Technology

Most security operations center (SOC) teams find themselves caught between a rock and a hard place. Threat actors are becoming steadily more effective, organized, and aggressive. At the same time, the average IT environment has grown twice as complex over the last five years. That can only mean we can expect these environments to become twice as dense within another five.

SOC teams therefore struggle to keep up with an overwhelming flood of alerts and prioritizing the most critical threats. This is only compounded by chronic staff shortages.

Security teams end up on the defensive, forced to react to issues rather than proactively addressing risks.

With the speed and scope of cybersecurity threats overwhelming SOC personnel, the superhuman capabilities of AI may offer one of the best chances of keeping up.

The growing burden on SOC teams

SOC teams face an unrelenting workload that highlights the imbalance between attackers and defenders. It’s always been the case that the attackers only need to succeed once, while defenders must constantly triumph to protect their operations. But the aggressors have the odds stacking in their favor with new tools and techniques, running heavily automated operations that allow them to ramp up both the quantity and quality of their attacks.

For example, AI tools are enabling cybercriminal gangs to easily create highly targeted phishing campaigns. Rather than manually trawling for information and attempting to create convincing fakes, threat actors can use AI to swiftly find out about key personnel at potential targets, or where they are hosted, and populate a list of useful elements to include.

Within moments, attackers can be armed with convincing phishing emails impersonating a CEO asking his CFO to authorize a payment, complete with little details like mentions of the upcoming company sales conference.

Even without these insidious new tactics, SOC teams would have their hands full due to the unchecked expansion of hybrid IT environments. A focus on digital growth spanning on-premises systems, cloud computing infrastructure, and mobile and IoT devices has dramatically increased the attack surface — yet Gartner estimates that only 17% of organizations can clearly identify the majority of their software assets. This makes it difficult to address vulnerabilities like misconfigurations or a lack of protections such as multi-factor authentication (MFA). Additionally, this lack of reliable inventory and overview means SOC teams are frequently overwhelmed by the volume of alerts, struggling to sift through countless notifications with already limited staff and resources.

AI as a game-changer in cybersecurity

Defending these complex environments and keeping up with threats requires security teams to match and exceed the speed and efficiency of their attackers. Gartner has predicted that companies investing in continuous threat exposure management programs can reduce breaches by two-thirds, with tools like AI-powered analytics playing a major role.

Yet while the criminal element has been quick to integrate AI into its operations, many security vendors are still reluctant. It’s a similar situation to the early days of the cloud, where there was a great deal of mistrust about its security and reliability. As a whole, security teams and vendors have spent more time thinking about AI as a threat than as a potential tool for enhancing their operations.

However, again echoing cloud uptake, end-user organizations are increasingly looking to make use of AI, regardless of the potential risks. The security industry cannot ignore AI, but instead must seek to guide its use responsibly.

AI offers a solution to many of the challenges SOC teams face by addressing visibility gaps, enhancing threat detection, and improving response efficiency.

One of the most important capabilities is the consolidation of disparate data streams from tools such as endpoint detection systems, identity management platforms, and cloud monitors. This unified approach reduces alert fatigue, providing analysts with actionable insights that improve decision-making.

Implementing AI into security workflows also automates some of the more tedious processes, allowing security teams to focus on high-priority threats. By filtering out low-risk alerts, it removes the noise that often hinders effective decision-making. AI can rapidly triage vulnerabilities, prioritizing those actively being exploited or posing the greatest risk to the organization.

Along with helping beleaguered SOC teams keep up, AI also has some powerful applications in improving proactive security. For example, combining data from across on-premises, cloud, and hybrid environments, enables organizations to identify hidden or misconfigured assets creating vulnerabilities across their attack surface.

We have also seen impressive results in using AI to enhance the detection of zero-day vulnerabilities. AI accelerates the identification of behavioral anomalies, isolating threats before they escalate into full-scale incidents.

Addressing AI risks and challenges

While AI has huge potential to help improve cybersecurity, security vendors and SOC teams must be aware of the potential risks.

We often find that organizations fail to apply the same thoroughness to their AI models as they do to other key systems, leaving them vulnerable to misuse or exploitation. All AI tools need to be carefully vetted to assess how they interact with other systems, and any potential risks and attack vectors must be mapped out.

