Feed aggregator

• Hackers are increasingly targeting social media influencers and content creators
• Their accounts have enormous reach, which crooks can use to deploy malware
• Followers are often drawn into crypto scams and identity theft

Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting social media influencers and other popular individuals in an attempt to infect their followers with malware, draw them into crypto scams, or steal their sensitive information.

A new report from Bitdefender has warned the trend was widespread in 2024, and has now continued into 2025 too.

Threat actors would first approach social media influencers and content creators in different ways, the report notes - they might offer fake sponsorship deals, fake advanced AI-powered video software, or through simple phishing attacks. If the victim falls for the trick and downloads malware, the attackers get ahold of the login credentials for the different platforms they’re using (YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and others).

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Millions of people at risk

The platforms are then used to target the followers in different ways.

For example, Bitdefender says there were more than 9,000 malicious live streams on YouTube alone.

“These streams often appear legitimate at first glance, but they are controlled by hackers who have rebranded compromised channels,” they said. Rebrands often spoof major names such as Donald Trump, Elon Musk (a favorite among crypto scammers), Michael Saylor, or Brad Garlinghouse.

The researchers believe this is a major problem, with millions of people at risk. In fact, one compromised YouTube account was followed by more than 28 million people, and another compromised account has had more than 12 billion views in total.

“The staggering number underscores the global reach that threat actors can access,” Bitdefender added. “If cybercriminals convert just 1% of those views, that equates to a staggering 124 million potential victims exposed to scams, malware, or data theft.”

During these live streams, crooks would promote malicious domains, which they can use to steal credentials, people’s cryptocurrency holdings, or personal information.

Content creators are advised to tighten up on security, while followers should be skeptical of everything they see online, including information coming from their favorite influencer.

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The photo-centric social media platform has long focused on its smartphone app. That may be about to change, according to a report.

Effective immediately, the government says it will begin screening immigrant social media for activity that officials think indicates support for antisemitism.

(Image credit: Rebecca Noble)

Roku doesn't support native VPN apps, but you can still use a VPN to stream your favorite content on your Roku device.

U.S. stock indices were modestly higher, even as President Trump's latest round of tariffs kicked in. But nerves abounded, with China and the EU announcing they would retaliate with their own tariffs.

(Image credit: Angela Weiss)

The tech industry is driving civilization forward at a breathtaking pace. In the past 50 years, humanity has witnessed an extraordinary leap in technological evolution, from the early days of personal computing and the internet to the rise of artificial intelligence, quantum computing and biotechnology, breakthroughs that have reshaped medicine and daily life

Alongside these advances, society has made significant strides in gender and racial equality, fostering more inclusive workplaces, legal protections and shifting cultural attitudes that empower diverse voices.

Yet, for all these laudable advancements, the IT sector continues to struggle with an age-old issue: gender disparity. Despite ongoing conversations around diversity, women remain underrepresented, particularly in leadership roles.

According to the World Economic Forum's 2024 Global Gender Gap Report, women make up only 25% of the workforce in the technology sector, with a mere 10% occupying senior positions. The gap is not just a moral issue, it’s a business problem and a significant one at that.

The need for gender diversity in tech goes beyond equality, it directly impacts innovation, problem-solving and financial performance. Research has repeatedly shown that companies with diverse teams outperform their homogenous counterparts. To bridge this gap, organizations must actively work to dismantle the barriers preventing women from advancing in the industry.

Innovation and creativity flourish in diverse teams

One of the most compelling reasons for increasing gender diversity in tech is its impact on innovation. A 2023 study by McKinsey found that companies with high representation of women and ethnic minorities in leadership positions had 39% higher financial performance. Furthermore, companies in the top quartile for gender diversity are 21% more likely to experience above-average profitability.

When teams include people from different backgrounds, perspectives collide in ways that lead to fresh ideas. Women in tech bring unique insights shaped by their experiences, which can lead to innovations that better serve diverse markets. The inclusion of varied viewpoints encourages out-of-the-box thinking, which is essential in an industry that thrives on cutting-edge advancements.

In addition to these internal advantages, external investors and other stakeholders are also increasingly considering diversity as a marker of a company’s long-term success. Organizations that actively cultivate diverse leadership teams are perceived as more forward-thinking and adaptable, which strengthens their position in the market.

