Technology

Here are hints and the answer for today's Wordle for July 18, No. 1,855.

• An internal DHS readout shows analysts twice dismissed intrusion alerts on the HSIN information-sharing network as false positives
• This effectively gave hackers roughly three weeks of undetected access before a breach was declared on June 4 2026
• The as-yet anonymous attackers altered server files, ran malicious code through a legitimate web-server program, deleted logs, installed backdoors, and stole credential files

Hackers managed to find their way into the US Department of Homeland Security's primary information sharing platform, gaining unfettered access to the HSIN network that hosts unclassified information that multiple US agencies and international rely on.

The hack allowed the attackers to modify server files, run malicious code and steal credential files while installing backdoors and deleting logs to remove their digital footprint.

Their movements were flagged twice by automated systems and analysts in May 2026, before being dismissed as a false positive each time before an active breach was declared a month later.

Bad timing meets bad security practices?

The timing and specifics of this intrusion are, in particular, details which could prove to be embarrassing for the US government.

Not only does the HSIN network serve as a key intelligence-sharing tool for both domestic and international partners during the FIFA World Cup, but it also hosts information on other major events, such as America250.

The fact that the hack was picked up not once, but twice by flags before being dismissed as a false positive raises competency concerns for an instance that has already sparked interest, with the House Homeland Security Committee staff having already requested a briefing on the intrusion.

The DHS, for its part, is downplaying the incident, with a spokesperson confirming it but characterizing it narrowly: the department is "aware of a recent cyber incident involving a specific, unclassified legacy information sharing environment" and states there is no indication that classified networks were affected.

This viewpoint is countered by Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Mark Warner, who argued the platform's sensitivity outstrips its classification level, saying that the information in HSIN, "while not classified, is highly sensitive, and its exposure risks national security."

Investigators have yet to identify or assign blame to a particular hacking group or organization, adding to the chaos in determining motive. The hackers have deleted logs on servers, which only adds to the confusion here.

Major implications

The important question, perhaps, is not how the breach happened, but why confusion and mischaracterization of the security lapse allowed it to become a much bigger issue than it would have been if it had been contained from the start. Despite security flags and analysts highlighting the breach as early as the 15th of May, the hackers essentially had free rein to operate until at least the 3rd of June thanks to initial reports being dismissed as false positives.

HSIN as a platform handles event security planning, interagency coordination, threat information, and details on persons of interest. Whether any of that material was actually copied remains unknown. Investigators have not determined what, if anything, was exfiltrated, though the theft of credential files is itself telling: attackers who steal credentials are, almost by definition, trying to reach systems and accounts beyond their initial foothold.

This is not the first time HSIN has been compromised, with two documented previous incidents, including a compromised account in 2009 and misconfigured access in 2023, that have resulted in intentional and unintentional breaches of the network.

The issue is only exacerbated by the fact that the DHS, along with its cybersecurity agency, CISA, has absorbed significant workforce cuts over the past year, potentially weakening its defenses against sophisticated hacks that require manual human intervention or oversight to detect, even when the correct flags (which triggered as intended) are already in place.

Such manpower shortages have also been politically polarizing in the US Congress and may be highlighted when the department provides more detailed information about the hack in the coming days, even as the Pentagon deals with its own OPSEC issues that are also being aired in the same forum.

Via DefenseOne

• An internal DHS readout shows analysts twice dismissed intrusion alerts on the HSIN information-sharing network as false positives
• This effectively gave hackers roughly three weeks of undetected access before a breach was declared on June 4 2026
• The as-yet anonymous attackers altered server files, ran malicious code through a legitimate web-server program, deleted logs, installed backdoors, and stole credential files

Hackers managed to find their way into the US Department of Homeland Security's primary information sharing platform, gaining unfettered access to the HSIN network that hosts unclassified information that multiple US agencies and international rely on.

The hack allowed the attackers to modify server files, run malicious code and steal credential files while installing backdoors and deleting logs to remove their digital footprint.

Their movements were flagged twice by automated systems and analysts in May 2026, before being dismissed as a false positive each time before an active breach was declared a month later.

Bad timing meets bad security practices?

The timing and specifics of this intrusion are, in particular, details which could prove to be embarrassing for the US government.

Not only does the HSIN network serve as a key intelligence-sharing tool for both domestic and international partners during the FIFA World Cup, but it also hosts information on other major events, such as America250.

The fact that the hack was picked up not once, but twice by flags before being dismissed as a false positive raises competency concerns for an instance that has already sparked interest, with the House Homeland Security Committee staff having already requested a briefing on the intrusion.

