Silicon Valley nerds have been lonelier since Fry’s Electronics shut down in February 2021 in the midst of the pandemic. The electronics store chain was an embodiment of the valley’s tech roots. But Micro Center, an electronics retailer from Ohio, has opened its 29th store in Santa Clara, California. And so the nerd kingdom has returned. I see this as a big deal, following up on the opening of the Nintendo store — the second in the country after New York — in San Francisco earlier this month. After years of bad economic news, it’s nice to see signs that the Bay Area is coming back. No. To answer your question, nerds cannot live at the Micro Center store. But this isn’t just any store. It’s a symbol — a sign that shows tech still has a physical presence in Silicon Valley, in addition to places like the Buck’s Restaurant, the Denny’s where Nvidia started, the Intel Museum, the Computer History Museum, the California Academy of Sciences and the Tech Museum of Innovation. Other historic hangouts for techies like Walker’s Wagon Wheel, Atari’s headquarters, Lion & Compass — even Circuit City — have long since closed. But hey, we’ve got the Micro Center store, and the Apple spaceship is not that far away. The grand opening week has been going well and I got a tour of the superstore from Dan Ackerman, a veteran tech journalist who is editor-in-chief at Micro Center News. As I walked into the place, Ackerman was finishing a chat with iFixit, a tech repair publication which has its own space for podcasts inside the store. That was unexpected, as I’ve never seen a store embrace social media in such a way. Can you stump the geniuses at the Knowledge Bar at Micro Center? Nearby was the Knowledge Bar, where you can get all your tech questions answered — much like the Genius Bars in Apple Stores. And there were repair tables out in the open. There are a lot of things for tech enthusiasts can like about Micro Center. First, it’s not as sprawling as Fry’s, which had zany themes like ancient Egypt and a weird mix of electronics goods as well as household appliances, cosmetics, magazines and tons of snack foods.. Fry’s was a store that stereotyped nerds and Silicon Valley, which also had its own HBO television show that carried on the stereotypes. Nvidia’s latest RTX 50 Series GPUs were in stock at Micro Center. The Micro Center store, by contrast, is smaller at 40,000 square feet and stocked with many more practical nerd items. For the grand opening, this store had the very practical product of more than 4,000 graphics processing unitsin stock from Nvidiaand AMD, Ackerman told me. Some of those graphics cards cost as much as Not to be outdone. AMD has a row of GPUs at Micro Center too. “There were people waiting to get to the GPUs,” Ackerman said. On display was a gold-plated graphics card that was being auctioned off for charity. It was signed by Jensen Huang, Nvidia CEO. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang signed this GPU being auctioned for charity at Micro Center. “I joke that whoever wins the bid should get a Jensen leather jacket as well,” said Ackerman. And this Micro Center store has a good locationthat is just a six-minute drive from Apple’s worldwide headquarters anda one-minute walk from the Korean Hair Salon. Micro Center had a previous store in Silicon Valley, near Intel’s headquarters in Santa Clara. But that store close in 2012 because the company couldn’t negotiate better terms with the landlord. For its return to the Bay Area, Micro Center bided its time and came back at a time when many other retail chains were failing. It proves that the once proud region — the birthplace of electronics — still merits its own electronics store. You can buy dyes for liquid-cooled tubes at Micro Center. Sure, we have Target, Best Buy and Walmart selling lots of electronics gear. But there’s nothing like the Akihabara electronics district in Japan, which is full of multi-story electronics stores and gaming arcades. But this store is loaded with today’s modern top gear, like AI PCs, Ubiquity home networking gear, and dyes for multi-colored water-cooling systems. Vendors like Razer and Logitech had their own sections. Ackerman was pleased to show me the USB-C to USB-A adapter in stock, among many obscure items. And he showed me the inventory machine that could rotate its stock of 3D-printing filaments and give you the exact SKU that you scanned with a bar code. Tech hobbyists can find their love at Micro Center. “That’s super fun. I call it Mr. Filaments,” Ackerman said of the inventory robot. There’s a section for hobbyists who like single-board computing and DIY projects. There’s a set of video, audio and digital content creation tools for content creators. All told, there are more than 20,000 products and over 100 tech experts who can help. It even has the numbered cashier locations where you can check out — the same kind of checkout stands that Fry’s had. The Mr. Filaments robot inventory system at Micro Center. Customers can receive authorized computer service for brands like Apple, Dell, and HP, benefiting from same-day diagnostics and repairs, thanks to over 3,000 parts on hand through partnerships with leading OEMs. I only wish it had a help desk for Comcast. Micro Center has gear to entertain geeks. Micro Center started in 1979 in Columbus, Ohio. It’s a surprise there aren’t more nerd stores, given how ubiquitous tech is around the world these days. But Ackerman said, “These guys are really doing it right, picking and choosing, finding the right cities, finding the right locations. That’s why Charlotte is great. Miami is a big tech hub, especially for health tech. And we’re literally five minutes