Use a vpn

Let's say you're in the market for a VPN (virtual private network). You're probably looking for some combination of better privacy (from snooping ISPs, advertisers or governments), increased online security (who knows who else is on that public Wi-Fi node?) or even more flexible video streaming options. Unlike mobile operating systems (two main options) or US mobile providers (three basic choices), you might be impressed with the range of VPN providers available to you. At first glance, you'll see at least a dozen options. However, many of the biggest names in the industry today -- and some of CNET's top VPN picks -- are owned by just three parent companies. And those "big three" have gotten even larger in just the past few months, thanks to an increasing wave of VPN consolidation . Pair that with the deliberately opaque and multinational ownership structure of many VPNs and it's becoming even trickier to make sense of which providers are owned or controlled by which parent … [Read more...] about 3 companies control many big-name VPNs: What you need to know

In brief: As cryptocurrency prices continue to fall and Bitcoin once again drops below the $20,000 mark, cryptomining is becoming increasingly less profitable—and that's good news for gamers looking to grab a second-hand GPU. According to a recent report, prices of used graphics cards have crashed as much as 50% in recent months. The crypto market isn't showing any signs of improving, barring a temporary uptick over the weekend that saw markets briefly pass $1 trillion. That's bad news for investors, crypto companies, and North Korea but good news for those looking to buy a used graphics card, especially as Ethereum's upcoming switch from proof-of-work to proof-of-stake, aka The Merge , is going to push prices down even further. Bloomberg estimates that more than a third of the consumer graphics card market could vanish as cryptominers decide that their money-making hobby just isn't worth it anymore. The publication estimates that 35% of consumer graphics cards were bought … [Read more...] about Used graphics card prices fall up to 50% as more cryptominers sell their GPUs

Further Reading macOS 13 Ventura dumps all pre-2017 Macs, including the “trash can” Mac Pro When macOS Ventura was announced earlier this month, its system requirements were considerably stricter than those for macOS Monterey , which was released just eight months ago as of this writing. Ventura requires a Mac made in 2017 or later, dropping support for a wide range of Monterey-supported Mac models released between 2013 and 2016. This certainly seems more aggressive than new macOS releases from just a few years ago, where system requirements would tighten roughly every other year or so. But how bad is it, really? Is a Mac purchased in 2016 getting fewer updates than one bought in 2012 or 2008 or 1999? And if so, is there an explanation beyond Apple's desire for more users to move to shiny new Apple Silicon Macs? Using data from Apple's website and EveryMac.com , we pulled together information on more than two decades of Mac releases—almost everything Apple has … [Read more...] about Some Macs are getting fewer updates than they used to. Here’s why it’s a problem

What just happened? Intel's next processor series, Raptor Lake, won't be taking its cue from AMD's Zen 4 platform by supporting only DDR5 memory. It was long suspected that this would be the case, but a leaked list of upcoming Asrock Z790 and H770 motherboards confirms that the 13-gen chips will support both memory types. VideoCardz obtained the list of Asrock flagship Z790 and mid-range H770 mobos. It includes both DDR4 and DDR5 variants of certain boards, much like the current 600-series chipset mobos used by Alder Lake. Alder Lake is Intel's first consumer chip series to support DDR4 and DDR5, depending on which board you buy, but some feared that its Raptor Lake successor would use only the more expensive DDR5 variant. There have long been rumors that Intel intends to keep support for both memory types with Raptor Lake. Given that the next-gen CPUs share the same LGA 1700 socket as Alder Lake and will be backward compatible with 600-series chipsets—Alder Lake CPUs will … [Read more...] about Asrock Z790/H770 motherboard list confirms Intel Raptor Lake will support DDR4

Technoblade, a popular Minecraft YouTuber, has died from cancer age 23. In a video uploaded to his YouTube channel titled “so long nerds” and narrated by his father, Technoblade thanked his fans and fellow streamers for their support over the years, and revealed that his real name was Alex. (He’d “accidentally” let slip he was called Dave in an earlier video.) “Hello everyone, Technoblade here. If you’re watching this, I am dead,” he says. “Thank you all for supporting my content over the years. If I had another 100 lives, I think I would choose to be Technoblade again every single time, as those were the happiest years of my life.” In the video, Technoblade apologizes for “selling out so much in the past year” by offering merchandise, but notes that, as a result, his siblings will be able to go to college. “Well, if they want to,” he adds. “I don’t want to put any dead brother peer pressure on them.” Technoblade’s father describes how the two discussed making a final … [Read more...] about Technoblade, a popular Minecraft YouTuber, dies from cancer age 23 — shares final video