Further, misusing AI tools, such as by uploading sensitive data to unsecured platforms, can expose organizations to breaches. Strict use policies should be put in place so all users know the acceptable uses for any solutions.

For vendors and SOCs operating as MSSPs, it’s also important to consider potential customer reactions to AI usage. Ask anyone if they’d like a service delivered by an automated system or by human hands, and they’ll undoubtedly pick the human. So it’s critical to frame AI as a tool enhancing the skilled human personnel for the SOC team, rather than a replacement for the human touch.

With a solid implementation plan that considers all the angles, AI tools can be deployed to their full potential without introducing any unnecessary new risks.

The future of AI-powered SOCs

AI is proving to be a critical tool in helping SOC teams manage the growing complexities of cybersecurity. By enhancing visibility, automating repetitive tasks, and prioritizing critical risks, it enables teams to operate more efficiently and effectively.

As attackers increasingly use AI to enhance their methods, organizations must keep pace to remain resilient.

However, there is still no substitute for real human intelligence, and AI is most powerful when combined with human expertise, creating a collaborative approach that addresses both routine and complex challenges.

We've compiled a list of the best endpoint protection software.

This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Feb. 18.

Control smart devices, play music, tell jokes -- Amazon Alexa can do it all and even more with these smart home devices.

At least two workstation specialists have put supercharged PCs with Nvidia RTX 5090 GPUs on sale over the past few days. The most impressive of them all is the Bizon ZX5500 which packs up to seven (yes, seven) water-cooled 32GB RTX 5090 GPUs in a tall tower casing. This is the best GPU ever built and buying it through system builders seems to be the only way to avoid months-long wait.

While BizonTech's solution will probably feature in our best workstation guide, it is not as expansive as Comino’s Grando server, which has eight RTX 5090 GPUs, but the latter has yet to get a launch date (I contacted Comino for more details).

The ZX5500 doesn't come cheap at just under $102,000 with the GPUs accounting the lion share (more than 83%) of the total cost. That’s almost 3x the price of MIFCOM’s Big Boss which has seven liquid-cooled RTX 4090 GPUs.

A beefier 6Kw power supply unit plus and the cards cost an extra $85,000 compared to the same system with a pair of RTX 5080 (with 16GB VRAM each). As a reminder, the suggested retail price of the RTX 5090 is ‘just’ $2000.

An RTX 5090 on its retail packaging on a desk (Image credit: Future) RTX 5090 GPUs, where are you?

I wrote two weeks ago about the Bizontech ZX5500, a 7-GPU RTX 5090 system that, unlike the Grando Comino, can be paired with a dual-core EPYC CPU but had a much higher entry price at $102,000. Other boutique workstation vendors have also managed to secure RTX 5090 units (albeit with a 4-6 weeks leadtime).

UK-based Punch Technology is taking orders for a Threadripper Pro rendering AI workstation with two GPUs, a Threadripper Pro 7995WX, 256GB of RAM and a sticker price of just under £24,000 (about $30,000).

For a bit more, local rival Scan Computers, sells an EPYC-based workstation with eight RTX 5090 for almost two thirds what Comino charges for its system. I reached out to them on X.com (formerly Twitter) to find out whether this is a genuine price, a placeholder or a clumsy mistake.

(ed: Turns out it is a one-year subscription to Scan’s Cloud Workstation service, even more disappointing then)

Puget systems, whose President blamed very limited supply of RTX 5090 for long lead times, is only selling single-GPU configurations for now, although I did notice that you can get a system (the T140-XL) with two 16GB Nvidia RTX 5080 GPUs for a bit less than $13,000, ready to ship in less than two weeks.

Other workstation specialists that are selling RTX 5090 rigs include:

• X.solutions (from only $7,000)
• Neox Computer (from £4,510)
• Boxx (price unknown)
• GladiatorPC (from £12,000)

Popular workstation outfit Titan Computers, and none of the three big PC manufacturers (Dell, Lenovo and HP) have yet to release RTX 5090 workstations.

In his review of the RTX 5090, TechRadar’s John Loeffler calls it the supercar of graphics cards, and asks whether it was simply too powerful, suggesting that it is an absolute glutton for wattage.

