The moment home internet rolled out, the way we communicate, work, study, and entertain ourselves changed forever. The lines separating our physical and digital identities blurred. We use the web daily, and our mobile devices hold the keys to everything from our social media profiles to our bank accounts.You can't often control the flow of information that leads to your personal data being exposed online. Although you can and shouldlock down your individual accounts, sometimes you may feel compelled to take an extra step to improve your online security and privacy.One way to reduce your digital footprint and protect yourself from being so easy to find -- or impersonate -- is to overhaul all the services you useand delete anything you no longer want.Also: How to delete yourself from internet search results and hide your identity onlineOld shopping accounts and social media profiles, mailing list subscriptions, and legacy online service accounts can clutter your email inboxes and, over time, become annoying or embarrassing. Those with ill intentions may also link them together, increasing your risk of identity theft.Organizations that hold on to your data without cause need to be compelled to delete it. Rather than trying to track the details of each service online that holds onto your data, dedicated services shoulder this task for you.What's the best service for deleting yourself from the internet right now?Based on our extensive research, ZDNET's top pick for a service for deleting yourself from the internet is Incogni. Amassing many positive customer reviews, Surfshark's Incogni tackles data removal and data brokers on your behalf and will enforce these requests using applicable data protection laws. Incogni has a holiday promotion in which you pay the equivalent of $7.49/month if you sign up for an annual plan.Below, you will find more services we recommend to reduce your online footprint and remove your data from the internet in 2024. Sort by All The best services for deleting yourself from the internet in 2024 Show less View now at Incogni Surfshark's Incogni is a great service for removing yourself from the internet and negotiating with data brokers, and as such, it is our top pick.Once you've signed up, Incogni will send removal requests to a wide array of data brokers and enforce these requests using applicable privacy laws, including GDPR and the CCPA.The company says that most requests are handled within eight weeks, although some may require action from you. Incogni will also tackle shadow profiles on your behalf.Regarding pricing, Incogni offers monthly or annual plans. If you opt for an individual monthly plan, you will pay $14.98/month. If you want to pay once a year, Incogni's services will cost you $77.78 or $7.49/month. Family plans start at $16.49/month. Use the voucher codeHDAY24for additional discounts.If you're unsure how much information you need to be removed from the internet, you could opt for the monthly plan and consider a clean-up once or twice a year. There is also a 30-day money-back guarantee, so if you find less related to you than you first believed, this service is a great try-before-you-buy option.Incogni has some of the best customer feedback of all our recommendations. Customers say they feel the benefit of reduced spam calls and emails and that data is removed quickly. That said, some reports may not provide as much in-depth information as some users want.Incogni features:Data broker management| Data removal request follow-ups| Limited reports| Shadow profile detection| User education resources | Individual and family plans | 30-day money-back guarantee Pros Automatic data removal Utilizes data privacy laws Affordable Reduces spam calls Cons Reports could be more detailed Surfshark's Incogni is a great service for removing yourself from the internet and negotiating with data brokers, and as such, it is our top pick.Once you've signed up, Incogni will send removal requests to a wide array of data brokers and enforce these requests using applicable privacy laws, including GDPR and the CCPA.The company says that most requests are handled within eight weeks, although some may require action from you. Incogni will also tackle shadow profiles on your behalf.Regarding pricing, Incogni offers monthly or annual plans. If you opt for an individual monthly plan, you will pay $14.98/month. If you want to pay once a year, Incogni's services will cost you $77.78 or $7.49/month. Family plans start at $16.49/month. Use the voucher codeHDAY24for additional discounts.If you're unsure how much information you need to be removed from the internet, you could opt for the monthly plan and consider a clean-up once or twice a year. There is also a 30-day money-back guarantee, so if you find less related to you than you first believed, this service is a great try-before-you-buy option.Incogni has some of the best customer feedback of all our recommendations. Customers say they feel the benefit of reduced spam calls and emails and that data is removed quickly. That said, some reports may not provide as much in-depth information as some users want.Incogni features:Data broker management| Data removal request follow-ups| Limited reports| Shadow profile detection| User education resources | Individual and family plans | 30-day money-back guarantee Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less View now at DeleteMe DeleteMe has earned many positive customer reviews, and it's easy to see why. This user-friendly option will help you remove sensitive and personal information from online sources and data brokers while saving you time and effort.Once you've submitted your information, the organization will search for it online and send removal requests to third parties holding your data. Within seven days, you will receive a report outlining DeleteMe's progress. The company says that, on average, 15 listings of public data belonging to a subject that is searchable via Google are removed within "days."You can also take advantage of other features, including email and phone masking. As a bonus, in 2024, this serviceexpanded beyond the US and now covers areas including Europe and Canada.DeleteMe offers a range of plans. These include a subscription for one person, for one year at $10.75/month, or for two years at $8.71/month. Other subscriptions include a two-person plan for two years, priced at $14.54/month. Family plans begin at $20.79/month.You can also use DeleteMe's guides if you want to take on the job yourself. Many customers say the service exceeds expectations, but the upfront cost can be daunting.DeleteMe features:Data broker management| Data deletion request handling| Scanning| User interface| Privacy reports | Custom removal requests | Email and phone masking | Opt-outs Pros Great user interface Privacy reports Family plans available DIY guides Cons No free trial DeleteMe has earned many positive customer reviews, and it's easy to see why. This user-friendly option will help you remove sensitive and personal information from online sources and data brokers