LLMs need a robust and scalable data infrastructure capable of handling the immense data volumes required to train and run the models.

Its a question asked by Apple iPhone and Google Android users around the world: Is your smartphone ... [+] listening to you?NurPhoto via Getty ImagesIts a question asked by Apple iPhone and Google Android users around the world: Is your smartphone listening to you?Its hardly surprising that people are wondering about the eavesdropping capabilities of their iPhone or Android device. After all, there are countless times people have reported having a conversation about a certain product and then seen an advert for that exact same item straight afterwards.And many people believe their smartphone is spying on them, according a new study by comparison site Compare and Recycle. One in three people believe their iPhone or Android device can and is listening, according to the study.One of the main ways our phones listen to us is through voice assistant software embedded into many modern devices, including Siri or Google Assistant, experts at Compare and Recycle wrote. To understand our voices and requests, they need to listen to us at length to be as accurate as possible. This often means they will listen to our conversations, even when we dont realise it.In addition, some apps will hide sneaky clauses in their terms and conditions that allow them access to your mobile microphone and, as a result, the conversations you have while using the app. This information could then be sold to third parties to be used to advertise products to you more accurately, Compare and Recycle said.To protect your privacy, always check the T&Cs for hidden clauses before you press accept, the experts said.MORE FOR YOUApple Hits Back At Siri ClaimsClaims that the Siri voice assistant is listening to private conversations is something that worries Apple. The iPhone maker published a statement on its website on Jan. 8 to hit back at claims that Siri is listening to conversations.Apple has never used Siri data to build marketing profiles, never made it available for advertising, and never sold it to anyone for any purpose, Apple wrote. We are constantly developing technologies to make Siri even more private, and will continue to do so.It comes after the iPhone maker agreed to payout in a lawsuit alleging Siri is eavesdropping on Apple users. By paying out, Apple is not admitting any wrongdoing, but the iPhone maker wants to save on costly litigation fees.In 2019, Apple made some changes to privacy settings and stopped using external contractors. It had emerged that they were sometimes transcribing private Siri recordings, when the voice assistant was activated in error.Can Your iPhone Or Android Smartphone Listen To You?The technology is available to listen to users, but in most markets, it would in breach of strict data privacy regulations to do so without consent.Yet your iPhone or Android device doesnt need to listen it has so much data about you anyway. The truth is, they now dont need to listen to our conversations to know our habits, hobbies and life choices, says Jake Moore, global cybersecurity advisor at ESET. Their algorithms are able to determine so much about us before even a word is spoken.By analyzing your data, tech giants such as Apple and Google would know if you were single, in a job, have children, a pet, own a car, your style of clothing, your hobbies, your future interests and more, says Moore. They are even able to make a well-informed guess as to what your next purchase will be before you have even given it much thought. Data is a currency in its own right and worth billions when it is sold to advertisers. We need to limit the data we freely give away.If you are still worried, you can turn the mic off per app, Moore advises. But it wont change much.Compare and Recycle experts also advises you disable your mobiles microphone: Go to your settings and remove access to your microphone on any apps where your voice isnt required, they said.In addition, you can boost your privacy by turning off your phones voice assistant, keeping your iPhone software up to date currently iOS 18.2.1 and use antivirus software on your device.Its not surprising that people are concerned their iPhone or Android device could be listening and there are other settings you can enable to lock the voice assistants down. However, privacy on your device goes much deeper than that such as what you enter into Google or the data you share on Facebook or Instagram without even knowing.