The DHS, for its part, is downplaying the incident, with a spokesperson confirming it but characterizing it narrowly: the department is "aware of a recent cyber incident involving a specific, unclassified legacy information sharing environment" and states there is no indication that classified networks were affected.

This viewpoint is countered by Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Mark Warner, who argued the platform's sensitivity outstrips its classification level, saying that the information in HSIN, "while not classified, is highly sensitive, and its exposure risks national security."

Investigators have yet to identify or assign blame to a particular hacking group or organization, adding to the chaos in determining motive. The hackers have deleted logs on servers, which only adds to the confusion here.

Major implications

The important question, perhaps, is not how the breach happened, but why confusion and mischaracterization of the security lapse allowed it to become a much bigger issue than it would have been if it had been contained from the start. Despite security flags and analysts highlighting the breach as early as the 15th of May, the hackers essentially had free rein to operate until at least the 3rd of June thanks to initial reports being dismissed as false positives.

HSIN as a platform handles event security planning, interagency coordination, threat information, and details on persons of interest. Whether any of that material was actually copied remains unknown. Investigators have not determined what, if anything, was exfiltrated, though the theft of credential files is itself telling: attackers who steal credentials are, almost by definition, trying to reach systems and accounts beyond their initial foothold.

This is not the first time HSIN has been compromised, with two documented previous incidents, including a compromised account in 2009 and misconfigured access in 2023, that have resulted in intentional and unintentional breaches of the network.

The issue is only exacerbated by the fact that the DHS, along with its cybersecurity agency, CISA, has absorbed significant workforce cuts over the past year, potentially weakening its defenses against sophisticated hacks that require manual human intervention or oversight to detect, even when the correct flags (which triggered as intended) are already in place.

Such manpower shortages have also been politically polarizing in the US Congress and may be highlighted when the department provides more detailed information about the hack in the coming days, even as the Pentagon deals with its own OPSEC issues that are also being aired in the same forum.

Via DefenseOne

The European Union is using its Digital Markets Act to crack down on big tech companies that aren't being fair.

If you want a projector for presentations, business, and streaming movies without paying 4K prices, this is the deal I recommend grabbing right now.

Super-bright compared to similarly priced models, the Xgimi Horizon is now $529 (was $899) at Wellbots — a $370 saving on a 1080p Android TV projector with built-in Harman Kardon sound.

Brightness is where this model earns its keep: 2200 ANSI lumens is well above what budget projectors in this range typically offer. That ANSI-lumen brightness (a more rigorous measurement than the inflated "LED lumens" figures some cheaper projectors use) is important. That gives it good use for business and presentations, since the picture holds up reasonably well even with some ambient light in the room, not just in a fully dark home theater setup.

Today's top Xgimi projector deal

1920 x 1080 native resolution DLP projector with HDR10 and HLG support, 2200 ANSI lumens brightness, auto focus, auto keystone correction, and intelligent obstacle avoidance. Built-in Android TV with Chromecast, dual-band Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 5.0. Two 8W Harman Kardon speakers with Dolby Audio, Dolby Digital, and DTS-HD support. Projects a 40-200in image.View Deal

One thing worth clearing up first: despite some marketing copy floating around describing this as a 4K projector, the Horizon's native resolution is 1920 x 1080 — this is Xgimi's entry-level Horizon, not the 4K "Horizon Pro" that sits above it in the line-up. If you specifically need native 4K, this isn't that projector. But for presenting or streaming Full HD content, 1080p from a bright, well-built projector at this price is a genuinely great deal.

The built-in Harman Kardon speaker setup is a real convenience feature — two 8W drivers with Dolby Audio and DTS-HD support mean you don't need a soundbar or external speakers just to get a watchable experience out of the box.

The setup features are also worth calling out: auto focus, auto keystone correction, and intelligent screen alignment handle the fiddly parts of projector setup automatically, and obstacle avoidance helps the image adjust around furniture in the frame rather than requiring a perfectly clear wall.

One honest caveat beyond the resolution: Our own testing of the pricier Horizon Pro found that if you're mostly watching Full HD content rather than 4K, the standard non-Pro Horizon is actually the smarter buy — which lines up well with what this deal is offering. Just don't expect the sharper 4K detail of Xgimi's higher-end models at this price.

For a bright, well-connected 1080p smart projector with genuinely good built-in sound, the Xgimi Horizon at $529 is a smart buy. And for other top-performing picks, see our guide to the best portable projectors.

