold the power button until you see the Apple logo.
• Turn on Airplane mode and then turn it off.

We're now in hour 8 of this Verizon outage

We're now in hour 8 of this outage and are now past four hours since Verizon's last update on the network disruption, though we have asked the network for another update.

Judging by the comments down below, it appears that many across the United States – Georgia, Massachusetts, Florida, Texas, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, to name a few – are still in the midst of this Verizon outage, while others have seen bars reappear and then disappear soon thereafter.

One of my friends in New York City who has an iPhone 17 Pro Max just told me that after hours without service, 5G appeared and then went away after about a minute – certainly frustrating. Similarly, my colleague Lance Ulanoff is seeing Verizon service come in and out on his iPhone 17 Pro Max – at times, a bar or two appearing, and then quickly disappearing.

It does appear that a few of you are seeing better luck with service reappearing and lasting a bit longer, so let's hope Verizon is making progress, and we'll see that across all impacted areas soon.

Verizon finally gives us an update, and says it will work through the night to get its network back online

Well, nearly five hours since Verizon's last update that its team was actively working on the issue, we finally have another update, and it's not a resolution.

You can read it in full below, but the carrier is first acknowledging that it let its customers down majorly today and that its "teams will continue to work through the night until service is restored for all impacted customers."

Unfortunately, that means we're likely still hours away from a complete recovery, though Verizon says it's "working non-stop and making progress."

And Verizon does formally mention credits for customers affected by the major outage, Verizon offers some hope: "We will make this right - for any customer affected, we will provide account credits and share updates soon."

"Today, we let many of our customers down and for that, we are truly sorry. They expect more from us.

We are working non-stop and making progress. Our teams will continue to work through the night until service is restored for all impacted customers.

We will make this right - for any customer affected, we will provide account credits and share updates soon."

Lance's iPhone 17 Pro Max on Verizon is finally showing some positive signs, and hopefully that means a few of you in the comments might be seeing this as well ... though mileage will undoubtedly vary.

After switching to 'Searching,' the iPhone was able to show 5G and two bars of service with Wi-Fi turned off. Lance ran a quick speed test and scored 89MBps download and 1.48MBps – not the strongest speeds ever recorded, but a sign that the network connection was there.

It's lasted about 14 minutes so far, so let's see if the connection sticks.

Verizon says the outage is resolved, but a restart of your phone might be required

TechRadar has received another update from Verizon, and it's a positive one. As of 10:24 PM ET, Verizon's Christina Moon Ashraf confirmed that "the outage has been resolved" and that, if you're a Verizon customer still experiencing issues, it's best practice to "restart" your device.

Further, Christina Moon Ashraf writes, "For those affected, we will provide account credits. Details will be shared directly with customers." Lastly, as the earlier statements echo, it concludes with "We sincerely apologize for the distruption."

This is largely good news, and based on the comments below, it appears many of you are reporting that service has returned, while others note a partial return with only some features working. It might be that Verizon is still making some adjustments, but I'll include the same list of tips from before, beyond just restarting your phone, to try and see if that can help bring service back to life.

We'll, of course, update this if we hear further from Verizon as well – those might come from me in the early morning hours tomorrow or from my TechRadar colleagues in the UK who will be online well before then.

It's also good news on the credit front, and once we hear more about the process for obtaining those, we'll update the guide. And I do hope that Verizon will detail a bit more about what exactly happened today and the steps it's taking to ensure the likelihood of an outage at this scale – lasting for nearly 10 hours – happening again can be reduced.

• Sounds simple, but as Verizon suggests, try restarting your phone.
• Try a soft reset if you're on an iPhone – press and hold the volume up button, then press and hold the volume down button, and finally press and hold the power button until you see the Apple logo.
• Turn on Airplane mode and then turn it off.

'We learned to disconnect and appreciate'

In all the madness and anger – or any other emotion you want to for this outage – there was one Verizon customer who left a comment that stood out to me. Posted by an anonymous user on Down Detector, they said, "Today we learned to disconnect and appreciate and some of us even met some pretty cool people."

Now, that's a glass-half-full kinda person and I appreciate that outlook. More so because it's been a trying 12 hours. But it does show that sometimes disconnecting can be a good thing.

We're 12 hours in and things are coming round

12 hours, and over 1.5 million complaints later, DownDetector is now showing only around 1,500. So looks like services are coming back for most customers and it shouldn't be long before it all goes back to being 'business as usual'.

As of 10.20pm ET, Verizon confirmed that the issue had been resolved, but the company is yet to offer an explanation as to what went wrong.

It's given the competition a chance to take a dig at Verizon. T-Mobile sent its customers a message to reassure them there wasn't any issue with its own network, while AT&T said that if any of its customers were experiencing problems, "It’s not us...it’s the other guys.”

Verizon services should now be back to normal for everyone. If your phone is still not picking up the network, trying turning on airplane mode and off again or restart your phone.

That hadn't worked for some our readers until about an hour ago, but hopefully you'll rest easy for the rest of the night knowing you'll be receiving spam calls again in the morning.

There's still no word from Verizon on what caused the outage, but we'll update this live blog when we hear more.

The most recent update from the carrier is below:

Will Verizon customers get a refund?

We're still in the aftermath of the big Verizon outage, and one of the main questions is whether customers will be reimbursed for the problems that lasted 12 hours?

Right now, all Verizon has said is that "we will provide account credits" and that "details will be shared directly with customers". So far, we haven't seen any evidence of anyone receiving those details – if you have, please do share them in the comments below.

While some may have preferred a refund rather than a credit, not all mobile networks promise compensation during outages – so that's at least a small silver lining on a very bad day for Verizon customers.

Some are still having issues

While the Verizon outage is over for most people (aside from waiting to receive credits, see post below), some are still experiencing residual issues almost a day on.

Over on Downdetector, the reports are at around 2,300 at the time of writing – nowhere near the peak of 182,000 reports at 12.45pm ET yesterday, but still not insignificant. In the comments, some have noted "still out in NC", "I’m still SOS (South Jersey)", and "New Hampshire and I'm down".

There are similarly some anecdotal reports over on X, with a number of users posting that the network is "still down" for them. Fortunately for us, that isn't our experience, with TechRadar's Editor at Large Lance Ulanoff reporting that "all systems are normal here" in New York and that he's currently hotspotting on his Verizon 5G network while on a train, which is "working smoothly".

If you're still having issues, Verizon's advice is still for customers to "restart their devices to reconnect to the network". Clearly, that isn't working for everyone, but hopefully those remaining cases will be resolved soon.

Verizon will give customers a '$20 account credit'

Well, Verizon has issued its next comment—arriving at 9:42 AM ET—and once again the carrier is apologizing and admitting it "did not meet the standard of excellence you expect and that we expect of ourselves."

Maybe more importantly, though, Verizon is finally detailing what the credit it will be offering looks like, and I have a feeling it might not meet the mark for those in the comments below.

Verizon writes, "To help provide some relief, we are giving you a $20 account credit that can be easily redeemed by logging into the myVerizon app to accept. On average, this covers multiple days of service. Our business customers will be contacted directly about their credits."

The nice part is that it’s a somewhat automatic credit that Verizon customers should be able to accept. Still, though, considering it was an over 8-hour outage, I’m not sure this will be music to the ears of impacted customers.

The carrier does provide a little more detail, though: "This credit isn’t meant to make up for what happened. No credit really can. But it’s a way of acknowledging our customers' time and showing that this matters to us."

Additionally, Verizon says if you're still experiencing the outage, it recommends restarting your phone to help get it back online. There's no exact timing for when the credit option will appear in the MyVerizon app, but let us know if you see it in the comments down below.

Full statement from Verizon:

"Yesterday, we did not meet the standard of excellence our customers expect and that we expect of ourselves. To help provide some relief to those affected, we are giving customers a $20 account credit that can be easily redeemed by logging into the myVerizon app to accept. On average, this covers multiple days of service. Our business customers will be contacted directly about their credits.

This credit isn’t meant to make up for what happened. No credit really can. But it’s a way of acknowledging our customers' time and showing that this matters to us.

If customers are still experiencing issues, we encourage them to restart their devices to reconnect to the network. We are sorry for what you experienced and will continue to work hard day and night to provide the outstanding network and service that people expect from Verizon."

Not seeing the $20 credit? Verizon will send a text when it's available

If you're not seeing the $20 credit from Verizon on your account page – either on the web or in the MyVerizon app on Android or iOS – you're likely not alone. Lance hasn't seen it yet, and we reached out to Verizon, who informed us that it will send out a text to customers when the $20 credit becomes available.

I'm not yet sure if that process has begun or if it's planned for later today – though I really hope it is –, but we've asked Verizon and will hopefully hear back soon. If not, it's a bit of a waiting game. You can read a bit more on the $20 credit and some thoughts on its impact here.

Below, I'd invite you to take TechRadar's poll to let us know if you think the $20 credit is enough for the outage. Feel free to vote and leave a comment below. You can even let us know if you see the $20 credit appear.

It doesn't appear that Verizon's begun the process for issuing the credit, but TechRadar has confirmed that it is a $20 credit per account, not per line. This means that if you have a family plan with any number of lines, you'll be eligible for a $20 credit.

As a refresher, you'll be able to redeem the $20 credit within the MyVerizon app for iOS and Android, and Verizon will send a text when that option becomes available. Verizon has not yet confirmed when it will be available or when the process will start.

Verizon confirms a software issue caused the outage and there is 'no indication' of a 'cyber security incident'

In a statement to TechRadar, Verizon is shedding some light on the over 8-hour outage yesterday, January 14, 2026, that affected many of its customers across the United States. The outage was caused by a software issue, and Verizon is conducting a full investigation into the cause.

Furthermore, Verizon notes that this wasn't a cyberattack: "As of now, there is no indication that this was a cyber security issue."

Here's the full statement from a Verizon spokesperson to TechRadar:

"This was a software issue and we are conducting a full review of what happened. As of now, there is no indication that this was a cyber security issue."

Customers are still looking for the $20 credit

While Verizon did inform us that the multi-hour outage yesterday, January 14, 2026, was caused by a software issue and that there were no signs of a cybersecurity issue, we're still waiting for the carrier to start serving the $20 credit for customers.

The last update earlier this morning noted that customers will be able to access the $20 credit on their account page in the 'MyVerizon' app for iOS and Android. Verizon also noted that it would notify customers via text that the credit was available.