Marvel RivalsNetEaseMarvel Rivals is about to launch season 1 in less than 24 hours, and with it, in addition to new content, comes a sweeping balance patch that touches a large number of heroes.Ahead of these official patch notes, we heard leaks about six or so heroes that were getting nerfed or buffs. It turns out that its way more than that, and its 26 members of the 33 hero roster. Heres what we have, and you can see if your favs are listed:NERFSDoctor Strange (highest pick rate in the game) Maelstrom of Madness and Gamma Maelstrom now have damage falloff starting at 5 meters and reduced to 70% at 8 meters.Hulk Indestructible Guard gamma shield down from 250 to 200.Black Panther Reduced health after refreshing Vibranium Marks from 40 to 30, and the upper limit from 120 to 75.Hawkeye Reduced the spread angle between every two Blast Arrows, Reduced triggering distance of Archers Focus passive from 60 meters to 40 meters, reduced max addition damage from 80 to 70.Hela Base health down from 275 to 250.Psylocke Dance of the Butterfly ultimate will check for enemy barriers.Luna Snow Increased interval for switching between healing and damage in Fate of Both Worlds from 0.1 seconds to 0.5 seconds.Mantis Reduced Natures Favor passive movement boost from 2.5m/s to 1.5m/s.Marvel RivalsNetEaseBUFFSCaptain America Shield restoration delay down from 3 seconds to 2 seconds, Liberty Rush cooldown down from 12 seconds to 10 seconds, base health increase from 650 to 675. Reduced energy cost for Freedom Charge ultimate from 3400 to 3100, health per second down from 110 to 100.Thor Base health up from 500 to 525, added immunity to control effects during God of Thundery ultimate.Venom Symbolic Resilience bonus health ratio per lost health point up from 1 to 1.2, increased the base damage of Feast of the Abyss ultimate from 40 to 50.Black Widow Increased the range of Edge Dancer from 3 meters to 5 meters, Reduced time for Fleet Foot to recover from 0 stamina from 12 seconds to 4 seconds, reduced the time for Electro-Plasma Explosion ultimate to reach max power from 1 seconds to 0.6 seconds.Magik Increased Umbral Incursion damage while in Darkchild from 115 to 135Marvel RivalsNetEaseMoon Knight Hand of Khonshu ultimate number of talons increased from 10 to 14, increased explosion radius of each talon from 4 meters to 5 meters.Namor Adjusted throwing feel of Monster Spawn and Frozen Spawn to make them more accurate.The Punisher - Reduced the spread of Deliverance and Adjudication which will result in more damage.Scarlet Witch Increased Chaos Controls damage from 50/s to 60/s, Reduced the percentage of damage per second from 5% to 3%, increased Chthonian Bursts projectile damage from 30 to 35.Storm Increased Wind Blade projectile speed from 100m/s to 150m/s and left-click damage from 50 to 55, increased Bolt Rush damage from 70 to 80. After Omega Hurricane ultimate, bonus health increased to 450 from 350. After ultimate, health will diminish at 100 per second instead of instantly.Cloak and Dagger Reduced Dagger Storm cooldown from 15 seconds to 12 seconds, increased number of Eternal Bond ultimate dashes from 3 to 4.Rocket Raccoon Increased healing of Repair Mode from 60/s to 70s.Marvel RivalsNetEaseMORE FOR YOUMIX OF NERFS AND BUFFSWinter Solider Increased bonus health by Bionic Hook and Tainted Voltage from 30 to 40, increased Rotersterns projectile damage from 70 to 75, reduced area damage from 70 to 65 and reduce damage decay from 65% at 40 meters to 650%, increased base health from 250 to 275.Wolverine Increased base health from 300 to 350, reduced damage reduction ratio for Undying Animal from 50% to 40%.Jeff the Land Shark Its Jeff! Ultimate now a 10m radius, 5m high cylindrical spell field from 10m sphere, matches up with warning marker better. Increased Joyful Splash healing from 140/s to 150/s.Got all that? More buffs than nerfs but well see how this changes the meta once its fully in action. Looking forward to it.Follow me on Twitter, YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy.

