Andreas Prott - stock.adobe.comNewsZero-day exploits increasingly sought out by attackersThreat actors increasingly favour zero-day exploits to attack their victims before patches become available according to the NCSC and CISA, which have just published a list of the most widely-used vulnerabilities of 2023ByAlex Scroxton,Security EditorPublished: 12 Nov 2024 16:49 Threat actors both state-backed and financially-motivated are increasingly taking advantage of previously unknown vulnerabilities, or zero-days, to compromise their victims before fixes or patches are made available by the tech industry, according to a new advisory published by the Five Eyes cyber agencies, including the UKs National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and the United States Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).The agencies have collectively drawn up a list of the 15 most exploited vulnerabilities of 2023 and found that the majority of exploited vulnerabilities were zero-days compared to less than half in 2022. The trend has continued through 2024, said the NCSC.The NCSC said that defenders needed to up their game when it comes to vulnerability management, paying particular attention to applying updates as quickly as possible when they do arrive, and to making sure they have identified all the potentially affected IT assets in their estates.The organisation also urged suppliers and developers to do more to implement secure-by-design principles into their products, something that the Five Eyes governments Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the United States have become particularly vocal about in the past 18 months. Doing so helps reduce the risk of vulnerabilities being accidentally introduced during development, only to be taken advantage off further down the line.More routine initial exploitation of zero-day vulnerabilities represents the new normal which should concern end-user organisations and vendors alike as malicious actors seek to infiltrate networks, said NCSC chief technology officer (CTO) Ollie Whitehouse.To reduce the risk of compromise, it is vital all organisations stay on the front foot by applying patches promptly and insisting upon secure-by-design products in the technology marketplace, said Whitehouse.We urge network defenders to be vigilant with vulnerability management, have situational awareness in operations and call on product developers to make security a core component of product design and life-cycle to help stamp out this insidious game of whack-a-mole at source, he added.The full list of the vulnerabilities most frequently exploited during 2023 is as follows:CVE-2023-3519, a code injection flaw in Citrix NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway;CVE-2023-4966, a buffer overflow vulnerability in Citrix NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway, aka Citrix Bleed;CVE-2023-20198, an elevation of privilege (EoP) issue in Cisco IOS XE Web UI;CVE-2023-20273, a web UI command injection bug in Cisco IOS XE;CVE-2023-27997, a heap-based buffer overflow flaw in Fortinet FortiOS and FortiProxy SSL-VPN;CVE-2023-34362, a SQL injection vulnerability in Progress MOVEit Transfer, infamously exploited by the Cl0p ransomware gang, the fall-out from which is still being felt;CVE-2023-22515, a broken access control vuln it Atlassian Confluence Data Center and Server;CVE-2021-44228, a remote code execution (RCE) issue in Apache Log4j2, aka Log4Shell, the source of a major incident at the end of 2021 and still being widely-abused years later;CVE-2023-2868, an improper input validation flaw in Barracuda Networks ESG Appliance;CVE-2022-47966, an RCE issue in Zoho ManageEngine;CVE-2023-27350, an improper access control vulnerability in PaperCut MF/NG;CVE-2020-1472, an EoP vuln in Microsoft Netlogon, the source of another high-profile historic incident that there is now no excuse for not having addressed;CVE-2023-427983, an authentication bypass flaw in JetBrains TeamCity;CVE-2023-23397, an EoP issue in Microsoft Office Outlook, widely-used by Russian spooks;And last but not least, CVE-2023-49103, an information disclosure vuln in ownCloud graphapi.The full list, which can be downloaded from CISA, also contains details of a number of other issues that were observed being routinely exploited during 2023, prominent among them two vulnerabilities in Ivanti products disclosed in August 2023, and the infamous Fortra GoAnywhere flaw exploited, yet again, by the Cl0p gang.Read more about recent zero-daysQualcomm urges customers to patch the memory corruption vulnerability as Google researchers have observed targeted exploitation in the wild against the flaw.According to Fortinet, the FortiManager vulnerability 'may allow a remote unauthenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code or commands via specially crafted requests.More than two weeks after threat actors exploited a zero-day vulnerability in a third-party utility to breach Rackspace, the details about the flaw and the utility remain unknown.In The Current Issue:Interview: Niall Robinson, head of product innovation, Met OfficeIAM: Enterprises face a long, hard road to improveDownload Current IssueHow enterprises can improve ROI on AI investments Data MattersHow To "Vawlt" Superclouds Networks GenerationView All Blogs