Based on the comments below and my colleague, TechRadar's Editor-at-Large, Lance Ulanoff, Verizon has yet to start texting about the credit or make it accessible in the app. As Lance noted, the app doesn't show a credit but still has the notice apologizing for the outage up top.

The $20 credit is appearing as redeemable for some in the MyVerizon app

Here's some good news – hours after Verizon announced that customers would be able to get a $20 credit due to the over 8-hour outage that impacted the carrier's customers across the United States, we have Chris who commented down below, as well as my colleague Lance Ulanoff, confirming they both were able to see it in the app.

For Lance, it appears at the top of his 'MyVerizion' app, reading: "We're sorry we've let you down. Redeem your $20 credit below. Credit will be applied in 1-2 bill cycles." with a 'Redeem Now' button below. He clicked it and received a success screen (see below) confirming that there is only one $20 credit per account.

For Chris, in the comments below, he wrote: "Received the $20 credit in the Verizon app. Had to click on the notification icon, and then redeemed the credit. It will be applied in 1-2 billing cycles." That's a few more hoops, but if you're not seeing it up top, the notifications section is a good place to check.

Seemingly, Verizon has not yet sent a text message informing customers of the ability to redeem the $20 credit. We also haven't received any updates from the carrier on the specific details of the 'software issue' that caused the outage, but we expect Verizon to release more information after it completes its investigation in the coming days.

Been thinking about making the switch to Verizon? The carrier has a fantastic bonus for new customers today that's well worth checking out.

The promotion in question is a $200 e-giftcard when you buy a new phone and line at the carrier - a really nice little bonus that lets you take a sizeable chunk off your plan costs. Even better still, it's a promotion that stacks with the other various Verizon deals that are available on the carrier's site right now.

Such deals include a free iPhone 17 Pro Max with a new line on the Ultimate Unlimited plan, or up to four iPhone 17 Pros free with a Welcome Unlimited plan. If you'd prefer Android, that same four-phone-for-free deal is also available on the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus and Google Pixel 10 Pro XL right now - the latter being a particularly good promotion.

There's no telling how much longer these phone deals will last at Verizon, so it's well worth considering making the switch if you're interested. All of these deals are extremely similar (or identical) to those offered over Black Friday, so they're absolutely worth considering.

[Editor's note] When this page was originally published, the e-giftcard deal was incorrectly stated to end on Wednesday, 14th January. The promotion is still available, and this page has been amended to reflect that.

New customers get $200 at Verizon today

• See more: check out all of today's phone deals at Verizon

More of this week's best Verizon deals

Verizon just dropped a surprise deal on the iPhone 17 Pro today. Doubly surprising because we thought the carrier had already spoiled us with its excellent range of Black Friday deals last week.

Right now, no trade-ins are needed at all to get four iPhone 17 Pros for free alongside the carrier's Welcome Unlimited plan. That's four devices on a plan that costs just $100 per month in total - averaging out at just $25/mo per line.

This particular deal is easily one of the best Verizon deals of the entire year so far. You will, of course, pay a fair bit for the plan - but the savings on the phones will actually top out at over $4,000 if you're eligible for four lines.

And, even if you're not looking for multiple lines, you can still get a single iPhone 17 Pro for free alongside a new line on a Welcome, Plus, or Ultimate plan. Usually, these types of deals either require a trade-in or a line on the higher-end Ultimate plan, so today's deal at Verizon really is worth checking out.

Verizon's latest iPhone 17 Pro deal

• See more: check out all of today's best deals at Verizon

Better than Verizon's Black Friday deals?

Verizon's best iPhone deal last week was a free iPhone 17 Pro Max on either a Plus or Ultimate unlimited plan. In comparison, today's deal also gets you the slightly cheaper iPhone 17 Pro for free without a trade-in, but with the option to include it with the entry-level Welcome plan. In short, it's a slightly cheaper deal overall and arguably one that's better value for most people.

Right now, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is $5/mo alongside a Plus or Ultimate plan, so today's deal on the standard iPhone 17 Pro seems like a no-brainer to me. The Pro Max deal was a fantastic value last week over Black Friday, but now that it's no longer free I'd personally go all-in on the iPhone 17 Pro deal at Verizon today.

If you're eying up that next upgrade, then today's Verizon Cyber Monday deals are offering fantastic choices. Everything from the latest iPhone 17 to internet packages have excellent deals, and I'm rounding everything up right here on this page.

These deals have actually been part of the carrier's seasonal sale for a few weeks now, but you're not missing anything by checking-in now. For example, Verizon's Cyber Monday deals include record-breaking discounts on the iPhone 17 Pro Max, Galaxy S25 Ultra, or Pixel 10 Pro XL, to name just a few. All these high-end devices are currently available for free without a trade-in - and you can also throw in a free tablet and smartwatch for good measure, if you're willing to pay extra for various lines.

While these deals have been knocking around for a few days now, I'd still rank them as the best I've seen yet from the carrier in 2025. I track Verizon deals all year round, so I'm particularly excited about promotions like the one on the iPhone 17 Pro Max, which is available for free on a much cheaper plan than before (the mid-tier Plus plan).

As always, I've laid out the various plan criteria needed to be eligible for these Verizon Cyber Monday deals just below. I've also included some device overviews, if you're still wondering what phone to go for.

Today's best Verizon Cyber Monday deals

Verizon Cyber Monday deals: FAQ

What models does TechRadar recommend?

The annual Verizon Black Friday deals are already live today, with excellent options across the board - including iPhone 17, Galaxy S25, Google Pixel, and even internet packages. Looking to upgrade? Well, I've rounded up all today's best discounts just below.

The carrier's seasonal promotions have actually been ongoing for a few weeks now, but Verizon has just added a brand new batch of exceptional promotions. Highlights include the iPhone 17 Pro Max, Galaxy S25 Ultra, or Pixel 10 Pro XL for free alongside a new unlimited line without a trade-in and the option to bundle in free accessories, too.

As someone who covers Verizon deals all year round, these are definitely some of the best promotions I've seen in 2025, with more generous terms than what's usually required.

With that said, as always, Verizon's Black Friday deals revolve around potentially pricey unlimited plans, so it's definitely worth considering your options before you jump in. That's why I've included the various eligibility criteria for each one, as well as some specific recommendations for devices based on our product testing here at TechRadar.

Today's best Black Friday deals at Verizon

Verizon Black Friday deals: FAQ

Will Verizon feature more deals over Black Friday?

Verizon has already launched two waves of early deals ahead of Black Friday, so I wouldn't expect too much more at this point. Deals like the current promotion on the iPhone 17 Pro Max are already the best we've seen from the carrier in 2025, so it's doubtful that it will launch an even better option.

With that said, you never know. Stock on the latest iPhone 17 range is pretty good at the moment, so there's really no rush if you're willing to wait it out until Black Friday itself.

What models does TechRadar recommend?

How do I save as much cash as possible?

Unfortunately, there are no real surprises when it comes to Verizon Black Friday deals. As with the carrier's promotions at other times of the year, the biggest discounts will be reserved for those who sign up for one of the carrier's priciest unlimited plans.

You may also, depending on the various T&Cs, have to trade in an old device to be eligible for a discount. In recent years, Verizon and other carriers have been a lot less strict on the criteria, however, so your mileage may vary when it comes to this year's Black Friday deals at the carrier.

For example, last year, Verizon offered the excellent iPhone 16 Pro for free without even having to trade in. Recently, the iPhone Air and iPhone 17 have both been free under similar criteria too, so there is precedent for excellent promotions that don't require the usual trade-in.

While you're here, I'll also shout out our main Black Friday deals page if you're looking for more recommendations from TechRadar. You can also check out our Black Friday landing page for a quick overview of today's related stories from our team of experts.

If you're on the hunt for Black Friday iPhone deals already, then there's no shortage of excellent promotions to check out at major carriers this week. T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T all have massive seasonal events right now, looking to tempt prospective customers with a range of free devices.

But which one should you go for? Well, I've been combing through the various T&Cs and eligibility criteria today to try and determine which is the best value. Annoyingly, it depends on what you're looking for – and I've delved into that further down the page.

As an overview, all three carriers offer discounts ranging from $820 to $1,300 off on the latest iPhone 17 series right now - either via a new plan or a trade-in rebate. In some cases, you can also throw in a free iPad and Apple Watch, although these do require lines of their own, so definitely weigh that up if you're interested.

Before I break down what I'd personally go for, here are those Black Friday deals from AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile in full:

I've just updated this page to reflect the new deals that T-Mobile and Verizon have launched today. The new deals in question are the free iPhone 17 Pro Max at Verizon, and the free iPhone 17 Pro at T-Mobile; both of which, by the way, are available with a free iPad and Apple Watch.

Today's Black Friday iPhone deals at the carriers

Breaking down these deals in detail

• Cheap / free accessories still require cellular lines
• Verizon's iPhone 17 Pro Max is great for single-lines
• T-Mobile's iPhone 17 deal is amazing for families

So, which is the best? It's a tough call, but Verizon's current deal for the iPhone 17 Pro Max is the one with the most added value. You can basically get a free phone that's worth $1,300 on one of the carrier's mid-tier unlimited plans without a trade, which is a real notch above what Verizon usually offers.

T-Mobile punched back hard today, however, with its deal on the iPhone 17 Pro. Of particular note are the free iPad and Apple Watch that the carrier is bundling with the phone, which is something I haven't seen frequently at T-Mobile.

Another big deal you'll find at T-Mobile today is the four-free-phones deal on the iPhone 17. If you're a mult-line user, then this is an exceptionally strong promotion considering no trades are needed, and it's available on a plan that costs $100/month in total for four lines. Obviously, if you don't have four numbers to port over, then it's not something to pursue.

While you're here, check out our main Black Friday page for more recommendations from our team of experts. Also check out our Black Friday deals hub for a roundup of today's best sales from Amazon, Best Buy, and other key retailers.