Home News Roundup of the Week: Metas Content Shake-Up, Nvidias Gaming Revolution, and More News News Roundup of the Week: Metas Content Shake-Up, Nvidias Gaming Revolution, and More9 min read Published: January 9, 2025 Key TakeawaysMeta Overhauls Content Moderation Policies, Axes Fact-Checkers.U.S. Adds Tencent and CATL to Military-Linked Firms List.Getty Images and Shutterstock Merge to Form $3.7 Billion Giant.Dana White Joins Metas Board amidst the transition of the Trump Administration.Nvidias New Gaming Chips Bring AI Power to PCs.Missed out on the key developments this week? Check out the top five news headlines you should know, as we get you covered!Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, is making sweeping changes to its content moderation policies, which has already sparked widespread debate.Recently, Mark Zuckerberg announced that Meta would be removing fact-checkers from Instagram and Facebook in an effort to prioritize free speech. While these measures will initially kick in the US, they will gradually be expanded globally.Instead of having fact-checkers, Meta will rely on a Community Notes system, which was previously used by X (formerly Twitter). With this approach, users will be able to add context and flag fake posts. However, critics are worried about the spread of misinformation due to the absence of fact-checkers.Zuckerberg, too, acknowledged the challenges involved with this approach, admitting that the platform would probably catch less bad stuff like severe violations of policies or illegal content.However, they are designing a new approach to reduce erroneous censorship and make room for more political content on Meta platforms. This way, the platform is preparing itself to support discussions on sensitive issues like gender and immigration.The content moderation teams of Meta will relocate to Texas from California. This move will address concerns about perceived political bias. The company also plans to stop proactively flagging policy violations in certain areas. Meta will be relying on reports from its users to manage infractions that are less severe.The ongoing changes of Meta coincide with a broader strategy to reintroduce political content to users feeds after the platform opposed it for years. Meta believes this move will lead to more engagement while respecting the preferences of users regarding what they see.Zuckerberg came up with this shift as a response to mounting global regulations on online content, particularly in Europe and Latin America, which he considers restrictive.On the other hand, critics suggest that this measure would make Meta platforms more susceptible to abuse and harmful content.Tencent and CATL Added to Pentagons Military-Linked Companies List Amidst US-China Tech TensionsThe U.S. Department of Defense has placed Chinese tech giants Tencent and CATL on its list of companies that it believes to have links with the PLA. While Tencent is a gaming giant and a social media platform, CATL happens to be the largest battery manufacturer in the world. These two companies have been added to the updated Section 1260H list, which is revised annually.This approach is a part of the Pentagons effort to counter the Military-Civil Fusion strategy of China. Its goal is to identify companies that have been helping the Chinese military to modernize by collaborating with civilian industries.Interestingly, Tencent is the parent company of WeChat and a stakeholder in global gaming hits like PUBG and Fortnite. The gaming giant denied the claims, calling that its inclusion in the 1260H list was a mistake. The company plans to work with the Pentagon to resolve the misunderstanding. Tencent may also proceed to take legal action if needed.As the worlds largest EV battery maker, CATL supplies its products to top companies like Ford and Tesla. It also refuted any involvement in military-related activities in China and stated that it would contest the designation.No immediate sanctions on these companies will be made after the Pentagon updated its list, but the move significantly impacted the reputation of these companies. The decision might discourage American businesses from engaging with them. Shares of Tencent fell 6.5% in Hong Kong, wiping $35.4 billion off its market value, while CATL saw a 4% drop in Shenzhen trading.This move from the Pentagon intensifies the ongoing rivalry between the US and China. Recently, Beijing banned exports of key EV mineral-extraction technologies and sanctioned seven American firms in retaliation for U.S. military aid to Taiwan.The US, on the other hand, has started controlling its semiconductor exports to China to slow its advancements in next-generation weaponry and AI development.Getty Images and Shutterstock Announce $3.7 Billion Merger to Counter AI DisruptionTwo of the largest stock photo and video providers, Getty Images and Shutterstock, have joined hands to counter disruption caused by AI in a transformative deal valued at $3.7 billion.Traditionally rivals, the two platforms have agreed to merge in a cash-and-stock transaction, announced last Tuesday. Following the deal, a new entity named Getty Images Holdings, Inc. will be created, and the business will continue operating under the ticker symbol GETY.The combined company will be led by Craig Peters, the CEO of Getty Images. As per the terms of the deal, shareholders of Getty Images will control 54.7% of the new entity.This merger comes amidst the global disruption caused by AI, which has been reshaping the stock image industry. Popular generative AI tools like MidJourney, Canva, and