away from Apple headquarters and plenty of other places. People from HP and Nvidia and other companies are coming in today to hang out.” “Even though this store is big, the CEOis really into curation, making sure it’s the right mix of stuff. He’s making sure it doesn’t go too far afield. So you’re not going to come in here and find, you know, hair dryers or lawncare equipment,” Ackerman said. “You’re going to find computer and home entertainment stuff, and DIY gear. There are components, just like in a Radio Shack, that hobbyists care about.” Dan Ackerman knows how to install a TV on your wall. As for the Micro Center News, Ackerman told me he has around 10 regular contributors and 20 more freelancers writing gadget reviews and other stories about tech gear. It is a kind of refuge for that vanishing breed of professional tech journalists. No wonder I was so nostalgic visiting Micro Center. #micro #center #nerd #store #fills

Cybersecuritygetty Each May, the cybersecurity industry converges in San Francisco for the RSA Conference. This year’s gathering, attracting more than 45,000 attendees, highlighted several transformative trends reshaping digital asset protection, with AI unsurprisingly generating the most discussion. Beyond AI, we're witnessing an acceleration of platformization, which is enabling the rise of comprehensive security providers, cybersecurity moving directly into the data path, and growing threats to operational technology and industrial infrastructure. The Three Faces of AI: Protector, Protected, and Predator Artificial intelligence is emerging as a game-changing force in cybersecurity, playing three distinct roles in an increasingly complex digital landscape. Protecting Enterprise AI Today's enterprises are on the verge of deploying "agentic AI" systems that work independently — scheduling meetings, analyzing data, writing code, and making decisions with minimal human oversight. These AI agents create new security risks as they access sensitive company data and systems. Organizations now need specialized protection to prevent their AI helpers from being compromised. IBM leads this space with its watsonx platform, delivering comprehensive enterprise compliance and governance tools. Domino Data Labs takes compliance to an even higher level for highly regulated industries, while CrowdStrike brings its identity expertise to the agentic AI world through Falcon Identity Protection. As CrowdStrike's president, Michael Sentonas, told me at the event, "Every AI agent is an endpoint that must be protected." Palo Alto Networks unveiled its comprehensive new Prisma AIRS platform to protect AI workloads. The company also announced its intent to acquire Protect AI, an established provider of security solutions for AI applications. Several startups are making strides in this area, including CalypsoAI, with its platform ensuring AI model safety for inference, MIND, with its unique approach to data loss prevention and insider risk management for AI applications, and Cyberhaven, which provides visibility over AI tool usage. AI as a Digital Defender AI is indispensable for security teams protecting vast digital environments against rapidly evolving threats. Modern security systems can analyze billions of events to spot suspicious patterns, identify unusual behavior, automatically respond to threats, and predict potential attack vectors. These systems do this at a scale impossible for human analysts. SentinelOne unveiled its Purple AI Athena, introducing agentic AI capabilities that emulate seasoned security analysts' decision-making processes. Palo Alto Networks enhanced its Charlotte AI platform with tools that automate incident triage and initiate policy-driven responses. Defending Against AI-Powered Attacks Most concerning is how threat actors are wielding AI as a weapon. Cybercriminals and nation-states now use AI to generate convincing phishing emails, create deepfakes for elaborate scams, discover vulnerabilities, and customize attacks based on individuals' online behavior. The most alarming development is how AI democratizes cybercrime, making advanced hacking techniques accessible to almost anyone. This arms race means AI-powered attacks require equally sophisticated AI defenses. While a trend, there isn't dedicated protection against AI attacks. Instead, nearly every company I spoke with at the event recognized the threat and is enhancing offerings to better address it. Platformization: The Rise of Security Giants Cybersecurity platforms function as digital superstores — integrated systems providing multiple security functions through a single interface. Benefits include simplified management through unified dashboards, improved threat detection through tool communication, reduced costs through consolidated licensing, consistent protection across systems, and faster incident response. Palo Alto Networks pioneered this trend, evolving from a network security provider to a comprehensive platform. CrowdStrike expanded from endpoint protection to a full-scale security platform with its Falcon offering, while SentinelOne transformed its Singularity solution into a broader platform. Tech giants like Microsoft, Cisco, and Google follow similar paths. Protection Moves into the Data Path Traditional cybersecurity has functioned as a wall around digital assets. A new approach is emerging: embedding protection directly into data management systems. This "in-line" security continuously monitors and safeguards data as it moves, is accessed, and is stored. Nearly every storage provider is doing something in this space. NetApp has integrated real-time malware scanning directly into their storage systems, automatically