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Mainframes continue to be the backbone of the global economygettyMainframe computers are often perceived as relics of the past but in reality, they continue to be the backbone of the global economy. Critical data related to finance, government, and other sensitive transactions pass through these systems daily. Over 70 percent of Fortune 500 companies still rely on mainframes despite the rise of cloud computing. The key to their continued relevance is modernizationadapting these powerful systems to meet the needs and opportunities of todays technological landscape without losing the stability and security they provide.Why Mainframes Still MatterPeter Rutten is Research Vice President at International Data CorporationIDCMainframes have been around for over 60 years and remain the most reliable platform for handling massive amounts of data and transactions. As Peter Rutten, Research Vice President at IDC, explained, Mainframes were built for the highest possible performance and uptime, with the greatest security. In fact, theyre still used by industries like banking, airlines, and healthcare, where data integrity and continuous uptime are mission critical.These industries process billions of transactions daily, for which downtime is not an option.CEO of Rocket Software Milan Shetti echoes this sentiment, emphasizing that mainframes are "the backbone of the world economy because of their three major capabilities: security, governance, and very high performance." They are trusted for sensitive transactions such as wire transfers and insurance claims due to the degree of security and reliability that few other systems can match. The lack of headlines about mainframe failures or security breaches is a testament to their robustness, something Shetti proudly notes: Mainframe has done a really good job of staying out of the headlines for the wrong reasons.Yet, while mainframes are still trusted for mission-critical tasks, there is no denying the growing pressure to adapt to emerging technologies, such as cloud computing and artificial intelligence. This is where mainframe modernization comes into play.MORE FOR YOUThe Need for ModernizationMax de Groen, Partner at Bain CapitalJennifer Cimino PhotographyModernization is not about replacing mainframes but enhancing them to work seamlessly with modern technologies like cloud and AI. Max de Groen, Partner at Bain Capital, says, mainframe modernization is increasingly seen not as a necessary evil, but as an opportunity to leverage existing investments and integrate emerging technologies. Indeed, many enterprises are recognizing that modernization is essential to stay competitive, meet consumer demands, and manage costs effectively.The process, however, is not simple. A basic mainframe modernization project can take two years, while more complex ones can take five or more, explains Rutten. This timeline highlights the difficulty of integrating decades-old systems with newer, more flexible cloud environments.Shetti emphasizes that the goal is "modernization without disruption." Rocket Software, for instance, focuses on helping organizations modernize in placeupgrading their existing mainframe systems to work with new technologies without the need for a complete overhaul. He cites the example of a banks mobile application, which might be cloud-based but will still rely on the mainframe to access secure customer data.CEO of Rocket Software Milan ShettiRocket SoftwareThis hybrid approachconnecting the cloud to the mainframeis becoming the preferred method for many enterprises. "Youll never see end-to-end banking in the cloud," Shetti insists, explaining that cloud computing may be better for scaling applications and attracting developers, but the mainframe is preferred when handling sensitive data with the highest levels of security.The Role of AI in ModernizationAI is playing an increasingly important role in mainframe modernization. Rocket Software and other companies are using AI for "code explainability, which helps current engineers understand and modernize the vast amounts of legacy code that power mainframes today. This is crucial because many original developers who wrote this code have retired, leaving a knowledge gap that AI can help bridge.Shetti also envisions AI simplifying mainframe operations to the point where managing a mainframe could be as intuitive as operating an iPhone. This use of AI improves operational efficiency and helps attract new talent to an industry that has long been associated with complex, outdated technology.The Economic and Security ImpactsMainframe modernization has broader implications for the economy and security. Rutten points out that "70% of enterprise data still runs on mainframes," meaning that any failure or breach would have far-reaching consequences. This is why modernization is so criticalit allows enterprises to take advantage of cloud scalability and AI innovation while maintaining the security and reliability of their core systems.Moreover, de Groen highlights that modernization is about more than just keeping the lights on. Its about leveraging the power of datadata that resides on the mainframeto drive new business models, improve customer experiences, and stay competitive in a rapidly changing digital landscape.Mainframes may not be flashy, but they are indispensable. As Rutten wisely states, You dont move off the mainframe; you integrate with it. The future of enterprise IT lies in this integrationblending the unmatched security and reliability of mainframes with the flexibility and innovation of cloud computing and AI. For organizations that rely on these systems, modernization is not just an option; its necessary to remain competitive and secure in the digital age.Follow me on LinkedIn or check out my other columns here.

