Browsing: Tech Reviews

How the Wi-Fi bandwidth works has always been a mystery—we can’t put our finger on it. The hyped-up numbers thrown out by networking vendors only make things even more confusing. When buying a router or mesh system, we now face a choice among dual-band, tri-band, and even quad-band options. Each is a headache in and of itself. Do more bands mean “better” or “faster”? I’ll explain Wi-Fi bandwidth, the differences between these band combos, with a bit of Wi-Fi history. It’ll be a long read, but it’s worth it. In case you’re in a hurry, though, here’s the gist: It…

The Trump administration is recruiting private security firms to conduct federal government-authorized operations, including cyberattacks, against overseas-based criminal organizations that commit hacks on US persons, organizations, or government entities. In a National Security Presidential Memorandum issued Thursday, US President Donald Trump directed the National Coordination Center (NCC), which operates under the Homeland Security Task Force, to develop a program for conducting specific cyber operations that combat foreign transnational criminal organizations (TCOs). The Departments of Justice and Homeland Security will provide oversight. The lynchpin of that program is bringing in private sector companies to participate. Devil will be in the still-undefined…

In another reshuffle of its video game division, Netflix is closing the first studio it purchased, Oxenfree team Night School, according to Stephen Totilo at Game File. Netflix acquired Night School Studio in 2021, and there it produced Oxenfree II: Lost Signals, the Black Mirror: Thronglets app, and Unhinged, a smartphone-controlled horror game that landed roughly six weeks ago. Netflix also reportedly plans to shut down Helsinki studio Moonloot Games, which the company founded in September 2022 to build original mobile titles. Additionally, it’s slashing an undisclosed number of jobs from its in-house games team. This is all in the name of…

American electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian is rolling out 2027 model year updates to the R1S SUV and R1T pickup this week. Alongside a revised trim-level naming scheme that brings the R1 models in line with the newer R2, Rivian’s R1S can now be had with a new second-row captain’s chair configuration that trades a bit of seat capacity for improved comfort and convenience. Meanwhile, the R1T electric truck gets a new all-season wheel-and-tire option, rebalancing on-road range with off-road capability. Upgraded seating The biggest material update affects the full-size R1S, which is now available with a six-seat configuration that swaps…

Surfshark recorded nearly 6 times as many malware detections on WindowsWhile trojans mostly target Windows devices, phishing lands harder on MacA “Macs are safe” mindset may leave users more at risk of social engineeringNew data from Surfshark shows a stark split in how malware finds its targets: Windows users are hit at nearly six times the rate of macOS users.The headline number is eye-catching, but the full story is more interesting. While Windows soaks up the vast majority of traditional malware, Mac users face a very different kind of threat, one that a locked-down operating system does little to stop:…

I first thought the ASUS RT-BE82U would somewhat resemble the RT-AX82U, the way the RT-BE86U and RT-BE88U continue their respective design lineages. I thought wrong. The RT-BE8U is more of an upgrade to the RT-BE58U, with slightly higher Wi-Fi specs and all 2.5GbE ports. Here’s the bottom line: For those needing only dual-band, the RT-BE8U proved to be a reliable Wi-Fi 7 router worthy of its suggested $219.99 retail price — the street price will vary. It has everything a small home needs for Gig+ bandwidth. After that, the ability to scale up coverage via multiple units, thanks to the…

On Monday, passengers aboard Delta flight 591 going from Las Vegas to Atlanta allegedly spoofed the onboard Wi-Fi, raising the attention of federal law enforcement. The incident came one day after the DEF CON security conference concluded in Las Vegas and was first described on social media accounts that follow publicly available air-to-ground messages, known as ACARS. According to the “ACARS Drama” account, a message sent by pilots from the plane stated: “NO INFO AS OF NOW WE HAVE A BUNCH OF PAX THAT WERE AT A CYBER CONFERENCE IN LAS THEY WERE ABLE TO JAM OUR WIFI AND BROADCAST…

Digital wallets aren’t perfect, but that shouldn’t keep you from using them. Shih-wei/Getty Images In roughly a decade, digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Wallet have gone from niche options at cutting-edge businesses to accepted payment methods almost everywhere. You’re encouraged to fill your virtual wallet with credit cards when setting up a new phone, and nearly every major card company participates. There’s no “best” digital wallet to use, as the ones available to you depend on your devices. Apple Pay is the option on the company’s platforms; on Android, it’s Google Wallet. Samsung device…

Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? This one wasn’t too difficult, I thought. Read on for all the answers. The completed NYT Mini Crossword puzzle for Aug. 12, 2026.NYT/Screenshot by CNET Mini across clues and answers 1A clue: Caitlin Clark’s league, for shortAnswer: WNBA  5A clue: Odysseus’s hiding place when entering the city of TroyAnswer: HORSE 7A clue: Hawaiian “hi”Answer: ALOHA 8A clue: Personal opinions, in modern parlanceAnswer: TAKES 9A clue: Where a nuthatch hatchesAnswer: NEST Mini down clues and answers 1D clue: “Come again?”Answer: WHAT 2D clue: Hall-of-Fame pitcher ___ RyanAnswer: NOLAN 3D clue: Unloaded?Answer: BROKE 4D clue:…

Boeing lands $75 million contract for its new long-range guided bombGBU-75 bomb travels over 300 nautical miles using a turbojet engineBoeing spent nearly $100 million of its own money before this dealBoeing has received a $75 million Undefinitized Contract Action from the US Air Force to begin building its new long-range guided bomb.The weapon, known as the GBU-75, pairs a 500-pound-class, or 226-kilogram, JDAM warhead with a wing kit and a compact turbojet engine.This combination allows the bomb to travel more than 300 nautical miles, far beyond what earlier JDAM variants could achieve.Latest Videos FromTechRadarTurbojet kit extends JDAM’s reachBoeing’s official…