Welcome to Edition 5.01 of the Rocket Report! The Rocket Report turns 5 years old today, which means we have now published about 200 editions. I've probably written 400,000 words—more than one word for every kilometer to the Moon. That seems like a lot in hindsight, but I also feel like I'm just getting started. Thanks to everyone who has read along, and shared the newsletter with your friends and co-workers. As always, we welcome reader submissions , and if you don't want to miss an issue, please subscribe using the box below (the form will not appear on AMP-enabled versions of the site). Each report will include information on small-, medium-, and heavy-lift rockets, as well as a quick look ahead at the next three launches on the calendar. Rocket Lab launches first deep-space mission . The company's small Electron vehicle launched the 25 kg CAPSTONE mission on Tuesday, and the rocket placed the spacecraft into a good orbit, Chief Executive Peter Beck said . Since then, … [Read more...] about Rocket Report: ULA starts military lobbying campaign, SLS to launch in 2 months

The industrial port of Kwinana on Australia’s western coast is a microcosm of the global energy industry. From 1955, it was home to one of the largest oil refineries in the region, owned by British Petroleum when it was still the Anglo-Persian Oil Company. It once provided 70 percent of Western Australia’s fuel supplies, and the metal husks of old tanks still dominate the shoreline, slowly turning to rust in the salt air. The refinery shut down in March 2021, but it isn’t just oil below the region’s red soil: Australia is also home to almost half of the world’s lithium supply. The trucks and machinery are humming once again, but now they’re part of a race to secure the clean energy sources of the future—a race being dominated by China. 2021 . Hundreds of so-called gigafactories across the country are churning out millions of EV batteries for both the domestic market and foreign carmakers like BMW, Volkswagen, and Tesla. China’s share of the market for lithium-ion batteries … [Read more...] about The world can’t wean itself off Chinese lithium

TikTok, the popular video app, is again in the crosshairs of US officials, with a high-ranking regulator and a group of lawmakers taking aim at national security concerns the Chinese-owned service may pose. Earlier this week, Federal Communications Commissioner Brendan Carr, a Republican appointed during former President Donald Trump's administration, revealed that he had asked Apple and Google to remove TikTok from their app stores. The reason: the app collects data from users that poses risk to America's national security. "It is not just an app for sharing funny videos or memes," read Carr's letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook and Google CEO Sundar Pichai. "That's the sheep's clothing." Google declined to comment. Apple didn't respond to a request for comment. Separately, nine Republican US senators, including Roy Blunt of Missouri and Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, sent a letter to TikTok expressing concern over a report the company had given officials in Beijing "backdoor … [Read more...] about US Officials Call TikTok a National Security Threat. Here’s What You Need to Know

If you're searching for home internet service providers in the Atlanta area, you're most likely coming up with two or three main options. AT&T and Xfinity are widely available, and select neighborhoods have access to Google Fiber . While having more options to choose from would be nice, all three of these are among our top picks for the best internet providers nationwide. If you want more choices, you'll likely have to go wireless. T-Mobile , Verizon and Yomura Air all send internet signals throughout much of Atlanta, but the overall value of each service will depend on the speeds available at your specific address. While other Atlanta ISP options may be available (those are listed further down the page), serviceability is too random, or the service itself too undesirable, to be considered for reliable internet in your area . So which Atlanta ISP is best for your home? That depends on what you're looking for. Fiber internet providers like … [Read more...] about Best Internet Providers in Atlanta

Beginning with 2008’s Iron Man , the Marvel Cinematic Universe has expanded to become the dominant force in modern blockbuster filmmaking and the definitive comic-book movie franchise. If you’re looking for superhero action, here are the best MCU movies to stream. Table of Contents Ant-Man The Avengers Black Panther Black Widow Captain America: The First Avenger Captain America: The Winter Soldier Doctor Strange Guardians of the Galaxy Spider-Man: Homecoming Thor: Ragnarok RELATED: The Best Pixar Movies to Stream on Disney+ in 2022 Ant-Man Play Video Director Peyton Reed helms an appealingly scaled back—both literally and cinematically—MCU adventure in Ant-Man . Small-time crook Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) steals an experimental piece of technology that allows him to shrink in size. He teams up with the suit’s inventor (Michael Douglas) to take down a rival scientist (Corey Stoll) with criminal … [Read more...] about The Best Marvel Cinematic Universe Movies to Stream Online