Every day, people turn to third-party marketplaces like PlayerAuctions to buy and sell digital goods, be it high-leveled World of Warcraft, rare Fortnite skins, status-building Neopets, or Grand Theft Auto 5 in-game money. On Tuesday, Roblox filed a lawsuit to shut down the buying-and-selling of Roblox digital goods on PlayerAuctions. Third-party marketplaces occupy a grey area: theyre not necessarily illegal, but using them often violates a games terms of service for the player. But because PlayerAuctions uses the companys trademarks on the website, Roblox is looking to the court to get its products off the site due to infringement and interference with player terms of service, providing an avenue for players to break the rules, according to the lawsuit reviewed by Polygon. Monetary damages are on the table for Roblox, but according to the companys lawyers, that isnt enough: Roblox wants the court to order PlayerAuctions to stop the buying, selling, and trading of Roblox stuff.Roblox said in its lawsuit that it carefully manages its economy, calling its gross domestic product, which is basically the market value of its entire economy, as comparable to that of certain smaller nations. PlayerAuctions, it said, is undercutting Robloxs business and disrupting its economy.Roblox is committed to promoting the safety and security of its users and protecting its intellectual property, a spokesperson for the company told Polygon. Third-party sites like these have no legal affiliation to Roblox, operate unauthorized marketplaces in violation of RobloxsTerms of UseandCommunity Standards, and can be confusing to Roblox users. The Company will continue to be vigilant to combat unauthorized use of our platform and hold those responsible accountable for their actions.Roblox itself is more than a game its a platform for other developers to publish their own games, and offerings available on PlayerAuctions, which are among the sites most popular, reflect that. You can pay for boosting services paying someone to level up an account for Roblox games Bloxburg or Blox Fruit, buy an account with a specific username, purchase gems for Pet Simulator, or buy a rare pet for Adopt Me. Prices run the gamut from $5 for the Adopt Me pet to $30 for a four letter username. Roblox said in the lawsuit that players using PlayerAuctions can be banned for such an activity; it estimates that of players banned for real-money trading, eight to 10% of users mention using PlayerAuctions.Typically, payment on PlayerAuctions happens on-site, then the digital goods are transferred over to the purchaser within Roblox itself. Heres our hassle-free delivery process: Ill shoot you a friend request, one seller wrote. Once accepted, join me in-game, and Ill swiftly send over the trade you purchased. Once the delivery is confirmed, the money is released by PlayerAuctions, per a graphic on its website. Roblox argued in its lawsuit that the use of Roblox itself in the delivery of goods is confusing to players; of players appealing bans or suspensions, Roblox said 12 to 15% of people dont realize PlayerAuctions or other third-party marketplaces are against the Roblox rules.Beyond the injunction to stop the selling of Roblox goods on PlayerAuctions, Roblox is looking to the court to award damages for trademark counterfeiting and infringement and punitive damages sufficient to deter future unlawful conduct.Polygon has reached out to PlayerAuctions for comment.

Despite the prevalence of wireless devices, wrangling cords and cables in the home is still a pain point for most people. If you own your home, you might be able to hide your wires inside the walls, but if you rent or simply dont want to drill into or open up your walls, that isn't ideal. Besides, there are many much easier ways to hide them without needing to learn drywall repair.Behind furnitureOne of the easiest ways to hide your cables is to clip them behind conveniently placed furniture. Adhesive clips like these stick to the legs and backs of tables and consoles and secure all those wires in place. If youre neat about it, you can magically make those wires invisible without touching your walls, and the clips can be removed any time if you change your layout or move to a new place.You can also leverage a key piece of furniture: Your couch or sofa. Mounting a shallow shelf behind the couch (flush with the top of its back) or buying a narrow console table that fits behind it lets you attach wires underneath for perfectly hidden wiring. Plus, it adds a bit of storage to your space for an extra win.Cable management boxesIf your cables only bother you when they explode into a mess in one spot (like where they have to leap off the floor to connect to your TV or computer), a cable management box is a decorative way to wrangle them without messing around with a large-scale organization project. You can find them in a variety of finishes and looks to match your existing style, and they keep all that cable chaos hidden from view with zero DIY work on your part.Cable coversIf you need to run your wiring a fair distance around the room, paintable, no-drill cable covers will hide the wires and blend them into the background; once painted, these covers wont be noticeable at all. You can also get raceway crown or baseboard molding that will hide your cables in a completely unnoticeable way, though they will require a bit more work to install. If you already have baseboards in the room, you can get quarter-round channels that mount right up against your existing trim for a seamless look.Wall panelsA slightly more involved project doesnt open up your walls, but does require a bit of DIY skill. You can add wall panels to hide cables and wiring:Wainscoting. A classic look, installing wainscoting isnt terribly difficult as long as youre patient when measuring and cutting. It doesnt require opening the wall, but it does require some drilling, nailing, and sawing skills. The key here is to bump your wainscoting out about an inch from the wall with some one-inch furring strips to allow room for wires to run behind it, then cap it with some molding to cover the gap.Accent panels. You could also add an accent wall using a wall panel behind the television or your desk. Bump it out an inch from the wall and run your wires behind it for a neat, seamless look that adds some drama to the room. Wall panels can mimic wood, brick, stone, or tile, or simply be a pop of color in an otherwise neutral room.DecorFinally, the easiest, cheapest, and least invasive way to hide your wires and cables is to run them behind stuff you already have. A row of books or potted plants, for example, can provide ample camouflage for a few bundled wires. Anything that can sit on a shelf in a pleasingly curated way can hide some wires, no drilling or furniture re-arranging required.