KEY TAKEAWAYSThe new meme coin Dawgz AI ($DAGZ) introduces an AI trading bot with personalized recommendations.With strong utility, strategic token allocation, and a clear roadmap, $DAGZ has the potential for long-term success.Early birds can buy $DAGZ on presale at just $0.00177 starting November 16, 10:00 UTC.$DAGZ is a new ERC-20 token that merges the cultural appeal of memes with the technological potential of AI. Dawgz AIs algorithm analyzes market trends and executes trades 24/7, so your investment can generate returns even if youre not actively monitoring the market.We explore the fundamentals of Dawgz AI and explain how you can become one of the first adopters.How to Buy $DAGZ in 4 Easy StepsVisit the Dawgz AI official presale website.Use the widget to connect your wallet.Select your preferred crypto and enter the number of $DAGZ tokens you want to buy.Confirm the transaction. Visit Dawgz AI TodayThe Future of Meme Coins is AISoon launching a token presale, Dawgz AI is busy developing an AI-powered trading bot that will maximize profits and minimize risk. The algorithm would also provide insights and recommendations for informed trading decisions.$DAGZ will serve as the ecosystems governance token, allowing its holders to vote on development proposals and shape the projects future.To ensure transparency and security, SolidProof has rigorously audited the $DAGZ smart contract. This audit assures investors that the project is built on a solid foundation and adheres to industry best practices. But the real key to any meme coins success is investor sentiment. Dawgz AI aims to build an engaged, loyal online community where members can share memes, discuss market trends, and participate in various community-driven initiatives.$DAGZ Tokenomics and Roadmap$DAGZs tokenomics focuses on supporting early adopters and long-term holders. A significant portion of the total token supply (20%) is allocated to staking rewards, allowing holders to earn passive income. Another 24% is reserved for marketing efforts to drive $DAGZ adoption.Given a whopping 8,317% staking APY and discounted presale price ($0.00177), $DAGZ can potentially attract a massive investor base before its launch on exchanges.The projects long-term vision is ambitious yet achievable. After the presale, $DAGZ will expand to other blockchain networks and forge strategic partnerships to expand its reach.Continuous AI bot improvements and the launch of NFT collectibles should further enhance the projects appeal to potential investors and help $DAGZ become the leading doge-themed token.How to Buy $DAGZ on PresaleWith its strong fundamentals, $DAGZ could be the next 10x coin. This means early adopters may be up for the highest returns.If you want to be one of the alphas leading the Dawgz AI pack, heres how to buy $DAGZ on presale.Step 1: Visit the Dawgz AI WebsiteDont get caught off guard! Scammers sometimes create fake websites that mimic popular presales. Only use the official link to protect your funds.Step 2: Connect Your WalletClick on Connect Wallet and follow the on-screen instructions. You can use any crypto wallet that supports Ethereum, Solana, or BNB Chain networks.Step 3: Select Your Purchase MethodYou can buy $DAGZ with $ETH, $SOL, $BNB, $USDT, or $USDC. Select your preferred cryptocurrency and enter the number of tokens you want to exchange for $DAGZ.Once you confirm the transaction in your crypto wallet, youll need to wait until the presale concludes. After that, your $DAGZ tokens will be distributed to your wallet. Visit Dawgz AI TodayStep 4: Confirm the TransactionOnce you confirm the transaction in your crypto wallet, youll need to wait until the presale concludes. After that, your $DAGZ tokens will be distributed to your wallet. Visit Dawgz AI TodayIs $DAGZ the Next Alpha Dogecoin?$DAGZ offers a unique blend of meme culture and cutting-edge technology. Transparent tokenomics, high staking rewards, solid utility, and low price make it one of the best crypto presales in 2024.The $DAGZ presale kicks off on November 16 at 10:00 UTC. Dont miss this opportunity to secure $DAGZ tokens at a discounted price before they skyrocket!Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Lora is a writer based in Ireland. Her background in finance and interest in technology helps her present complex concepts in an intelligible and fun way, which is especially useful when it comes to the world of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology.Starting as an agency writer, she soon branched out to freelance and later launched a family-run digital marketing agency.In her spare time, Lora attends dance classes or immerses in reading, preferring technology news or postmodern literature. View all articles by Lora Pance Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