Better decision-making and problem-solving

Diverse teams don’t just come up with better ideas, they also make better decisions. A white paper by Cloverpop has found that inclusive teams actually make better business decisions up to 87% of the time, and they make those decisions twice as fast within half as many meetings. Cognitive diversity, differences in perspective and problem-solving approaches enable teams to assess situations from multiple angles, ultimately leading to more informed and effective decision-making.

In tech, where rapid decision-making is required, the ability to analyze situations through different lenses can be a game-changer. A more diverse team is better equipped to anticipate risks, troubleshoot problems and develop solutions that take multiple user experiences into account. The more perspectives available in a room, the greater the chance of catching flaws before they become costly mistakes.

A stronger connection to a broader market

Gender diversity in tech isn’t just beneficial internally, it also translates to a competitive edge in the marketplace. A diverse workforce allows companies to better understand and connect with a wide range of customers. According to a study by McKinsey, organizations with more diverse teams are better positioned to meet the needs of diverse customer bases, which can translate to improved market share and revenue growth.

Women make up nearly half of global consumers, yet when tech teams are male-dominated, products and services often fail to address the needs of female users effectively. The rise of female-driven innovation, such as wearable tech designed for women’s health, illustrates how a gender-balanced workforce leads to products that are more inclusive and marketable. Companies that prioritize diversity are more likely to design solutions that resonate with a broader customer demographic, giving them an undeniable business advantage.

Higher employee satisfaction and retention

A study by Glassdoor found a workplace that values diversity fosters an environment of inclusion and belonging, leading to higher employee satisfaction and retention. When employees feel valued and represented, they are more likely to stay with their employer long-term. In tech, where talent retention is a significant challenge, this is a crucial factor. Women in particular often cite workplace culture and lack of advancement opportunities as key reasons for leaving the industry. Companies that actively support career progression for women, through mentorship programs, flexible work policies and equitable pay, see higher levels of engagement and loyalty across the workforce.

A boost to company reputation and brand perception

Diversity isn’t just good for business, it’s also good for branding. Organizations that foster an inclusive culture enjoy stronger reputations and greater appeal to top talent. Research from Catalyst found that companies with inclusive business cultures are 57.8% more likely to enhance their reputations.

In the tech industry, which faces a continuous battle for skilled workers, reputation matters. Companies known for prioritizing diversity attract top-tier talent from a wider pool, giving them a competitive advantage. Additionally, today’s consumers and clients are increasingly aligning with brands that uphold values of inclusivity and social responsibility. By committing to gender diversity, tech companies position themselves as progressive industry leaders.

Kaspersky’s commitment to bridging the gender gap

Acknowledging the importance of gender diversity, Kaspersky has been working to raise awareness and drive an industry-wide change through educational projects. To coincide with International Women’s Day in March 2025, the company launched “Confronting IT’s Career Barriers,” an interactive test designed to explore gender and work-life balance barriers in IT. This initiative invited professionals to navigate common workplace challenges, gaining insight into the real impact of these barriers and discovering strategies for overcoming them.

By highlighting these obstacles, Kaspersky aims to spark conversations and inspire meaningful change within the industry. The test also showcases the company’s own diversity and inclusion initiatives, including equal pay policies, mentorship programs and flexible work arrangements designed to support career progression for women in tech.

Beyond this initiative, Kaspersky continues to champion gender diversity through projects such as the Empower Women platform, which shares stories of female professionals excelling in the cybersecurity sector. The company is committed to fostering an inclusive work environment where talent is recognized and rewarded, regardless of gender.

The road to gender equality in tech is long, but it is a journey worth taking. Companies that embrace diversity will not only drive innovation and profitability, but also help shape a more inclusive and equitable future for the entire industry. By supporting initiatives like Kaspersky’s, organizations can take a crucial step toward creating workplaces where everyone, regardless of gender, has the opportunity to thrive.

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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

After three years away, Love, Death + Robots is back for an exciting new volume – and its streaming date is just a few weeks away. Volume 4 comes to Netflix on May 15, and if the teaser trailer is any indication it's going to be epic, edge-of-the-seat TV.

As with previous seasons of one of the best Netflix shows, volume 4 consists of self-contained animated shorts with their own characters and distinctive visual styles. And as you'll see from the trailer, this looks like it'll be a ton of robot-related fun.

Love, Death & Robots Volume 4: what to expect

Here are some of the things you'll see in volume 4 based on the trailer: an apparently sentient sex toy with googly eyes; what looks like a giant rock concert; a scary, sweary cyborg; a giant baby; dinosaurs fighting; half of the Golden Gate going missing... and that's just the first 12 seconds of the trailer.