Dall-E are extensively being used to create custom images, which lands traditional stock image providers in mounting competition.The newly merged company aims to address these challenges and invest more in technology. The company now plans to integrate AI into its platform while expanding its library of visual content, comprehensively enhancing its offerings to users.Craig Peters stated that the merger was exciting and transformational. He pointed to its potential to deliver value to partners, contributors, and shareholders. Within the next three years, the merged company aims to achieve $150200 million in terms of cost synergies.Dana White, the president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and a vocal supporter of President-elect Donald Trump, has been appointed to the board of Meta.This appointment has been announced two weeks before the inauguration of the Trump administration. It comes at a time when Silicon Valley looks to mend its strained relations with the incoming administration.The selection of White demonstrates Metas consistent efforts to align with diverse leadership and strengthen its ties with influential figures. Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, heaped praises on White as an entrepreneur who transformed UFC into one of the fastest-growing sports enterprises globally.White, on the other hand, seemed enthusiastic about his new role. He expressed his belief in the potential of social media and AI to revolutionize industries, including UFC rankings.This appointment invited controversy from various fronts. In the past, White had faced public criticism, including a backlash over his altercation with his wife during New Years Eve in 2021.However, his long-standing friendship with Trump, along with his significant influence in media and sports, positions him as a strategic addition to the board of Meta.The appointment of White comes at a time when Meta is undergoing a significant transformation. Zuckerberg explained the role of his board in creating fresh opportunities in AI, social media, and wearables.Some of the other board members include John Elkann, CEO of investment firm Exor and chairman of Ferrari, and Charlie Songhurst, a former Microsoft executive and AI strategist.With this expansion, Metas board now includes 13 members. It points to the ambitious approach of the company to diversify its expertise as it braces up for future opportunities and challenges.Nvidia Introduces New Gaming Chips Powered by AI Innovations at CES 2025Nvidia has released its new GeForce RTX 50-series gaming chips for desktops and laptops at CES 2025 in Las Vegas. It marks a significant leap in gaming technology, as the company integrates AI features from its data center GPUs.These chips are based on the advanced Blackwell architecture of Nvidia and have been designed to deliver unprecedented gaming performance. With realistic graphics and superior frame rates, gamers are set to enjoy a whole new experience with this launch.The chips are available in different configurations, which range from $549 to $1,999. They will be rolled out for desktops in January and for laptops in March. The flagship RTX 5090, retailing for $1,999, is twice as fast as its predecessor, boasting 92 billion transistors.It also supports features like DLSS 4, which is backed by AI. Thus, the chips ensure smoother gameplay and deliver better-resolution graphics. Developers can use these chips to integrate generative AI into games, thereby creating realistic faces for characters.Interestingly, the gaming division of Nvidia accounts for less than 10% of its overall revenue. This sector is largely overshadowed by its booming data center business.However, in the latest quarter, gaming sales of the tech giant soared by 15%. The RTX 50-series demonstrates how advancements in AI for data centers and enterprises trickle down to consumer products.Nvidia is also expanding its AI capabilities beyond gaming into sectors like robotics and automotive industries. The companys CEO, Jensen Huang introduced Cosmos, a foundation model for generating synthetic training data for robots and self-driving cars. Cosmos simulates real scenarios to reduce costs associated with traditional methods of gathering data.The company is also developing its first AI-focused desktop computer for developers, priced at $3,000. It integrates the same powerful chips used in data centers to ensure rapid testing and development of AI.With the companys stock hitting record highs, Nvidia continues to solidify its position as a leader in innovative technologies, driven by AI.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Krishi is an eager Tech Journalist and content writer for both B2B and B2C, with a focus on making the process of purchasing software easier for businesses and enhancing their online presence and SEO. Krishi has a special skill set in writing about technology news, creating educational content on customer relationship management (CRM) software, and recommending project management tools that can help small businesses increase their revenue. Alongside his writing and blogging work, Krishi's other hobbies include studying the financial markets and cricket. View all articles by Krishi Chowdhary 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.More from News View all News Zoho Launches Ulaa a Highly Privacy-Centered Browser Vlad MelnicJanuary 8, 2025News YouTube Rolls Out New Upgrades For Premium Subscribers Vlad MelnicJanuary 8, 2025News YouTube Rolls Out Multi-Language Audio Dubbing Feature Vlad MelnicJanuary 8, 2025 View all