QUICK TAKESThe Trump administration may ease crypto regulations on digital assets. The crypto ecosystem will likely thrive in this new environment.Record inflows into spot Ethereum exchange-traded funds ($ETH ETFs), totaling $295M, highlight strong investor interest in Ethereum.Appointing pro-crypto figures to key regulatory positions could bring clearer regulations. These, in turn, would foster innovation, reduce scams, and support decentralized projects.The US may be moving towards a more crypto-friendly approach under the Trump administration. The result? Potentially easing crypto regulations that have held back digital asset adoption in the US.Big players like venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) predict a bright future for crypto in the US under this lighter regulatory climate.This shift could be a game-changer for cryptocurrencies, with $ETH and Bitcoin ($BTC) experiencing huge gains after the November elections.At the same time, Ether ETFs are seeing record inflows and rising interest from investors.Lets have a closer look at how this policy change could impact the US crypto marketTrump Administration Signals a Softer Stance on CryptoNow that the campaigning is done and dusted, Trump can start on his pledge to make the US the crypto capital of the planet.This bold plan would likely mean appointing pro-crypto figures to key regulatory positions, including the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission), which has been heavily criticized by the crypto community.Trumps advisors are said to be considering a mix of current and former regulators and financial experts with positive crypto stances.Names being floated for critical roles include Hester Peirce, an SEC commissioner known for advocating a more crypto-supportive approach. He could become interim SEC chair if Trump follows through on his promise to fire the current chair, Gary Gensler, on day one.Additionally, Mark Uyeda, an SEC commissioner critical of current enforcement practices, is seen as another strong candidate for the top spot.Paul Atkins, a former SEC commissioner, and Chris Giancarlo, former CFTC chair, are also under consideration.A16z Sees Bright Horizon for Crypto BuildersAccording to major Silicon investor a16z, the new environment might finally allow crypto developers to build solutions that empower individuals. Use cases include decentralized digital identity, low-cost international transactions, and new revenue channels for creators.In a16zs recent memo, A Positive Path Forward, the companys policy team shares its opinions on cryptos future. The team suggests that as the industry moves toward clearer regulations, developers will have more confidence and freedom to use tokens and blockchain tools responsibly.This clearer framework could potentially help weed out fraudulent projects, as rules would make it easier to identify them while also fostering community-driven projectsEthereum ETFs: a Sign of Growing DemandIn related news, spot $ETH ETFs, which launched in July, recorded their biggest day of inflows in history. On November 11, they saw nearly $295M in inflows a massive leap from the previous record of $106.6M set on launch day.CK Zheng, founder at ZX Squared Capital, sees this as a sign of Ethereums potential under a government that supports blockchain innovation.$ETH and $SOL will perform well in the next few months if the new Trump administration actively promotes blockchain technology and speed up the digitalization in the financial industry. CK ZhengThis demand also reflects the growing interest in Ethereum-based applications. This is especially true in areas like decentralized finance and non-fungible tokens, which continue to bring in more users.A16z echoes Zhengs view, suggesting that decentralization is the way forward. The team goes so far as to encourage stakeholders to do away with centralized aspects and dependencies on trust.A New Era for US Crypto?A more relaxed government stance and the resultant crypto bull run could bring exciting times for the US crypto sector.With more regulatory clarity, innovation and user adoption may flourish in the years ahead, bringing mainstream crypto use closer than ever.Trumps promise to become the first crypto president could mean new users, more innovation, and a more stable environment for the industry to thrive.ReferencesA positive path forward by a16z (a16z website)The Washington Post on Trumps pro-crypto candidates for key federal financial agencies (The Washington Post website)Daily Ethereum Spot ETF Net Inflow by Coinglass (Coinglass website)Ethereum is starting to catch a bid by Cointelegraph (Cointelegraph news)Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Anya Zhukova is a tech and crypto writer with 8+ years of experience creating practical, easy-to-understand content for top publications like MakeUseOf, Online Tech Tips, Help Desk Geek, Switching to Mac, and Make Tech Easier.An advocate for financial freedom, Anya covers the latest in cryptocurrency, tech trends, and product reviews to keep readers informed and empowered.Through her work with brands like Framework, Insta360, Redmagic, Inmotion, Secretlab, Kodak, and Anker, she brings a hands-on perspective to her reviews, helping people get the most out of new tech. View all articles by Anya Zhukova Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.