while saving you time and effort.Once you've submitted your information, the organization will search for it online and send removal requests to third parties holding your data. Within seven days, you will receive a report outlining DeleteMe's progress. The company says that, on average, 15 listings of public data belonging to a subject that is searchable via Google are removed within "days."You can also take advantage of other features, including email and phone masking. As a bonus, in 2024, this serviceexpanded beyond the US and now covers areas including Europe and Canada.DeleteMe offers a range of plans. These include a subscription for one person, for one year at $10.75/month, or for two years at $8.71/month. Other subscriptions include a two-person plan for two years, priced at $14.54/month. Family plans begin at $20.79/month.You can also use DeleteMe's guides if you want to take on the job yourself. Many customers say the service exceeds expectations, but the upfront cost can be daunting.DeleteMe features:Data broker management| Data deletion request handling| Scanning| User interface| Privacy reports | Custom removal requests | Email and phone masking | Opt-outs Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less View now at Kanary Kanary is another excellent service for cleaning up your online information. Kanary tries to remove search links, data dumps, and sensitive information from the web, all in a 90-day timeline for most removals.Once you've added your personal data to a user interface or multiple profiles for family members, Kanary will review removal requests and start working on your behalf, although some requests may require manual handling.A free service is also available, Kanary Copilot. Currently available on iOS (with an Android waiting list), this app is designed to help you combat stalking and doxxing.Kanary offers a deal for families. There is a free, limited plan that includes a 14-day trial of premium features, an individual plan for $14.99 per month, or family members can be added to the $16.99 per month premium plan for an additional $8.49 per month (or $7.49 per month on annual plans).Customer feedback indicates that this service is reliable, reports are clear and concise, and the service is valuable for the money.Kanary features:User dashboard| Frequent scanning| Family plans | Data removal request management| Strong security standards| Personalized dashboards | Data broker management | Copilot Pros Excellent features Family plans Affordable Free trial Cons Some requests require manual review Kanary is another excellent service for cleaning up your online information. Kanary tries to remove search links, data dumps, and sensitive information from the web, all in a 90-day timeline for most removals.Once you've added your personal data to a user interface or multiple profiles for family members, Kanary will review removal requests and start working on your behalf, although some requests may require manual handling.A free service is also available, Kanary Copilot. Currently available on iOS (with an Android waiting list), this app is designed to help you combat stalking and doxxing.Kanary offers a deal for families. There is a free, limited plan that includes a 14-day trial of premium features, an individual plan for $14.99 per month, or family members can be added to the $16.99 per month premium plan for an additional $8.49 per month (or $7.49 per month on annual plans).Customer feedback indicates that this service is reliable, reports are clear and concise, and the service is valuable for the money.Kanary features:User dashboard| Frequent scanning| Family plans | Data removal request management| Strong security standards| Personalized dashboards | Data broker management | Copilot Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less View now at PrivacyBee PrivacyBee is another service that can track where your information is and act on your behalf to remove it from companies you don't trust, plus data brokers.The service also checks and monitors search results to remove sensitive information. Furthermore, you can download a browser extension that displays your data relationship with the sites you visit.The company can also remove you from marketing databases to reduce the volume of spam and mass emails you receive and takes a proactive approach to handling your information.Pricing begins at $197 per year, which is an expensive up-front cost that may deter some customers. Family plans are also available. Still, reviews suggest that the service is secure and thorough.PrivacyBee features:Company checks| Data deletion| Data broker management| Privacy browser extension| User dashboard| Mass marketing opt-outs |24/7 monitoring | Search engine cleanup Pros Browser extension Privacy monitoring Select trusted companies Cons No free trial Expensive PrivacyBee is another service that can track where your information is and act on your behalf to remove it from companies you don't trust, plus data brokers.The service also checks and monitors search results to remove sensitive information. Furthermore, you can download a browser extension that displays your data relationship with the sites you visit.The company can also remove you from marketing databases to reduce the volume of spam and mass emails you receive and takes a proactive approach to handling your information.Pricing begins at $197 per year, which is an expensive up-front cost that may deter some customers. Family plans are also available. Still, reviews suggest that the service is secure and thorough.PrivacyBee features:Company checks| Data deletion| Data broker management| Privacy browser extension| User dashboard| Mass marketing opt-outs |24/7 monitoring | Search engine cleanup Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less View now at Reputation Defender Reputation Defender by Norton is a tailored service offered to individuals, professionals, executives, and businesses.This service differs from our other recommendations: it's a personal offering that focuses on managing and cleaning up reputations, which could include online data removal and deletion of information held by data brokers and people-search websites.Norton's offering includes data management, reputation management, personal branding assistance, privacy alerts, regular scanning, and search result management.Prices for Reputation Defender by Norton are available upon request, as the work is personalized to your circumstances. The company offers a free consultation, and customers say the support team handles sensitive situations well.Reputation Defender features:Personal service| Reputation management| Personal branding| Search result monitoring| Data deletion| Personal consultation | Privacy threat reports | Tackles newsarticles Pros Personalized services Reputable company Patented technology Free consultation Cons Prices unavailable publicly Reputation Defender by Norton is a tailored service offered to individuals, professionals, executives, and businesses.This service differs from our other recommendations: it's a personal offering that focuses on managing and cleaning up reputations, which could include online data removal and deletion of information held by data brokers and people-search websites.Norton's offering includes data management, reputation management, personal branding assistance, privacy alerts, regular scanning, and search result management.Prices for Reputation Defender by Norton are available upon request, as the work is personalized to your circumstances. The company offers a free consultation, and customers say the support team handles sensitive situations well.Reputation Defender features:Personal service| Reputation management| Personal branding| Search result monitoring| Data deletion| Personal consultation | Privacy threat reports | Tackles newsarticles Read More Show Expert Take Show less What are the best services for deleting yourself from the internet? Below, you will find some of the main features of each of our recommendations.Best data removal servicePriceConducts data removal/opt-out requests?Free trial?Personalized solutions?Incogni$7.49+/monthXxDeleteMe$8.71+/monthX (scan only)xKanaryFree or $15+/month (limited free plan)xPrivacyBee$197/yearX (scan only)xReputation Defender by NortonOn requestX Show more Which is the right service for deleting yourself from the internet for you? Choose this top data removal service...If you wantIncogniOur top pick for an affordable solution to protect yourself and your data. Incogni provides a one-stop-shop solution for data protection and managing data brokers.DeleteMeTo have information removed from search engines. You submit the information you want removed, and DeleteMe will do the rest. DeleteMe is a great choice for in-depth data removal.KanaryProtection for more than one person. Kanary provides great value for families that want their personal data monitored online. 90 days should be enough for most data removal requests.PrivacyBeeTo choose what companies you trust. PrivacyBee allows you to select companies you are comfortable holding your data, as well as select organizations that you want to delete your information from their records.Reputation Defender by NortonA reputation manager. Reputation Defender is best suited to high-profile individuals and businesses that need constant data leak monitoring and reputation protection. Show more How did we choose these services for reducing your online footprint? When choosing the best services for deleting yourself from the internet, we considered a number of factors, including:Price: While selecting the best services, we wanted to provide various options, including affordable subscriptions and plans. Depending on your needs, signing up can be a long-term investment, so we have included a variety of data removal solutions with different price points and contract periods.Removal: We focused on services that can scan, monitor, and check online databases and data broker repositories for your personal information and then work on your behalf to have it removed. After all, if you're paying for a service, you should be able to expect the challenging parts of the process to be handled for you.Protection: The services listed above also include protective features that may reduce the likelihood of personalized spam calls and phishing emails, as well as trolling, stalking, or identity theft. You may also want, for example, to combine automatic data removal with data breach alerts and antivirus software.Frequency: We also ensure that our recommended services can conduct frequent scans on your behalf. While you may just want one check and deletion, our information is constantly changing hands -- and this means that your data could reappear online eventually.Reports: The services we recommend will often provide reports with each scan to keep you updated on where your data was found, what has been deleted, and potentially what your next steps should be.Free trials and features: We have included data removal solutions that offer free reports and snapshots of your data exposure, allowing you to make the right choice before signing up for a plan. While free trials are uncommon, some of our recommendations offer free, limited plans or trial periods. Show more FAQs on how to delete yourself from the internet How do I delete myself from internet search results? There are numerous steps you can take to stop your name from appearing in internet search results and through engines, including Google and Bing, but it can be a complicated and time-consuming process. Below are some steps to help you get started.Use a search engine: Your first action should be to type in your name, nicknames, and online handles into search engines. This step will reveal the information that anyone can easily find on you and can help you plan your next steps, including which companies you may need to contact to have data removed or what accounts to delete.Lock down or delete social media accounts: Deletion is the nuclear option, but most social media platforms will have an option to stop your profile from appearing in search engine results. As our profiles -- even if they are publicly limited -- can contain our photos, full name, and more, removing them from search engine queries can help reduce our online footprint. For step-by-step guides, visit Facebook,Instagram, and X.Delete old, unused accounts: Whether it's shopping sites, social media networks, or forums, each service you use -- or have used -- may tie your online identity to your name, nicknames, or PII, all of which could be at risk if a data breach occurs. If you do not want to use a dedicated service, consider going through your email and password managers to find active accounts. You will need to access them and request removal manually.Clean up forum posts: Forums can often be overlooked, but if someone finds out the handles you commonly use, they may be able to find content connected to you -- which could now be completely irrelevant to the person you are today, or embarrassing if exposed. Delete old forum posts and preferably remove your accounts entirely.Contact webmasters: If you have old accounts that do not have auto-delete features, contact webmasters directly to have your profiles and data deleted. This process will likely be easier if you are in an area covered by regulations such as the EU's GDPR.Request that people finder websites delete your information: People finder websites can be used as "search engines" to look up someone based on their name, phone number, and other personal information, which can be a privacy nightmare. Opting out and forcing the removal of your information from these organizations, which may buy it from data brokers, can be a challenging process to perform manually as it may require contacting each service individually to negotiate. If these organizations prove to be difficult, deletion could also require an understanding of applicable privacy and data protection laws to enforce your requests. Consider using a service such as Incogni or DeleteMe to do the legwork for you.Deactivate email accounts: Our email