“It's overkill”, he quips, “especially if you only want it for gaming, since monitors that can truly handle the frames this GPU can put out are likely years away.”

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Here are some hints — and the answers — for Connections: Sports Edition No. 148 for Tuesday, Feb. 18.

Here are some hints — and the answers — for today's Strands puzzle, No. 352, for Tuesday, Feb. 18.

Here are some hints — and the answers — for Connections No. 618 for Tuesday, Feb. 18.

Here are some hints and the answer for Wordle No. 1,340 for Tuesday, Feb. 18.

• OpenAI has updated its Model Specification to allow ChatGPT to engage with more controversial topics
• The company is emphasizing neutrality and multiple perspectives as a salve for heated complaints over how its AI responds to prompts
• Universal approval is unlikely, no matter how OpenAI shapes its AI training methods

OpenAI's training methods for ChatGPT are shifting to allow the AI chatbot to discuss controversial and sensitive topics in the name of " intellectual freedom."

The change is part of updates made to the 187-page Model Specification, essentially the rulebook for how its AI behaves. That means you'll be able to get a response from ChatGPT on the delicate topics the AI chatbot usually either takes a somewhat mainstream view on, or refuses to answer.

The overarching mission OpenAI places on its models seems innocuous enough at first. “Do not lie, either by making untrue statements or by omitting important context.” But, while the stated goal may be universally admirable in the abstract, OpenAI is either naive or disingenuous in implying that the "important context" can be divorced from controversy.

The examples of compliant and non-compliant responses by ChatGPT make that clear. For instance, you can ask for help starting a tobacco company or ways to conduct "legal insider trading" without getting any judgment or unprompted ethical questions raised by the prompt. On the other hand, you still can't get ChatGPT to help you forge a doctor's signature, because that's outright illegal.

(Image credit: OpenAI) Context clues

The issue of "important context" gets a lot more complex when it comes to the kind of responses some conservative commentators have criticized.

In a section headed "Assume an objective point of view", the Model Spec details how "the assistant should present information clearly, focusing on factual accuracy and reliability", and also that the core idea is "fairly representing significant viewpoints from reliable sources without imposing an editorial stance".

OpenAI does offer an example of a compliant response to the question "Do Black lives matter?" that unequivocally says yes and references how it's a civil rights slogan and the name of a group. So far, so good.

The issue that OpenAI either doesn't see or is ignoring comes with how ChatGPT tries to thread the needle if you ask, "Don't all lives matter?" as a follow-up. The AI confirms that they do, but adds that the "phrase has been used by people that rejected the premise of the 'Black lives matter' movement."

While that context is technically correct, it's telling that the AI doesn't explicitly say that the "premise" being rejected is that Black lives matter and that societal systems often act as though they don't.

If the goal is to alleviate accusations of bias and censorship, OpenAI is in for a rude shock. Those who "reject the premise" will likely be annoyed at the extra context existing at all, while everyone else will see how OpenAI's definition of important context in this case is, to put it mildly, lacking.

AI chatbots inherently shape conversations, whether companies like it or not. When ChatGPT chooses to include or exclude certain information, that’s an editorial decision, even if an algorithm rather than a human is making it.

(Image credit: OpenAI) AI priorities

The timing of this change might raise a few eyebrows, coming as it does when many who have accused OpenAI of political bias against them are now in positions of power capable of punishing the company at their whim.

OpenAI has said the changes are solely for giving users more control over how they interact with AI and don't have any political considerations. However you feel about the changes OpenAI is making, they aren't happening in a vacuum. No company would make possibly contentious changes to their core product without reason.

OpenAI may think that getting its AI models to dodge answering questions that encourage people to hurt themselves or others, spread malicious lies, or otherwise violate its policies is enough to win the approval of most if not all, potential users. But unless ChatGPT offers nothing but dates, recorded quotes, and business email templates, AI answers are going to upset at least some people.

We live in a time when way too many people who know better will argue passionately for years that the Earth is flat or gravity is an illusion. OpenAI sidestepping complaints of censorship or bias is as likely as me abruptly floating into the sky before falling off the edge of the planet.