What just happened? If you have always hated paying your carrier the full bill amount despite suffering from extended periods of outages, AT&T has a new offer that may appease you. As part of a PR initiative, the telecoms giant is promising to issue bill credits to consumers who temporarily lose phone service or broadband connectivity. Called the AT&T Guarantee, the new initiative promises that users won't be billed for days when the company's network goes down. The offer, which goes live on Thursday, January 9, applies to fiber customers who suffer 20 minutes or more of outage and wireless customers who experience 60 minutes or more of downtime.In a press release, AT&T said that it would automatically apply a bill credit "equaling a full day of service" to all impacted customers. If the downtime lasts for more than 24 hours, AT&T will offer its customers credit "for each additional day of the outage."For small businesses, the carrier promised to "reach out" to address the issue and "help make it right." The offer will "set a new bar in customer experience," the company claimed.It is worth noting that, for cellular service outages, the guarantee only applies if 10 or more towers are impacted. The program also excludes outages suffered due to events beyond AT&T's control, like weather-related events, natural disasters, and problems originating with third parties.In addition to bill credits for network outages, AT&T is also offering reward cards to customers if their wait time for technical support exceeds five minutes. However, this offer only applies to people who did not get a callback from the company's support staff and customers who could not schedule a same-day or next-day fiber technician appointment. // Related StoriesThis announcement comes almost a year after AT&T suffered a massive cellular outage that was investigated by the FBI as a possible cyberattack. While that possibility was eventually ruled out, the carrier did not officially reveal the root cause of the problem. The company offered a $5 account credit as a token of apology to all affected customers.The AT&T Guarantee program is similar to Spectrum's existing compensation offer for its home broadband users. Last September, Spectrum announced that it would pay a full day's worth of credit to customers who experience network downtime for more than two hours. It remains to be seen if Verizon, T-Mobile, Comcast and others will follow in AT&T and Spectrum's footsteps by offering similar schemes going forward.

Through the looking glass: Users are eagerly waiting to see whether real-world performance tests back up the big promises Nvidia made when presenting its latest AI-powered game rendering technology at CES. Although those reviews are likely weeks away, Digital Foundry has provided an early third-party trial showcasing how DLSS 4 eliminates upscaling glitches and adds new AI-generated frames. Eurogamer has released a preliminary demonstration of Nvidia's newly announced DLSS 4 and multi-frame rendering functionality. The results indicate definitive improvements over what's currently available on RTX graphics cards, but the full extent of the costs involved remains unclear.Multi-frame rendering, exclusive to the upcoming RTX 50 series GPUs, generates additional frames to multiply the effect of the frame generation technology Nvidia introduced with the 40 series. By injecting two or three additional frames, multi-frame rendering can triple or quadruple a game's perceived framerate.However, frame generation adds input latency, and users are concerned that multi-frame rendering could compound the problem. Digital Foundry's test shows that, while the added frames aren't free, they cost less than the initial application of frame generation.In TechSpot's benchmark from 2022, introducing frame generation to Cyberpunk 2077 in DLSS performance mode added approximately 10 milliseconds of lag. However, the accompanying 60 percent increase in framerate easily outweighed the delay.Click to enlargeDigital Foundry ran an updated build of the game with similar DLSS settings on an engineering sample of the upcoming GeForce RTX 5080 and received a smaller penalty from multi-frame rendering. On top of the prior added latency, the second AI-generated frame introduced around four milliseconds, while the third frame added about two the price for a framerate increase totaling 71 percent. // Related StoriesAlthough Eurogamer didn't discuss how good those "fake" frames looked, multi-frame generation appears to offer a better deal than currently available frame generation tech. Meanwhile, DLSS 4's other changes promise substantially better image quality.Transitioning from a convolutional neural network to a vision transformer likely provides the biggest improvement to DLSS super resolution since Nvidia introduced DLSS 2 in 2020. Flaws such as smearing, ghosting, and shimmering are now far less apparent. Ray reconstruction is also notably improved.Click to enlargeThe vision transformer is likely DLSS 4's most significant feature because it supports all RTX graphics cards. Furthermore, the Nvidia app will allow users to update older games without waiting for patches from developers.What isn't clear is the performance cost. Future benchmarks should extensively test which RTX 20 and 30 series GPUs can handle DLSS 4. Furthermore, the VRAM impact of multi-frame rendering remains undisclosed. The RTX 5070's ability to implement the new feature with just 12 GB of memory will determine whether it lives up to Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's claims that it can match the flagship 4090.