checking files for threats whenever they're saved or accessed, all without requiring separate security software or adding delays. IBM offers similar technology across its storage portfolio. Infinidat, the only storage vendor exhibiting at RSAC this year, takes an even bolder approach by offering actual guarantees around data recovery after a cyberattack. Its storage solutions include built-in capabilities ensuring organizations can recover data without paying ransom, backed by a financial guarantee with specific recovery time objectives. Pure Storage supports immutable snapshots and offers comprehensive SLAs for ransomware recovery in its Evergreen//One storage-as-a-service offering. Hewlett-Packard Enterprise recently announced similar capabilities for its B10000 Alletra storage systems. OT and the Edge: The New Security Frontier Operational Technology refers to the hardware and software that monitor and control physical equipment and processes. These systems run power plants, water treatment facilities, manufacturing lines, oil refineries, and transportation networks. For decades, these industrial systems were largely isolated from the internet, creating an "air gap" that made them difficult to hack remotely. That world has disappeared. Today's industrial facilities are rapidly connecting their operational systems to corporate networks and the internet, creating dangerous new attack surfaces. Unlike typical cyberattacks that might result in stolen data or financial losses, attacks on industrial systems can have physical, real-world consequences. Securing these environments requires specialized approaches: Asset Visibility: Organizations are investing in specialized tools to discover and monitor all industrial devices and systems OT-Specific Security: Implementing security technologies specifically designed for industrial systems Network Segmentation: Dividing networks into isolated zones to prevent attackers from moving from business systems to critical operational systems Supply Chain Security: Securing complex equipment and software supply chains against tampering and compromises A small but growing segment of the cybersecurity industry is dedicated to protecting these environments. Cisco's Industrial Threat Platform directly addresses these concerns, announcing new capabilities at RSAC. It integrates new threat intelligence from Cisco Vulnerability Management and provides new industrial zone protection in its Cyber Vision and Secure Firewall. TXOne Networks, a startup specializing in OT protection, showcased its Stellar endpoint protection solution. Stellar enables AI-powered threat detection, zero-trust segmentation, and real-time behavioral monitoring for OT environments. The Road Ahead: Cybersecurity's Evolution The trends highlighted at this year's RSA Conference paint a clear picture of cybersecurity's future. The industry is moving from isolated security tools to comprehensive platforms, from perimeter defenses to protection embedded in the data path, and from primarily digital concerns to securing the physical-digital intersection. Meanwhile, AI has introduced a complex three-dimensional challenge: it must be protected as a valuable enterprise asset, leveraged as a powerful defensive tool, and countered as a formidable weapon in attackers' arsenals. Enterprises that adapt to this new reality will be positioned to thrive in an increasingly connected world. Those that cling to outdated security paradigms may find themselves dangerously exposed. The message from RSAC 2025 is clear: cybersecurity is no longer just an IT concert but a fundamental business imperative requiring strategic investment and continuous evolution. As attack surfaces expand and threats grow more sophisticated, the most successful organizations will embrace these emerging trends and build security into every aspect of their operations. Robust cybersecurity is about more than just avoiding disaster; Cybersecurity is about enabling innovation and growth with confidence. Disclosure: Steve McDowell is an industry analyst, and NAND Research is an industry analyst firm, that engages in, or has engaged in, research, analysis and advisory services with many technology companies, including HPE, IBM, Infinidat, NetApp, Pure Storage, and SentinelOne. Mr. McDowell does not hold any equity positions with any company mentioned. #top #cybersecurity #trends #emerging #rsa

Helldivers 2's Illuminate faction unleashes deadly new enemy terrors as latest update lands Plus new Warbond coming soon. Image credit: Eurogamer/Arrowhead Game Studios News by Matt Wales News Reporter Published on May 13, 2025 It's all go on the Illuminate front in Helldivers 2, with the co-op sci-fi shooter's powerful third faction having now set a course for Super Earth - and it's bringing "new terrors" along too. All this arrives as part of Helldivers 2's latest update which - in lore terms at least - sees the squid-like Iluminate emerging from the Meridian singularity in order to bring the never-ending fight for Democracy to Super Earth itself. In more specific terms, that means a wave of brand-new Illuminate enemies. There's the Stingray - jetfighters that unleash devastating strafing runs from above - and the Crescent Overseer, which "has the ability to lay barrages on Helldivers in cover". Helldivers 2 - Galactic Emergency trailer.Watch on YouTube Worse still are the Fleshmob; failed Illuminate experiments assembled from Voteless parts and let loose on the battlefield. Developer Arrowhead is also teasing "even larger ships", but is leaving players to discover these on their own. Elsewhere, Arrowhead has introduced a new load-out customisation feature it