More of today's best Black Friday sales

• Amazon: 60% off TVs, AirPods & vacuums
• Adidas: shoes, clothing & gift ideas from $18
• Apple: iPads, AirPods & MacBooks from $85
• Best Buy: $1,000 off TVs, laptops & headphones
• Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99 at Amazon
• Christmas: wreaths, trees & decor from $5
• Dell: laptop deals from $249.99
• Home Depot: 40% off appliances, grills & tools
• Hulu: Hulu + Live TV – $64/m for the first 3 months
• Lenovo: 45% off laptops & tablets
• Lowe's: up to 30% off appliances & holiday decor
• Samsung: up to $2,000 off TVs & phones
• Target: Christmas decor & clothing from $10
• T-Mobile: up to $1,100 off latest iPhone 17
• Walmart: TVs, vacs & holiday decor from $4
• Wayfair: 54% off Christmas, furniture & decor

• The FCC is revoking cybersecurity regulations for telecoms companies
• These protections were introduced after network intrusion by Chinese threat actor Salt Typhoon
• The Trump administration is removing regulations across the industry

The Republican-led Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has voted to remove measures implemented in the wake of the Salt Typhoon attack.

The mandated protections required Telecom firms to adopt basic security controls and network protections - and encouraged collaboration between the large network providers in order to protect consumers and national security.

The Salt Typhoone attacks saw threat actors lurking inside US telecom networks for upwards of a year - exfiltrating data in one of the largest cyber espionage campaigns recorded.

'Neither lawful nor effective'

The FCC voted to revoke the ruling, claiming it was ‘ineffective because it neither responded to the nature of the relevant cybersecurity threats nor was it consistent with the agile and collaborative approach to cybersecurity that has proven successful,’ the Commission documents note.

FCC members argud telecom firms are voluntarily bolstering their cybersecurity and hardening their networks against intrusions, so the regulations are an onerous legal burden for companies that are already doing the work.

Secretary Marlene Dortch said the protection ruling, “applies the same inflexible, across-the-board cybersecurity requirements to all telecommunications carriers without regard to their risk, size, or organizational posture.”

“This vague and amorphous standard risks imposing costly new burdens on many providers that are either not relevant to the potential threats they face, or which are redundant because those providers may already employ sufficient cybersecurity practices to reasonably reduce the risk of successful exploits by the most sophisticated threat actors,” she wrote.

The move follows a predictable pattern in a Trump administration which has repeatedly illustrated its de-prioritization of online protection, having already decimated public cybersecurity services through layoffs and re-assignments within CISA.

The administration has also demonstrated its aims in deregulation, especially within the technology industry - even going so far as to overrule state laws to dismantle existing protections for consumers of AI in order to give AI companies more freedoms.

Via The Record

• Verizon confirms plans to lay off more than 13,000 workers
• New CEO Dan Schulman wants to improve operational efficiency
• The company also has a new Chief Transformation Officer

Shortly after rumors began circulating that Verizon would be announcing major job cuts, the company has indeed confirmed mass layoffs, set to affect around 13,000 workers (or 13% of the firm’s headcount).

Verizon CEO Dan Schulman, who was only appointed to the role in October 2025, confirmed the changes in an open letter to workers, describing it as an opportunity for the company to better meet customer needs and strengthen its position in the market.

Schulman explained Verizon operations must be simplified to remove complexity, adding that outsourced labor would also be significantly cut.

Verizon will cut over 13,000 workers

Although the cost of laying off so many workers was not disclosed, Verizon has committed to a $20 million Reskilling and Career Transition Fund to help those affected with skill development, digital training and job placement support.

“Verizon is the first company to set up a fund to specifically focus on the opportunities and necessary skill sets as we enter the age of AI,” Schulman declared.

Those at risk of losing their jobs will be notified in the coming weeks by their respective leaders.

Despite some positivity last month, with Verizon confirming a 1.5% year-over-year increase in operating revenue to $33.8 billion, there was still a loss of around 7,000 wireless retail postpaid units.

In the company's recent Q3 2025 earnings announcement, Schulman promised to “take bold and fiscally responsible action to redefine Verizon’s trajectory at this critical inflection point.”

He alluded to aggressive changes to Verizon’s culture, cost structure and financial profile.

Confirmation of the job losses comes just days after Alfonso Villanueva was appointed as Chief Transformation Officer – a role that will see him lead the company through a journey of AI and automation.

If you want a new smartphone at the lowest possible price for a Black Friday deal, signing up for a long-term agreement with a wireless carrier like Verizon, is often the best way to save money. Whether you're looking for the newest model, like the iPhone 17 Pro, or a top-tier Android phone, you can often get the device for free or heavily discounted when you commit to a device payment plan.

• Shop Verizon's full Black Friday sale

How Verizon’s device payments and credits work

Verizon separates your phone’s payment plan from your monthly cellular plan. The full discount for your new phone is split over a period of three years (36 months) as a monthly promotional credit. Every month, Verizon gives you an equal portion of that total discount toward your device payment.

For instance, in 2024 I got an iPhone 15 Pro Max for its retail price of $1,200, dividing the cost into 36 monthly payments of $33.34. I then got a $27.78 promo credit each month, meaning I only paid $5.56 per month for the phone. After the full 36-month term, I will have paid only $200 for the device.

What's the catch?

The essential catch is that you must remain a Verizon customer for the entire term. If you leave Verizon before the 36-month agreement is complete, the monthly promotional credits immediately stop, and you are required to pay the full, remaining balance of the device in one lump sum. If you leave after 18 months, for example, you still owe half of the original price of the phone.

Also, you have to choose a qualifying monthly plan, and those plans start around $65 per month. It's a good deal if you use a lot of data - especially if you use your phone as a personal hotspot. If you're looking for a cheap plan, though, you won't qualify for the best device discounts.

Verizon's free phone for Black Friday deals

• Apple iPhone 17 Pro
• Apple iPhone Air
• Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus
• Google Pixel 10 Pro
• Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7

Today's best Verizon free phone for Black Friday deals

If you're shopping for a phone this season, there are more deals to be found at Verizon, and plenty of early Black Friday phone deals at our favorite retailers.

Today's best Black Friday deals – quick links

• Amazon: 45% off TVs, AirPods, air fryers & vacuums
• Apple: iPads, AirPods & MacBooks from $119
• Best Buy: $1,000 off TVs, laptops & headphones
• Dell: laptop deals from $249.99
• Home Depot: 40% off appliances, furniture, grills & tools
• Lenovo: 45% off laptops & tablets
• Lowe's: up to 30% off appliances, holiday decor & tools
• Samsung: up to $2,000 off appliances, TVs & phones
• Target: 40% off Christmas decor, clothing & furniture
• T-Mobile: up to $1,100 off latest iPhone 17
• Walmart: furniture, cheap TVs & vacs from $69
• Wayfair: 54% off Christmas, furniture & decor

Verizon just launched its early Black Friday deals this week, and they include the best promotions I've seen on the iPhone 17 series at the carrier since the devices were launched back in September.

Right now, you don't even need a trade-in to get several devices in the range for free alongside new unlimited data lines. On top of that, the carrier is also throwing in an Apple Watch and iPad alongside the standard iPhone 17 as bonus gifts.

As you'd expect, there are a few caveats here - namely, both those accessories require cellular lines of their own to be claimed. I've deep-dived on this particular issue further down the page, including how much that will cost on average if you want to explore these freebies.

Regardless of whether you're interested in a free iPad and Apple Watch, the main selling point for today's Verizon plans is that you no longer need a super high-end plan to get the iPhone 17 for free. Previously, you needed a line on the pricey Ultimate plan, but now? It's available on the Welcome unlimited plan, which makes it a much better budget option at the carrier.

And if you are looking to upgrade to the Ultimate plan, Verizon's current deal offers the stunning iPhone 17 Pro for free, no trade-in required. I've attached more details on that deal just below.

Verizon Black Friday iPhone 17 deals

• See more: check out all of today's phone deals at Verizon

Is the free iPad and Apple Watch a good deal?

• The freebies are the latest Apple models
• Worth $499 each at full retail price
• Required lines can cost between $17.50 to $30/mo extra

The accessories bundled with this Verizon Black Friday deal are the cellular versions of the latest Apple Watch Series 11 and iPad 11. These freebies would cost $1,000 if you bought them outright at full retail price, so on paper, this is a fantastic deal. Of course, the major catch here is that you'll need to sign up for accessory cellular lines to claim the devices.

If you get the iPhone 17 on the entry-level Welcome Unlimited plan, the accessory cellular lines will be at least $30 per month extra on top of your phone plan with both devices. It's possible to get those accessory lines down to just $17.50/mo with the highest-end Ultimate plan, but that in itself presents a conundrum. If you're going for the pricier unlimited plan, why not just go for Verizon's deal on the iPhone 17 Pro?

If it were my money, I'd be tempted to either get the standard iPhone 17 for free on the Welcome plan and keep it cheap, or go all-out and get the iPhone 17 Pro with the Ultimate plan. In both cases, I'd probably skip the accessories and just focus on the phone deals - which are already fantastic considering you don't need to trade-in.

While you're here, check out our main Black Friday page for more recommendations from our team of experts. Also check out our Black Friday deals hub for a roundup of today's best sales from Amazon, Best Buy, and other key retailers.

More of this week's best early Black Friday deals

• Amazon: 60% off TVs, AirPods & vacuums
• Adidas: shoes, clothing & gift ideas from $18
• Apple: iPads, AirPods & MacBooks from $85
• Best Buy: $1,000 off TVs, laptops & headphones
• Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99 at Amazon
• Christmas: wreaths, trees & decor from $5
• Dell: laptop deals from $249.99
• Home Depot: 40% off appliances, grills & tools
• Hulu: Hulu + Live TV – $64/m for the first 3 months
• Lenovo: 45% off laptops & tablets
• Lowe's: up to 30% off appliances & holiday decor
• Samsung: up to $2,000 off TVs & phones
• Target: Christmas decor & clothing from $10
• T-Mobile: up to $1,100 off latest iPhone 17
• Walmart: TVs, vacs & holiday decor from $4
• Wayfair: 54% off Christmas, furniture & decor

• 15,000 Verizon workers could be at risk of latest job cuts
• Verizon has a (relatively) new CEO at the helm, driving cost cutting
• ‘Aggressive’ transformations to culture, costs and finances have been promised

Verizon is expected to soon cut around 15,000 jobs, the equivalent of about 15% of its total workforce, reports from the Wall Street Journal have claimed.

The cuts would primarily target non-union management and would also include converting up to 200 corporate retail stores into franchised stores.

The WSJ report claims layoffs could begin as soon as next week, however the company is yet to formally confirm whether this is the case.