It's clearly going to be visually stunning, and as ever the changes of style between each short are striking: there's classic comic book-esque action, photorealistic CGI and much more.

There will be ten shorts in volume 4, and while Netflix isn't giving too much away it promises "Dinosaur gladiators, messianic cats [and] string-puppet rock stars". The official synopsis says:

"The fourth volume, presented by Tim Miller and David Fincher, sees Jennifer Yuh Nelson return as supervising director for 10 startling shorts showcasing the series's signature, award-winning style of bleeding-edge animation, horror, sci-fi and humour. Buckle up."

Love, Death + Robots volume 4 will be streaming on Netflix from May 15.

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The new leadership vowed to disband all militias. But the fiercely independent Druze have made no agreement, and say they're gathering fighters and making plans to repel government forces if needed.

(Image credit: Emily Garthwaite for NPR)

CRM is a brilliant way to boost your business, connect with customers, and generally make life easier. But let's be honest, sometimes CRM implementations can feel a bit like navigating a maze blindfolded. Things like unclear goals, resistance from users, data disasters, and integration headaches can quickly turn CRM dreams into CRM nightmares.

CRM needs to work for you, not against you. This guide will tackle those tricky bits head-on and give you practical tips to sail smoothly through the process.

Challenge 1: Lack of clear objectives and strategy

More often than not, jumping into CRM implementation without clear goals will end up costing you time, money, and probably a bit of sanity. Many businesses adopt CRM with a vague idea of "improving customer relationships," but that's not specific enough. This often leads to poor user adoption (because no one knows why they're using it) and a whole lot of wasted investment.

The solution

Before you even think about which CRM to choose, you need to define exactly what you want to achieve and create a roadmap for your CRM journey.

Ask yourself:

What are our biggest business challenges? Are we struggling with lead management? Do we need better visibility into customer interactions? Are we looking to streamline our sales process?

How can CRM help us overcome these challenges? Be specific — instead of "improve customer relationships," think "increase customer retention by 10% within six months".

What are our KPIs? How will we measure the success of our CRM implementation? This could include things like increased sales, improved customer satisfaction scores, or reduced support costs.

Once you have a clear understanding of your objectives, you can align them with your overall business needs. This will ensure that your CRM implementation is not just an ad-hoc project, but a strategic initiative that drives real business value. And that's where the magic happens.

Challenge 2: Getting everyone on board

When it comes to CRM, one of the biggest hurdles is getting your team to actually use the system. Many businesses invest in a top-range CRM, only to find it gathering dust because employees are resistant to change. This can be due to several reasons — fear of complexity, concerns about workflow disruption, or simply a lack of understanding about the benefits.

The solution

Getting your team on board is crucial for CRM success. It's not enough to just roll out the system and expect everyone to embrace it — you need to actively advocate for user adoption and address any concerns.

Here’s how:

Invest in thorough training. Don't just give your team a quick overview and expect them to become CRM experts overnight.

Be there to answer questions, provide guidance, and troubleshoot any issues that arise. A dedicated support team or internal CRM champion can make a huge difference.

Don't just tell your team what the CRM does, show them how it will make their lives easier. Will it help them close more deals? Will it streamline their workflows? Will it give them better insights into customer behavior? Focus on the positive impact on their day-to-day work.

Encourage your team to provide feedback on the CRM and be willing to make adjustments as needed.

Address user adoption head-on and you can transform your CRM from a source of frustration into a powerful tool that empowers your team and drives business success.

Challenge 3: Taming the data beast

Migrating existing customer data into a new CRM can be a messy business. Outdated records, duplicate entries, inconsistent formatting – it's not a pretty picture. And if your data is a mess going in, it's going to be a mess coming out. Inconsistencies and inaccuracies can lead to all sorts of problems, from inaccurate reporting to missed opportunities.

The solution

The key to a successful data migration is preparation. You can't just dump your existing data into the new CRM and hope for the best. You need a structured plan and a commitment to data quality.

Here's the playbook:

Conduct a thorough data audit. Take a close look at your existing data. Identify any inconsistencies, outdated records, or duplicate entries. This is your chance to clean things up and ensure that you're migrating only the good stuff.

Cleanse outdated records. Get rid of any data that's no longer relevant or accurate. This will not only improve the quality of your CRM data but also make the migration process smoother.