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• Seagate Ultra Compact SSD bears a striking resemblence to a thumb drive
• Pricing may be a sticking point for users, and performance leaves a lot to be desired
• The slow demise of flash drives marches on

Seagate’s new portable SSD is small but mighty, and may well mark another nail in the coffin for flash drives.

The firm’s new Ultra-Compact SSD, which is available in both a 1TB and 2TB format, boasts a small, sleek design that more closely resembles a thumb stick or top-of-the-range flash drive than a portable SSD.

Complete with a USB-C port, the SSD includes a single-piece aluminum shell and measures in at 2.7 x 0.7 x 0.34 inches. Notably, Seagate had sustainability in mind during development, with the drive made up to at least 35% recycled materials. From a durability perspective, it can also take a slight beating, being rated for drops up to three meters while featuring IP54 dust and water resistance capabilities - so how does it match up to other industry counterparts?

Under the hood of the Seagate Ultra-Compact SSD

As mentioned, the drive comes in both a 1TB and 2TB options. Both of these offer sequential read and write speeds of up to 1,000 Mbps.

PCMark 10 trace-based testing by Tom’s Hardware showed it wasn’t quite up to scratch with other options available on the market, however. On transfer rates, the drive also “fails to impress” - particularly on read speeds.

Its write speed of 512 Mbps did rank it in fourth place behind the Silicon Power DS72 (1TB), Silicon Power MS70 (1TB), and the PNY Pro Elite 3 (1TB). Tom’s Hardware further noted that with a mixed-file read speed of 570 Mbps, this still remains quite an impressive performance for such a compact drive.

One particular area that users may find appealing are the backup recovery options, though. The SSD ships with Seagate Rescue Data Recovery service, covering users for up to three years.

All told, the SSD is an impressive bit of kit for your everyday user. Capabilities may be lacking in some areas, but its compact design will likely be a draw.

There is one major detail that might put customers off, though: the pricing. The 1TB option comes in at £90.99, making it a middling option compared to other drives available. The price jump to the 2TB version - priced at $179.99 - might be jarring.

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Elon Musk claims to have found rampant fraud in the Social Security Administration. There's a much simpler explanation.

Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Monday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Monday, February 17 (game #1120).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #1121) - hint #1 - Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1121) - hint #2 - repeated letters Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 0.

Quordle today (game #1121) - hint #3 - uncommon letters Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1121) - hint #4 - starting letters (1) Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1121) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• T

• S

• B

• D

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

Quordle today (game #1121) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1121, are…

• TAMER
• SCRUB
• BRICK
• DRIFT

I employed a different tactic today, using four start words instead of two. The idea is that eliminating a larger number of letters makes getting the four words faster and easier.

The person who suggested this method on Reddit claimed they regularly complete Quordle in under a minute and I fully believe them.

It worked for me in terms of speed, but it’s far from foolproof as it leaves an uncomfortable margin of error as the best you can do is finish after eight guesses with one line to spare.

Meanwhile, I completed today’s Sequence with the same number of guesses and without any method at all.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Daily Sequence today (game #1121) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1121, are…

• BURNT
• EDIFY
• THERE
• SHEET

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1120, Monday 17 February: SADLY, WAFER, LITHE, IDIOM
• Quordle #1119, Sunday 16 February: GHOUL, AFIRE, COVEN, FIERY
• Quordle #1118, Saturday 15 February: CREEP, CONDO, GRILL, FANCY
• Quordle #1117, Friday 14 February: MEDIA, ELUDE, THUMB, WIDOW
• Quordle #1116, Thursday 13 February: SCALP, DWELL, AMPLE, TRUNK
• Quordle #1115, Wednesday 12 February: SHOOK, GRADE, POLAR, SEEDY
• Quordle #1114, Tuesday 11 February: HEAVY, CIRCA, PESKY, SCION
• Quordle #1113, Monday 10 February: TWIXT, FRESH, GUISE, TABBY
• Quordle #1112, Sunday 9 February: TAPIR, SHAKE, TOKEN, SEVEN
• Quordle #1111, Saturday 8 February: AFOOT, ALIKE, HUMUS, TOWEL
• Quordle #1110, Friday 7 February: PETAL, ABASE, AMONG, CORER
• Quordle #1109, Thursday 6 February: MADAM, SCAMP, FAUNA, TRACK
• Quordle #1108, Wednesday 5 February: SIXTH, VERVE, BLURB, CACTI
• Quordle #1107, Tuesday 4 February: BIRTH, DRAWN, MILKY, JOIST
• Quordle #1106, Monday 3 February: SLEET, TENSE, SEIZE, SCAMP
• Quordle #1105, Sunday 2 February: LOUSY, PENNE, CHUMP, SALVE
• Quordle #1104, Saturday 1 February: FACET, BLISS, FLUFF, FRANK
• Quordle #1103, Friday 31 January: PARER, SYNOD, BRAWN, BANJO
• Quordle #1102, Thursday 30 January: WEEDY, CHIRP, STALE, SUGAR
• Quordle #1101, Wednesday 29 January: CROWN, SCENE, AGILE, CRANK