Verizon could lay off 15% of its workers

Dan Schulman was appointed the company’s new CEO in October 2025, with a history that includes a nine-year stint at PayPal CEO between 2014 and 2023 and positions at AT&T, Virgin Mobile USA and Sprint Nextel (before it was acquired by T-Mobile).

Schulman has been spearheading further cost-cutting measures at the company in the wake of similar moves by other tech giants.

Besides facing strong competition from rival network providers and cable companies, Verizon has also struggled with slowing subscriber growth. In Q3 2025, it only added 44,000 postpaid subscribers (far less than rivals), and it also lost 7,000 postpaid connections.

Verizon share prices are just two-thirds of what they were five years ago, but prices did rise somewhat following the report breaking.

Speaking about the company’s most recent earnings, Schulman noted: “We are going to take bold and fiscally responsible action to redefine Verizon’s trajectory at this critical inflection point for our company.”

“We will aggressively transform our culture, our cost structure, and the financial profile of Verizon in order to put our customers first, compete effectively, and deliver sustainable returns for our shareholders.”

This wouldn’t be the first time Verizon has let thousands of workers go. Around 20,000 employees left over a three-year period in the runup to 2020, 4,800 in 2024 and 10,400 in 2018 (per Reuters).

TechRadar Pro asked Verizon to confirm whether it has plans to lay off more workers ­– we did not receive an immediate response.

Been holding off on that phone upgrade? Verizon has just launched a huge early Black Friday sale that could just tempt you into finally springing for that shiny new flagship.

Several deals are available now at the carrier that can get you the very latest flagship smartphones for free on an unlimited data plan without the usual trade-in criteria.

As someone who covers Verizon deals all year round, these are easily some of the best promotions I've seen – and you can see my top picks just below.

A few highlights include the option to bundle in a free iPad and Apple Watch with the iPhone 17. Not only are the freebies impressive, but the device itself is available for free with a new line on any of the carrier's unlimited plans, including the more budget-friendly Welcome unlimited plan.

For premium devices, you can get the iPhone 17 Pro and Galaxy S25 Plus for free with a new line on the Ultimate plan right now, or the iPhone 17 Pro Max and Galaxy S25 Ultra for just $5 per month each.

And, if you're thinking about upgrading your internet, there's also a fantastic Verizon Black Friday deal that lets you pick between a free Samsung TV, Nintendo Switch 2, or a Samsung tablet. You can read more about these deals, and others, just below.

Today's best Verizon Black Friday deals

More early Black Friday sales to shop today

• Amazon: 45% off TVs, AirPods, air fryers & vacuums
• Apple: iPads, AirPods & MacBooks from $119
• Best Buy: $1,000 off TVs, laptops & headphones
• Home Depot: 40% off appliances, furniture, grills & tools
• Lenovo: 45% off laptops & tablets
• Lowe's: up to 30% off appliances, holiday decor & tools
• Target: 40% off Christmas decor, clothing & furniture
• Walmart: furniture, cheap TVs & vacs from $69
• Wayfair: 54% off Christmas, furniture & decor

Verizon's excellent freebie deals on its phone and internet packages are still up for grabs this week - including one of the best seasonal promotions we've ever seen from the carrier.

Right now, you can bundle in a free NFL Sunday ticket worth up to $480 with one of the carrier's excellent 5G Home internet or FIOS fiber home internet plans.

This offer is available to both new and existing customers, giving you unlimited streaming access to the entire 2025 season through YouTube. That means you can watch up to four games at once on a single screen, enjoy unlimited streaming on mobile devices, and catch every key play and highlight along the way.

Existing customers can qualify by upgrading to a higher-tier internet plan or picking up an eligible phone upgrade. Even if you’re not planning on making a change, you can still claim a $200 discount on a ticket, which makes for an excellent bonus offer.

If you're not an NFL fan, then you can instead choose to opt for an Xbox Gaming bundle, which includes a headset, controller, and $100 Xbox gift card. Both these freebies bundle together with an additional $250 Amazon eGift card that Verizon is also offering on its higher-end 5G home internet plans right now.

Free NFL Sunday Ticket at Verizon

• See more: check out all of today's deals at Verizon

To redeem your free ticket, all you need to do is sign in to your Verizon account and navigate to the landing page that's specifically for the NFL Sunday Ticket. You've got 60 days to redeem your free ticket, and you'll also need a Google (YouTube) account to redeem it on. No other subscriptions are needed, so it should be pretty easy to get everything sorted before the NFL season officially starts this September.

With the iPhone 17 looming, this week could be your last chance to score Verizon's best iPhone 16 Pro deal ever. Right now, you don't even need to trade-in to get this $1,000 device for free alongside a new line on the carrier's Welcome Unlimited plan.

What makes this deal so good, apart from the lack of trade-in criteria, is that the Welcome plan is the carrier's cheapest postpaid unlimited plan. Unlike the higher-end options, you can get line costs down to just $30/mo per line when you bundle together four lines under a single plan.

That means you can pay just $120/mo in total to get four lines and four iPhone 16 Pros on the house. While the plan will still incur a significant cost over the duration of 36 months, you're potentially saving up to $4,000 on high-end iPhones alone here.

This particular promo is one that we've seen featured previously at Verizon so it's nothing new. It is, however, one of the best iPhone deals I've personally seen at the carrier this year and Verizon could potentially discontinue it soon with the iPhone 17 rumoured to release in the next few weeks. If you're not bothered about getting the latest and greatest device, then today's deal on the iPhone 16 Pro at Verizon is definitely worth considering.

Verizon's best iPhone 16 Pro deal ever is still available

• See more: check out all of today's phone deals at Verizon

If you'd prefer to stick it out and wait for the iPhone 17, then don't forget to check in regularly at TechRadar over the next few weeks. Alongside roundups of the best preorder deals, we'll also have full hands-on reviews and plenty of unbiased buying advice for our readers.

Also available at Verizon today...

The launch of the upcoming iPhone 17 may be looming, but deals on the soon-to-be-older iPhone 16 series are still worth considering this week. Verizon's deals, for example, are so good that there's a case for picking them up while you still can.

Today's best deal at Verizon is definitely the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which is currently available for free alongside a new line on the Ultimate unlimited plan. Granted this plan is the highest-end option at the carrier (and pricey), but you don't even need to trade-in to be eligible for this particular promo.

I expect once the iPhone 17 Pro Max lands within the next few weeks, you'll most likely have to trade in to get a similar discount. Generally speaking, rebates are often capped at $1,000 off, so you might not even be able to get a new Max for free when preorders are open.

In comparison, this deal on the 16 Pro Max at Verizon gets you a device that's still valued at $1,199 at no additional cost (over your hefty plan costs, that is). Will this deal stick around after the iPhone 17 is released? Potentially, but I think there's a case for picking it up regardless if you're not looking to trade-in an older device for a potential discount.

Get a free iPhone 16 Pro Max without a trade at Verizon

• See more: check out all of today's phone deals at Verizon

Note, if you're not interested in the Ultimate plan at Verizon (which is understandable, given its cost), you can also consider the carrier's deal on the iPhone 16 Pro. Right now, this $999 device is available for free under the same terms on any of the carrier's postpaid unlimited plans. That includes the more budget-oriented Welcome unlimited plan, which, as you'd imagine, is much cheaper than the Ultimate option.

If you'd prefer to stick it out and wait for the iPhone 17, then don't forget to check in regularly at TechRadar over the next few weeks. Alongside roundups of the best preorder deals, we'll also have full hands-on reviews and plenty of unbiased buying advice for our readers.

More Verizon deals this week

The best smartphone deals come from mobile network carriers, but there’s a big catch you should know about if you’re considering getting an iPhone 16 Pro ‘On Us’ or if you want to score a massive discount on a Galaxy Z Fold 7. If you’re planning on switching phones before the payment plan has ended, there’s a major catch, and the warning was hard to find in the contract agreements I signed.

Here’s my situation: when I wanted a Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra in early 2023, AT&T offered it for a very low monthly price on two conditions. First, I needed to trade in any Galaxy phone in any condition. No sweat! I had one hanging around. Second, I needed to sign up for a new line of service on a plan with unlimited monthly data. Also, no problem for me; I needed a new line and I use a ton of GBs.

The Galaxy S23 Ultra with 512GB of storage was almost $1,400 when I bought it. That equals $38.34 per month for 36 months, and AT&T was offering to pay more than 70% of that monthly payment as long as I was a customer. I pay $10.56 monthly, and in the end, I’ll have paid only $380 for the best phone I could buy back then.

Yeah, I don't keep any phone for 3 whole years, but this time...

Of course, I wasn’t planning on keeping the Ultra for longer than a year. I signed a three-year agreement, but I planned on trading the Galaxy S23 Ultra for an S24 Ultra a year later. I wouldn’t sign up for a new contract; instead, I would just trade in my phone. Samsung would give me $1,000 for the trade (Samsung’s norm), and I would pay the remaining $400 in cash. Instead, I got hosed.

Before I traded in my Galaxy S23 Ultra, I looked into selling it on Swappa. When I entered my phone’s IMEI number – the unique identifier assigned to all smartphones – Swappa rejected my sale. I was told my phone is ineligible for sale because there is a lien on the phone from AT&T.

I honestly did not know a phone lien was a thing. I knew that information could be attached to an IMEI number. For instance, if you report a phone stolen, the IMEI number can identify the stolen device later if the thief tries to sell it. I had no clue the IMEI could be used by my carrier to claim ownership over a phone I purchased.

Here's how AT&T will stop you from selling your phone before you pay it off

I have spent time poring over every document I signed. I cannot find the word ‘lien’ anywhere. I reached out to AT&T, and they explained what was happening… kind of.

My new smartphone does not technically have a ‘lien,’ but the contract works the same way. AT&T claims a purchase money security interest (PMSI) on my device until it is paid in full. That means they have the right to claim any proceeds if I sell the device.

That sounds awfully like a lien, huh? It’s close, but a lien is more legally enforceable. The real purpose of a purchase money security interest clause is to make sure AT&T gets paid if I go into bankruptcy and I’m forced to sell my smartphone. In practice, it keeps me from selling the phone early, the same way a lien on my car title would prevent me from selling my car.

It's not just an AT&T problem, but carriers still offer a good deal

This isn’t just an AT&T issue. A Verizon rep told me, “We do not place liens on devices. If a customer does not continually meet eligibility requirements to get the device on us, they are responsible for payment of the device.” That sounds definitive, but Verizon’s contract language contains a purchase money security interest clause similar to the language AT&T uses.

