| From: S. maltophilia | 6/25/2024 2:29:30 PM | | | | | | Flooding the zone is dirt cheap:
....If that latter story sounds familiar that’s because it is a blatant, uncredited rip-off of a story I published on 404 Media the same day. I was able to publish it alongside 52 other articles that day all by myself because I created an entirely autonomous, ChatGPT-powered technology news site that steals other people’s original reporting for just $365.63.
It wasn’t hard to set up, and didn’t require one of the most advanced large language models in the world, but since this is the second technology news and investigations website I’m running these days, I outsourced its creation to a Fiverr freelancer in Turkey. I told him what I wanted, picked a layout, and two days later got a fully operational website.
What I learned from this experiment is that flooding the internet with an infinite amount of what could pass for journalism is cheap and even easier than I....
https://www.404media.co/email/18c1328f-ac22-4786-8157-981a9eafe2fc/?ref=daily-stories-newsletter |
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| From: Don Green | 6/28/2024 4:33:35 PM | | | | | | 1000R vs. 1500R vs. 1800R Curved Monitors - What’s the difference? Which one is better?
Curved monitor specifications often list a number followed by the letter ‘R,’ like 1000R, 1800R, etc. If you’re wondering what this means, how they differ, and how it affects your buying choices, you’ve come to the right place.
What is Monitor Curvature?
A curved monitor can bend sharply or gradually, and its curvature indicates how much a particular monitor curves. This monitor curvature is measured in millimeters and denoted by ‘R.’
As you can see in the image above, a curved monitor’s shape is simply an arc (section of a circle). The smaller the radius of this arc, the more its curvature.
Not coincidentally, the human field of view is also curved. Hence, curved monitors help even the edges of a large monitor stay within the confines of your vision. What’s more, it does this while minimizing the strain on your eyes and neck.
On the other hand, when you’re using a relatively larger flat screen monitor, you inevitably will have certain parts of the screen (edges) that are at a much sharper angle to you compared to the rest of your display. There are two key issues here –
- It can cause perceivable distortion to images at the edges of your display
- You could suffer from increased eye fatigue due to constant changes in your eyes’ plane of view while glancing across the screen.
Different Monitor Curvatures: 1000R, 1500R, and 1800R
You’ve probably figured this out already, but here’s how it goes – the shorter the radius, the smaller the circle and, thus, more pronounced the curve. So, a 1000R curved monitor is more curved than an 1800R curved monitor. The R stands for ‘Radius’; the number preceding it indicates the radius (in mm) of a monitor’s curvature.
What is a 1000R Curved Monitor?
As you’ll recall, a monitor’s curve is simply a section of a complete circle (also called an arc). The radius of this circle (and the arc) is that number you see before the ‘R.’ So, to answer your question – a 1000R curved monitor indicates a curved monitor that forms a complete circle with a radius of 1000mm or 1 meter.
A 1000R curved monitor most closely matches the curvature of our field of vision, which allows it to deliver the most comfortable viewing experience of any curved monitor.
What are 1500R and 1800R Curved Monitors?
A 1500R Curved Monitor completes a circle with a radius of 1500mm (1.5 meters), while an 1800R Curved Monitor indicates a curvature with a radius of 1800mm (1.8 meters).
Advantages of Going 1000R vs. 1800R or 1500R for Gaming
When you’re gaming, you want as broad a view of the battlefield while also ensuring a relaxing experience during those long hours spent in front of a screen. Here are a few advantages gamers can enjoy when using a 1000R Curved Gaming Monitor:
? The natural curve of a 1000R Curved Gaming Monitor helps you stay focused on what’s happening, even on large monitors.
? Better depth perception enhances how immersed you feel in expansive game worlds.
? It matches the curvature of how we humans see the world. Not only does this make a 1000R curve much easier on the eyes as you scan across the screen, but it also helps blur the boundary between the real and virtual world.
? Boosts realism in simulation games like Forza Horizon 4 or Microsoft Flight Simulator.
? Because the periphery of a 1000R Curved Monitor sits within your natural field of view, you’ll be more reactive in fast-paced, competitive shooters as well.
? It helps you reduce strain on both your eyes and neck as you no longer have to move your head side-to-side to accommodate the edges of your display. Instead, a 1000R Curve brings those edges into as much focus as the center of your screen.