In a nutshell: Genetics company 23andMe has had a brutal 2024. The tech economy has not generally been good, but the firm also suffered a data leak. It then blamed its customers for the breach, followed swiftly by accusations to the FTC of running an auto-renewal scam. To avoid bankruptcy, the company is restructuring, laying off half its employees. Home genetics company 23andMe continues to struggle as demand for casual gene tracing declines. On Monday, the company announced that it has decided on a restructuring plan to help reduce expenses. A significant part of the downsizing is eliminating around 200 positions, about 40 percent of 23andMe's workforce. The company estimates that the employment reduction will save more than $35 million per year while only costing it a one-time operating expense of $12 million for severance packages and related costs."We are taking these difficult but necessary actions as we restructure 23andMe and focus on the long-term success of our core consumer business..." said 23andMe CEO Anne Wojcicki. "We are fully committed to supporting the employees impacted by this transition."Layoffs will begin with employees working in departments that 23andMe plans to phase out. The company's restructuring plan includes discontinuing its therapeutics division. This department was conducting research into cancer treatments and monoclonal therapies. While it is closing in-house therapeutics testing and research, Wojcicki said 23andMe intends to continue its work in these areas using "strategic partnerships.""We continue to believe in the promise shown by our clinical and preclinical stage pipeline and will continue to pursue strategic opportunities to continue their development," Wojcicki said.Impacted employees in these divisions still have a little time, as 23andMe indicated that it is not immediately shuttering the labs. However, it is winding down clinical testing "as quickly as practical." The company did not mention details on its potential research partners. // Related StoriesThe struggles that 23andMe is facing are not all that surprising. Home genetic testing is a one-and-done affair. Once you have your genetic profile, it is unnecessary to pay for it again. It's not a very sustainable business model out of the gate, and it's surprising to learn that this is the part of the business the company chose to keep.Contributing to its troubles, 23andMe suffered a data breach earlier this year that exposed a small percentage of its customer base. The leak was relatively minor, resulting in only about 14,000 impacted accounts. However, instead of taking responsibility, the company blamed its customers, saying that the breach occurred because of "recycled credentials" that hackers obtained in an unrelated incident. It also admitted later that it had neglected to notice that the intruders were siphoning data for over five months.More recently, 23andMe had trouble with the FTC after customers complained that its subscription service was a scam. In March, at least 133 customers said the company auto-renewed their subscriptions without consent and would not issue refunds. Gizmodo noted that in some instances, users said they had physically canceled their membership before the end of their subscription, but 23andMe charged them as if the cancellation hadn't happened.

A hot potato: A controversial proposal to strengthen international cooperation against cybercrime has gained US support. The Biden Administration is interested in signing the treaty, while politicians are still warning about its potential for misuse and human rights abuse. Senior US government officials have confirmed that the Biden Administration is ready to support a United Nations treaty on cybercrime. The legally binding agreement would be a first and could help shape the UN's future legal initiatives and cooperation in fighting and investigating cyber threats.The treaty pushes for a global criminalization of child sexual abuse material and non-consensual online sharing of intimate imagery. Officials said that the treaty could also help the United States gain more comprehensive access to cybercrime-related digital evidence, while novel extradition rules would help with arrests and investigations.The US, Europe, and other nations initially opposed the treaty. According to an Electronic Frontier Foundation timeline, the Russian Federation presented a letter with the original draft in 2017. The resolution asking for a new international treaty against cybercrime was also sponsored by Belarus, Cambodia, China, Iran, Syria, and other "rogue nations" with no particular interest in defending people's rights to fair and impartial trials.Human rights organizations opposed the draft, urging the UN General Assembly to vote against the resolution. Yet, the ruling body created an Ad Hoc Committee (AHC) to draft a new convention to fight the use of communication technologies for criminal purposes, which seemed more palatable.Earlier this year, the AHC reached an agreement on the new draft, which is now awaiting formal adoption. The treaty will likely pass a General Assembly vote. However, human rights advocates and NGOs still describe the convention as a severe threat to privacy, security, freedom of expression, and AI safety. // Related StoriesA recent letter by six US Democratic senators said that Russia, China, and other authoritarian regimes could exploit the treaty to increase their censorship efforts, infringe online privacy, and abuse human rights. Washington said that it would enforce safeguards against human rights abuses, with the Department of Justice refusing cooperation in blatantly abuse attempts."While the executive branch's efforts to steer this treaty in a less-harmful direction are commendable, more must be done to keep the convention from being used to justify such actions," the Democrats' letter said.Unnamed officials told Bloomberg that the Biden Administration would not support any UN resolution if it did not implement proper safeguards in the new treaty.