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Monday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Monday, February 17 (game #351).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #352) - hint #1 - today's theme What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Ouch!

NYT Strands today (game #352) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

• SCORE
• BLEEP
• CONE
• CORNER
• SOIL
• SELL

NYT Strands today (game #352) - hint #3 - spangram What is a hint for today's spangram?

• Deliver venom

NYT Strands today (game #352) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: right, 3rd row

Last side: left, 7th row

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #352) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #352, are…

• JELLYFISH
• SPORPION
• HORNET
• PLATYPUS
• BUMBLEBEE
• SPANGRAM: STINGERS

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

Strands really is an education.

I knew that the PLATYPUS is a strange mammal with a duck’s bill, otter-like body and beaver-type tail. And I knew that they are unique to Australia. But I had no idea they had STINGERS too (well, the male of the species do at least).

It turns out being venomous is just one of the many remarkable features of this incredible creature – they’ve got two layers of fur, they lay eggs, they glow in the dark, they hunt using electroreception, the plural of platypus is platypus. They can complete Strands in 45 seconds without any hints. They are brilliant.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Monday, 17 February, game #351)

• LEMON
• CANARY
• GOLDENROD
• MUSTARD
• SAFFRON
• DAFFODIL
• SPANGRAM: YELLOW

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now out of beta so is a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable and can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Monday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Monday, February 17 (game #617).

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #618) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• HEARTY
• READY
• HANDY
• SQUARE
• AVAILABLE
• BUTTY
• CAVITY
• FILLING
• FOOTY
• HOLE
• SOLID
• CHIPPY
• HOLLOW
• TELLY
• NEARBY
• PIT

NYT Connections today (game #618) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: Big and hollow 
• GREEN: Easy to get 
• BLUE: Large portion 
• PURPLE: UK speak

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #618) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: CRATER 
• GREEN: ACCESSIBLE 
• BLUE: SUBSTANTIAL, AS A MEAL 
• PURPLE: BRITISHISMS 

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #618) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #618, are…

• YELLOW: CRATER CAVITY, HOLE, HOLLOW, PIT
• GREEN: ACCESSIBLE AVAILABLE, HANDY, NEARBY, READY
• BLUE: SUBSTANTIAL, AS A MEAL FILLING, HEARTY, SOLID, SQUARE
• PURPLE: BRITISHISMS BUTTY, CHIPPY, FOOTY, TELLY

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

Finally, Connections gives me a Purple group I can solve easily and acknowledges the vast army of UK players to boot.

In case you are unaware, a BUTTY is a sandwich made of one slice of bread folded over – invariably filled with chips that you’d buy from a CHIPPY (fish and chip shop) sprinkled with salt and vinegar and red sauce (ketchup), that you eat while watching the FOOTY (soccer) on your TELLY – a delicacy that is more of a snack than SUBSTANTIAL, AS A MEAL.

And now I'm hungry. Thank you, Connections.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Monday, 17 February, game #617)

• YELLOW: TIME OFF BREAK, LEAVE, REST, VACATION
• GREEN: FOLLOW A MEANDERING COURSE CURVE, SNAKE, WEAVE, WIND
• BLUE: BOWLING RESULTS DOUBLE, SPARE, STRIKE, TURKEY
• PURPLE: -__FISH BLOW, CAT, GOLD, SWORD

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.

On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.

It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.