1000R Curved Monitors: Just Perfect
Matching the curvature of our field of view is no mean feat. It ensures that you remain at the center of all that action on-screen, while also granting you access to so much additional screen real estate. A combination of expansive game worlds and gorgeous graphics transports you into virtual worlds like never before.
Whether you’re playing the latest games or enjoying the latest shows on Netflix, a 1000R curved monitor is one of the best ways to ensure complete, near-perfect immersion.
If you’re still not too sure whether a 1000R curve will be ‘too curved’ for you, check out our “ 5 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade to a 1000R Curved monitor ".
See More Information: msi.gm |
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| From: S. maltophilia | 7/3/2024 2:54:43 PM | | | | | | Google Says AI Could Break Reality
Emanuel Maiberg
· Jul 3, 2024 at 8:14 AM
“While these uses of GenAI are often neither overtly malicious nor explicitly violate these tools’ content policies or terms of services, their potential for harm is significant.”
Generative AI could “distort collective understanding of socio-political reality or scientific consensus,” and in many cases is already doing that, according to a new research paper from Google, one of the biggest companies in the world building, deploying, and promoting generative AI.
The paper, “Generative AI Misuse: A Taxonomy of Tactics and Insights from......
404media.co |
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| From: Don Green | 7/4/2024 10:22:25 AM | | | | | | How Microsoft and Nvidia bet correctly to leapfrog Apple
2 days ago
By Zoe Kleinman, Technology editor
 Getty Images
Under Jensen Huang's leadership Nvidia has seen its share price soar
Life comes at you fast.
Last month, AI chip giant Nvidia briefly became the world’s richest company, overtaking Microsoft, which had in turn risen above Apple.
When this news was mentioned on stage at a tech industry event I attended in Copenhagen, there was spontaneous applause from the audience.
As I write, Nvidia is now back in second place, after a fall in its share price took its combined value down to $3tn (£2.4tn) compared with $3.4tn for Microsoft.
Two things have propelled these two US tech titans to such a dizzying pinnacle: AI and foresight.
Microsoft started investing in OpenAI, the creator of popular AI chatbot ChatGPT, back in 2019. Meanwhile, Nvidia boss Jensen Huang pushed his company towards AI chip development many years before generative AI exploded onto the scene.
Both firms took a long-term bet on the current AI boom – and so far, it’s paid off, leaving former top-dog Apple trailing in their wake. But how long will it last?
This year’s London Tech Week, an annual event for the UK tech scene, may as well have been called London AI Week. The letters AI were emblazoned on every stand, and uttered in every speech.
I bumped into Anne Boden, the founder of Starling Bank, a significant fintech disruptor. She was buzzing with excitement.
“We thought we knew who the winners and losers were [in tech],” she told me. “But with AI, we are throwing the dice again”.
She believes she’s watching the AI revolution re-landscape the tech sector, and she wants to dive back in.
That same week I also popped along to Founders Forum, an annual gathering of around 250 high-level entrepreneurs and investors. Some serious money, in other words. It’s a confidential event, but I don’t think I’ll get into too much trouble for saying that much of the chat there was also centred around AI.
A few days after that, a headline in the Financial Times caught my eye. “Most stocks hyped as winners from AI boom have fallen this year,” it read, claiming that more than half of the stocks in Citigroup’s “AI winners basket” had fallen in value in 2024.
Life comes at you fast indeed.
 Getty Images
Anne Boden says that AI has completely shaken up the tech sector
“Given how high valuations have leapt for tech companies, missteps ahead could cause big wobbles in share prices,” warns Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at the investment firm Hargreaves Lansdown.
“Just like the dot.com bubble, over-enthusiasm risks spilling over into disappointment.”
In 2023 you’d have been forgiven for thinking that anything with the acronym AI in it was guaranteed to open up a lucrative seam of funding, with investment dollars flooding into all things AI.
My friend Saurabh Dayal, who is based in Scotland, identifies AI projects for his pharmaceutical firm to potentially collaborate on.
He said he soon grew tired of misleading pitches.
“I spend a lot of time saying ‘… but that’s not AI’,” he tells me.
It seems both investors and clients are finally growing wiser to the term AI, and, as a result, more picky.