• See all tech deals at Wellbots.

If you want a projector for presentations, business, and streaming movies without paying 4K prices, this is the deal I recommend grabbing right now.

Super-bright compared to similarly priced models, the Xgimi Horizon is now $529 (was $899) at Wellbots — a $370 saving on a 1080p Android TV projector with built-in Harman Kardon sound.

Brightness is where this model earns its keep: 2200 ANSI lumens is well above what budget projectors in this range typically offer. That ANSI-lumen brightness (a more rigorous measurement than the inflated "LED lumens" figures some cheaper projectors use) is important. That gives it good use for business and presentations, since the picture holds up reasonably well even with some ambient light in the room, not just in a fully dark home theater setup.

Today's top Xgimi projector deal

1920 x 1080 native resolution DLP projector with HDR10 and HLG support, 2200 ANSI lumens brightness, auto focus, auto keystone correction, and intelligent obstacle avoidance. Built-in Android TV with Chromecast, dual-band Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 5.0. Two 8W Harman Kardon speakers with Dolby Audio, Dolby Digital, and DTS-HD support. Projects a 40-200in image.View Deal

One thing worth clearing up first: despite some marketing copy floating around describing this as a 4K projector, the Horizon's native resolution is 1920 x 1080 — this is Xgimi's entry-level Horizon, not the 4K "Horizon Pro" that sits above it in the line-up. If you specifically need native 4K, this isn't that projector. But for presenting or streaming Full HD content, 1080p from a bright, well-built projector at this price is a genuinely great deal.

The built-in Harman Kardon speaker setup is a real convenience feature — two 8W drivers with Dolby Audio and DTS-HD support mean you don't need a soundbar or external speakers just to get a watchable experience out of the box.

The setup features are also worth calling out: auto focus, auto keystone correction, and intelligent screen alignment handle the fiddly parts of projector setup automatically, and obstacle avoidance helps the image adjust around furniture in the frame rather than requiring a perfectly clear wall.

One honest caveat beyond the resolution: Our own testing of the pricier Horizon Pro found that if you're mostly watching Full HD content rather than 4K, the standard non-Pro Horizon is actually the smarter buy — which lines up well with what this deal is offering. Just don't expect the sharper 4K detail of Xgimi's higher-end models at this price.

For a bright, well-connected 1080p smart projector with genuinely good built-in sound, the Xgimi Horizon at $529 is a smart buy. And for other top-performing picks, see our guide to the best portable projectors.

• See all tech deals at Wellbots.

When I wrote my Ninja Creami Swirl review, I decided that the main reason that anyone should consider buying a Ninja Creami machine is so that they could make frozen treats that match their health goals. Whether you are trying to avoid processed foods, cut calories, reduce sugar, avoid dairy, or cater to any other specific dietary needs, any Ninja Creami model can make you a healthier version of ice cream or sorbet. I've tried tons of recipes, and here I'm sharing the ones I like best, specifically without artificial sweeteners. You can alter any recipe to best suit your own preferences.

Just fruit

Canned fruit makes the easiest possible sorbet. Just open a can of your favorite fruit, pour it in, freeze for 24 hours, and spin it on the Sorbet cycle. Canned fruit is so soft that there's no need to blend before freezing. I used a can of mangoes in 100% juice here. If you want more protein, you could add some yogurt or milk of your choice; I suggest a 2:1 fruit to dairy ratio.

One-ingredient mango sorbetKaren Freeman / FutureSimple one-ingredient mango sorbet is deliciousKaren Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / Future

I had a ton of watermelon left over from a recent party, so I threw some into the Ninja Creami container. Again, watermelon is a soft fruit so I didn't blend it first, but I did squash it down a bit to release some of the liquid so it would freeze as a solid block. The resulting sorbet had a lovely texture, but it really wasn't sweet enough for my palate so I'd recommend adding some honey before freezing. You could also add milk for some protein, or coconut water for extra electrolytes.

Refreshing Ninja Creami watermelon sorbetKaren Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureBanana date nut (or chocolate) ice cream

Here is the recipe I used, but there are many alterations you could make here. If you don't want nuts at all, you could use cacao powder instead of nut butter for a chocolate flavor. Or use both for a chocolate-nut option.