accounts tend to be the core platform that ties your digital profile together, but once they're gone, they're gone. When you are ready, delete your email accounts, which will break the common threads between your online services. Only take this step if you are sure. Show more Can I remove my personal information from Google search? You can, although the process is limited and your request may be rejected if the company doesn't believe there are grounds for removal.You will need to contact Google using this form, requesting to remove information you see or asking to prevent information from appearing in Google search results. Removal requests can also be made for:Exposed personal identifiable information (PII)Explicit images, including adult contentInvoluntary, fake pornographyImages of minorsInformation from websites with "exploitive" removal practices, such as those that demand paymentIn some cases -- for example, a request to remove links to law enforcement statements or media articles concerning an individual and a prosecution -- Google may refuse, as such information could be in the public interest. If Google refuses, it will provide a reason for its decision. Show more How can I protect my identity online? There are numerous ways you can protect your identity online. Experts recommend securing personal information, locking down your social media accounts to friends and connections only, using antivirus software, regularly updating programs and software, and changing your passwords on a regular basis.Furthermore, if you find "clones" of your identity -- such as a fake Facebook or dating app profile -- ensure you report the fake account to associated online services.If you suspect your data has been leaked online, use the Have I Been Pwned service to see if you have been involved in any data breaches. Show more How do I quickly clean my name off social media? To remove your name from social media, you'll have to follow some basic steps. First, change your name to a nickname or surname that isn't linked to your true name. This should ensure that photos or linked content will also change.Next, switching all of your content to private can keep it away from search engines and individual search queries. You can also delete all of your accounts, and potentially file a Google request to remove content connected to you (although this is not always going to be accepted, especially if such information is considered in the public interest.) Show more How do I hide what I search for on the internet? The majority of search engines will log your search queries, and some will use this information to tailor ads and recommendations. If you want to keep your search queries hidden, we recommend using DuckDuckGo, which offers a free search engine that does not log your activities -- or, for extra privacy, use its browser. Show more How do I find out if my information has been leaked online? The easiest way is to visit Troy Hunt'sHaveIBeenPwnedto see the vast troves of data posted online due to company data breaches. Once you have entered your email address, the search engine will reveal if you have been involved in any third-party information leaks. Show more How do I remove my information from the dark web? There's no easy way, and unfortunately, it is often outside our control.Instead of chasing removal, the best thing you can do is to see what information has been leaked and make it redundant. For example, if an email and password combination for an online service has been exposed, change it immediately for that service -- as well as any other platforms using the same set -- and never use that combination again. Using multi-factor authentication can also prevent your online accounts from being compromised. Show more Are personal data removal services worth it? It is worth it as online threats, phishing, and impersonation are now fixed and permanent problems in our lives. This may be especially true for anyone who grew up oversharing and before we understood that once something is online, it is usually there forever. If you want to mask problematic information and cut the links that connect you between different online services, investing in a personal data removal service -- at least, for a while -- is worth the cost. Show more Are there alternative services for deleting yourself from the internet worth considering? While the services above for deleting yourself from the internet are ZDNET's top picks and are what we consider to be the best solutions on the market, there are many other options available. Here are other choices that might suit what you're looking for. Show more Further ZDNET Tech Coverage Smartphones Smartwatches Tablets Laptops TVs Other Tech Resources ZDNET Recommends

Two leading semiconductor companies square off in courtTirias Research generated using Stable DiffusionWith the end of testimony on Day 3 of the trial, the only items remaining were the closing arguments, instructions for the jury, and jury deliberations. A verdict was not reached after several hours, so jury deliberations will continue today. In addition, testimony for the countersuit about Arms use of Nuvia design suggestions was not completed and will continue after the holiday break, which would be on or after court resumes on January 3, 2025. If the jury does not reach a verdict today, while not confirmed, it is assumed that deliberations will continue on January 3rd. So, I am taking this opportunity to cover the Day 4 proceedings, as well as to reflect on some of the insights that have arisen through the trial.Disclosure: My company, Tirias Research, has consulted for Arm, Qualcomm and other companies mentioned in this article.The Jury Is OutProcedurally, Arm, the plaintiff, made its closing arguments, followed by Qualcomm, the defendant. An Arm rebuttal followed the closing arguments, and Qualcomm was allowed to provide a brief rebuttal because the third question being decided by the jury is related to Qualcomms counterclaim. The three statements the jury was instructed to rule on were (note that these are summarized):Did Arm prove that Nuvia breached Section 15.1(a) of the Nuvia architecture license agreement (ALA)? Section 15.1a is the termination clause of the agreement that requires the use of any Arm technology to stop and all related materials and designs to be destroyed.Did Arm prove that Qualcomm breached the Nuvia ALA?Did Qualcomm prove that Qualcomm CPUs are covered under the Qualcomm ALA? Qualcomms counterclaimArms closing argument focused on the Nuvia ALA agreement. Arm went line by line through several sections of the Nuvia ALA agreement and matched it with expert testimony, primarily from Qualcomm and Nuvia staff. Arm also made arguments against Qualcomm's claims made throughout the trial.Qualcomms closing argument was a more impassioned argument about what Arm is requesting, the destruction of intellectual property (IP) that took considerable engineering effort to develop, and a timeline of events relative to the legal actions and the Nuvia and Qualcomm CPU designs. Qualcomm argued that