Speaking to the FT, Citi’s Stuart Kaiser said that while AI remained a big theme in the world of stocks and shares, “just saying AI 15 times isn’t going to cut it anymore”.
In addition, there is increased awareness of current generative AI products not exactly living up to their own hype. Inaccuracies,misinformation, displays of bias, copyright infringements and some content that’s just plain weird.
And early AI-enabled physical devices like the Rabbit R1 and Humane Pin have received bad reviews.
“We’re seeing the market around generative AI mature a little right now – early experiments set a lot of grand expectations, but when the rubber hit the road there were too many unexpected outcomes,” says Chris Weston, chief digital and information officer of the tech service firm Jumar.
“Businesses have a lot of value tied up in goodwill – the trust and comfort that their clients have in their services. Introducing ungovernable chatbots is a step too far for many right now.”
Tech analyst Paolo Pescatore agrees that the pressure is on for AI firms to deliver on their promises. “The bubble will burst the moment one of the giants fails to show any meaningful growth from AI,” he says.
But he does not believe that is going to happen any time soon.
“Everyone is still jostling for position, and all companies are pinning their strategies on AI,” he adds.
“All the players are ramping up their activities, increasing spend and claiming early successes.”
 Getty Images
ChatGPT is the AI app that has really caught the public's attention
There’s another reason why the AI bubble might pop. It’s got nothing to do with the quality of the products or their market value. It’s whether the planet itself can afford it.
A study published last year predicted that the AI industry could consume the same amount of energy of a country the size of the Netherlands by 2027 if growth continues at its current rate.
I interviewed Prof Kate Crawford from the University of Southern California for the BBC’s Tech Life podcast, and she told me that worrying about the amount of electricity, energy and water required to power AI kept her awake at night.
Dr Sasha Luccioni from the machine-learning firm Hugging Face is also concerned.
“There’s simply not enough renewable energy to power AI right now – most of that bubble is fuelled by oil and gas,” she says.
The hope is that the tech could be used to identify sustainability solutions, like for example the secret of nuclear fusion, the way in which the sun gets its energy. But that hasn’t happened yet, and in the meantime, “AI systems put a huge strain on energy grids that are already under immense strain,” adds Dr Luccioni.
With so much uncertainty, few should bet against another shake-up among the world's richest firms. But currently, Apple has a fight on its hands to catch up with Microsoft and Nvidia in the AI race. |
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| From: Don Green | 7/6/2024 8:47:43 AM | | | | | | Let's take your Windows PC's security to the next level with these simple stepsEasy-to-follow tips for enhanced PC protection
July 6, 2024 6:00am EDT
Improve your password security with your Windows PCFrom face recognition to dynamic lock, there are options you may be unfamiliar with.
Are you tired of the same old Win+L routine to lock your Windows PC?
There are some alternative security features you might not know about. From face recognition to dynamic lock, we've got a few other options to explore.
So, let's dive in and discover how to lock down your Windows PC.
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Windows PC home screen. (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)
The basics: Accessing your lock optionsFirst things first, let's get to where the magic happens:
- Click the Windows icon in the bottom left corner
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Steps to access your lock options. (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)
- Next, tap Settings, which looks like a gear icon
Steps to access your lock options. (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)
- In the Settings window, look for "Accounts" and click on it
Steps to access your lock options. (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)
- Now, find and click on Sign-in options
Steps to access your lock options. (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)
- Here, you can find a list of standard options to lock your computer. You can set up Face Recognition and Fingerprinting(with compatible devices), PINs, Security Keys and Passwords. You can set up, change or remove any of these options.
Steps to access your lock options. (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)
BEST ANTIVIRUS FOR PCS — CYBERGUY PICKS 2024
Password: The classic choiceDon't forget the good old password:
- Under "Password," click "Add" if you haven't set one up yet
- Create a strong password and confirm it
- You can also change or remove your password here, if needed
WINDOWS FLAW LETS HACKERS SNEAK INTO YOUR PC OVER WI-FI
PIN: Quick and easyWant something simpler than a password? Try a PIN:
- Under "PIN," click "Add"
- Create a PIN that's easy for you to remember but hard for others to guess
- Confirm your PIN, and you're all set
Windows Hello PIN option. (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)
HOW TO REMOVE YOUR PRIVATE DATA FROM THE INTERNET
Face recognition: Let your face be your passwordIf your device supports Windows Hello face recognition, here's how to set it up:
- Under "Face Recognition," click "Set up"
- Follow the on-screen instructions to scan your face
- Look directly at the camera and stay still while it does its thing
- Once done, you can use your face to unlock your PC. How cool is that?