1/2 cup plain Greek (or vanilla) yogurt

2/3 cup water (or use milk for more protein)

2 tbsp nut butter (I use PB2 powder but any works)

1/2 large banana (or 2/3 small)

4-6 dates to taste (can skip if using flavored yogurt)

(optional) 1 tbsp hemp seeds

(optional) 1 scoop unflavored collagen powder

After blending and freezing for 24 hours, process this on the Frozen Yogurt setting. I used the hemp seeds and collagen for their health benefits, and they don't have an effect on the taste. You could skip those entirely if you like.

Ninja Creami banana date nut ice cream - yes, I ate the whole thingKaren Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FuturePistachio ice cream

I think this is tasty, though a friend of mine remarked that while it had the texture and mouthfeel of ice cream, it "tastes healthy". Do with that what you will.

1/2 cup cottage cheese (I used 2%)

1/4 cup yogurt (I used plain nonfat Greek)

1/2 cup pistachios (I used salted but rinsed them off)

1/2 cup milk (I used almond)

4-8 dates (I used 8 small)

1/4 tsp almond extract

Honey/maple syrup/agave syrup to taste if needed (I used about 1/2 tbsp agave)

If you use unsalted nuts you’ll want to add a pinch of salt. You do need to blend this well before freezing. Taste it before you freeze it to see if you need to add honey or syrup. You want it to be slightly sweeter than you think you need, because frozen food tastes less sweet.

Process this on the Frozen Yogurt cycle. If you like, add more nuts and/or chocolate chips in the Mix-In cycle.

Karen Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureAçai bowl

One serving frozen açaí cubes or packet

1/2 banana

Handful berries

Juice or milk to fill line (if milk you’ll want to add a little honey for sweetness)

Blend, then freeze for 24 hours and spin on the Sorbet setting. Top with berries, seeds, nuts, granola, coconut, nut butter, cacao nibs, or whatever you like. I enjoyed mine with chia pudding, pumpkin seeds, and granola.

Karen Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureReal ice cream

If by healthy you mean wholesome, with no fake anything, just real ingredients, then this is the way. Credit goes to the New York Times. It's a plain base, but by adding vanilla (or any flavor) extract, cacao powder, fruit, or just about anything, including Mix-Ins, you can make any flavor you can imagine. While it's obviously not low in calories, fat, or sugar, it doesn't have any unpronounceable junk in it. It's absolutely delicious and rivals anything you can buy, anywhere.

Here is the basic recipe:

2 cups heavy cream

1 cup whole milk

2/3 cup granulated sugar

1/8 tsp fine sea salt

6 large egg yolks

In a small pot, simmer the cream, milk, sugar, and salt until the sugar dissolves, about five minutes. Remove from heat.

In a separate bowl, whisk the yolks. Whisking constantly, slowly whisk about a third of the hot cream into the yolks.

Whisk the yolk mixture back into the pot with the cream. Return pot to medium-low heat and gently cook until the mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon (about 170 degrees.) Strain through a fine-mesh sieve.

Pour mixture into the Creami containers no higher than the fill line; this will be enough for two containers. Freeze for 24 hours and process on the regular Ice Cream setting.

Don't be afraid to experiment

It's worth noting that the Ninja Creami is sort of magic in the sense that it creates a lovely texture, almost regardless of what you put into it. However, it doesn't magically change the flavor, as people often hope. If you don't particularly like what you're putting in (a protein shake, for example) hoping that it will taste better after the Ninja Creami treatment, well, you'll be disappointed. You get out what you put in.

The Ninja Creami lends itself to experimentation. Even following someone else's tried and true recipe doesn't guarantee you'll like the results. But keep trying, you'll find the recipes that suit your tastes and health preferences.

When I wrote my Ninja Creami Swirl review, I decided that the main reason that anyone should consider buying a Ninja Creami machine is so that they could make frozen treats that match their health goals. Whether you are trying to avoid processed foods, cut calories, reduce sugar, avoid dairy, or cater to any other specific dietary needs, any Ninja Creami model can make you a healthier version of ice cream or sorbet. I've tried tons of recipes, and here I'm sharing the ones I like best, specifically without artificial sweeteners. You can alter any recipe to best suit your own preferences.

Just fruit

Canned fruit makes the easiest possible sorbet. Just open a can of your favorite fruit, pour it in, freeze for 24 hours, and spin it on the Sorbet cycle. Canned fruit is so soft that there's no need to blend before freezing. I used a can of mangoes in 100% juice here. If you want more protein, you could add some yogurt or milk of your choice; I suggest a 2:1 fruit to dairy ratio.