the designs and information transferred to Qualcomm at the time of the transaction were Nuvia IP that only included only 1% of Arm IP, which were the opcodes that link the hardware microarchitecture to the Arm software instruction set architecture (ISA). Qualcomm also argued that these opcodes are regenerated regularly, and the original code was not included in the design at the time the termination notice was received or future Qualcomm CPU designs that began after the acquisition. Qualcomm also argued that the Qualcomm CPU designs are covered by the Qualcomm ALA, which is the basis of the counterclaim. Qualcomm also used testimony, primarily from Arm, to support its argument.MORE FOR YOUBoth sides also used very select testimony to try to undermine the credibility of some of the expert witnesses and demonstrate the opposing party's intent in their closing arguments.Immediately after closing arguments, the judge read the jury instructions, and the jury was sequestered under guard. As there is little to do while waiting for a verdict, this is a good time to highlight some of the insights that have arisen from the trial.Insights From The TrialThe most interesting thing about a civil trial between two companies is the confidential information that is made public, and this case is no different. Some of the information brought into public view included details of Arm contracts, Qualcomm roadmaps and design information, and behind-the-scenes communication of the parties through letters, emails, internal presentations, and chats.The following are some of the insights gleaned from the testimony and documents:Arm has, or at least had, an official program called Picasso to try to raise royalty rates. The rate increases to Qualcomm, Arms largest licensee, were in the 300% to 400% range. As a result, it would be assumed that Arm is trying to get similar increases from other licensees.Qualcomm started four CPU design efforts after the Nuvia acquisition: Hamoa for computing (primarily laptop PCs), Pakala for mobile (primarily smartphones), Nordschleife for automotive, and Pegasus for future computing and mobile applications. The Hamoa and Pakala-based SoCs are shipping now.There was disagreement within Arm about how to react to the acquisition of Nuvia. Some of the old guard, including then CEO Simon Segars and Chief Architect Richard Grisenthwaite, took a more supportive stance, and others took a combative approach.Arm appeared to act aggressively in its dealings with Qualcomm following the acquisition of Nuvia. This included pushing for the assumption of the Nuvia ALA, renegotiation of the Qualcomm ALA, and a campaign to 37 current and potential Qualcomm customers with inaccurate statements and information. This pressure on Qualcomm was promoted even by the Chairman of the Board, Masayoshi Son.Qualcomm appeared to operate in good faith through and after the Nuvia acquisition, including paying royalties in the Hamoa and Pakala-based chipsets. Arm, however, has returned the funds. There was no evidence presented that Qualcomm tried to deceive Arm. Qualcomm appeared not have direct access to the Nuvia ALA prior to closing the acquisition and had no reason to believe that it was significantly different from the Qualcomm ALA, which provides broad coverage of any custom IP developed by or for Qualcomm and no requirements tied to acquisitions of Qualcomm.Qualcomms ALA license extends through 2028, and the company has the option to extend it another 5 years for an additional fee of $1M/year.Arm has been considering building complete processors for some time and has discussed building a processor for Samsung. This is presumably to compete against internal development projects from its ALA licensees. It is presumed that Arm would not sell chips in the open market because they would compete directly with Arms TLA customers, the most profitable portion of Arms business.Arm did not indicate any harm to its business until just before the trial, and at that point, the judge would not allow it to be included in the trial. According to Arm, there was no harm until units began shipping, which refers to the Hanoa-based Snapdragon SoCs for PCs and Pakala-based Snapdragon mobile SoCs for next-generation Android smartphones.The Nuvia ALA appears to have conflicting clauses and atypical requirements that ultimately engendered the trial with Qualcomm. Had the Nuvia ALA been clearer with common terms and conditions, the potential for many of the disputed points would have been greatly reduced.With the relationship between the two companies deteriorating, Qualcomm may have to consider using another architecture before its ALA expires in 2033. Even if Arm offers a new license, the terms are likely to be less favorable given the recent history between the two companies and the goals of Arms management. Note that Qualcomm does have a license to use the latest Armv9 architecture.Analyst InsightsThus far, I have sought to keep my own analyses and opinions out of my reports on the trial, but there are a few points worth making.I am not an attorney, but I am a bit surprised that the validity of the right to approve an acquisition clause was not questioned or deemed unenforceable. That clause could impact the valuation and operation of the business, especially a startup, with no value to the company itself. According to the testimony, certain provisions, which I am assuming this was one of them, were granted to Arm for a reduced license fee. However, according to the testimony, Nuvia paid what it thought was the full price for a license fee.Another point that was missing in the testimony, or I missed it, was that a microarchitecture is not hard-coded to an ISA and vice-versa. While it may require some optimizations to the microarchitecture (the silicon design), you can switch from supporting one ISA to another and there several industry examples that could have been sighted.Final ThoughtsAs a technologist, I can appreciate the challenge of this case. It is more than just about the terms of the contract, it is fundamentally tied to the related technology and chip designs. In this case, attorneys are presenting a case using technical experts and attempting to communicate their technical knowledge to a group of people that probably have little to no technical knowledge. As a result, both parties relied on analogies, Arm leveraged a piano analogy, and Qualcomm leveraged a building analogy. Neither was completely accurate or effective, but any analogy is subject to interpretation.As I have maintained, the outcome of this case will depend upon how the jury interprets the contract and the information presented, and it is impossible to predict it. However, regardless of how the scales of justice tip in this case, it is likely to impact technology license agreements going forward and cause concern throughout the broader Arm ecosystem about potential competition with Arm, especially for ALA licensees. It could also accelerate development of alternative ISA ecosystems such as RISC-V which are already starting to gain momentum.