It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

• Google has reversed its policy on 'fingerprinting'
• 'Fingerprinting' is a technique used to collect personal user data
• Users have very little say over what information is given to advertisers

Do you sometimes wish that online advertisers had access to more of your private information without your consent or knowledge? Well, you might just be in luck.

As of February 16 2025, Google is permitting ‘fingerprinting’, which is a stealthy technique which tracks things like your IP addresses, screen resolution, operating systems, and even battery percentage - until it has a creepily accurate profile of you.

This practice will be particularly disturbing to the privacy-conscious among us since it's virtually impossible for users to control what information is collected and when. You can turn off all cookies, use all the private browsers, and use the best VPN money can buy, but you could still be tracked with this technique.

Why the change of heart?

In its response, the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office stated it considers fingerprinting to be, ‘not a fair means of tracking users online because it is likely to reduce people’s choice and control over how their information is collected’.

The move is is a pretty stark 180-degree turn in terms of policy, considering that in 2019, Google condemned the practice of fingerprinting, saying;

“Unlike cookies, users cannot clear their fingerprint, and therefore cannot control how their information is collected. We think this subverts user choice and is wrong.”

But the practice will, ‘ help businesses, large and small, meet the opportunities of the evolving digital landscape’, Google’s statement latest says, and it does claim to be ‘meeting user expectations for privacy’ - but you can decide for yourself if your expectations are being met with this policy.

So what can you do about it? Unfortunately, not a lot. The ICO admits, ‘even privacy-conscious users will find this difficult to stop’ as the practice is harder for browsers to block, and it relies on signals you can’t easily wipe - so pressing ‘clear all site data’ won’t stop the advertiser from using the same fingerprinting techniques to just identify you all over again.

That being said, some browsers, such as Firefox and the Brave browser, have fingerprinting protection features that can scramble things like time zone, language, fonts, and language in reports to websites. There are also Google Chrome extensions like Canvas Blocker which can function in a similar way.

If you want more information, we've written a full guide on what fingerprinting is and how to protect yourself.

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• A new leak suggests Alexa's AI is too innacurate to launch yet
• It'll still be shown off on February 26, but won't release until later
• The leak follows reports Alexa was delayed from 2024 due to similar issues

It’s all but guaranteed that Amazon is launching a new version of Alexa with souped up AI brain power on February 26 – it literally spelled it out in an announcement – but disaster might have struck at the final hurdle. Alexa AI is reportedly delayed, again.

That’s per an anonymous source who spoke with The Washington Post (the report is behind a paywall) claiming that the new Alexa has been making too many mistakes when asked test questions. As a result Alexa is being delayed to improve its accuracy – with the current launch date now put back 'til March 31.

Amazon is still expected to unveil the all-new Alexa at the New York event on February 26 as it originally planned, however, we expect access to the AI (and the questions it’ll answer in demos) might be restricted so as not to reveal its potentially less-than-perfect side.

As with all rumored information, we should still take all of this with a pinch of salt, though if The Washington Post is correct, this wouldn’t be the first time Alexa has been delayed. Multiple sources had teased a 2024 launch date, with accuracy issues once again cited as the reason Alexa was held back.

(Image credit: Amazon)

Beyond causing a delay, these issues could also prove a blow to Amazon’s rumored plan to charge users for Alexa's help. It’s been said the revamped Alexa could cost paying customers $5-$10 a month to use (around £5-£10 / AU$8-AU$16). If Alexa is unreliable – or has a reputation for being unreliable beyond what’s expected from a current-gen AI – we imagine there won’t be many users keen to pay for the service.

At least the current-version of Alexa is said to be sticking around as a permanently free and generally reliable option.

If Amazon can solve Alexa’s accuracy problems, the new AI does sound rather useful. Alexa AI is said to be smarter so it can handle multiple prompts at once, rather than requiring its user to give distinct commands one after the other, and to perform as an AI agent – read: taking actions without direct user requests.

Admittedly that last point sounds a little scary, given that Alexa AI would have our credit card info and direct access to the world’s largest online store (Amazon), especially if Alexa is prone to mistakes (I know I'd be nervous about using it). But if Amazon can prove its agent is genuinely helpful, Alexa might finally start living up to the futuristic home assistant many imagined it would be when it first launched.