One-ingredient mango sorbetKaren Freeman / FutureSimple one-ingredient mango sorbet is deliciousKaren Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / Future

I had a ton of watermelon left over from a recent party, so I threw some into the Ninja Creami container. Again, watermelon is a soft fruit so I didn't blend it first, but I did squash it down a bit to release some of the liquid so it would freeze as a solid block. The resulting sorbet had a lovely texture, but it really wasn't sweet enough for my palate so I'd recommend adding some honey before freezing. You could also add milk for some protein, or coconut water for extra electrolytes.

Refreshing Ninja Creami watermelon sorbetKaren Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureBanana date nut (or chocolate) ice cream

Here is the recipe I used, but there are many alterations you could make here. If you don't want nuts at all, you could use cacao powder instead of nut butter for a chocolate flavor. Or use both for a chocolate-nut option.

1/2 cup plain Greek (or vanilla) yogurt

2/3 cup water (or use milk for more protein)

2 tbsp nut butter (I use PB2 powder but any works)

1/2 large banana (or 2/3 small)

4-6 dates to taste (can skip if using flavored yogurt)

(optional) 1 tbsp hemp seeds

(optional) 1 scoop unflavored collagen powder

After blending and freezing for 24 hours, process this on the Frozen Yogurt setting. I used the hemp seeds and collagen for their health benefits, and they don't have an effect on the taste. You could skip those entirely if you like.

Ninja Creami banana date nut ice cream - yes, I ate the whole thingKaren Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FuturePistachio ice cream

I think this is tasty, though a friend of mine remarked that while it had the texture and mouthfeel of ice cream, it "tastes healthy". Do with that what you will.

1/2 cup cottage cheese (I used 2%)

1/4 cup yogurt (I used plain nonfat Greek)

1/2 cup pistachios (I used salted but rinsed them off)

1/2 cup milk (I used almond)

4-8 dates (I used 8 small)

1/4 tsp almond extract

Honey/maple syrup/agave syrup to taste if needed (I used about 1/2 tbsp agave)

If you use unsalted nuts you’ll want to add a pinch of salt. You do need to blend this well before freezing. Taste it before you freeze it to see if you need to add honey or syrup. You want it to be slightly sweeter than you think you need, because frozen food tastes less sweet.

Process this on the Frozen Yogurt cycle. If you like, add more nuts and/or chocolate chips in the Mix-In cycle.

Karen Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureAçai bowl

One serving frozen açaí cubes or packet

1/2 banana

Handful berries

Juice or milk to fill line (if milk you’ll want to add a little honey for sweetness)

Blend, then freeze for 24 hours and spin on the Sorbet setting. Top with berries, seeds, nuts, granola, coconut, nut butter, cacao nibs, or whatever you like. I enjoyed mine with chia pudding, pumpkin seeds, and granola.

Karen Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureReal ice cream

If by healthy you mean wholesome, with no fake anything, just real ingredients, then this is the way. Credit goes to the New York Times. It's a plain base, but by adding vanilla (or any flavor) extract, cacao powder, fruit, or just about anything, including Mix-Ins, you can make any flavor you can imagine. While it's obviously not low in calories, fat, or sugar, it doesn't have any unpronounceable junk in it. It's absolutely delicious and rivals anything you can buy, anywhere.

Here is the basic recipe:

2 cups heavy cream

1 cup whole milk

2/3 cup granulated sugar

1/8 tsp fine sea salt

6 large egg yolks

In a small pot, simmer the cream, milk, sugar, and salt until the sugar dissolves, about five minutes. Remove from heat.

In a separate bowl, whisk the yolks. Whisking constantly, slowly whisk about a third of the hot cream into the yolks.

Whisk the yolk mixture back into the pot with the cream. Return pot to medium-low heat and gently cook until the mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon (about 170 degrees.) Strain through a fine-mesh sieve.

Pour mixture into the Creami containers no higher than the fill line; this will be enough for two containers. Freeze for 24 hours and process on the regular Ice Cream setting.

Don't be afraid to experiment

It's worth noting that the Ninja Creami is sort of magic in the sense that it creates a lovely texture, almost regardless of what you put into it. However, it doesn't magically change the flavor, as people often hope. If you don't particularly like what you're putting in (a protein shake, for example) hoping that it will taste better after the Ninja Creami treatment, well, you'll be disappointed. You get out what you put in.

The Ninja Creami lends itself to experimentation. Even following someone else's tried and true recipe doesn't guarantee you'll like the results. But keep trying, you'll find the recipes that suit your tastes and health preferences.

Former Meta employees allege the company penalized them for taking medical leave.