ToplineA bipartisan pair of senators urged President Joe Biden to delay the federal ban on TikTok from taking effect, as the popular app could leave U.S. app stores in a month if the Supreme Court upholds the law banning itbut its unclear if Biden actually has the authority to delay the ban under the law, and the move could be challenged in court if he tries.Participants hold signs in support of TikTok outside the U.S. Capitol Building on March 13 in ... [+] Washington, DC.Getty ImagesKey FactsSen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., sent a letter to Biden Thursday arguing he should impose a 90-day extension delaying when the federal law takes effect, which is now scheduled for January 19.The law requires TikTok to divest itself from Chinese-owned parent company ByteDance or else be banned from U.S. app stores, but the senators argue the company cannot divest itself in that limited time before the ban takes effect.The bans status is now in limbo, as the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in TikToks lawsuit challenging it on January 10 and decide the laws legality, after a panel of lower court judges upheld it.Even if the Supreme Court rules on the TikTok ban before its scheduled to take effect, the senators argued that still wouldnt give TikTok enough time to separate from ByteDance, meaning, Absent a judicial injunction, decision overturning the law, or action by [Biden], TikTok will soon be banned in the United States, causing its creators and users serious hardship.While the law does give the president power to extend the deadline for outlawing TikTok by 90 days, University of Minnesota law professor Alan Rozenshtein noted on X that provision likely wouldnt apply here, as the president can only extend the deadline if theres a clear path toward divestiture or significant evidence that the company is in the process of divesting itself from ByteDancewhich so far isnt the case.If Bidenor President-elect Donald Trump, when he takes officewere to delay the deadline without TikTok actually taking any steps toward divesting, the move could be subject to litigation, Rozenshtein noted in a piece for Lawfare, as one of TikToks rivals could challenge the extension in court as unlawful, or one of the companies that has to comply with the ban, like Apple or Google, could ask for a court ruling declaring whether or not they legally have to take TikTok off their platform.Will The Tiktok Ban Take Effect On January 19?The White House has not yet responded to a request for comment on Markey and Pauls letter, and its unclear if Biden would actually be willing to impose the 90-day delay, given that he signed the ban into law and his Justice Department defended it in court. As it stands now, the law is scheduled to take effect January 19 unless the Supreme Court rules before then to strike it down, or puts the law on pause while it deliberates. If the ban goes forward on January 19, Trump could step in and impose a 90-day delay once he takes office on January 20. He has not yet announced any plans to do so, however, and that would still face the same legal issues as Biden delaying it if TikTok still isnt in the process of divesting itself from ByteDance.Will Bytedance Sell Tiktok?TikTok has so far refused any possibility of divesting itself from ByteDance, saying in a court filing the move is not possible technologically, commercially, or legally. It remains to be seen if the company will stick with that position if the Supreme Court upholds the law, or if it will decide to find a new U.S. owner in the face of the ban actually taking effect. While ByteDance has also so far been resistant to selling TikTok, James Lewis, director of the Strategic Technologies Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told NPR China may be more willing to negotiate with Trump and approve a sale of TikTok in exchange for Trump backing off his threat of high tariffs on Chinese imports.Why Are Markey And Paul Opposing The Ban?Markey and Paul are in the minority in Congress when it comes to their opposition to the TikTok ban, as the ban overwhelmingly passed the House in a 352-65 vote and numerous senators spoke out in favor of it. (The bill passed the Senate as part of a broader spending bill, so while it passed in a 79-18 vote, senators were not only voting on the TikTok provisions.) Markey has long opposed the TikTok ban, speaking on the Senate floor against the legislation before it passed and saying that while it could mitigate national security issues, it could, and likely will, result in widespread censorship. The lawmaker said he was speaking not in defense of TikTok, but in defense of TikToks users, warning lawmakers to be clear-eyed about the bans stakes and arguing, Instead of protecting people online, were censoring their speech. Paul has similarly been outspoken against banning TikTok, warning in 2023 that banning the app could alienate young voters and claiming in March the ban makes no sense whatsoever. TikTok is banned in China, Paul said in an interview with NewsNation. People who want to ban it are thinkingWow, were going to really defeat the Chinese communists, by becoming Chinese authoritarians and banning it in our country?ContraWhile Markey and Paul are trying to keep the TikTok ban from taking effect, other lawmakers are doubling down on the policy and reminding companies they have to follow it. House China Select Committee chair John Moolenaar, R-Mich., and ranking member Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., sent letters to the CEOs of Apple, Google and TikTok last week noting the law is scheduled to take effect on January 19 and reminding them they must take the necessary steps to ensure [their companies] can fully comply with the ban. Congress has acted decisively to defend the national security of the United States and protect TikToks American users from the Chinese Communist Party, Moolenaar and Krishnamoorthi wrote in their letter to TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew. We urge TikTok to immediately execute a qualified divestiture.Key BackgroundBiden signed the TikTok ban into law in April, with the law reflecting longstanding concerns by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle about national security issues involving the app and ByteDances ties to China. TikTok has long denied any wrongdoing or links to the Chinese government, but Forbes has reported on a number of concerns involving the company, including TikTok spying on journalists, promoting Chinese propaganda criticizing U.S. politicians, mishandling user data and tracking sensitive words. The law orders companies to remove TikTok from U.S. app stores or else face financial penalties, and says internet service providers cannot enable its distribution either, which TikTok has argued will cut off the services that enable the TikTok platform to function, effectively shutting down TikTok in the United States. TikTok and creators on the app challenged the law in court days after it was enacted, arguing it violated their First Amendment rights. The federal government maintained the move was necessary for national security, and a panel of federal appeals court judges agreed. The court upheld the law, ruling it does not violate TikToks First Amendment rights since all the content on the platform can stay up if the company just separates itself from ByteDance. TikTok appealed the case to the Supreme Court on Monday, after the appeals court said they wouldnt pause the law while TikTok pursued an appeal, and the justices quickly ruled to take up the case and hear it on January 10.Further Reading