HBOTable of ContentsTable of Contents5. The Rehearsal season 2 (TBA 2025)4. Chad Powers (fall 2025)3. The Studio (March 26)2. Hacks season 4 (TBA 2025)1. The White Lotus season 3 (February 16)With a new year comes a new host of TV shows to look forward to, and 2025 stands to be a great one. With the return of several Emmy-winning comedies and a few highly anticipated new releases, there will be no shortage of laughs in 2025.With great comedies coming to Max, Hulu, Apple TV+, and more, theres bound to be a big comedy release on your preferred streaming service. These are the five most anticipated comedy shows of 2025, ranked.Recommended VideosLooking for more 2025 previews? Check out the 10 most anticipated movies of 2025.RelatedThe Rehearsal | Official Trailer | HBOIts hard to definitively describe Nathan Fielders aggressively meta semi-reality series a comedy, but its hard to categorize it as anything else. Fielder became a bit of a cult hit for his Comedy Central show Nathan For You, in which he played the worst consultant imaginable to real struggling small businesses. InThe Rehearsal, he takes the gag so much further by claiming that one can rehearse for all of lifes moments by simply rehearsing for them.Working again with real, unsuspecting people, he stages exacting, exhaustive rehearsals to prepare people for difficult conversations they want to have with people in their lives and, most jarringly, an entire child rearing trial for a curious but noncommittal potential mom. The controversial first season blew some minds and ruffled some feathers, so its somewhat surprising its coming back to HBO in 2025. We have no idea how weird Fielder is going to get this time, but we cant wait to see what he has in store.Chad Powers | Official Teaser | HuluGlen Powell is Hollywoods it man these days, but that hasnt stopped him from making Chad Powers, perhaps the goofiest TV show idea ever. But somehow, because its Powell, it might actually work. Based on Eli Mannings Chad Powers prank when he went undercover for a walk-on tryout at Penn State and played like, you know, borderline Hall of Fame quarterback Eli Manning, Chad Powers takes the bit to its logical conclusion.As the titular character, Powell dons prosthetics to start his own redemption tour on a new team under a different name after burning out in his first chance to be a star.Chad Powers will debut on Hulu, but has yet to announce a release date.The Studio Official Teaser | Apple TV+Slated for a March 26 release date on Apple TV+, The Studio is the next anticipated project from Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. This Hollywood satire stars Rogen as newly-appointed studio head Matt Remick, a man who just wants to make good films. Unfortunately, Continental Studios makesmovies money-making blockbusters for the masses. Remicks dream job might just be his greatest nightmare.The stars are out in droves in the trailer, and The Studio looks like it wants to be a real (fictional) show about Hollywood, filled with familiar references and stars.Karen Ballard / MaxAnother HBO awards darling,Hacks recently cleaned up the comedy TV awards at the Golden Globes after also cleaning up at the Emmys. Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder are outstanding as an intergenerational odd couple navigating the changing world of comedy. Smart plays Deborah Vance, a legendary Las Vegas comic who is flirting with being officially over the hill.When she hires entitled 25-year-old outcast Ava Daniels to write some jokes for her, Deborah is her typical self: demanding, condescending, and kinda mean. But the two develop a strange chemistry, and a dark mentorship soon blossoms. The release date of season 4 of Hacks hasnt been announced, but HBO has said it will release sometime in 2025.The White Lotus Season 3 | Official Teaser | MaxOne of the best and darkest comedies on television, The White Lotusreturns for its third season on HBO with an entirely new ensemble (with the exception of Natasha Rothwell reprising her role as spa manager Belinda Lindsey). The first two seasons of Mike Whites anthology series received critical and audience acclaim for its unique conceit: following a completely new cast of characters on vacation at a different location of a White Lotus luxury hotel.First, it was Hawaii, second it was Italy, and now season 3 is set in Thailand. The cast is star-studded once again, headlined by Leslie Bibb, Carrie Coon, Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Michelle Monaghan, and Parker Posey. The story is only hinted at in the trailer, but expectations are high for the February 16 debut.Editors Recommendations