When providing information about countries with restricted speech, the AI models behind chatbots and agents often sidestep prompts or offer responses trained on censored materials.

Zoom patched a critical Windows flaw that could enable remote account takeover, along with three high-severity privilege-escalation vulnerabilities.

The post Critical Zoom Flaw Could Let Attackers Take Over Windows Accounts appeared first on TechRepublic.

Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro support ends Oct. 13, 2026. See who is affected, available upgrade paths, and what IT teams should do now.

The post Windows 11 24H2 Support Ends Soon: What Users Need to Do Before October appeared first on TechRepublic.

The bike isn't motorized and is completely toddler-powered.

Moonshot AI’s 2.8-trillion-parameter Kimi K3 raises China’s open-model ambitions while posing major infrastructure and cost questio

The post Moonshot AI Launches World’s Largest Open-Source Model appeared first on TechRepublic.

• Users says they've observed LG gaming monitors automatically installing unwanted software on PCs
• LG's terms of service warn that conversations may be "captured and processed" on TV with the latest version of webOS
• The terms say you must now warn guests they may be recorded "in compliance with applicable wiretapping… laws"

How smart should a smart TV be? According to LG's latest TV terms and conditions, the answer is "not quite smart enough to comply with wiretapping laws", because that's now your responsibility if LG captures the voice of a guest in your house through its AI voice services. Though the situation with LG monitors appears to be even more dramatic.

As Gamers Nexus reports, some LG monitors appear to be installing adware on Windows PCs without asking for permission: in addition to the LG Monitor App Installer, they also install McAfee Scam Detector.

LG's own app requires full access to all system resources, which potentially includes all your online activity, logins, hardware, location and more — while McAfee has a long history of being installed on devices as 'bloatware', and people are not reacting positively to suddenly finding it on their PC.

Comment from r/LGOLED

There may be a perfectly innocent explanation for all of this, but when big tech firms keep getting caught doing bad things because they thought they could get away with it, it's no wonder people are assuming the worst.

Comment from r/hardware

The bit that's causing consternation regarding smart TVs is part 6(d) of the new LG Electronics terms of service, headed Voice Recognition and Privacy Compliance.

As Notebookcheck's Hannes Brecher notes, the section states that it's your responsibility "to obtain all necessary consents from any third parties whose voices may be captured by the Product and to notify household members and guests that their voices may be captured and processed, in compliance with applicable wiretapping, eavesdropping, and privacy laws."

There are three ways around that. One, you can turn off all microphone-based features. Some people won't mind that, but they can be useful — especially asking it for settings you don't know how to find.

Two, you can avoid installing the latest software — but that means you won't get any security updates, which are important (to protect your privacy, ironically, among other things).

Or you can disable your TV's connection to the internet so it can't send information back, but that obviously makes it less useful, and will also disable the voice controls anyway.

I think the terms and conditions are an attempt at corporate ass-covering rather than something sinister: the preceding paragraph talks specifically about when "a product with voice recognition functionality is used" and it's possible that "family members, guests, children, and bystanders" might be overheard; if you're choosing to activate AI-based voice features then of course voices are going to be captured and processed in order for those features to work.

At the same time, it does seem broad enough to let LG use people's voices as AI inputs, rather than just accidental capture. And in the context of what LG's doing with PC monitors (not to mention AI training's very, ahem, casual relationship with consent and copyright), that's a worry — and people online increasingly have no tolerance for anything like this, as the responses on Reddit and Gamers Nexus' original YouTube video have shown.

We've approached LG for comment on these claims, and will update the story when we hear back.

Comment from r/hardware

• Users says they've observed LG gaming monitors automatically installing unwanted software on PCs
• LG's terms of service warn that conversations may be "captured and processed" on TV with the latest version of webOS
• The terms say you must now warn guests they may be recorded "in compliance with applicable wiretapping… laws"

How smart should a smart TV be? According to LG's latest TV terms and conditions, the answer is "not quite smart enough to comply with wiretapping laws", because that's now your responsibility if LG captures the voice of a guest in your house through its AI voice services. Though the situation with LG monitors appears to be even more dramatic.

As Gamers Nexus reports, some LG monitors appear to be installing adware on Windows PCs without asking for permission: in addition to the LG Monitor App Installer, they also install McAfee Scam Detector.

LG's own app requires full access to all system resources, which potentially includes all your online activity, logins, hardware, location and more — while McAfee has a long history of being installed on devices as 'bloatware', and people are not reacting positively to suddenly finding it on their PC.