Here's to new ideas: Moon Beast Productions is an independent studio founded by industry veterans Phil Shenk, Peter Hu, and Erich Schaefer to make a new action RPG. Having secured funding, the company now plans to explore a novel approach to the hack-n-slash genre. Moon Beast Productions recently secured $4.5 million in seed money from several partners in the gaming industry. The company hopes to use the funding to design and develop a groundbreaking ARPG that goes beyond the genre's traditional design templates. $4.5 million is a fairly tight budget, but Moon Beast President Peter Hu notes that the team plans to work "smarter" and not just harder to achieve its goals.Moon Beast CEO Phil Shenk highlighted how the company's founders helped invent the classic ARPG paradigm with Diablo and Diablo II. They also worked on subsequent projects such as Hellgate: London, the excellent Torchlight series, and Marvel Heroes Online, each aiming to expand the genre's reach."For the past 20 years, we've dreamed of ARPG gameplay in more open, dynamic worlds," said Moon Beast's chief creative director, Erich Schaefer.Schaefer was one of the original crew members for Diablo II, arguably the best ARPG ever. He noted that Moon Beast is now ready to start its next project. He didn't divulge too much but said they are returning to what made early Diablo games so unique and addicting, adding that the studio is taking those ideas in new, "fresh" directions.Team members and their previous projects. Click to enlarge.Moon Beast's team has the technology skills and decades of design experience to elevate their game above those of bigger developers. The team's vision lacks a lot of meat, so there are very few details about this new, mysterious ARPG. He said that a "key innovation" the studio wants to invest in is user-generated content (UGC), with dedicated tools that make adding custom content to the game's world virtually effortless."We're building in-game tools that allow players to not just mod but potentially create entirely new game modes using our robust, client-server ARPG systems," Hu said. // Related StoriesAccording to Overwolf, one of Moon Beast's angel investors, the company's approach to UGC could incite entirely new gameplay experiences than the base game.Shenk stated that Moon Beast's UGC tools could unlock new genres built on the traditional ARPG formula, similar to how the MOBA genre emerged from Warcraft III mods. So far, the company has been busy building its core technology platform and experimenting with ARPG-related design ideas. The team isn't interested in making a Diablo clone. We can't wait to see what the original Diablo designers come up with outside Activision Blizzard's reach.

WTF?! Despite a star-studded roster, the New York Jets has seen its season unraveling amid reports of widespread disenchantment among players and coaching staff alike. A new report adds more fuel to the fire, claiming that owner Woody Johnson nixed an off-season trade for star Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy simply because his Madden rating wasn't high enough. Denver eventually traded Jeudy to the Cleveland Browns, who locked him in with a 3-year, $58 million extension. Jeudy went on to become a 1,000-yard receiver as a Brown, while the Jets are having a disastrous season, slumping to 4-10 after 14 weeks. Johnson blamed Head Coach Robert Saleh and General Manager Joe Douglas for the poor showing and have since been fired.Anonymous sources told The Athletic that the Jeudy fiasco wasn't even the first time that Johnson cited Madden ratings to evaluate players. He had previously argued against signing guard John Simpson due to his low "Awareness" rating in Madden. However, the coaching staff had the last laugh that time around. The team signed the free agent in the off-season, and he has performed well for the Jets this year.Some insiders believe that Johnson's teenage sons Brick and Jack are the reason why he puts so much weight on video game ratings. According to one unidentified Jets executive, Johnson has even admitted in team meetings that he bases some of his ideas on what his sons read online. Needless to say, experienced professionals in the team are frustrated that the teens' ill-informed opinions hold as much weight within the organization as their expert judgment.Johnson's ineptitude was also on full display in September when he suggested benching future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers to get the season back on track. Thankfully, the coaching staff and team officials convinced him otherwise. However, A Jets spokesperson claimed Johnson's suggestion was "in jest" to test everyone's reaction.Another Jets spokesperson pushed back against the notion that Johnson was using Madden ratings to evaluate players. The video game ratings are "a reference point" and "not determinative" in player acquisitions. Any suggestion that Johnson used Madden ratings to override the opinion of experienced executives is "ridiculous," the spokesperson said, adding that Johnson's teen children have "no roles in the organization." // Related Stories

What's new? Google is rolling out an AI-powered system for its browser designed to sniff out scams and shady operations. The feature, dubbed Client Side Detection Brand and Intent for Scam Detection, debuted in the latest Canary builds of Chrome. Chrome's new scam detection employs an on-device language model to scrutinize web pages on Windows, Mac, and Linux. The localized approach is essential because it helps Google avoid the potential privacy pitfalls of uploading your browsing data to the cloud. Your credentials and online activities should remain safely on your device instead of getting beamed up to Google's servers for processing.Bolstering web security has always been challenging, but it's grown even more critical due to an explosion in cyber incidents. Microsoft's recent Digital Defense Report stated that over 600 million cybercriminal and nation-state attacks occur daily, targeting individuals, businesses, and governments alike.Chrome's new feature bears some similarity to a "scareware blocker" Microsoft recently introduced for its Edge browser. Edge's tool utilizes AI to identify cyber scams and other malicious sites, just like Chrome's. However, Microsoft's version is opt-in, requiring users to enable it in their settings manually.Microsoft is reeling with cybersecurity debacles. The Russian Nobelium hacking group managed to gain access to the company's corporate account for a month and exfiltrated executive email accounts. In light of the incident, CEO Satya Nadella underscored security as the company's "number one priority" last quarter. // Related StoriesChrome's version will be on by default when it rolls out. However, you'll need to download the latest Canary release and toggle the "Client Side Detection Brand and Intent for Scam Detection" flag. Just navigate to chrome://flags, find that option, and enable it.Earlier this year, Chrome gained a similar security-bolstering feature that threw a full-page "download warning" for risky downloads. It offers multiple options to bypass the warning, with one asking the user why they wish to do so.Meanwhile, this new AI scam-busting upgrade follows another AI-driven Chrome feature Google rolled out last month called "Store reviews." It aggregates and summarizes independent retailer ratings from sites like Trustpilot to give users the full scoop before they purchase something.