Ensure a structured migration plan. Don't just wing it! Develop a detailed plan that outlines how you'll migrate your data. This should include timelines, responsibilities, and contingency plans. Think of it as your data migration roadmap.

Before you migrate all of your data, test the process with a smaller sample. This will help you identify any potential issues and make sure everything goes smoothly when you do the real thing.

Take a proactive approach to data quality and your CRM will be populated with accurate, reliable data that you can actually use to make informed business decisions.

Challenge 4: Integration with existing systems

Your CRM isn't an island. It needs to work in harmony with your other business systems, like your ERP, marketing automation platform, and accounting software. The problem is, sometimes these systems don't speak the same language. Integrating them can be a technical challenge, and if it's not done right, you can end up with data silos and duplicated efforts.

The solution

Seamless integration is key to maximizing the value of your CRM. You want a system that can easily connect with your other business tools, allowing data to flow freely between them.

Here's what to look for:

Choose a CRM with robust integration capabilities. Some offer limited integration options, while others are designed to connect with a wide range of systems. Do your research and choose a CRM that can handle your specific integration needs.

Ensure IT alignment early on. Integration is a technical undertaking, so it's essential to involve your IT team from the very beginning.

Consider APIs and pre-built integrations. APIs allow different systems to communicate with each other. Look for a CRM that offers robust APIs or pre-built integrations with the systems you use. This will make the integration process much smoother.

Once you've integrated your systems, test them thoroughly to make sure everything is working as expected. Then make sure you’re monitoring the integration regularly to identify and address any issues that may arise.

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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

Vallow Daybell is charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in the death of her husband, Charles Vallow, in Arizona in 2019.

(Image credit: Tony Blakeslee)

Keeping your viewing history private isn't the only reason to remove the shows and movies you watched.

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 Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Wednesday, April 9 (game #1171).

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 #1172) - hint #1 - Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 5*.

* 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 #1172) - 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 2.

Quordle today (game #1172) - 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 #1172) - 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 #1172) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• L

• S

• U

• N

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

Quordle today (game #1172) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1172, are…

• LEAST
• SEWER
• UNTIE
• NOOSE

Faced with two possible words – unite or UNTIE – I chose the wrong one, but that was my only piece of misfortune on an otherwise easy run where I was virtually gifted my first two correct words (LEAST and SEWER).

The final word – NOOSE – took a little bit of thinking time, but the only other two words I could think of that started N-O and ended S-E were impossible (noise and norse).

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

Daily Sequence today (game #1172) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1172, are…

• MAPLE
• DUTCH
• BANAL
• HUMPH

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1171, Wednesday 9 April: LITHE, LEFTY, KNOLL, MULCH
• Quordle #1170, Tuesday 8 April: WIDTH, VISOR, MEDAL, BROOK
• Quordle #1169, Monday 7 April: BROTH, SHOUT, BRUTE, CABIN
• Quordle #1168, Sunday 6 April: AMBER, GAUZE, STORE, SLICK
• Quordle #1167, Saturday 5 April: GUSTY, VAULT, WHINE, BEGAT
• Quordle #1166, Friday 4 April: OAKEN, LOOPY, CURIO, BUTTE
• Quordle #1165, Thursday 3 April: ASCOT, JETTY, DRUNK, JOLLY
• Quordle #1164, Wednesday 2 April: INDEX, QUEEN, INCUR, STOLE
• Quordle #1163, Tuesday 1 April: HUMUS, BALMY, WORRY, ERECT
• Quordle #1162, Monday 31 March: RECUT, MOODY, WHERE, BRACE
• Quordle #1161, Sunday 30 March: CRIME, DRINK, CLOVE, TRUER
• Quordle #1160, Saturday 29 March: LATER, ODDLY, CUMIN, AGREE
• Quordle #1159, Friday 28 March: TERSE, MUSHY, PROVE, FROND
• Quordle #1158, Thursday 27 March: CRONE, APNEA, LIGHT, AWOKE
• Quordle #1157, Wednesday 26 March: LEFTY, NOOSE, NOISE, TRIAD
• Quordle #1156, Tuesday 25 March: SNEER, WATCH, FLORA, STAIN
• Quordle #1155, Monday 24 March: FLOUT, SMASH, RAZOR, SMALL
• Quordle #1154, Sunday 23 March: ALLEY, GAMUT, GEESE, RADII
• Quordle #1153, Saturday 22 March: PICKY, BRACE, BOOZE, SURLY
• Quordle #1152, Friday 21 March: DITTY, VALOR, TOWER, AMISS

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 Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Wednesday, April 9 (game #402).