Building a PC from scratch can be a lot of fun, and with the upcoming Black Friday on November 29, its a perfect time for you to pick up hardware. One of the most fun bits of any build is picking the parts, and for that, graphics cards are probably the most fun to pick between. That said, GPUs also tend to be the most expensive pieces of hardware that go into a desktop, especially if youre trying to aim for something in the mid-to-high-end range that can easily reach $500 or even $1,000. Thats why weve gone out and collected some of our favorite early Black Friday GPU deals for you below.Contents$350 17% offGIGABYTEThis RTX 3060 is a great starter card for those who want to be on a budget and will handle most slightly older games pretty well at 1080p and 60Hz, potentially up to 100. It may struggle a bit with newer titles without compromises, but thats fine given the reduced $290 price point.$320 6% offZOTACWhile this Zotax RTX 4060 doesnt have as much cooling, its a bit more powerful than the RTX 3060; plus, its a lot smaller, so it can fit more cases, and with the $20 discount, its well worth picking up. Plus, you get access to the newest DLS 3.0 that is exclusive to the RTX 40-series.Related$430 14% offXFXIf youre interested in 2K gaming, then this RX6800 is a good entry-level option, and much like the RTX 3060, it may struggle a little with newer titles but should handle older titles just fine. It also has a massive 16GB of RAM making it a lot more future-proof, all for just $370 instead of the usual $430.$750 11% offXFXThe RX 7900XT is the second highest-end card from AMD and is probably the cheapest way youre going to get true 4K performance out of a GPU, especially at $670 instead of the usual $750. Granted, it wont compete or match the RTX 4090, but it comes as close as you can at nearly half the price.$1,050 5% offPNYAnother great option for 4K and higher-end 2K gaming is the RTX 4080 Super, which our lead reporter, Jacob Roach, said that it offers a great balance of price and performance. You get access to the newer DLSS 3.0 with this card, and the card comes with a tidy 5% discount.When it comes to picking a GPU, the thing youre really looking at is high-end performance and upscaling. Both Nvidia and AMD have upscalers in the form of DLSS and FSR, with Nvidias DLSS being a bit more advanced and mature. That said, FSR has been catching up recently, and more importantly, not all games out there use this tech, so if you dont run any of them, then its not really worth worrying over which of the two to pick. If youre still not sure, you should absolutely take a look at our breakdown between FSR vs. DLSS.As for performance, if youre truly looking for the best in terms of pure power, then theres nothing that can beat the RTX 4090 on the market. That said, the RTX 4090 is very, very expensive, and it may not be worth it if you dont plan to run 4K at around 100FPS, which also brings its own costs since gaming monitors that can handle that are very expensive too. On the other hand, AMD offers very strong performance in the low-to-mid range for a significantly lower price than Nvidia, so if you dont care about DLSS, then AMD is usually the way to go at those tiers.Because the market is mostly dominated by AMD and Nvidia, and there is a pretty solid understanding of where each card lies in terms of performance, the majority of the work is trying to find the best deal from various brands. After all, everybody from Gigabyte to MSI makes their own versions of these GPUs with minor variations here and there. So, ultimately, we rely on our experience as reviewers and deal hunters to not only find you the deals that will offer you the best bang for your buck, but also to give you a great selection of cards for you to pick from.Editors Recommendations

Weve still got some time until Black Friday deals officially arrive, but now is a good time to start your shopping, as there are a lot of early Black Friday deals worth grabbing. Among them are devices from Googles Pixel lineup, which is great news of youve got your eye on Black Friday phone deals, Black Friday smartwatch deals, Black Friday tablet deals, or Black Friday headphone deals. Weve tracked down all of the best early Black Friday Google Pixel deals available in the lead-up to the sales event, so read onward for all of the details on how to land some savings right now.Contents$200 32% offGoogleIf youre looking for some of the best headphone deals during these early Black Friday offerings, you definitely want to pounce on this deal. The Google Pixel Buds Pro are seeing a $64 price drop and a Black Friday price of $136. The newer Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 are also on the market, but they arent seeing any Black Friday deals, and this first generation model of the popular earbuds will provide plenty of audio quality for most people.