In the dry months of winter, a humidifier is a godsend, infusing the air with moisture and doing its part to keep your skin and sinuses from getting parched. Since youre probably regularly adding fresh water to it, you may not think you need to clean it that frequently. But you doand more often than you might guess. In addition to helping it run better, cleaning your humidifier stops the machine from dispersing microorganisms and minerals into the air. Practice proper humidifier maintenanceDistilled or demineralized water is better than tap water; the latter can contain minerals that could hasten bacteria growth. The minerals can also cause what looks like white dust to collect on furniture near the humidifier. That happened to me a lot last winter until I started using filtered water this year. (It's annoying to have to wait for a full pitcher of water to filter, but not more annoying than having to clean around the humidifier constantly.) It's also better not to be breathing those minerals in or allowing them to build up in the humidifier itself, and switching to distilled water will take care of that problem.When the humidifier is not in use, don't let water sit in it. If you run it overnight, dump out anything that wasnt vaporized in the morning; you don't want to be breathing in aerosolized stagnant water. Empty the water reservoir out, dry the inside with a cloth, and refill it again only when youre ready to use it.If you forget to do that, don't put new water on top of old water when you go to use it again. Dump it and fill with fresh water.How (and how often) to clean your humidifierThe Mayo Clinic recommends you clean your humidifier every three days to keep it from spraying bacteria and fungi into the air. (Are you on a three-day schedule with yours? I wasn't!) The Environmental Protection Agency advises cleaning yours by unplugging the machine and scrubbing it out with a brush to remove any scale, deposits, or film you can see on the sides or interior of the tank.If you haven't cleaned yours in a while, you'll likely see the deposits and gunk, so you'll know where to scrub. Otherwise, use a sponge and thoroughly wipe down the entire perimeter of your basin. For the next step, consult your manual to determine the products the manufacturer recommends you use to clean your machine. Most likely, itll be either distilled white vinegar or a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution. Some humidifiers can be cleaned with bleach, but not all, so make sure to follow the directions for your specific model. Whatever you use, you won't be running these cleaning products through the machine, but rather allowing them to sit in the water tank for 10 to 20 minutes before dumping it out and scrubbing it again. While that happens, scrub the other components with a little vinegar or hydrogen peroxide solution on a rag. Dump the solution from the basin, rinse it several times, then dry it with a cloth. Now you can breathe freely (and moistly) again. Good as new! Credit: Lindsey Ellefson I just cleaned my mini humidifier and it's easy: It's just a matter of putting the vinegar or peroxide solution in there and leaving it alone after you wipe down the rest. Though each model will differ in its instructions, I added two parts water to one part vinegar to mine. I always make sure to dry mine well before using it again and I rinse it several times, since I don't want any lingering vinegar scent.

Members of the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) are being forced to choose between staying at their jobs or taking a government buyout, NPR reports. The buyout program is one of several methods the current administration is deploying to shrink the federal government under the guidance of the "Department of Governmental Efficiency" (DOGE), an advisory group lead by Elon Musk.CISA was creating during the first Trump Administration in 2018 to protect key infrastructure from cyber attacks and advise the government and its partners on building more secure infrastructure in the future. The agency played an important role in investigating Salt Typhoon in 2024, the hacking group that breached US telecom companies to get at government officials. Considering cybersecurity is becoming more critical, not less, short-staffing the agency could lead to problems.The consequences of hollowing out or effectively eliminating key government agencies and departments don't seem to be a concern of DOGE or the Trump Administration, however. Along with CISA, staff at the IRS, CIA and Department of Education have also reportedly received the buyout ultimatum. The offer gives government employees until midnight on February 6 to accept a buyout and receive pay through October, or come back to work in-person, agree to new performance standards and promise to be "reliable, loyal and trustworthy," according to USA Today.The deal mirrors a similar offer Musk made to Twitter employees after he acquired the social media platform in 2022, even down to language describing it as a "Fork in the Road." A key difference between then and now is budget. The government hasn't set aside money to pay a bunch of employees to do nothing for eight months, and its not clear it plans to, because Congress ultimately controls government spending. Beyond that, a legal fight might make the whole thing moot. A US district judge in Boston has already ruled against the buyout deal, giving government employees until at least Monday to make a decision, Reuters writes, and there's the possibility of another extension still on the table.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/protecting-the-us-from-hackers-apparently-isnt-in-trumps-budget-195915036.html?src=rss