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

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… What's the buzz?

NYT Strands today (game #403) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• TIGER
• THEN
• SNUG
• DAME
• TEAM
• DATE

NYT Strands today (game #403) - hint #3 - spangram letters How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 9 letters

NYT Strands today (game #403) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: right, 8th row

Last side: left, 8th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #403) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #403, are…

• WINGS
• THORAX
• TONGUE
• ABDOMEN
• STINGER
• ANTENNAE
• SPANGRAM: BUMBLE BEE

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 1 hint

The first couple of words I found in today's search were WINGS and THORAX, so I knew we were looking for something to do with insects, but I wasn’t sure which one until I got the Spangram right at the end. A timely theme as we are entering the peak period for bumblebee activity.

Some BUMBLEBEEs are extraordinarily buzzy. Generally they come in peace and don’t use their STINGER on humans, as they’re only interested in two things – getting nectar from flowers and getting trapped in window blinds.

Interestingly, if you do get stung by a bumblebee then it will be by a female, as male drones have no weapons whatsoever – apart from being annoying.

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Wednesday, 9 April, game #402)

• WATERMELON
• ARUGULA
• AVOCADO
• CAULIFLOWER
• SPANGRAM: FOUR SYLLABLES

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which 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 Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Wednesday, April 9 (game #668).

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 #669) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• NAUGHTY
• CANARY
• COAL
• MINE
• MUSTARD
• SOY
• RESERVE
• MAYO
• GOLD
• GUSTO
• GRINCH
• ELLA
• WELL
• BAH
• LEMON
• STORE

NYT Connections today (game #669) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Mix red and green
• GREEN: Stock 
• BLUE: Yuletide jeers 
• PURPLE: Palabras en español

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 #669) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: SHADES OF YELLOW 
• GREEN: SUPPLY 
• BLUE: ANTI-SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS 
• PURPLE: SPANISH WORDS 

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

NYT Connections today (game #669) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #669, are…

• YELLOW: SHADES OF YELLOW CANARY, GOLD, LEMON, MUSTARD
• GREEN: SUPPLY MINE, RESERVE, STORE, WELL
• BLUE: ANTI-SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS BAH, COAL, GRINCH, NAUGHTY
• PURPLE: SPANISH WORDS ELLA, GUSTO, MAYO, SOY

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 1 mistake

Having skipped the obvious trickery – CANARY, COAL, MINE – I fell for one of my own making, thinking that SOY, MUSTARD, MAYO, and LEMON would make an excellent salad dressing. It was wrong, of course. Also I’d add a bit of honey if I was going to make it.

Having SHADES OF YELLOW being the yellow group was a cute touch. I can remember them doing the same for green last year (olive, forest, lime and mint) but I don’t think they’ve done blue or purple yet, so I’ll be on the look out for those.

If the group felt familiar it could be because yellow shades cropped up as a theme in Strands a few weeks ago, but there we had goldenrod instead of GOLD.

The SPANISH WORDS seem quite random and I’m wondering if I’m missing something special about ELLA (she), GUSTO (taste), MAYO (May), and SOY (am) – a common sensation with the purple group, which usually travels a mile over my head.

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

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Wednesday, 9 April, game #668)

• YELLOW: ROUND THREE-DIMENSIONAL OBJECTS BALL, GLOBE, ORB, SPHERE
• GREEN: PUNCH POP, POUND, SLUG, SOCK
• BLUE: ANIMALS IN THE WITCHES' BREW IN "MACBETH" BAT, DOG, FROG, NEWT
• PURPLE: FOX___ GLOVE, HOLE, HOUND, TROT

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.

• The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency confirmed suffering a data breach
• It told US Congress it was a "major information security incident"
• The identity of the miscreants is not known at this time

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), a US federal agency that acts as a national banks regulator, confirmed suffering a cyberattack recently.

In a short press release published on its website, the OCC said that in February 2025 it “identified, isolated and resolved” a security incident “involving an administrative account in the OCC email system.”

Running its due diligence, the OCC analyzed all email logs since 2022 and said it identified a “limited number” of affected email accounts, all of which have since been disabled.