If youre struggling to come up with last-minute gift ideas, an Amazon Fire TV Stick makes for a great stocking stuffer, and it wont break the bank. And while these streaming devices are pretty cheap, to begin with, the following offer makes buying one all the more appealing:For a limited time, when you purchase the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K through Amazon or Best Buy, youll only pay $28. At full price, this model sells for $50. We tested this tried and true streamer all the way back in 2020, and reviewer Ryan Waniata said, Amazons Fire TV Stick 4K offers killer features at a great price.With its simple plug-and-play connectivity, intuitive controls, and fast performance, the Fire TV Stick 4K gives you access to a massive library of streaming apps, including popular platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video. HDR10+ and Dolby Vision support also means your favorite movies and shows get a significant boost in brightness and colors when streamed through your Fire TV Stick 4K (must be paired with an HDR-compatible TV).RelatedWhen it comes to voice activation, the included Alexa Voice Remote lets you summon the Amazon companion just by pressing the mic button. Youll be able to use Alexa to search for content to watch, check up on Amazon orders, control smart home devices, and more. Other noteworthy features include Wi-Fi 6 and Dolby Atmos support. Wed love to say this sale is going to last until the new year, but that may not be the case.Thats why you should consider buying today if this sounds like a good deal to you. Take $22 off the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K when you order through Amazon or Best Buy. You may also want to check out our lists of the best TV deals, best Amazon deals, and our roundup of top Best Buy deals.Editors Recommendations

Table of ContentsTable of ContentsTesting the testIn the labApple made waves when it announced that its AirPods Pro 2, when combined with iOS 18.1, could fulfill the role of OTC hearing aids. Given that OTC hearing aids can often run as much as $1,500, it seemed too good to be true that the same hearing benefits could be had for just $249 or less. Better yet, given the popularity of Apples wireless earbuds, theres an excellent chance that those who could benefit already own them (if you live in a country where Apples hearing aid feature has been approved).So how good are the AirPods Pro 2 as OTC hearing aids?Recommended VideosTo find out, I looked at two key performance criteria: the accuracy of Apples software-driven hearing test, and their ability to provide speech enhancement.RelatedTypically, prescription hearing aids are provided by a licensed audiologist. Before you get them, the audiologist will test your hearing using professionally calibrated instruments in a sound-proof booth. The results, known as an audiogram, are used to customize the hearing aids for you. At-home OTC hearing aids perform a similar test via software, and rely on the user to find a suitably quiet location.Related:How to take the AirPods Pro 2 hearing testMy maternal grandfather struggled with hearing after he turned 60, and my father has moderate hearing loss in one ear. With that kind of family history, I get my hearing professionally checked annually to monitor my own health.Heres how Apples audiogram of my hearing (December 2024) compares to my most recent audiologist exam (October 2024).While the Apple audiogram slightly overestimated my high-frequency loss (possibly because my test environment wasnt quiet enough), it accurately measured my sensitivity across other frequencies, including the slight differences between my left and right ears.I shared the Apple result with my audiologist, and she agreed that it looked fairly accurate, exceeding her expectations for an at-home test.HearAdvisorIn an ideal world, wed evaluate the AirPods Pro 2s speech enhancement using both qualitative results (gathered from peoples real-world assessments) and quantitative results (lab-based testing).Unfortunately, I wasnt able to gather qualitative data, but I did get in touch with HearAdvisor, an independent hearing aid testing company. HearAdvisor has lab-tested a variety of OTC and prescription hearing aid models, including the AirPods Pro 2, and maintains a published list of the best products.For OTC products, the testing methodology evaluates devices based on five major criteria using the initial settings created by the software-based hearing test. When possible, those settings are professionally tuned and the tests are repeated to see if theres a difference in the results.The AirPods Pro 2 received a B grade, placing them in the second tier of HearAdvisors rankings. While that doesnt seem especially noteworthy, the tests revealed a substantial difference between the initial and tuned results. Speech in quiet and speech in noise arguably the most important criteria for any hearing aids both increased by more than double (111% and 225%, respectively) after being tuned.This suggests that while Apples audiogram generation may be accurate, the companys tuning undercuts the potential of the AirPods Pro 2 to deliver the best hearing enhancement.Why would Apple do this, when presumably it has access to the same (or better) assessment technology as HearAdvisor? They may do this because new hearing aid users often prefer less-than-prescribed gain (probably to preserve naturalness, at the cost of intelligibility), HearAdvisor scientific adviser Andrew Sabin told me.Curiously, the current king of the OTC hearing aid hill according to HearAdvisors tests is Sonys CRE-E10, with an A grade, and a perfect 5/5 overall score for both their initial and tuned results. Still, the CRE-E10 sell for between $898 and $1,199 (260%-480% more than the AirPods Pro 2) and yet they dont deliver similarly large increases in performance.The CRE-E10 proved 18.4% better than the AirPods Pro 2 in speech in quiet, and 73% better in speech in noise. Arguably, this makes the AirPods Pro 2 an excellent value, and a great way to experiment with hearing enhancement if youre on the fence. Even if you end up turning the feature off, youre still getting a very good set of wireless noise-canceling earbuds for music and phone calls.Editors Recommendations

Handels triumph, monumental buildings that never were, a Christmas truce and more.

Edna Ferbers novel of a Texas oilmans life became the final outing for a film star trying to push past the rebel persona of his early performances.