Browsing: Tech Reviews

Microsoft released NTLMv1 in the 1980s with the release of OS/2. In 1999, cryptanalyst Bruce Schneier and Mudge published research that exposed key weaknesses in the NTLMv1 underpinnings. At the 2012 Defcon 20 conference, researchers released a tool set that allowed attackers to move from untrusted network guest to admin in 60 seconds, by attacking the underlying weakness. With the 1998 release of Windows NT SP4 in 1998, Microsoft introduced NTLMv2, which fixed the weakness. Organizations that rely on Windows networking aren’t the only laggards. Microsoft only announced plans to deprecate NTLMv1 last August. Despite the public awareness that NTLMv1…

The Federal Trade Commission lost its antitrust case against Meta last year, but the regulator hasn’t given up on its attempts to punish the social media company for its acquisitions of WhatsApp and Instagram. The FTC is appealing a ruling last year in which a federal judge found that the government hadn’t proven that Meta is currently operating as a monopoly.”Meta has maintained its dominant position and record profits for well over a decade not through legitimate competition, but by buying its most significant competitive threats,” the FTC’s Bureau of Competition Director Daniel Guarnera said in a statement. “The Trump-Vance…

What is the best internet provider in Seattle?CNET recommends Quantum Fiber as the best internet service provider for most in Seattle. It delivers fast symmetrical speeds, unlimited data and competitive pricing. However, if Quantum Fiber is unavailable in your region, Astound Broadband, T-Mobile and Xfinity are reliable backup options. Budget focussed shoppers, in particular, can find good value with Ziply Fiber and Astound. More so at a time when 63% of Americans are struggling with rising internet costs and less than stellar connectivity. CNET’s experts have picked out the top options that give you reliable internet with fast speeds and…

Back in the 1980s, I recorded phone interviews by connecting a tape recorder to the back of my analog handset via a little black suction cup. These days, virtually all my interviews are conducted via Zoom or Google Meet; but while both are capable of recording and transcription, for convenience I still like to record on my iPhone, and lately I’ve been using a little-known Notes feature.While some of you might know about the recording feature on the best iPhones (hidden under the paperclip ‘Attachment’ icon), you may not realize that since iOS 18, Notes has also been able to…

If you’ve ever used a 3D printer, you may recall the wondrous feeling when you first printed something you could have never sculpted or built yourself. Download a model file, load some plastic filament, push a button, and almost like magic, a three-dimensional object appears. But the result isn’t polished and ready for mass production, and creating a novel shape requires more skills than just pushing a button. Interestingly, today’s AI coding agents feel much the same way. Since November, I have used Claude Code and Claude Opus 4.5 through a personal Claude Max account to extensively experiment with AI-assisted…

Pioneering mathematician Dr. Gladys West has passed away at the age of 95. Her name may not be familiar to you, but her contributions certainly are; West’s work laid the foundation for the global positioning system. As you likely know from experience, GPS is now an essential component of industries ranging from aviation and emergency response, as well as ensuring that you get to that dinner date or job interview on time.West was born in 1930 in Virginia. Despite the oppression of Jim Crow laws in the south, she was able to pursue higher education at Virginia State College (now…

Looking for the most recent regular Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.Today’s Connections: Sports Edition isn’t too tough, but the purple category might stump you. If you’re struggling with today’s puzzle but still want to solve it, read on for hints and the answers.Connections: Sports Edition is published by The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by The Times. It doesn’t appear in the NYT Games app, but it does in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can play it for…

Internet restored in Uganda after four days of restrictions during electionsAccess to social media and messaging apps is still restrictedProton VPN confirms usage has now hit “an all-time high”Uganda’s internet shutdown has ended after four days but VPN services are still needed to access social media and messaging apps.Connectivity was gradually restored on Sunday, though the latest data from internet watchdog NetBlocks shows that authorities are still restricting access to several social media platforms.David Peterson, General Manager of Proton VPN, said that usage in the country has hit “an all-time high.” You may like This follows an 8,000% increase in…

Financial pressures and a changing tune OpenAI’s advertising experiment reflects the enormous financial pressures facing the company. OpenAI does not expect to be profitable until 2030 and has committed to spend about $1.4 trillion on massive data centers and chips for AI. According to financial documents obtained by The Wall Street Journal in November, OpenAI expects to burn through roughly $9 billion this year while generating $13 billion in revenue. Only about 5 percent of ChatGPT’s 800 million weekly users pay for subscriptions, so it’s not enough to cover all of OpenAI’s operating costs. Not everyone is convinced ads will…

ExpressVPN is back on sale again, and its two-year plans are up to 78 percent off right now. You can get the Advanced tier for $101 for 28 months. This is marked down from the $392 that this time frame normally costs. On a per-month basis, it works out to roughly $3.59 for the promo period.We’ve consistently liked ExpressVPN because it’s fast, easy to use and widely available across a large global server network. In fact, it’s our current pick for best premium VPN. One of the biggest drawbacks has always been its high cost, and this deal temporarily solves…