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100 regulators' emails

“The OCC reported the incident to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, as required,” the agency concluded. “There is no indication of any impact to the financial sector at this time.”

The OCC is an independent bureau of the US Department of the Treasury that regulates and supervises national banks and federal savings associations to ensure they operate safely, soundly, and in compliance with laws and regulations.

Its press release is quite vague, but the media managed to dig up a few more details. Citing anonymous sources familiar with the matter, BleepingComputer reports that the cybercriminals accessed more than 150,000 emails, and around 100 bank regulators’ emails.

It also said that OCC told the US Congress that this was a “major information security incident” that was discovered on February 11 and remedied on February 12.

The OCC told the body that "the unauthorized access to a number of its executives' and employees' emails included highly sensitive information relating to the financial condition of federally regulated financial institutions used in its examinations and supervisory oversight processes."

If all of this turns out to be true, this could be the second major government-related data incident since Trump's election. The first happened when The Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg was added to the White House Signal group chat in which airstrikes in Yemen were discussed.

Via BleepingComputer

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• Daredevil: Born Again episode 8 is generating plenty of discussion online
• The Disney+ show has got viewers debating some of its most interesting story beats
• Marvel fans should get some answers in next week's season 1 finale

Daredevil Born Again episode 8 is out now – and the penultimate episode of the Marvel TV show's first season is generating plenty of discussion online.

Until now, the Disney+ series has largely kept its main characters apart. That all changes in 'Isle of Joy', which sees Matt Murdock, Wilson Fisk, and other key individuals collide in arguably the show's most explosive episode to date. And, predictably, Marvel fans have had plenty to say about events that unfold.

Full spoilers immediately follow for Daredevil: Born Again season 1's eighth chapter.

Who really killed Franklin 'Foggy' Nelson – and is he actually dead?

That big fan theory about Foggy Nelson might not be so outlandish after all (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney+)

The death of Franklin 'Foggy' Nelson, Matt Murdock's best friend and fellow lawyer, was an emotionally devastating way for Daredevil's standalone Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) project to begin. That's particularly true for those of us who watched Netflix's Daredevil TV show, which Born Again is a direct continuation of.

However, while we saw Foggy die on-screen, Marvel fans have a wild theory that Foggy isn't dead. After all, one of Daredevil's most famous comic book runs is built around a story where Foggy is supposedly murdered, but actually faked his own death to enter a witness protection program. Born Again is somewhat inspired by that Ed Brubaker-written series, which is why some viewers aren't convinced Foggy has shuffled off his mortal coil.

I know what you did last year, Vanessa (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney+)

It's looking increasingly likely that fans were right to assume this, too. At the time, we believed Benjamin 'Dex' Poindexter, aka Bullseye, was responsible for Foggy's death. Indeed, we watched him shoot Foggy in one of the best Disney+ shows' first episode.

'Isle of Joy' upends that by revealing Vanessa Fisk was responsible for putting the hit out on Foggy. Bullseye might have pulled the trigger, but it was Vanessa who initiated the plan that led to Foggy's apparent demise.

Or, so it would seem. While Vanessa doesn't explicitly confirm Foggy is still alive, she insinuates as much to Matt. Okay, she only tells him "you need to relax", which could be interpreted in numerous ways. I believe, though, that she's telling Matt to calm down because, as long as he takes a few deep breaths, Matt will be calm enough for Vanessa to tell him Foggy isn't actually dead (that's what, like me, Redditor Responsible_Cod_3973 is hoping for, anyway).

Vanessa might've told Matt, too, if Bullseye didn't shoot up the Mayor's Ball seconds later. But, more on that later.

Comment from r/MarvelStudiosSpoilers

If Foggy is revealed to be alive in the season 1 finale or Daredevil: Born Again season 2, there are questions that require answering.

What spooked him so much that he not only faked his own death, but sought Vanessa's help to do so? When and how did Bullseye become involved in it? As Reddit user cig_sg_throwaway points out, Dex tried to kill Vanessa in the Netflix show's final season. Why, then, would she bring him into the fold to help 'bump off' Foggy?

And, most importantly, what will Matt make of this if he learns Foggy is alive, that Foggy lied to Matt and Karen, and that Foggy successfully staged his own death with the aid of criminals?

Why does Matt Murdock save Wilson Fisk's life?

Taking the phrase 'keep your enemies closer' to new extremes, eh, Matt? (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney+)

Those questions will have to wait, though, because there's a more pressing one at hand. Namely, why did Matt save his archnemesis Wilson Fisk's life at the Mayor's Ball?