html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" When it comes to smart home technology, smart locks are some of the most convenient gadgets you can buy. Theyll automatically unlock your door as you approach, making it a lot easier to get inside when your arms are full of groceries (only one trip, right?). On the other hand, they can sometimes unlock when you dont want them to like when youre looking out the window beside the door. The Schlage Sense Pro made its debut at CES 2025, and it practically reads your mind.OK, it cant actually read your mind, but its a bit mind-blowing what it can do. The Sense Pro reads your approach and responds accordingly. If you walk up to the door with purpose, it will unlock but a slow saunter wont trigger the lock. It reads your direction, speed, and movement to know whether to activate or not. Of course, its dependent on you having your mobile device on your person.Recommended VideosFor example, if youre on your front porch watering your plants, the lock will remain locked it wont open and close each time you come within range. But if you disturb a hornets nest while gardening and run for the door, it will be unlocked and ready for you to dive for cover.SchlageThe smart lock connects straight to Wi-Fi, so you dont have to worry about a hub unit. It can store up to 250 unique access codes and works with Matter-over-Thread for wider compatibility with other smart home devices. Combine this new lock with an updated and improved Schlage Home app, and you have a powerhouse of smart tech. The app makes it easy to manage settings like the auto-lock timer, use history, and much more.Please enable Javascript to view this contentYoull be able to see all of your connected Schlage locks at a glance and lock or unlock them with just a tap. And if thats not enough, Schlage also introduced the Arrive Smart Wi-Fi Deadbolt with raised keys on the pad. The raised texture of the keypad makes it easier to use if youre wearing gloves, but its also an important step forward for those with visual impairments and other disabilities.RelatedThe updated Schlage Home app will arrive in early 2025. Both the Schlage Arrive and the Schlage Sense Pro will be available for purchase later this year, although the release window and pricing information are yet to be determined. As for installation, its designed to be an easy install that practically anyone can do.Editors Recommendations

html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" Imagine having fresh vegetables and herbs all throughout the year, no matter how cold the weather is. Sounds nice, doesnt it? At CES 2025, a device that looks straight out of the space age makes that a possibility. The PlantaForm Indoor Smart Garden is a fully enclosed system that uses fogponics (rather than aeroponics or hydroponics) to grow plants, and that means it uses a lot less water than traditional gardening methods.Its both environmentally- and space-friendly. The system solves one of the biggest issues with other smart gardens: the grow lights. While almost every smart garden uses artificial lighting to accelerate growth, the lights need to remain on for anywhere from eight to 16 hours per day. If the garden is in your living room, bedroom, or another space, it becomes uncomfortably bright and sometimes too loud when the water flows but they can work as an effective wake-up alarm in a pinch. The PlantaForm is enclosed with tinted glass that greatly reduces the brightness and makes it much more compatible with a smaller home.Recommended VideosFogponics works by delivering a fine mist straight to the roots. Since the plant doesnt need to expend as much energy to obtain nutrients, you get faster growth and higher-quality vegetables as a result. Theres no soil involved; instead, the seeds are placed in a pod of rockwool. Theyll be covered by a small plastic dome. When the plant sprouts and the leaves reach the dome, just pop it off and set it aside.Plants grow from pre-made kits that are roughly $30 each. As for what you can grow, PlantaForm offers lettuce mixes, cherry tomato mixes, and even edible flowers for use in cocktails. You dont need a green thumb, either; this smart garden is able to grow no matter how bad a gardener you might be. The app walks you through the process, guiding you each step of the way. By the way, the seeds used are non-GMO and pesticide-free.Please enable Javascript to view this contentEven the packaging is designed with the environment in mind, so this is one gadget you can feel good about using. Its just large enough in diameter to fit on an end table but is somewhat tall (but not nearly as tall as the Gardyn). You wont want to put it on the coffee table itll most likely block your view. Available in both black and white, you can opt for whichever style best fits your home.Patrick Hearn | Digital TrendsYou can pick up one of these futuristic smart gardens for yourself for $500. The PlantaForm is one of the most interesting smart gardens weve ever seen and improves upon a niche field of technology in tangible, noteworthy ways and thats why we also awarded it one of our Best of CES 2025 awards.Editors Recommendations