T-Mobile did not respond with comment, and I could not find any PMSI clause in T-Mobile contracts. However, if you are planning on ditching your phone early, you may want to read the current contract closely, as terms can change.

I still think carrier deals for free phones are good deals. Even if you only get a discount, it’s a huge discount. If you want a Galaxy Z Fold 7, for instance, that phone costs $1,999.99 / £1,799 / AU$2,899. If you sign up with AT&T, they will pay up to $1,100 of that total if you stick with them for three years.

For most people, that will be the only way to afford today’s most expensive phones, and three years is the right amount of time to own today’s best phones. The required service plan will be a pricier option, but if you use a lot of data like me, a Wi-Fi hotspot amount, you’re probably getting a top plan anyway. You might as well get the best deal on the top phone to go with it.

You might also like

• I showed the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 to a Z Fold 4 owner, and he was blown away
• The Google Pixel 10 Pro series has been pictured in four shades – some of which we like far more than others
• The iPhone 17 has a rumored launch date – here are 5 big changes to expect

Verizon's latest deals make this the perfect time to upgrade to an iPhone 16, especially if you're an NFL fan. Right now, you can not only get the iPhone 16 Pro for free alongside a new unlimited data line, but the carrier is also offering a free NFL Sunday ticket as an alternate option for those not looking to trade.

While you will need to pick one, these promotions are eligible to both new customers and those looking to upgrade to one of the carrier's higher-end postpaid unlimited plans.

The ticket, which is worth $480 by itself, will get you completely unlimited streaming access to the upcoming 2025 NFL season on YouTube. It supports up to 4 games on one screen, mobile streaming, and includes key highlights and plays.

The ticket is a seasonal freebie and a compelling alternative option to the usual trade-in rebate that we see on the device. If you're not interested in the trade, then note there is also a $640 discount available alongside the Ultimate plan, but again, you can't stack that with the free NFL ticket.

Today's best iPhone 16 Pro deal at Verizon

• See more: check out all of today's deals at Verizon

As previously stated, the NFL ticket is in fact available alongside most 5G phones and even internet plans at Verizon this week. Generally speaking, if you're a new customer or an existing customer upgrading, then you'll be eligible for a free ticket between now and early September, when the season is due to start.

If you're not interested in the iPhone 16 Pro, then you could instead consider the Samsung Galaxy S25 range, the Google Pixel 9, or even the brand-new Galaxy Z Fold 7; all of which are currently available with new-line discounts or trade-in rebates of up to $1,000 off.

Looking to take your home internet to the next level? Verizon's FIOS internet is currently available with a five-year price guarantee and $400 Best Buy gift card for Samsung products - two significant perks that are well worth considering this week.

For those who don't already know, FIOS is Verizon's top-tier full fibre internet, meaning it's easily one of the quickest (if not the quickest) internet setups you can get for your home.

The $400 Best Buy gift card is eligible with either the 1 Gig or 2 Gig packages, which include extended five-year price guarantees and a free streaming perk of your choice. If you're an existing mobile customer, you'll also be able to get an exclusive bundle deal, getting a massive $25 discount per month. All-in-all, a very strong deal if you're looking to upgrade to full-fibre internet with speeds of up to 2Gbps.

Verizon FIOS internet deal

• See more: check out all of today's deals at Verizon

It's worth noting that the $400 gift card for Samsung products is eligible when you spend over $799, so it's not exactly a freebie. It could, however, be useful if you're planning on a big ticket purchase like a TV or major appliance. Both are specifically listed in the promo details - and both have discounts over at Best Buy right now that you can likely stack on top of the gift card saving.

While all eyes are on this weekend's 4th of July sales and early Prime Day deals, other retailers are also offering some superb promotions. Over at Verizon, for example, the carrier has some of the best deals we've seen all year on the iPhone 16 Pro Max and Galaxy S25 Ultra. You can bag either of these high-end devices for free alongside a new line on an Ultimate unlimited plan today for a total saving of $1,200.

While the 'Ultimate' plan is the most premium (and priciest) plan at Verizon, you don't technically need to trade in at all to get these devices on the house. That's incredibly impressive considering how much either device still fetches when you pay upfront.

Note, if you're looking for a lower-end plan, then you'll also find similar deals on the iPhone 16 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S25 with more reasonable eligibility criteria. All devices are also available with a free tablet and smartwatch as bonus gifts, although note that you will need to pay a little extra per month to claim them, so budget accordingly!

Today's best phone deals at Verizon

More of today's 4th of July and early Prime Day sales

• Amazon: early Prime Day deals on devices, TVs, more
• Best Buy: 50% off major appliances, plus coupons
• Dell: up to $490 off laptops, desktops, and gaming PCs
• Home Depot: 40% off appliances, grills, and summer essentials
• HP: up to 57% off laptops and PCs for work and gaming
• Newegg: up to $1,000 off PCs, laptops, components, peripherals
• NordVPN: $50 Amazon Gift Card + 4 months free on two-year plans
• Lowes: discounts on grills, tools, appliances, and more
• Samsung: up to $1,850 off major appliances, phones, and TVs
• Walmart: decor, fashion, and party supplies from $1

• A team of security experts have uncovered what looks like a Verizon database for sale
• Hosted on the Clear Web forum, it purportedly contains records of 61 million Verizon users
• Details contained within the database suggests that it is as recent as 2025

A new report by cybersecurity researchers at SafetyDetectives has revealed a huge dataset posted online by hackers in a CSV/JSON file containing a total of 3.1GB, reportedly totalling around 61 million ‘Verizon USA’ records. The author has dated this information as ‘2025’ which suggests a potential new data breach - although Verizon since has told TechRadar Pro that it has examined the data posted, and it is old data, not affiliated with the company.

The information exposed includes sensitive data including names, dates of birth, tax IDs, addresses, and phone numbers. This, like most breaches, puts those affected at a serious risk of identity theft - so if you are concerned you may be at risk, make sure to take a look at the best identity theft protection software.

Verizon is a telecommunications giant, and has almost 150 million subscribers - making it the largest wireless carrier in the United States.

What you need to know

It’s not clear yet where this information comes from, if this is a new breach researchers have uncovered, or even if the data does really belong to Verizon customers, although the researchers confirm that this ‘does seem legit’. TechRadar Pro did reach out to Verizon to confirm, and a spokesperson gave us this statement;

"We're aware of an issue in which a threat actor posted a data set claiming to that of Verizon customers on the dark web. We have examined the postings and have determined that it is old data, previously posted on the dark web, and is not affiliated with our Company or customers. Additionally, this threat actor recently made similar claims about other large U.S. wireless companies. At this point, there's no need to notify customers and there's no impact to Verizon or its customers."

Recently, reports revealed a Verizon flaw that could allow hackers to view their entire call history, although the flaw was addressed in March, and the flaw primarily threatened high-profile figures or journalists whose call logs could be of interest.

Alongside this, thousands of Verizon employees were left potentially at risk following an insider breach - but this didn't affect customer data. The employee data included personally identifiable information - so workers should be on the lookout for social engineering attacks.

Data breaches are becoming increasingly common, with almost a third of enterprises experiencing a breach despite increased cybersecurity investments. You can see whether your information is affected using the popular breach checking website HaveIBeenPwned?

How to stay safe

As well as identity theft protection software, customers can keep themselves secure by being ultra cautious of any unexpected communications, thoroughly checking any emails and texts they receive, and never clicking on any untrusted links.

Make sure to use safe and secure passwords that you rotate regularly - and never reuse a password, especially on sites that hold sensitive data like health, financial, or personal information.

If criminals have access to personally identifiable information, there’s a chance they can apply for loans/credit cards in the victim’s name too - so consider deploying the best credit monitoring services if you’re affected.

You might also like

• Take a look at our picks for the best malware removal software around
• Check out our choice for best antivirus software
• "No evidence" - here's why the massive 16 billion record data breach may not be as bad as first thought

Verizon is no stranger to iPhone deals but the carrier tends to switch out its offerings relatively regularly. Right now, however, we've just hit another sweet spot in terms of value.

Of particular note is the carrier's deal on the iPhone 16 Pro, which is currently available for free without the usual trade-in on any of the carrier's MyPlan unlimited plan. That includes the basic Welcome unlimited plan, which is one of the cheaper 'big carrier' unlimited plans out there right now.

Running for 36 months, the Welcome Unlimited plan starts at $65/mo for a single line but includes significant multi-line discounts. With this particular deal, it's possible to get four lines for just $30/mo with free devices to boot.

In addition, you can also bundle in a free iPad and Apple Watch as bonus gifts, which is another regular promotion at the carrier. While potentially excellent, note that you still need to pay for the accessory cellular lines when you claim these devices. Depending on your plan, these can be relatively cheap, but note that you'll still be paying a little bit extra per month for some cheap Apple tech.

Verizon iPhone 16 Pro deal

• See more: check out all of today's phone deals at Verizon

Early 4th of July sales to check out today

• Amazon: early Prime Day deals on devices, TVs, more
• Best Buy: 50% off major appliances, plus coupons
• Dell: up to $490 off laptops, desktops, and gaming PCs
• Home Depot: 40% off appliances, grills, and summer essentials
• HP: up to 57% off laptops and PCs for work and gaming
• Lowes: discounts on grills, tools, appliances, and more
• Samsung: up to $1,850 off major appliances, phones, and TVs
• Walmart: decor, fashion, and party supplies from $1

Verizon has just rolled out a fresh set of 5G home internet deals this week, with some of the most enticing offers we’ve seen in a while from the carrier.

The headline promotion for new customers right now is one that was featured in the Hot Deal Days sale this Memorial Day - an impressive $400 Best Buy coupon when customers spend $800 or more on select Samsung products. Thankfully, even though Memorial Day has passed, this excellent deal has stuck around, giving us a chance to score some impressive discounts on a range of TVs, laptops, appliances, and other Samsung tech.

For those less interested in store coupons and more into instant rewards, Verizon is also offering an alternative. Customers who sign up for the 5G Home Plus plan can instead claim a JBL PartyBox speaker today, valued at $279. This speaker, while on the large side for a portable model, delivers 100 watts of power, six hours of battery life, and even comes with its own microphone for backyard karaoke sessions.