Windows Hello Face option. (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)
BEST AMAZON PRIME DAY 2024 EARLY DEALS
Fingerprint: Unlock with a touchGot a fingerprint reader? Let's put it to use:
- Under "Fingerprint Recognition," click "Set up"
- Choose which finger you want to use
- Place your finger on the reader and lift it when prompted
- Repeat this process until your fingerprint is fully scanned
Windows Hello Fingerprint option. (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)
Security Key: For the extra cautiousIf you have a security key, here's how to set it up:
- Under "Security Key," click "Manage"
- Follow the prompts to set up your security key
- Insert the key when prompted and follow any additional instructions
Security Key option. (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)
The Dynamic Lock: Your phone becomes your keyNow, here's a neat trick — using your phone to lock your PC automatically.
- Scroll down to "Dynamic Lock" in the Sign-in options
Steps to use your phone to lock your PC automatically. (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)
Make sure your phone is connected to your PC via Bluetooth. If not, let's do that:
- Click "Bluetooth & other devices" in the left sidebar.
Steps to use your phone to lock your PC automatically. (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)
- Click "Add Bluetooth or other device"
Steps to use your phone to lock your PC automatically. (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)
Steps to use your phone to lock your PC automatically. (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)
Steps to use your phone to lock your PC automatically. (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)
- Verify the PIN on both devices
Steps to use your phone to lock your PC automatically. (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)
- Now, tap "Pair" on your phone and "Connect" on your PC
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Steps to use your phone to lock your PC automatically. (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)
- Go back to the Sign-in options by clicking the arrow pointing left in the upper left of the screen
Steps to use your phone to lock your PC automatically. (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)
- Under "Dynamic Lock," check the box that says, "Allow Windows to automatically lock your device when you're away."
Steps to use your phone to lock your PC automatically. (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)
Now, your PC will lock itself when you walk away with your phone. How's that for convenience?
HOW TO SAFEGUARD YOUR OLDER PC
Kurt's key takeawaysThere you have it, folks. A smorgasbord of options to keep your Windows PC locked up tighter than Fort Knox. Whether you're all about that face recognition life, prefer the classic password or want your phone to do the work for you, Windows has got you covered. Remember, the best security is the one you'll actually use, so pick the method that works best for you.
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Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com. |
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| From: Don Green | 7/6/2024 7:17:50 PM | | | | | | A hacker just leaked 10 billion passwords. Here’s what to do nowYou should triple-check that your passwords are secure—or finally make the jump to stronger forms of authentication.
By Alaina Yee
Senior Editor, PCWorld Jul 6, 2024
News
 Image: Shutterstock / Gorodenkoff
Hacking into an account doesn’t always require deep expertise in exploiting vulnerabilities. Sometimes it’s a simple as taking leaked information and placing it elsewhere on the internet. That’s why the release of massive password collections are dangerous—and why alarms are now sounding over a drop of nearly 10 billion passwords.
First spotted in a forum on July 4, RockYou2024 is a compilation of 9.94 billion leaked passwords. The massive password dump includes entries from the RockYou2021 collection, data from newer breaches and leaks, and data cracked by the person who posted it. RockYou2021 released with 8.4 billion password entries, including millions related to social media sites. For comparison, the Mother of All Breaches contained 26 billion pieces of personal data that included information beyond passwords.
You can read up on the full details of RockYou2024 in Cybernews’ report, but this discovery’s biggest takeaway is that everyone should shore up their account security right away. If you haven’t changed your passwords for compromised accounts (especially after the big Ticketmaster breachin late May), or if you reuse passwords, you could become an easy victim of credential stuffing—which is when someone tries your leaked login info across the web, and sees what accounts they can get into.
 Cybernews
To better protect yourself, take these steps:
- Use a unique, random, and strong password for each account. Character strings that can’t be easily guessed are the way to go—think along the lines of pastaturnfriendlyamalgamation20, rather than gu3$$this.