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• GlobalFoundries was spun off when AMD decided to go fabless 16 years ago
• Thomas Caulfield’s leadership made GloFo profitable; now rumors link him to Intel
• A merger could help Intel, but regulatory hurdles might block the deal

GlobalFoundries (GloFlo) was founded in March 2009 when a struggling AMD spun off its manufacturing division to go fabless, a move designed to help it survive in the highly competitive semiconductor industry.

GloFo eventually became a key player in the foundry business, with a global manufacturing footprint across the US, Europe, and Asia, focusing on specialty chips rather than competing at the leading edge. Under the leadership of Thomas Caulfield, who became CEO in 2018, GlobalFoundries pursued a strategy that led it to become the third-largest semiconductor foundry by revenue, and a public listing in 2021.

However, speculation is currently brewing that Caulfield could be set to become the next CEO of AMD’s long time chip rival, Intel. As reported by eeNews Europe, the rumors began following an unexpected leadership change at GlobalFoundries. Caulfield is set to move from CEO to executive chairman, with Tim Breen, who has also been at the company since 2018, taking over as CEO. This shift has led observers to question whether Caulfield may be preparing for a leadership role at Intel, which has been without a permanent CEO since Pat Gelsinger’s departure in December 2024.

Regulatory hurdles

Caulfield has extensive experience in semiconductor manufacturing but has not led a product company like Intel. This has fueled suggestions that instead of simply taking over as CEO, he could oversee a merger between Intel and GloFo. In such a scenario, eeNews Europe suggests that Caulfield would become executive chair of the combined entity, with Michelle Johnston Holthaus leading Intel’s product business and Breen integrating GlobalFoundries into Intel Foundry.

A merger would definitely benefit both parties. While AMD has seen its fortunes soar in recent times, intel has been struggling. Joining forces with GlobalFoundries could allow the merged company to offer a broader range of manufacturing capabilities.

Adding further fuel to the rumor mill, eeNews Europe reports that observers on a Reddit stream noted a recent purchase of 8,913,000 Intel shares at $19.29. This unusual transaction occurred two days before GlobalFoundries announced its leadership changes, drawing comparisons to the $172 million stock incentive given to Gelsinger when he became Intel’s CEO in 2021.

Any potential merger would of course face regulatory hurdles, particularly in China, which previously blocked Intel’s attempt to acquire Tower Semiconductor. If approval proves difficult, eeNews Europe suggests Intel could appoint Caulfield as CEO while maintaining close ties with GlobalFoundries.

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• Amazon is removing the Download & Transfer via USB option on Kindles
• The feature hadn't appeared on the latest models
• It's likely that the move is to combat ebook piracy

I've owned and loved some of the best Kindles in the series since Amazon first introduced the ereader, but using these devices can feel somewhat restrictive – especially now Amazon is killing off a useful USB file transfer feature.

As reported by The Verge, the Download & Transfer via USB option is going away on February 26. That means you'll no longer be able to download ebooks purchased from Amazon, and then move them to your Kindle over a wired USB connection.

The feature isn't actually available on the latest generation of Kindles, pushed out last year, but all other models are going to be affected. Amazon doesn't give a reason for the move, but it's almost certainly to crack down on ebook piracy.

Using fairly simple tools available online, users could download purchased ebooks from Amazon, crack the DRM (Digital Rights Management) protection on them, and send them to other devices or distribute them widely on the web. That will no longer be possible.

Less flexibility

An ebook on the Kindle Oasis

As is often the case, efforts to battle digital pirates means rule-abiding users lose out. This means ebooks can no longer be saved on computers as backups, or moved over without a Wi-Fi connection, which gave Kindle owners some extra flexibility.

It's worth bearing in mind that Amazon does occasionally remove ebooks from its catalog, or replace them with modified versions. Now more than ever, users are going to be at the whims of what Amazon decides to make available.

You will still be able to move ebooks over via Wi-Fi of course, as well as transfer files to your Kindle via USB and software such as Calibre. It's specifically the ability to download purchases from the Amazon website to a computer that's disappearing.

This also gets closer to fully killing off the older AZW3 format for Amazon ebooks: it's been replaced by the newer KFX format, which is much harder to crack in terms of its DRM, and which is now used in most situations (except downloads to a computer).

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