In addition to the above deals, Verizon is also throwing in a free Nintendo Switch console to new users who sign up for a plan. While this isn't the latest second-gen model, even those on the standard 5G Home internet plan can get this console. That means even if you're looking to save some cash on your plan, you'll still walk away with an excellent freebie this week.

This week's best Verizon home internet deals

Calling all prospective Verizon Home Internet users: this is your last chance to get your hands on the excellent promotion that's currently running at the carrier. Until tomorrow night, you can still get either a Meta Quest 3S VR headset or a 43-inch Samsung TV alongside a new line on the Verizon 5G Home Plus internet plan.

Unfortunately, you can't get both gifts with a line here - you'll have to pick one. Of the two, I'd recommend the Meta Quest 3S since it's our favorite budget VR headset here at TechRadar. However, the TV could be handy as a cheap display for the bedroom or kitchen, as it's valued at around $250, so it's a relatively basic model.

As stated, this promotion is valid with the 5G Home Plus plan. At $70/mo, it's a little pricier than the standard 5G Home plan, but you get quicker speeds, unlimited 4K video streaming, and a free subscription to Netflix or the Disney Bundle.

Get a free TV or VR headset with Verizon home internet

• See more: check out all of today's deals at Verizon

It's a good time to consider upgrading your internet or switching to Verizon since the carrier has just upped its three-year price guarantee on the 5G Home Plus plan to an impressive four years. While this won't cover taxes or any other fees, it could be handy if you want to insulate yourself from any kind of unforeseen headwinds.

If you're interested, I've rounded up a few more of this week's best Verizon deals below. Note that existing mobile customers can get a decent discount on the 5G Home Internet plan (down to $55/mo), so there's an added incentive to bundle everything together.

More of this week's best Verizon deals

• Cybercriminals are increasingly using vulnerable companies to target their partners and peers
• The number of third-party incidents doubled year-on-year, Verizon's new report shows
• The attacks are used to gain access to target organizations

New research has claimed the involvement of third parties in data breaches has doubled, and is now seen in 30% of all cyberattacks.

The 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR) from Verizon Business, which is based on more than 22,000 security incidents and 12,195 confirmed data breaches, found supply chain and partner ecosystems are being increasingly abused in cyberattacks.

Cybercriminals are using third parties to gain initial access, it was further explained, as 81% of third-party breaches involved the compromise of victim systems.

Targeting open-source repositories

The findings may not be too surprising, as some of the biggest cyberattacks ever recorded came as a result of third-party compromise.

The SolarWinds hack in December 2020 was one of the most significant cyber-espionage attacks in history. Threat actors compromised SolarWinds’ Orion software updates, inserting malicious code (later named "SUNBURST") that was unknowingly distributed to around 18,000 customers.

This allowed the attackers to deploy backdoors into the networks of companies that installed the tainted update.

The breach allegedly went undetected for months, compromising US government agencies (the Departments of Treasury, State, and Homeland Security), major tech firms (Microsoft), and countless private companies.

The attack was blamed on a Russian state-sponsored threat actor called APT29 (AKA Cozy Bear).

To conduct third-party cyberattacks, threat actors will often target open-source code repositories, such as GitHub. They will try to push malicious updates into code packages, or will try to “typosquat” a piece of malware, in hopes that software developers will install the malicious code themselves.

It works, too, as news often breaks of bad code being discovered on GitHub, or people’s accounts being compromised and abused in the distribution of malware. Security researchers often warn that software developers should always verify, and never trust the code, regardless of who the author is.

Via Infosecurity Magazine

You might also like

• Third-party data breaches have become a major security concern
• Take a look at our guide to the best authenticator app
• We've rounded up the best password managers

Thanks to a brand new promotion from Verizon, both new and existing customers will be able to lock in the price of a plan for three years.

From this week, customers can take advantage of this three-year price guarantee for both the carrier's excellent myPlan phone contracts and its myHome internet plans.

The carrier has recently introduced minor price increases for multi-line users recently so this week's promo comes at a convenient time. In short, it could be a good time to consider renewing your plan if you're looking to secure cheaper rates for a while.

As of writing, there's no indication of whether this price guarantee is a limited-time-only promotion or set to become a staple at the carrier. It's just been debuted alongside a fresh round of Verizon deals, however, which include the latest 5G phones for free alongside an unlimited plan without having to trade. I've included a few of my favorite deals just down below - as well as a handy alternative to Verizon if you're looking for a cheaper unlimited plan.

This week's best Verizon deals

Also consider Visible Wireless

• Security researcher finds bug in an API used in a Verizon mobile app
• The bug allowed threat actors to view other people's call logs
• It was found in February 2025 and fixed in March, but users should still take care

A bug in a Verizon API allowed malicious actors to view other people’s incoming call logs until it was fixed.

Cybersecurity researcher Evan Connelly found the bug in Call Filter, a free app Verizon ships with all iOS and Android devices sold directly through the telco to help users block spam calls, identify unknown numbers, and avoid robocalls.

Given Verizon’s large subscriber base, the app likely has millions of users, as it offers features like spam detection, caller ID, personal block lists, and automatic blocking of high-risk calls. Call Filter also has a premium version which adds spam lookup, custom controls, and caller ID for unknown numbers.

Targeting journalists

As Connelly explained, the app connects to an API endpoint where it retrieves the logged-in user’s incoming call history, and then displays it in the app. However, due to a misconfiguration in the API, the user’s phone number is not verified, meaning that any user could request the data for anyone else.

Connelly tested the iOS version, but claims the problem is platform-agnostic, since the bug resides in the API, instead of the app itself.

Seeing someone’s call log might not seem like much at first, but Connelly warns that it could be a “powerful surveillance tool”, especially against high-profile targets such as journalists, government opponents, dissidents, and similar.

"Call metadata might seem harmless, but in the wrong hands, it becomes a powerful surveillance tool. With unrestricted access to another user's call history, an attacker could reconstruct daily routines, identify frequent contacts, and infer personal relationships," Connelly said.

Verizon addressed the flaw sometime in March 2025, but we don’t know for how long this information was exposed, so users should still take extra care.

Via BleepingComputer

You might also like

• Private API keys and passwords found in AI training dataset - nearly 12,000 details leaked
• We've rounded up the best password managers
• Take a look at our guide to the best authenticator app

Verizon has steadily ramped up its iPhone 16 deals for a while now, but this week's promotions are easily some of the strongest yet - particularly if you've had your eye on the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

Right now, you can actually get this super high-end device (still valued at $1,199) for free with a new line on an Ultimate unlimited plan. Unlike with previous discounts on the device, no trade-ins are needed to be eligible at all so it's a great all-round choice if you're looking to get a brand-new flagship without handing over an old device.

The glaring caveat with this deal - and the catch - is that you need that new line on the Ultimate plan. As the name suggests, the Ultimate plan is the priciest and most feature-laden of Verizon's MyPlan postpaid plans. It starts at $90/mo for a single line so it's a significant investment over the required 36-month duration.

If you can stomach the serious outlay, though, the Ultimate plan is a great choice if you're looking for a postpaid plan with extremely high data speeds. If you're covered by the Verizon 5G wideband network in your area, then you can expect blazingly quick speeds; perfect for video content and making the most of Verizon's additional streaming perks.

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max deal at Verizon

• See more: check out all of this week's phone deals at Verizon

Also available at Verizon this week...

Sick of slow cable internet at home? Verizon's 5G Home Internet could be a fantastic option - especially since the carrier has just debuted an exceptional deal for new customers. For a limited time only, Verizon will gift either a free 43-inch Samsung TV or a Meta Quest 3S VR headset when you join the 5G Home Plus plan.

The Samsung TV is a more budget-oriented 4K display that is regularly on sale for around $230 on Amazon. It's not top-tier, but it's handy if you need a display for a smaller room.

The Meta Quest 3S, on the other hand, clocks in at $300 and is one of our favorite budget VR headsets. Overall, this is definitely one of the best gifts yet from Verizon.

As previously stated, these gifts are eligible with the 5H Home Plus plan. It's the more premium of the two home internet plans at $55/mo but it is probably the one I'd recommend to most people.

With quicker speeds, unlimited 4K video streaming, and a 3-year price guarantee, it's definitely the less restrictive option versus the basic option. You also get a free perk like Netflix or the Disney Bundle, which is always handy.

Get a free TV or VR headset with Verizon home internet

• See more: check out all of today's deals at Verizon

Verizon has experimented with freebies alongside its home internet packages regularly over the past few months. Over Black Friday, for example, it had free Xbox Series S games consoles and we've also seen free Netflix Premium options, too.

For my money, however, this is easily the best set of freebies yet since the Meta Quest 3S is such a good budget VR headset.

If you're interested in seeing more promotions from this carrier, I've rounded up a few more of this week's favorites from our main Verizon deals page just below.

More of this week's best Verizon deals

I've been featuring Verizon's iPhone 16 Pro deals ever since the device was released last year and the carrier's current promotion is likely the best yet for a wide range of customers.

Right now, the carrier is offering this $1,000 device for free alongside any of its MyPlan post-paid unlimited plans - and that includes the basic Welcome Unlimited tier.

Previously, you needed a new line on either the mid-range Plus or Ultimate plan, both of which are significantly more expensive than the Welcome option. While those two plans are definitely more feature-laden, it's a really nice change to see Verizon feature a deal that's so good for the more budget-conscious.

And, since Verizon's Welcome plan is the cheapest option right now with multi-line savings, it's technically possible to get up to four free devices with four lines for just $100 per month. That's just $25/mo a line, which is pretty impressive considering that the iPhone 16 Pro is still $1,000 if you buy it outright.

Apple iPhone 16 Pro deal at Verizon

• See more: check out all of today's phone deals at Verizon

When the iPhone 16 Pro first debuted at Verizon, it was only available for free via a trade-in rebate. Subsequently, the carrier started giving it away for free with a new line on the Ultimate Unlimited plan. Today's deal is the natural progression from these promotions and makes it an even better value.

If you have a device that's ready to trade, you could also consider Verizon's alternate deal on the iPhone 16 Pro right now, which offers up to $1,000 off with a trade and a free iPad and Apple Watch. That's also a fantastic promotion, but obviously you'll need to trade to be eligible. Cellular lines are also required for the free accessories here, which incurs a small monthly surcharge on top of your phone plan.

• Verizon and AT&T are taking the hassle out of personal storage
• Upgrades for group storage are a game changer
• Perks like AI photo editing tools could come in handy

Taken one photograph too many and run out of cloud storage? It’s happened to us all at some point, and there’s nothing more frustrating.