says will work with "the bulk of" Helldivers 2's weapon offerings. "Most primary weapons now have levels that are achievable by completing missions," it explains on the PlayStation Blog, "which then in turn unlock new attachments obtainable through Requisition." Players can also unlock patterns and apply them to their weapons, and a variety of patterns tied to previous Warbonds - specifically Viper Commandos, Freedom's Flame, Chemical Agents, and Truth Enforcers Warbonds - will be made available on 15th May. That's the same day the new Masters of Ceremony Warbond arrives. And finally for Helldivers 2's latest update, item rotation has been removed from the Superstore, meaning players can purchase any item they want anytime they want, no waiting required. It launches today on PS5 and PC. Source: https://www.eurogamer.net/helldivers-2s-illuminate-faction-unleashes-deadly-new-enemy-terrors-as-latest-update-lands #helldivers #2039s #illuminate #faction #unleashes #deadly #new #enemy #terrors #latest #update #lands

Arrowhead Game Studios’ extensive ARG for Helldivers 2 has culminated in the latest update, which sees the Illuminate invading Earth. Check out the release trailer below. New enemy types include the aerial Stingray, which performs strafing runs like the Eagle Fighters; the Crescent Overseer and its ability to unleash barrages on players in cover; and the Fleshmob, a mass of Voteless body parts. Other “even larger ships” have been teased and could appear in subsequent weeks. However, perhaps the most notable addition is the addition of leveling for “most” Primary weapons. Upon completing missions and leveling them up, players can unlock new attachments like magazines, muzzles, and under-barrels to alter a weapon’s performance. You can even unlock new camos to customize their appearance. Other new features include new patterns for the Viper Commandos, Truth Enforcers, Chemical Agents and Freedom’s Flame Warbonds when the Masters of Ceremony Warbond launches. Furthermore, the Superstore has every item in stock without players waiting for rotations. Stay tuned for details on other changes, including balance adjustments, shortly. Source: https://gamingbolt.com/helldivers-2-update-adds-new-illuminate-enemies-primary-weapon-customization #helldivers #update #adds #new #illuminate #enemies #primary #weapon #customization

Helldivers, get to your Super Destroyers! In a surprise turn of events that even our top researchers couldn’t predict, the Illuminate have finally revealed their intentions, emerging from the Meridian singularity, and setting a course for Super Earth. It’s now more important than ever that we band together and stop this salvo from destroying our liberty. Play Video New enemies The Illuminate threat has grown, unleashing new terrors on our citizens across the galaxy. Reports indicate the Illuminate have deployed larger, more powerful enemies within their fleet, among them are the Stingray: jetfighters that provide Illuminate support from the sky, targeting Helldivers and lining up devastating strafing runs. Another new foe is the Crescent Overseer, which has the ability to lay barrages on Helldivers in cover. But perhaps most terrifying are the reports of a failed Illuminate experiment called the Fleshmob: a Frankenstein’s monster of Voteless parts turned into a brute battlefield force that the Helldivers must work hard to destroy. There have been sightings of other, even larger ships, though details remain unclear on their abilities. But we can’t underestimate the squids, divers, and that’s why we’re assembling our best and brightest to push them back into oblivion where they belong. We have to gather all our resources to face this incursion and, fortunately, Super Earth’s R&D department has unlocked some powerful tools for our Helldivers, in the hopes that they will help crush the onslaught of Illuminate invaders. Customize your loadout Helldivers are being given access to a robust new weapon customization feature for the bulk of our primary weapon offerings. Most primary weapons now have levels that are achievable by completing missions, which then in turn unlock new attachments obtainable through Requisition. In addition to attachments, players can also unlock patterns for their weapons. Whether it’s tweaking sights for precision, changing color patterns, adjusting magazines for ammo capacity, muzzles to optimize weapon performance characteristics or adjusting under-barrel attachments for the handling you want, you’re in command of how your weaponry performs on the battlefield. This level of individual attunement is sure to make your favorite primary best in its class. Old Warbonds, new patterns We have unlocked and deployed a stash of patterns for the FRV themed on our Viper Commandos, Freedom’s Flame, Chemical Agents, and Truth Enforcers Warbonds. These will help your squad stand out to aid in battlefield coordination and collaboration. This backlog of patterns will unlock for Helldivers on May 15, with the launch of the Masters of Ceremony Warbond! Expanded Surplus The Superstore is also getting an emergency expansion to boost your arsenals for the fight. No more waiting for items to come back into rotation–now the items you want are always available, ready to stock your ship and armor your Helldivers with items you might have missed the first time around. This is the moment of truth, Helldivers. Everyone to the front lines and fight for our right to spread Managed Democracy! *Requires base game, paid purchase of Super Credits, and game progression to unlock. المصدر: https://blog.playstation.com/2025/05/13/helldivers-2-illuminate-set-sights-on-super-earth-new-enemy-types-deployed/