Browsing: Tech Reviews

Researchers say they have uncovered a takedown-resistant botnet of 14,000 routers and other network devices—primarily made by Asus—that have been conscripted into a proxy network that anonymously carries traffic used for cybercrime. The malware—dubbed KadNap—takes hold by exploiting vulnerabilities that have gone unpatched by their owners, Chris Formosa, a researcher at security firm Lumen’s Black Lotus Labs, told Ars. The high concentration of Asus routers is likely due to botnet operators acquiring a reliable exploit for vulnerabilities affecting those models. He said it’s unlikely that the attackers are using any zero-days in the operation. A botnet that stands out among…

Microsoft first debuted its full screen Xbox experience for Windows in the ROG Ally Xbox handheld, in a bid to compete with Steam’s nearly 15-year-old Big Picture Mode. That Xbox interface eventually made its way to other Windows 11 gaming portables last year. Today at GDC, Microsoft revealed that its big screen Xbox UI is headed to all Windows 11 devices (including laptops and desktops) in April. Oh yah, and it’s now simply called “Xbox Mode.”Xbox Mode will only be available in select markets at first, and Microsoft describes it as bringing “a controller-optimized experience to your Windows 11 device,…

Last year, a Reddit thread emerged suggesting that the iPhone 17 Pro’s vibrant cosmic orange color could somehow turn bright pink and it turns out it’s absolutely true. In a previous version of this article I tested the Redditor’s claims by attacking my phone with various chemicals and at the time I didn’t notice much difference, but a couple of months on, things have changed. And when I put my phone against a fresh iPhone 17 Pro Max at MWC 2026, the difference was clear: mine was now bright pink. Here’s what happened and what you can do to protect yours. As PCMag’s…

Peloton activities can now be synced with the Garmin appFor months, you could only sync data the other wayThat should give you a better understanding of your health and fitnessIf you use both Garmin and Peloton devices during your fitness activities, we’ve got some good news: the two companies’ products now sync together in both directions. And this makes it far easier to log your workouts and keep track of your pursuits than before.That means if you record a workout with one of the best Garmin watches, it’ll sync to the Peloton app. And if you log a session on…

This post features the top 5 Wi-Fi 7 mesh systems you can confidently bring home today. These are full-band hardware, meaning they support all three bands, including 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz. For those with only the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, check out the best five dual-band Wi-Fi 7 mesh systems instead. All Wi-Fi 7 solutions will work well with existing clients, as long as they are not too old. That said, if you have an aging mesh Wi-Fi system that’s been struggling, I recommend giving one of these Wi-Fi 7 sets a go today. Living in a compact…

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie , as the hotly-anticipated sequel arrives in theaters on April 1. Nintendo recently dropped the , which is filled with quick visual gags and nods to the source material.There aren’t too many actual reveals in this footage, as it covers a lot of the same ground as previous trailers. However, it does show that fan favorite Lumalee is returning as a prison guard of some sort, reversing the storyline from the original film in which the cheerfully nihilistic creature was trapped in a cage.Nintendo that featured the aforementioned trailer, but also included interviews with actors…

Apple released iOS 26 in September, and while that update didn’t include new emoji, a future iOS 26 update will bring eight new emoji to your iPhone. The Unicode Consortium approved eight emoji in September as part of Unicode 17.0. That means iPhones and Android devices will get new emoji in early 2026.Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.Here are the eight new emoji you can expect to see on your device in a few months:”These new emoji have long-standing symbolic meanings, are visually distinctive and contain multitudes of expression,” the Unicode Consortium wrote online in July.These emoji were…

A proposed New York bill would ban AI chatbots from providing legal or medical adviceThe legislation would allow users to sue companies if their chatbots impersonate licensed professionalsLawmakers say the measure is meant to protect the public as AI tools become more widely usedAI chatbots have spent the past few years answering nearly every kind of question imaginable, but New York lawmakers are preparing to draw a firm line around at least a couple of categories of conversation. A bill advancing through the state legislature would prohibit AI chatbots from providing legal or medical advice and would allow users to…

Rode’s not done releasing trimmed-down versions of its production tools with an eye on budget conscious creators. Today, it’s launching Rodecaster Video Core, an all-in-one studio setup which sits below its flagship Rodecaster Video and its (now) mid-range Video S. It’s aimed at folks who are either dipping a toe into this world, or already have audio gear and just want to broaden out to HD video as well. Arguably, the biggest change is the lack of any controls on the hardware itself, as you’ll be running the show entirely from inside the Rodecaster App.In terms of connectivity, you’ll find…

Lego is diving into a new era of interactive play with Lego Smart Play. These smart blocks were first revealed at this year’s CES. The Smart Play platform combines physical builds with digital reactions. Lego is starting with the Star Wars ecosystem. This way, you can really lean into your creativity and imagination to recreate your favorite Star Wars scenes. As part of the launch, Lego is releasing five new Smart Play-enabled Star Wars sets — bringing the total sets to eight — featuring iconic ships and scenes from the franchise. If you’re ready to start playing, you’re in luck. The future of…