Comment from r/LGOLED

There may be a perfectly innocent explanation for all of this, but when big tech firms keep getting caught doing bad things because they thought they could get away with it, it's no wonder people are assuming the worst.

Comment from r/hardware

The bit that's causing consternation regarding smart TVs is part 6(d) of the new LG Electronics terms of service, headed Voice Recognition and Privacy Compliance.

As Notebookcheck's Hannes Brecher notes, the section states that it's your responsibility "to obtain all necessary consents from any third parties whose voices may be captured by the Product and to notify household members and guests that their voices may be captured and processed, in compliance with applicable wiretapping, eavesdropping, and privacy laws."

There are three ways around that. One, you can turn off all microphone-based features. Some people won't mind that, but they can be useful — especially asking it for settings you don't know how to find.

Two, you can avoid installing the latest software — but that means you won't get any security updates, which are important (to protect your privacy, ironically, among other things).

Or you can disable your TV's connection to the internet so it can't send information back, but that obviously makes it less useful, and will also disable the voice controls anyway.

I think the terms and conditions are an attempt at corporate ass-covering rather than something sinister: the preceding paragraph talks specifically about when "a product with voice recognition functionality is used" and it's possible that "family members, guests, children, and bystanders" might be overheard; if you're choosing to activate AI-based voice features then of course voices are going to be captured and processed in order for those features to work.

At the same time, it does seem broad enough to let LG use people's voices as AI inputs, rather than just accidental capture. And in the context of what LG's doing with PC monitors (not to mention AI training's very, ahem, casual relationship with consent and copyright), that's a worry — and people online increasingly have no tolerance for anything like this, as the responses on Reddit and Gamers Nexus' original YouTube video have shown.

We've approached LG for comment on these claims, and will update the story when we hear back.

Comment from r/hardware

Catch Madonna, BTS, Shakira, Justin Bieber and more during the championship game on Sunday.

• Reto Project has released a new Kodak-branded film camera, the Kodak EC35
• It’s a total point-and-shoot, with focus and all settings fixed
• However, it features a stylish sliding lens cover, in the style of the Olympus Mju from the early 1990s

A new Kodak film point-and-shoot camera has just been announced. And the reason for the tortured use of the passive voice in the previous sentence is that it isn’t actually made by Kodak.

The Kodak EC35 is a 35mm film camera made by Reto Project, a company that licenses the Kodak name to produce a range of both analog and digital cameras. While my personal favorite is the Kodak Snapic A1, a sleek little 35mm film, its most popular release by a considerable margin has been the little digital keychain camera, the Kodak Charmera.

Reto generally produces simple point-and-shoots, and the Kodak EC35 is exactly that. It takes 35mm film, and all its settings are fixed, with a 1/100sec shutter speed and f/10 aperture. The lens is fixed-focus — there isn’t even the option to switch from near to far focus like there was on the Snapic A1 — and is a 25mm optic. The camera also has a built-in flash.

What really caught my attention about this camera, however, is its design. Specifically, the fact that it has a gorgeously curved sliding lens cover that protects the optic when it’s not in use. It’s a chip off the Olympus film camera block — the iconic Olympus Mju immediately comes to mind.

(Image credit: Kodak / RETO)All style, some substance

While I tend to associate sliding lens covers with the Olympus XA2 that’s sitting on my desk as I write this, with the curved design of its plastic body, the Kodak EC35 is pretty clearly meant to evoke the look and feel of the Mju.

And I also like the idea of having a lens cover in a practical sense — not just aesthetic! A lot of these cheap film compacts, like the Snapic A1, the Ektar H35N, etc, don’t have a lens cap or lens protection of any kind, meaning it’s easy for the lens to get dirty, dusty or bashed around. The cover also doubles as a shutter lock, meaning that the camera won't end up accidentally firing off shots while it's in your bag.

The EC35 is being released in an attractive range of colorways: Midnight Black, Vanilla White, Butter Yellow, Lavender, Powder Blue, Blush Pink and Avocado Green. I’m normally ‘give me black or give me death’ when it comes to cameras, but I’ll admit, that yellow version is pretty striking.

The EC35 is powered by a single AA battery (which is only needed for the flash), and weighs a pleasingly slender 102g. It’s available on its own for $34.99 / £35.99 (about AU$50) or in a bundle with a 24-shot roll of bright and colorful Kodak Ultramax 400 for $44.99 / £45.99 (about AU$65).