Faced with the prospect of upgrading your plan and forking out for more capacity, it’s worth exploring all of the available options.

Luckily, there are a broad variety out there, but millions of Americans are still missing out regardless.

Verizon cloud storage deals

Verizon, for example, has little-known perks for customers in this regard, offering unlimited cloud storage at a relatively low monthly cost.

Verizon Cloud gives customers access to unlimited cloud storage for $13.99 per month. Better still, if you’re willing to pay $19.99 per month, this can be expanded to a group plan for up to five users, bringing friends or family into the fold.

Both the individual and group unlimited plans come with some handy perks, including automatic backup capabilities. This allows you to keep copies of photographs, documents, or videos and access them via your smartphone or computer.

The service also boasts a range of security features, including a PIN-protected private folder to safeguard sensitive content such as driver’s licenses, passports, or just your personal photos and videos.

One very handy aspect of the Verizon Cloud service is that your saved contacts, photographs, and videos can be easily transferred to your new mobile device when you upgrade.

AT&T's competitor service has added perks

Verizon isn’t alone on this front, either, as AT&T also offers unlimited cloud storage services for customers.

Similar to Verizon Cloud, the AT&T Personal Cloud service comes in at a slightly higher cost, but with additional benefits and features.

Users of this service can access unlimited storage for $19.99 per month, but this is for one individual.

AT&T Personal Cloud offers virtually the same services as the aforementioned Verizon Cloud, including automatic backup capabilities and PIN-protected private folders for sensitive materials.

Some features do differ, though, including in-built AI photo editing tools, which could come in handy for those looking to edit on the go.

The service can also be accessed anywhere, including via your phone, tablet, or desktop computer - and it works on iOS, Android, MacOS, and Windows.

There are other options available out there for consumers, but it’s worth noting that a significant portion of these are capped, albeit with most offering several terabytes’ worth of capacity.

You might also like

• All of the best cloud document storage options around
• Looking for the best free cloud storage? Check out these options
• These are the best cloud backup services, cheap and easy to use

• A US Army soldier is facing charges linked to the Snowflake hack
• The accused faces $500,000 in fines and 20 years behind bars
• The soldier intends to plead guilty to all charges

A US army soldier accused of two counts of unlawfully transferring confidential phone records has said he intends to plead guilty.

The soldier attempted to “knowingly and intentionally sell and transfer, and attempt to sell and transfer, confidential phone records,” US prosecutors said [PDF].

Cameron John Wagenius, the accused, informed a federal court in Seattle of his plea on Wednesday following his arrest in January 2025. Prosecutors have also found links between Wagenius’ attacks against AT&T and Verizon, with the 2024 Snowflake hack that saw upwards of 150 accounts compromised.

Up to 10 years in prison

Wagenius faces a fine of up to $250,000 and a maximum prison sentence of 10 years for each of the two counts, according to documents filed by his lawyer. Wagenius’ involvement in the Snowflake hacks, alongside Connor Moucka and John Binns, was confirmed by prosecutors in January, who linked methods used the AT&T and Verizon attacks to the Snowflake account breaches.

U.S. attorney Tessa Gorman said the breaches “arise from the same computer intrusion and extortion and include some of the same stolen victim information.” The attack against Snowflake was among the worst cyberattacks of 2024, with corporate accounts linked to AT&T, Santander, and Ticketmaster compromised, with Moucka and Binns reportedly making upwards of $2 million through extortion.

In the underground world, Wagenius used the pseudonym ‘Kiberphant0m’, the same alias that threatened to leak sensitive US government call logs when one of his co-conspirators in the Snowflake attack was arrested.

Kiberphant0m demanded comms with AT&T, writing on a dark web forum that, “In the event you do not reach out to us, [AT&T], all presidential government call logs will be leaked. You don’t think we don’t have plans in the event of an arrest? Think again.”

Moucka, who was arrested in Canada, and Binns, who was arrested in Turkey, are both awaiting extradition to the US, where they face 20 counts of various crimes, including conspiracy, computer fraud and abuse, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft.

Via TheRegister

You might also like

• This is the best endpoint protection software
• Take a look at our guide to the best password manager
• Lee Enterprises blames cyberattack for encrypting critical systems as US newspaper outages drag on

If you're looking for a superb home internet package, one of the best options on the market right now is Verizon's excellent lineup of 5G home internet plans.

Not only can existing Verizon mobile members get up to $300 off in discounts, but the carrier is also throwing in one full year of Netflix and HBO Max on the house. These streaming service bundles are worth over $200 in value over a year so this is a hefty bonus if you're looking to save some cash.

While I'd highlight this promotion as particularly good for existing Verizon mobile customers, if you're looking to make the switch you can take advantage of another deal that allows you to sign up with no upfront fees and a five-year price guarantee. On top of the free Netflix promo, this could be a decent all-around option for those looking to significantly upgrade their home setup.

We originally saw these promotions featured over Black Friday but they've stuck around for the time being. Verizon will likely switch up its deals at some point in the year so it's definitely worth checking this one out before it disappears in favor of something else.

Get one year of Netflix free with Verizon internet

• See more: check out Verizon's phone deals this week

Other great Verizon deals this week

As someone who tracks the best Verizon deals all year round, I usually recommend picking up one of the latest iPhones at the carrier. Right now, however, my favorite iPhone deal at Verizon isn't on one of the shiniest and newest models.

It's on the humble iPhone 15 Plus - which is currently available for free without a trade-in rebate alongside a new line on any unlimited plan. That means no annoying trades and plan criteria are required, which is surprisingly forgiving from this carrier in particular.

In comparison, you need to trade in an old device to get any of the new iPhone 16 devices for free at Verizon right now. Granted, you can trade in pretty much any device in any condition to get your rebate, but you'll still need a new line on the high-end Ultimate unlimited plan, which is the priciest tier at Verizon.

With this week's iPhone 15 Plus deal at Verizon, you still get a free device with the more basic (and cheaper) Plus or Welcome unlimited plans. In fact, you can claim up to four devices for free if you have the corresponding lines, which makes this one a great choice for multi-line users too.

This week's best Verizon deal

Does the iPhone 15 Plus still hold up for 2025? Well, it is a little older now but it still features a modern design, a decent chipset, and an excellent camera. Our iPhone 15 Plus review awarded the model an almost perfect four and a half stars out of five. We highlighted the improved battery life, which is the main selling point for the Plus model, as well as the larger display.

Generally speaking, an iPhone like this will last you a few good years down the line in terms of both hardware and software updates so it's still an easy recommendation overall. If you don't mind missing out on a few of the latest bells and whistles from the newer devices - most notably the camera control button - then this week's Verizon deal on the iPhone 15 Plus is a good option.

• Verizon has secured a major US Air Force contract, despite recent security issues
• The contract will see Verizon delivering 5G network upgrades to bases across the US
• The win comes despite recent network breach by foreign hacker

Verizon has announced it will be providing the US Air Force with 5G network upgrades at 35 installations across the United States.

Through the agency’s Offer to Lease program, Verizon will provide network enhancements like new macro builds, small cells, and C-band carrier adds, hopefully offering higher speeds, increased bandwidth and lower latency for base personnel and community.

However some may raise eyebrows at the news, which comes little more than a week after Verizon and AT&T confirmed their networks were free of Chinese state-sponsored attackers Salt Typhoon.

Verizon military contratcs

The wide-ranging attack saw nine major firms breached, and over 100,000 routers compromised in one network alone, and the attackers were able to ‘geolocate millions of individuals, to record phone calls at will’, according to Anne Neuberger, Deputy National Security Adviser for Cyber and Emerging Technology.

It’s unclear whether the deal was made before the breach was announced, but the intrusion is considered one of the worst of its kind in telecommunications breaches, and the consequences of the breach are still being understood.

Verizon already holds contracts with the Armed Forces in supporting flight line testing equipment, animated simulation and training, full-motion, high-definition video to support telemedicine for its airmen, and ultra-fast artificial intelligence for biometric identification.

“This is Verizon’s 7th OTL win out of 8 attempts, which serves as a testament to the trust the U.S. Air Force has in the strength and speed of our network, as well as the quality of the professional and managed services expertise they gain from our people,” said Maggie Hallbach, senior vice president, Verizon Public Sector.

“We are honored to have Verizon Business serve as one of their most trusted partners.”

You might also like

• Check out our list of the best antivirus software around today
• CISA says Oracle and Mitel have critical security flaws being exploited
• We've also rounded up the best firewall software on offer right now

• More victims of Salt Typhoon attack unveiled by WSJ
• The extent of the damage caused by the attack is still unknown
• Some telecoms providers have removed the attackers from their systems

The recent Salt Typhoon cyberattacks may have breached more telecommunications providers than previously thought, with Charter Communications, Consolidated Communications, and Windstream all now believed to also have been affected.

The fresh list of victims comes from a new report by the Wall Street Journal, who cited people familiar with the matter.

The attack also exploited Fortinet network devices that did not have up-to-date security software installed, as well as vulnerable Cisco large network routers.

Attack may have started in 2023

The attack against US telecoms providers was first publicized in a joint statement by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) on October 25, 2024 - however, the WSJ report states the attack is believed to have started as far back as fall of 2023 - around the same time US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan was briefing telecom and tech executives on the depth and breadth of Chinese penetration into US critical infrastructure.

Salt Typhoon is now known to have successfully breached the networks of AT&T and Verizon in the attack, but little is known about what data the China-affiliated group was able to access.

Both Lumen and T-Mobile were also targeted during the attack, but both companies have said that they successfully stopped attackers from accessing sensitive customer information. Verizon confirmed that the data of a limited number of high-profile individuals involved in politics was targeted in attacks.

Salt Typhoon also gained access to a ‘lawful interception’ channel used by law enforcement agencies to perform court-ordered wiretaps for national security purposes, with China repeatedly denying any involvement in the attacks and accusing the US of spreading misinformation. China even went so far as to label Volt Typhoon - a similar group believed to be associated with Beijing - as a CIA asset set up to discredit the US’ rivals across the Pacific.

Both Fortinet and Cisco did not comment on the WSJ report, but both organizations have been in the cross hairs of cyber attacks from a range of cyber criminal groups.

Network routers with outdated firmware have been a favorite target as an initial access point for attackers and botnets for several years. Fortinet has also experienced a spate of attacks on its Windows VPN service and Fortigate VPN systems.