On Dec. 8, cybersecurity company BeyondTrust notified the US Department of the Treasury of a threat actor intrusion, according to a letter Treasury sent to the US Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.This incident joins the list of other attacks attributed to China state-sponsored advanced persistent threat (APT) actors. How was this attack executed, and what is the outlook for ongoing cyber threats from China?The US Treasury HackThe threat actor gained access to Treasury end user workstations via a compromise of BeyondTrust. The threat actor was able to use a stolen key to override the services security, remotely access certain Treasury DO user workstations, and access certain unclassified documents maintained by those users, according to the letter.As of Jan. 6, BeyondTrust fully patched vulnerabilities relating to the SaaS instances of BeyondTrust Remote Support, according to the companys security advisory.BeyondTrust previously identified and took measures to address a security incident in early December 2024 that involved the Remote Support product. BeyondTrust notified the limited number of customers who were involved, and it has been working to support those customers since then, a BeyondTrust spokesperson shared via email.Related:The threat actor targeted the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the Office of Financial Research (OFR), and US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellens office, The Guardian reports.OFAC administers a number of sanctions programs; threat actors could have targeted OFAC to gain insight into forthcoming US sanctions.It's a more targeted approach designed specifically to get an inside look [at], potentially, future US policy, John Ghose, government investigations and enforcement attorney and special counsel at law firm Baker Donelson, tells InformationWeek.It is also possible the hackers have other motivations. Their intention will probably be to manipulate or degrade the integrity of the data associated with the sanctioned personalities in China, says Tom Kellerman, senior vice president of cyber strategy at application security company Contrast Security. Is there a process ongoing right now to verify the integrity of the data associated with the multitude of Chinese citizens that have been sanctioned by Treasury?Chinese Cyber Threats and US ResponseChinese officials frequently deny involvement in hacking operations, but the US linked China state-backed threat actors to several major intrusions, including the Treasury breach.Related:The major telecommunications hack discovered last year was linked to APT Salt Typhoon. China state-backed actors were also found responsible for the 2015 breach of the US Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which impacted the data of 35 million government employees. In 2020, the US Department of Justice charged four Chinese military-backed hackers for their involvement in the 2017 breach of credit reporting agency Equifax.While the Treasury and telecommunications hacks have come to light recently, cyber threats from China are ongoing. Cyber insurgency within US critical infrastructure is far deeper than just Treasury, says Kellerman.China-backed APT groups may be lurking in US government and company systems as a part of espionage campaigns, but there is growing concern about the potential for disruptive cyberattacks that cripple critical infrastructure if geopolitical tensions boil over into outright conflict. What can be done as nation state cyber threats continue to loom?Sanctions are a common response. Shortly following the news of the Treasury hack, the federal department announced sanctions on a cybersecurity company based in Beijing, relating to its role in helping breach US communications systems between the summer of 2022 and 2023, The New York Times reports.Related:At this point when it comes to actors like China and Russia and others that are so heavily blacklisted to what extent do we have a response? We're already limiting trade significantly, he says. The response would require just more sophisticated hardening of our information systems including all levels of the supply chain, says Ghose.Hardening of the supply chain requires an understanding of common threat actor tactics.We need to pay attention to the Chinese modus operandi, which is [to] island hop through other parties, whether it be cybersecurity vendors or whether it be through telecommunications carriers, and the fact that they're developing zero days faster than any other nation state, which still allows them to bypass a lot of cybersecurity defenses, Kellerman tells InformationWeek.And zero-day exploitation is on the rise. Cybersecurity consulting company Mandiant, a part of Google Cloud, found that 70% of vulnerabilities exploited in 2023 were zero days, an increase compared to 2021 and 2022.Hacks like the one of Treasury could prompt more focus on the supply chain and third-party reliance.Is it possible that this then results in more internalization, less reliance on third parties because of the difficulty of securing the supply chain? Ghose asks. That'll be an interesting development to watch.The Treasury hack also comes just before the beginning of a second Trump administration, and President-elect Trump has been vocal about taking an aggressive approach to China.The timing is interesting just because we're about to have an administration change, Ghose points out. So the Treasury leadership is going to be turning over soon. So, OFAC policy could look very different in, say, a couple of months from now.The US response to nation state cyber threats, beyond OFAC, could change under a new administration.