(Image credit: Kodak / RETO)

• Moonshot has launched a new AI model, Kimi K3
• It's surprisingly powerful, with the Chinese AI firm claiming it outguns most US rivals, save for a couple of exceptions
• Kimi K3 is open weight by nature, which poses a further threat to the likes of OpenAI and Anthropic

Moonshot, one of the emerging Chinese AI giants, has just revealed a new AI model which is seemingly up there with the likes of ChatGPT and Claude.

Bloomberg reports that Moonshot's new Kimi K3 model can equal the best that the US has to offer, at least based on the company's own benchmarking. Seemingly it outguns all rival AIs save for Claude Fable 5 (from Anthropic) and GPT-5.6 (from OpenAI).

Kimi K3 is a model with 2.8 trillion parameters, Bloomberg tells us, and Artificial Analysis ranked it ahead of Anthropic's Opus 4.8 on some benchmarks.

Moonshot also claims it beats Chinese rival Z.AI for coding tasks, and overall, the performance of the new model has caught the market by surprise.

Moonshot notes in a blog post that Kimi K3 is the "world's first open 3T-class model, designed for frontier intelligence across long-horizon coding, knowledge work, and reasoning."

Kimi K3 is available to use now. Bloomberg quotes Leonid Mironov, a portfolio manager at Gavekal Capital, as saying: "In my use, it's clearly the best Chinese model ever," noting that it's "brilliant" no less.

Analysis: a weighty threat

(Image credit: Getty Images)

This is a threat to the big US players in the AI market for several reasons.

The key difference with Kimi K3 is that it's what's known as an "open weight" model, meaning anyone can grab the model to run it for themselves – from July 27, when the weights are released – without paying anything. It's not the same as open source, though, as while you can get the model, what you don't get to do is peek behind the scenes at how the model was trained (and on what data).

The other caveat is that running Kimi K3 takes some extremely powerful hardware; but nonetheless, for firms with the substantial wherewithal to do that, the pre-trained model is there for the taking at no cost. So, you can imagine how this open weight approach is threatening to the AI behemoths in the US (and this is presumably the point of going this way for the Chinese rival).

What will also be a concern to the likes of OpenAI and Anthropic is that Moonshot is attacking one of the most lucrative aspects of AI, with Kimi K3 being pushed for its coding skills. However, Moonshot is charging a lot more than Chinese rivals for those who want to use it, and in fact, it's priced around Claude Sonnet levels, so on a par with the current cutting-edge (frontier) AI models.

That in itself is a signal of the quality on offer here, and why Kimi K3 has raised quite a few eyebrows. As the competition around AI heats up, there are also concerns about whether that means safeguards will be increasingly overlooked in favor of faster development and progress (which has been a consistent source of worry for many as it is).

Adding to all the controversy are accusations of AI theft leveled by the US State Department at Chinese firms earlier this year, Moonshot included.

• A new Marvel's Wolverine trailer has been swarmed by angry PlayStation fans
• Users are sharing their disdain for Sony's decision to end physical disc production
• Many are sharing how glad they are that Wolverine will be available on disc

PlayStation fans angry with Sony's decision to end physical disc production have descended on the latest Marvel's Wolverine to make their thoughts known.

Insomniac Games just released a new cinematic trailer for the upcoming Marvel superhero game titled 'Ain't No Hero' ahead of the game's launch on September 15.

It looks awesome, but if you think fans are having a healthy discussion about how cool the game looks in the comment section, you'd be dead wrong.

As of writing, the video has over 8,000 comments, and the vast majority are from fans who aren't backing down from their efforts to make PlayStation reverse its decision to retire physical discs in 2028.

"You know who isn’t the hero? The killer of physical," reads the top comment, which has over 12,000 likes.

"Wolverine was really getting PHYSICAL in this trailer, he has such a DISCtinct presence," one user said, with another writing, "Wolverine's treasured photograph demonstrates the importance of physical media."

Thankfully, Marvel's Wolverine will be getting a physical copy at launch, so fans won't have to worry about that. The only games that will be affected are titles launching from January 2028 onwards, and fans are letting PlayStation know how they feel about it.

"Can't wait for my DISC copy to come in," one comment reads, followed by numerous more of the same variety, like, "Can't wait for my PHYSICAL COPY," and "Looking forward to getting a PHYSICAL edition."

Since sharing the announcement earlier this month, Sony has been notably quiet in the face of the backlash. To urge the company to reverse its decision, fans have also created a petition, which now has over 326,000 signatures.

According to analysts, despite pushback from fans, the PlayStation maker won't reverse its decision because "digital is just too lucrative."