Looking for a new streamer to fill the endless daily void? A year of Peacock Premium is on sale for just $30. Just use the code WINTERSAVINGS at checkout. This is a major discount of over 60 percent, as the typical price is $80. Its important to note that, despite the name, this isnt the actual premium tier. It includes ads, which could be a dealbreaker for some. However, theres plenty to watch on this platform for those okay with the occasional long and harrowing commercial about random pharmaceuticals. Peacock, after all, easily made our list of the best streaming services. The platform is home to all kinds of original content, from Rian Johnsons Poker Face to that surprisingly fun Twisted Metal adaptation. Its also the only place to watch the dearly-departed AI-centric sci-fi romp Mrs. Davis. During its early years, Peacock invested heavily in scripted comedy and a lot of that stuff is still on the platform. This includes shows like Rutherford Falls, Bust Down and MacGruber. More recently, the streamer has found success with shows like Ted, Hysteria! and Laid. It also has all kinds of reality TV shows, if thats your bag, as NBC owns Bravo. If this deal interests you, get on it quick. The aforementioned coupon code stops working on February 18. Also, this deal is only for new subscribers. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/get-one-year-of-peacock-premium-for-only-30-195123398.html?src=rss

Massive dataset belonging to US hiring platform Foh&Boh has been found unsecured online.

Microsoft has confirmed who will be eligible for the Windows 10 ESU program, and exactly how much itll cost.

Last month, workers at a Whole Foods store in Philadelphia voted in favor of joining the United Food and Commercial Workers Union.

Roblox shares dropped as much as 20% on Thursday after the gaming company reported disappointing fourth quarter results in bookings and daily active-user figures, creating fear that the growth in the gaming platform is slowing after years of progress.Roblox reported bookings of $1.36 billion for the fourth quarter, missing the expected $1.37 billion that was predicted by analysts polled by LSEG. Daily active users fell to 85.3 million in the fourth quarter, compared with 88.9 million in the third quarter. Hours totaled on the platform also fell in the fourth quarter, to 18.7 billion from 20.7 billion in the previous quarter.The company did report revenue up 32% year-over-year, and a 21% year-over-year growth in bookings. But despite the fact that Roblox is set to achieve its third-consecutive year of around 20% growth in bookings, the gaming platforms fourth quarter report left investors disappointed with its modest projections falling below estimates. Roblox forecasted annual bookings between $5.20 billion and $5.30 billion, with the midpoint slightly below market expectations of $5.27 billion.The company reported a consolidated net loss of $221.1 million in Q4, and a full-year net loss of $940.6 million.As a response to these challenges, the gaming service plans to develop enhancements to its platform and bring them to the market in a timely manner, according to a press release from the company.In the earnings release, CEO David Baszucki said, As we aim to support 10% of the global gaming content market, well continue investing in our virtual economy, app performance, and AI-powered discovery and safety, empowering creators and enhancing the user experience.Roblox said in a letter to shareholders that it expected first-half growth to be stronger than second-half growth. The company noted that it is working diligently on several initiatives that can increase growth in the back half of 2025.

Flashes, a photo-sharing app thats linked to X-alternative Bluesky, launched in beta this week before disappearing from the test store due to what its developer said was technical difficulties.Flashes developer Sebastian Vogelsang said in a Bluesky post that Apples engineering team is working on a fix. Apple didnt immediately respond to Fast Companys request for comment.Flashes, which was revealed last month, supports photo posts of up to four images and videos up to one minute long. Items posted on Flashes will also appear on Bluesky. Comments from Bluesky users on the posts will appear back on Flashes. Flashes could be attractive to users who want to veer away from Metas social media ecosystem and other Big Tech platforms. A way to do that, many believe, is through open social media ecosystems. That way no one person is mean to control it. Bluesky, which is built on the open source AT Protocol, took off as more and more people seemed to become dismayed withMusks shift to the political right. Bluesky has amassed nearly 31 million users so far. Thousands of curious testers flocked to try out the Instagram alternative by Vogelsang. TechCrunch reported that 3,500 users signed up for Flashes within its first hour before it closed off.