As I alluded to above, Bullseye – who escaped captivity earlier in 'Isle of Joy' with, according to some fans, Matt's help (more on this fiercely debated topic later) – manages to infiltrate the glitzy black tie event. It appears he has a solitary goal for doing so, too: killing Wilson Fisk.

It's not surprising that Bullseye would want to murder him. As directors, Julian Benson and Aaron Moorhead pointed in a recent YouTube interview, the pair have a history.

For starters, Fisk left Dex paralyzed in the season 3 finale of Netflix's Daredevil series, so they have previous form for *ahem* locking horns. Then there's the fact that Fisk is responsible for getting Bullseye moved from solitary confinement to the prison's 'gen pop' (general populace) area in Born Again episode 8. Effectively, Fisk is throwing Dex to the wolves with the hope that other serial offenders will bump him off.

Smile for the camera! (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney+)

So Bullseye has two major reasons to seek out and murder Fisk in the Marvel Phase 5 TV show. He would've succeeded, too, if it wasn't for Matt's intervention.

Using his superhuman hearing, Matt learns that someone is readying a loaded rifle to shoot Wilson Fisk. As Bullseye pulls the trigger, Matt throws himself in front of the shot; the bullet hitting his chest and severely wounding the titular character.

Considering Murdock and Fisk are long-time enemies, some viewers are asking why the former wouldn't let Bullseye kill Murdock's sworn adversary.

Comment from r/MarvelStudiosSpoilers

To me, the answer is a simple one: Murdock (and Daredevil by proxy) has a no-kill rule. It's something he's regularly grappled with in Marvel Comics and his two TV shows, but Murdock's Catholic upbringing always wins out.

Sure, he almost broke that rule in Born Again's premiere when he threw Bullseye off a roof for seemingly killing Foggy. Even then, Murdock was so disturbed by his own behavior that he gave up being Daredevil for an entire year. The vigilante doesn't take lives – he saves them, so it makes sense that he wouldn't let Bullseye kill Wilson Fisk.

Regardless, on ResetEra, users including Violence Jack, Lonestar, and PlanetSmasher think this moment will shake up the dynamic between Murdock and Fisk again. Hopefully, we'll see the immediate fallout in next week's season 1 finale.

Did Matt Murdock intentionally free Benjamin 'Dex' Pointdexter, aka Bullseye?

Fans can't agree on whether Matt intentionally helped Bullseye escape prison (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney+)

Perhaps this episode's biggest talking point, though, is whether Murdock intentionally freed Bullseye.

Remember, Dex was given a whole life sentence for killing Foggy and numerous other patrons at Josie's Bar in this season's opening chapter. And, after he's moved to 'gen pop' under Fisk's orders, he reaches out to Murdock to enlist the champion lawyer's help to get sent back to solitary confinement for Dex's own safety.

As you might expect, Murdock isn't receptive to the idea because, well, by the time the duo meet midway through 'Isle of Joy', Murdock still believes Bullseye killed Foggy. Clearly still furious over his friend's death at the hands of this psychotic killer, Murdock smashes Dex's face into the table he's chained to before calling the on-call pop to lead Dex back to his cell.

On the surface, it seems Murdock is simply lashing out at Bullseye for murdering Foggy and then having the audacity to ask for Murdock's help. However, sections of the Marvel fanbase argue that Murdock actually helped Dex escape prison. Indeed, some suggest that, by roughing up Dex, Murdock knew Dex would get sent to the prison's medical unit. With his hand unshackled, the sharpshooting sociopath would be able to break out of jail.

Comment from r/marvelstudios

Indeed, Reddit and ResetEra threads, as well as other social media sites and apps, are full of fans fiercely debating and/or offering their opinions on the above.

ResetEra user Grunty said they hadn't even considered that Murdock would help Dex, while Lonestar believes the former purposefully helped the latter.

Others were less happy with this possible story beat, though. On Reddit and ResetEra, fans including RealDealAce and Coiote expressed frustration over the possibility that Murdock may have aided one of his biggest foes in escaping jail.

Sitting squarely on the fence, PlanetSmasher and Minthara were less sure about the true meaning behind this contentious scene.

If Matt aided Bullseye's escape, it's his own fault he was shot at the Mayor's Ball (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney+)

Based on the YouTube video I linked to earlier, Benson and Moorhead indicated they left things intentionally vague, so fans can make up their own minds.