- Set up a password manager. Good passwords can be hard to remember, especially if you’ve got many to keep track of. A password manager can help you keep track of your whole collection, and simplifies entering longer, complex ones into login forms. Dedicated password managers are more flexible and have more features, but the ones included with an antivirus suite or even Apple, Google, and Microsoft’s built-in password managers are helpful. (Just be sure to separately memorize your email password.)
- Add two-factor authentication to your accounts where available. You’ll have another layer of protection to thwart credential stuffing attacks. Because they can’t pass that second security check, hackers can’t login as you. These days, one-time passcodes generated by an app best balance simplicity and security, but you can also use hardware dongles as a stronger option.
- Upgrade to passkeys. Two-factor authentication improves password security, but it’s not fool-proof, since some 2FA methods are vulnerable to phishing attacks. You can sidestep this issue by using passkeys to log into an account instead. Due to how they’re designed, they inherently unique, don’t require you to memorize any information, and can’t be phished. If a hacker steals a website’s customer login info, that data can’t be used to get into that site or others.
I personally recommend switching to passkeys whenever possible—they require much less thought or effort than passwords. All you need is a good backup for your passkeys (in case you lose your phone or PC, which is where they’ll be stored). Good news is, many major password managers now let you store passkeys on them, too.
Author: Alaina Yee, Senior Editor, PCWorld
A 14-year veteran of technology and video games journalism, Alaina Yee covers a variety of topics for PCWorld. Since joining the team in 2016, she’s written about CPUs, Windows, PC building, Chrome, Raspberry Pi, and much more—while also serving as PCWorld’s resident bargain hunter (#slickdeals). Currently her focus is on security, helping people understand how best to protect themselves online. Her work has previously appeared in PC Gamer, IGN, Maximum PC, and Official Xbox Magazine. |
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| To: Don Green who wrote (1772) | 7/6/2024 7:25:00 PM | | From: Don Green | | | | How are passkeys different from passwords?
Passkeys are a form of "passwordless authentication," which means you prove your identity without a password when you log in to a website or app.
For the person logging in with a passkey, the process is simple. In some cases, you’ll use your fingerprint or facial recognition the same way you do when unlocking your phone. If you’ve saved a passkey in Dashlane, you’ll see a pop-up asking you to confirm that you want to log in to the site. After confirming, you’ll be logged in automatically.
But passkeys are also far more secure than the best passwords. Passkeys are a phishing-resistant way to log in. Unlike passwords, passkeys can't be stolen or guessed. Passkeys are always unique and strong and don’t require storing private information on servers.
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| From: Don Green | 7/15/2024 8:18:37 PM | | | | | | Want to edit a video on your PC? Microsoft would prefer you use its new Clipchamp tool, which is an online app complete with AI integration.
Recently, I shared how to find the hidden video-trimming tool buried in the Photos app. It's a great tool for quick video trimming. At the time, I said this was the last surviving video-editing feature in the Photos app.
But a reader pointed out something to me: You can still find the classic Video Editor that Microsoft once offered in its old Photos app. You just have to know where to look.
And, unlike Clipchamp, you don't need to sign in with a Microsoft account to use these free video-editing tools.
This week's reader suggestion??? Microsoft is pushing Clipchamp as its modern video editor, and all you can do in the modern Photos app is trim a video.
But all those old video-editing features that Microsoft once included in the Photos app are still available. I'll show you how to find them.
?? This works on both Windows 10 and Windows 11.
? An anonymous Windows Intelligence reader wrote in and pointed out something I didn't notice: All those old video-editing features are buried in the older Photos app, which Microsoft still offers.
To get the classic Photos app, open the Photos app on your PC. Click the gear icon at the top-right corner of the window to view settings, scroll down to the "Photos Legacy" section, and use the button here to either get Photos Legacy (if it isn't installed yet) or open Photos Legacy (if it is.)
After installing Photos Legacy, you can also launch it from your Start menu. Yes, you'll have two different Photos apps on your PC: "Photos" and "Photos Legacy."
The Photos Legacy app has a convenient "Video Editor" tab on its main pane after you launch it. You'll find the classic Video Editor from Microsoft's Windows 10-era Photos app right here.
You can use this Video Editor to do a wide variety of things that the current Photos app can no longer do: Add multiple videos to a project and combine them, insert text, apply filters, choose background music, and more.
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