Virtual private networks are designed to preserve online privacy by encrypting internet traffic and hiding IP addresses that can be used to determine user location. Most users are aware of this when they try to access a website or service when they are overseas. The IP address generally triggers the loading of a URL in the local area and may restrict access to a U.S. service or site. A VPN can be used to circumvent such restrictions and limitations. For example, a U.S. user traveling in Europe might be blocked from accessing paid streaming services that the user could access…
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We may receive a portion of sales if you purchase a product through a link in this article. I used to think thrillers weren’t for me. The tension, the high stakes, the creeping sense that something sinister lurked just beyond the page—I preferred stories that felt a little softer, a little cozier. But then, in 2022, The Housemaid by Freida McFadden took BookTok by storm, and curiosity got the best of me. I picked it up expecting a quick, entertaining read. Instead, I was consumed. There was something deliciously immersive about the way the plot twisted and turned, pulling me…
Image: StackCommerce The demand for skilled embedded systems engineers is rapidly growing, but the industry is severely competitive. Understanding how these intelligent systems function, how engineers design them, and how they connect is valuable, but it’s hard to learn on your own. If you want help, try the Embedded Systems Engineer Mastery Bundle to work through a comprehensive curriculum designed to give you practical skills that’ll help you excel in the field. It’s only $24.99 (reg. $490) right now. Course overview This bundle comes with ten hands-on courses covering the fundamentals of embedded systems and microcontrollers. A significant portion of…
Some places grab you the moment you arrive—and Italy is definitely one of them. It’s not just the history, food, or stunning views; it’s something you feel. Imagine sitting in a cozy little wine bar in Florence, walking along quiet canals in Venice at night, or having a meal in Rome that tantalizes your tastebuds long after you leave. These are the moments that make traveling here unforgettable, and here is a 7-day Italy itinerary to make it all happen!We just spent seven days traveling through Italy, and every part of it felt alive. One moment, we were standing on…
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. Image: Microsoft News Microsoft’s Patch Tuesday security update for April included 134 flaws, one of which is an actively exploited zero-day flaw. The security patches for Windows 10 were unavailable when the Windows 11 patches were released. The Windows 10 patches have since arrived, but the delay was unusual. Tyler Reguly, associate director of security R&D at global cybersecurity software and services provider Fortra, suggested in an email to TechRepublic that the two separate releases and a 40-minute delay in the Windows 11 update might point to something unusual behind the scenes. SEE: What is Patch…
Image: nicescene/Adobe Stock Microsoft has detected a zero-day vulnerability in the Windows Common Log File System (CLFS) being exploited in the wild to deploy ransomware. Target industries include IT, real estate, finance, software, and retail, with companies based in the US, Spain, Venezuela, and Saudi Arabia. The vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2025-29824 and rated “important,” is present in the CLFS kernel driver. It allows an attacker who already has standard user access to a system to escalate their local privileges. The individual can then use their privileged access for “widespread deployment and detonation of ransomware within an environment,” according to a…
Screenshot of IBM z17 mainframe from an IBM product video. Image: IBM IBM on Tuesday announced the newest version of its famous mainframe: the IBM z17. Powered by the latest IBM Telum II processor, IBM z17 culminates five years of research and development. It features AI capabilities across hardware, software, and systems operations. “IBM Z is built to redefine AI at scale,” IBM said in the press release. While mainframes are often seen as a throwback to older eras of computing, they are still used by large companies to process massive amounts of data. Many industries worldwide — including banking,…
Vanessa Parley, director of research at Stanford’s Institute for Human-Centered AII, speaks in a video about the 2025 AI Index. Image: Stanford HAI The AI industry is undergoing a complex and transitional period, according to Stanford University’s 2025 AI Index, published by the Institute for Human-Centered AI. While AI continues to transform the tech sector, public sentiment remains mixed, underscoring the rapidly shifting nature of the field. Below are key takeaways from Stanford’s latest findings on the current state of artificial intelligence — both generative and not generative. Investment in AI increases Investment in AI is growing. Private investors poured…
For the 2025 Specops Weak Password Report, researchers analyzed around 1.089 billion stolen passwords and found that the most commonly breached passwords consisted of eight characters. Alarmingly, out of the one billion compromised passwords, almost 230 million would be considered complex. This means they had a minimum of eight characters, a capital letter, a number, and a special character. This shows how advanced hacking techniques have become in recent years, reinforcing the need for a secure and reliable password management service. Password managers are designed to eliminate weak passwords and make it much harder for attackers to compromise credentials. In this…
We may receive a portion of sales if you purchase a product through a link in this article. As an American, traveling to Europe is nothing short of a revelation. While we may marvel at New England buildings and landmarks that date back to the early 1600s, European architecture and history transports us to what feels like another world—and in many respects, it is. One of the ways I anticipated that difference as I planned my two-week carry-on packing list for my trip to Paris and London last month? The fashion. Having lived in Paris for a year prior, I…