You might also like

• These are the best endpoint protection services around
• Take a look at our guide to the best business VPN
• Could AI soon make dozens of billion-dollar nuclear stealth attack submarines more expensive and obsolete?

• A 9th victim has been identified in the Salt Typhoon hack
• No attackers are thought to be lurking on the networks
• The White House wants to go on the 'offensive' against cyber threats

An ongoing assessment of the notorious Salt Typhoon hack has claimed there are no longer any lurking hackers present in the breached networks, and that all networks are now secure. This is the latest development in one of the most far reaching cyber-espionage campaigns in recent memory, which has just claimed its 9th victim, the White House confirmed.

Major telecoms firms like AT&T and Verizon were amongst the victims of the campaign, with over 100,000 routers compromised in just one network, which allowed broad and full access, allowing the attackers to "geolocate millions of individuals, to record phone calls at will."

It’s believed that fewer than 100 individuals were affected personally by the attack, with the group specifically identifying a small number of devices around the Washington DC area, with a goal of identifying and monitoring government targets to collect intelligence.

White House retribution

The attack has sparked response from the White House, as incoming President Trump has vowed to go on the offensive. Officials claim years of cyberdefense has been ineffective, and Mike Waltz, new national security advisor has warned the US will need to ‘start imposing’ on nation state actors who pose a threat.

Whilst the investigation is ongoing, it seems unlikely that the scale of the intrusion will ever be fully understood, with damage limitation and mitigating follow-on risk now a high priority.

“That’s why we’re looking forward and saying ‘let’s lock down this infrastructure,’ and frankly, let’s hold the Chinese accountable for this,” said Anne Neuberger, Deputy National Security Advisor for cyber and emerging technology.

“From what we’re seeing regarding the level of cybersecurity implemented across the telecom sectors, those networks are not as defensible as they need to be to defend against a well-resourced, capable, offensive cyber actor like China.”

Via Reuters

You might also like

• Take a look at our pick of the best malware removal software
• Chinese threat actors may have already breached UK critical infrastructure, ministers told
• Check out our pick for best antivirus software

There's nothing worse than settling in for a festive film over the holiday season, only to find that it just refuses to load. Well, you can settle your internet bandwidth issues for good with Verizon Fios, the carrier's excellent fiber-optic internet service that just so happens to have a superb deal right now.

For a limited time, new customers who sign up for either the 1 gig or 2 gig Verizon Fios plans will be able to get either one year of Netflix on the house or an Xbox gaming bundle - complete with headset, controller, and a $50 Xbox gift card. Both these deals bundle up with one year of Vix Premium as a side bonus for even more cheap streaming goodness.

Note that Verizon tends to switch up its Fios promotions regularly so it's worth considering picking up this one ahead of the new year if you're interested in the gifts.

Verizon Fios free Netflix or Xbox bundle deal

• See more: check out all of today's deals at Verizon

Note that Verizon Fios is particularly good if you're an existing mobile customer, as the carrier offers significant monthly discounts. For example, if you already use one of Verizon's excellent post-paid unlimited data plans for your phon,e you'll be able to get the 1 gig Fios plan for as little as $65 per month - that's a massive saving versus the usual $100 the brand charges otherwise.

Note that Verizon Fios has decent coverage in most major cities, but it's not available completely nationwide right now. If you're interested, make sure you check that your local zip code is covered - which you can do so at the top of the page.

Check out our main Verizon deals page for even more ways to save at this carrier.

Phone deal hunters, take note - this year's Verizon Cyber Monday deals are currently live and they're collectively offering some of the best promotions all year across a range of the latest Apple, Google, and Samsung devices. Most of these deals have been live for a few days now but today is your last chance to score them so I recommend you act sooner rather than later.

As TechRadar's Deals Editor, I've rounded up all of today's best Verizon Cyber Monday deals for 2024 just down below. These include a limited-time $300 egift card for new customers, free iPhones, free iPads, free Apple Watches, and free Xbox's with select internet packages. In short, there are an impressive range of savings on offer for all types of Verizon customers.

As stated, most of these promotions were available over the prior Black Friday sale but they're ending tonight so this is last chance saloon. If you're interested in more expert recommendations, then you can check out our main Cyber Monday deals page for more sales from Amazon, Best Buy, and other leading retailers.

Today's best Verizon Cyber Monday deals

More of today's best Cyber Monday deals

• Amazon: TVs, smart home & air fryers from $12.99
• Apple: AirPods, iPads, MacBooks from $89.99
• Best Buy: $1,000 off 4K TVs, laptops & headphones
• B&H Photo: up to $900 off cameras, laptops, accessories
• Cheap TVs: smart TVs at Best Buy from $69.99
• Dell: best-selling Inspiron & XPS laptops from $279.99
• Dreamcloud: mattress deals from $349 + free shipping
• Holiday: decor, lights, Christmas trees & PJs from $10.99
• Home Depot: 40% off tools, appliances & furniture
• Lowe's: holiday decor, appliances & tools from $17.31
• Nectar: up to 50% off all mattresses
• Nordstrom: 46% off boots, coats, jeans & jewelry
• Samsung: $1,500+ off TVs, phones, watches & appliances
• Target: save on furniture, Halloween, tech & clothing
• Walmart: cheap TVs, robot vacs, furniture & appliances

Phones, internet packages, freebies - there isn't much that Verizon's massive Black Friday sale doesn't cover this week, and there's no need to wait if you're interested as the carrier's big seasonal sale is already live.

As TechRadar's Deals Editor who tracks Verizon deals all year round, I've rounded up what I think are the best promotions just down below. Included in my list are easily some of the best deals I've ever seen from the carrier all year, including the option to get a free iPhone 16 Pro, an iPad, and an Apple Watch with a new line.

Most of these phone deals are similar to the usual fare at the carrier, but they've definitely been stepped up a notch. For example, there are fewer trade-in requirements right now, more freebies, and a lot more variety. There are also some great specials for new customers, like an additional $300 when you switch over to the carrier. While you're here, don't miss Verizon's Black Friday deals on home internet packages either, which include a free Xbox Series S games console.

Check out our main Black Friday deals page if you're looking for more expert recommendations on laptops, TVs, and much more.

My favorite Verizon Black Friday deals today

More of today's best early Black Friday sales

• Amazon: TVs, iPads & air fryers from $12.99
• Apple: AirPods, iPads, watches from $89.99
• Best Buy: $1,000 off TVs & laptops
• B&H: $600 off Nikon, GoPro, Canon & Sony
• Cheap TVs: deals from $69.99 at Best Buy
• Christmas trees: from $54.99 at Amazon
• Dell: Inspiron & XPS laptops from $279.99
• Dreamcloud: mattresses from $349 + free shipping
• Gift ideas: deals for the family from $9.99
• Holiday: decor, lights, & PJs from $10.99
• Home Depot: 40% off tools & appliances
• Lowe's: holiday decor & appliances from $17.31
• Nectar: up to 50% off all mattresses
• Nordstrom: 46% off boots, coats & jewelry
• Purple: up to $1,000 off mattresses + base
• Saatva: up to $600 off luxury mattresses
• Samsung: $2,500+ off TVs, phones & appliances
• Target: furniture, Christmas decor, tech & clothing
• Tempur-Pedic: up to $500 off mattress sets
• Walmart: cheap TVs, robot vacs & AirPods
• Wayfair: 70% off furniture & decor

Just when you thought Verizon's excellent lineup of early Black Friday deals couldn't get any better, the carrier just threw in another freebie.

Right now, Verizon is offering new customers a $300 e-gift card with every phone purchase as part of its Black Friday sale, which is a promotion that stacks with the other awesome promotions currently available. These include a free iPhone 16 Pro with a new line on an unlimited plan, a free iPad, and a free Apple Watch Series 10.

Combined, Verizon's new and existing customers have a huge amount of potential savings on the cards - even if the required plans are a little on the pricey end. If you're interested, I've rounded up today's best Verizon Black Friday deals that stack with today's featured promotion just below.

Note that the $300 e-gift card featured here will need to be claimed in your MyVerizon account post-purchase, so you may not see it immediately in your cart at checkout. If you do claim it, however, you can use it to reduce those pricey monthly bill payments.

Check out our main Black Friday deals page for today's recommendations on other retailers.

Get a $300 gift card at Verizon today

More Verizon Black Friday deals today

Are you thinking about upgrading that old phone this November? Take note - early Black Friday deals are already available at Verizon this week thanks to the carrier's ongoing Holiday sales. 

Like last year, Verizon has launched a number of awesome promotions across a wide range of iPhones, Android devices, and internet packages, which include a dizzying array of freebies and discounts.

• Check out all of today's deals at Verizon

For example, the carrier has brought back an old favorite for its Black Friday iPhone deals. Right now, you can not only get a free iPhone 16 with a new line on an unlimited data plan but also a free Apple Watch and iPad. These freebies add up to over $700 in value here - although note that you will need to pay a little extra for the required accessory cellular lines.

If you prefer Android, you'll also find some exceptional Black Friday phone deals on both Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy devices. I've rounded those up just below, alongside the best home internet deal available at Verizon today.

While you're here, don't forget to bookmark our Verizon Black Friday deals page for more coverage this month. You can also see our Black Friday deals hub for recommendations on everything from TVs to vacuums.

The best early Verizon Black Friday deals

More of this week's early Black Friday sales

• Amazon: TVs, smart home & air fryers from $12.99
• Apple: AirPods, iPads, MacBooks from $89.99
• Best Buy: $1,000 off 4K TVs, laptops & headphones
• Cheap TVs: smart TVs at Best Buy from $69.99
• Christmas trees: top-rated trees from $54.99
• Dell: best-selling Inspiron & XPS laptops from $279.99
• Dreamcloud: mattress deals from $349 + free shipping
• Holiday: decor, lights, Christmas trees & PJs from $10.99
• Home Depot: 40% off tools, appliances & furniture
• Lowe's: holiday decor, appliances & tools from $17.31
• Nectar: up to 50% off all mattresses
• Nordstrom: 46% off boots, coats, jeans & jewelry
• Purple: up to $1,000 off mattresses + base
• Samsung: $1,500+ off TVs, phones, watches & appliances
• Target: save on furniture, Halloween, tech & clothing
• Walmart: cheap TVs, robot vacs, furniture & appliances