$250 9% offJoe Maring / Digital TrendsThe Google Pixel Watch 2 is currently among the best smartwatches on the market, so any discount is worth taking advantage of. Here youl save close to 10%, as the Pixel Watch 2 is marked down from $250 to $228 for Black Friday. Its the perfect watch for Android users to track their fitness and health stats, as it can keep on eye on your heart rate and stress levels, and it even has some safety features built in.Related$399 20% offGoogle / GoogleThe Google Pixel Tablet is both powerful and affordable, and its a regular contender to be among the best tablets. Here you can add the 128GB model to your device lineup for $80 off its regular price of $399. This is an 11-inch tablet that can contribute a lot to your productivity and creativity, and it even features Google AI. Google has integrated its artificial intelligence into the Pixel Tablet in a number of different ways, and it can help with things that range from photo editing to providing high-quality video calls.$699 29%Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsSo far the Google Pixel 8 is one of the best Black Friday phone deals weve come across, with Google former flagship seeing a price drop of nearly 30%. This is good for $200 in savings and a $499 Black Friday price. The Pixel 8 is barely a generation old at this point, so you can purchase knowing youre getting a phone that still holds up with current features. Its known for its 6.2-inch Actua display, and the Pixel 8 can go up to 24 hours before needing to charge back up.$799 8% offAndy Boxall / Digital TrendsAny time you can get a recently released phone at a discount its worth taking a look at. This Black Friday deal sees the 128GB model of the brand new Google Pixel 9 discounted $63. This brings its price down to $736, and Amazon is even including one-day shipping for Prime members. With the Pixel 9 being among the newest generation of smartphones it includes AI integrations, and one of its other main features is a 50-megapixel camera that produces amazing video quality and a 48-megapixel ultrawide camera for macro focusing photography.Google has a lot of different devices in its Pixel lineup, and you cant really go wrong with any of them. This may remove a little stress from the shopping experience, as you can shop initially for just about anything. If youre looking for some of the best wireless earbuds there are some great options among the Google Pixel Buds lineup, and the Pixel lineup also has several phones to choose from. The Google Pixel Tablet is a great Android tablet and a great alternative to several different iPad models, and youll even find several smartwatches among what the Google Pixel Watch has to offer.Once youve decided what kind of device you want to take home during these Black Friday deals, we recommend you go straight for the most savings. Thats what Black Friday is all about, after all, and while we do see some modest discounts across the Pixel lineup throughout the year, its likely to see some pretty substantial savings available both during Black Friday and during the early Black Friday deals that precede it. If you see a Google Pixel device that suits your needs and you see it at a price that works for you, make a purchase and start putting it to use.With the Google Pixel lineup having so many great devices to choose from, our first consideration in choosing the best Black Friday Google Pixel deals was newness. New releases get top priority here, as it can be difficult to find a discount at all on something thats recently been released. The Google Pixel 9 is an example of this, and even though some Google Pixel devices may have been supplanted by a more recent release, we kept them toward the top of the list simply because new generations are being released every year now. A phone thats a year old may not be the newest on the market, but if it can still hold its own it still feels like a recent release come Black Friday.Price drops are the second main thing we looked at when narrowing down the best Black Friday Google Pixel deals. Devices that are a generation or two old are the main candidates here, and while some may think of these devices as ancient tech, they present incredible value when their price is dropped significantly enough. Black Friday is when we tend to see these more unique, more substantial price drops, so we didnt hesitate to include devices like the Google Pixel Buds Pro and Google Pixel 8.Editors Recommendations