Will we find out if Murdock helped Dex or not in episode 9? Maybe. For now, one thing is for sure: whether he did or not, he ended up being shot by Dex in 'Isle of Joy'. Chalk up one more bullet-based scar on Murdock's body, everyone!

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The next time you fly, you could be handed a Meta Quest 3 to keep you entertained with mixed reality experiences and movies following the success of Meta’s recent pilot program. Though it’s somehow already being ruined by being used for some next-gen in-flight advertising.

Travel Mode landed on Quest headsets a little less than a year ago to allow you to use your VR device while on a flight (and later while on a train journey). Normally, the vehicle’s movements would confuse your headset’s sensors, but travel mode uses a “tuned” algorithm, according to Meta, that accounts for your airplane’s motion so it doesn’t cause disruption.

At the time, Meta announced a partnership with Lufthansa to provide in-flight entertainment to people traveling in their Allegris Business Class Suite (on select flights) so they could enjoy activities like virtual chess, meditation exercises, and virtual sightseeing previews.

Now, 4,000 travelers later, Meta and Lufthansa are heralding that trial a success and announced that this service will be expanding to “more airlines and routes” in the near future. Something I’m super excited about.

(Image credit: Meta / Lufthansa)

Beyond more immersive in-flight entertainment – which could lift your movie off that tiny screen on the seat in front of you and suspend it on a giant virtual display instead – I’m particularly interested in those in-flight meditation exercises and other techniques that could help nervous fliers.

I’m fine with flying, but I know plenty of people who find the experience stress-inducing. A VR headset that can whisk you away to somewhere more relaxing. Useful mindfulness exercises could be just what they need to make flights a less nerve-wracking experience.

One feature I’m not keen on, though, is how the Quest headsets could be used for in-flight advertising – something Meta also just announced in its blog post.

(Image credit: Meta/Lufthansa)

Lufthansa and Cupra (a brand in the Volkswagen Group) have partnered to create an “in-flight test-drive app.” Meta explains that headset users will be able to customize their own Cupra car and “engage with the CUPRA Tavascan” as they explore virtual recreations of the streets of Barcelona and a Cupra garage – where you can learn more about the cars the company offers.

Presumably, this will be an opt-in experience rather than a feature that will be forced onto users, but I still can’t help but feel like it’s already cheapening the revolutionary in-flight entertainment system VR headsets could offer by reducing it to another boring way to sell you stuff. A cool Cupra-sponsored in-flight driving sim would be one thing; this is something way more icky-feeling.

I still believe in-flight virtual and mixed reality will be an awesome thing – I got a taste when using the Xreal One AR glasses on a few recent trips – but we’ll have to wait and see if it evolves in a fun way or if it just becomes another tool to sell us stuff.

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• Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) driver sync lives on
• It was due for deprecation on April 18, but that’s been postponed
• Microsoft says it listened to customers who weren’t happy about the change

Azure Compliance Senior Program Manager Paul Reed has confirmed that Microsoft will be continuing to support driver update synchronization to Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) servers.

The news comes just weeks after Redmond gave users a 60-day warning that it would be ending support, quoting an end date of April 18.

Reed added that the company had listened to “valuable feedback,” guiding its decision to postpone the deprecation, however the post lacks any definitive guidance as to what’s next.

Microsoft continuing WSUS support for driver synchronization

Reed noted the definition of deprecation, noting that while a product might not be in active development any more, it can still be used. “Seeing how many of you are already moving to the available cloud-based driver services, we initially proposed the removal of WSUS driver synchronization,” he added, before confirming that feedback from customers made it clear that there’s still a need for WSUS driver synchronization.

“Effective immediately, we are postponing the plan to remove WSUS driver synchronization,” he confirmed. The announcement comes just two weeks before the initially proposed end date, offering little time for companies to change plans but a relief for organizations who are not quite ready to make the transition.

Microsoft now promises to be working on a “revised timeline,” so it’s unclear whether WSUS driver synchronization will lose support at a later date or whether the company will keep it going in recognition of the continued demand for it.

On that note, WSUS remains critical in certain highly restricted networks where companies may have legal or contractual obligations, thus continued support can only be a good thing for them.

“Please continue helping us create solutions that meet your needs and expectations,” Reed said, noting that Microsoft appreciates customer feedback on the matter.

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