Catégorie : Tech News

Epic Games has struck a deal with Telefónica to have its mobile storefront pre-installed on millions of compatible Android devices. As such, those who buy a phone from a Telefónica network such as O2 or Movistar in Spain, the UK, Germany and Spanish-speaking Latin America will immediately have the app, which offers access to Fortnite, Fall Guys and Rocket League Sideswipe. Epic will bring third-party games to the storefront as well, while the partners plan to offer mobile gamers on Telefónica’s networks extra perks over the next year or so.

Telefónica has more than 392 million customers. As such, this deal could bring Fortnite and Fall Guys to an even bigger audience.

Epic debuted its mobile games store a few months ago after years of wrangling with Apple and Google over the duo’s purported smartphone and tablet duopoly — and having to give the companies a share of revenue from in-app purchases. Among other things, Epic accused Google of blocking OnePlus from offering users a way to install Fortnite without having to go through the Google Play store.

However, Epic has had mixed results in its legal battles with Apple and Google. It won an antitrust case against the latter, with a judge determining last year that Google had an illegal monopoly on app distribution and in-app billing on Android devices. The judge also ruled that Google’s distribution deals with other games companies were anticompetitive. But it largely lost a similar case against Apple.

The Epic Games Store mobile app is available on iOS in the European Union (where Apple was forced to open up iOS to third-party app marketplaces) and around the world on Android. Epic also plans to bring it to iOS devices in the UK in the second half of 2025.

If your refrigerator is leaking water all the time or making a noise, you may wonder if it’s time to replace it. Or if the ice maker isn’t working or it’s building up frost, you may think it’s time to call a repairman. Regardless of your particular issue, don’t freak out yet. Sometimes a good, thorough cleaning or temperature setting will do the trick. 

We’ll share the reasons behind some of the most common fridge problems and how to fix them — even if you don’t know how a refrigerator works. These simple solutions can save you a lot of money.  And no need to buy a bunch of new tools, most of these solutions don’t require any at all. Here’s what you need to try solving the problems yourself. This article is updated periodically.

It’s always running

An efficient refrigerator shouldn’t run all the time. A fridge that does is not only noisy, it can also take a big bite out of your wallet. Refrigerators are already one of the most power-intensive home appliances. Allowing your fridge to run nonstop can send your energy bill through the roof.

Cause 1: One of the most common causes of a refrigerator running too often (or worse, constantly) is a buildup of debris and dust around the condenser coils. It’s especially common if you live in a dusty environment or have several pets.

Fix: First, unplug the refrigerator from AC power. For most refrigerators, the condenser coils are located on the very bottom and they’re typically accessed in the front or back. (Some newer models, however, have internal coils.) To access the coils, look for the grille and remove it by popping out the snaps that hold it in place, or unscrewing it if it’s screwed in. Use a vacuum cleaner to remove the majority of the buildup. If there’s a lot of leftover debris, use a brush or a wipe cloth to gently remove the remaining debris. Replace the grille and restore power to the refrigerator.

Cause 2: Setting the refrigerator temperature too low will cause your refrigerator to work overtime, and can also freeze and spoil some of your foods.

Fix: You typically want your refrigerator set to between 37 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit (2.8 and 4.4 degrees Celsius). Place a thermometer inside a glass of water, place the glass on the middle shelf of the refrigerator and let it sit for at least 8 hours. Periodically adjust the temperature setting on your refrigerator to slowly bring it to the desired temperature. If this doesn’t solve the issue, consult with a professional, as you may have a defective part, such as a condenser, thermostat sensor or fan motor.

It’s leaking water

Water puddling up under your refrigerator is never a good sign, but it is also a fairly common occurrence and can usually be resolved relatively easily. Water leakage typically comes from one of two problems.

Cause 1: A blocked defrost drain is one of the most common causes. This happens when food particles or other debris clog up the drain hose, which can lead to ice buildup and, eventually, water leaking out of the freezer and refrigerator.

Fix: First, try flushing the drain from inside the freezer with warm water, using a turkey baster or a small funnel. You can also try using a pipe cleaner or a straightened coat hanger to forcibly remove the clog. If this doesn’t fix the problem you may need to manually remove the debris that’s clogging the check valve at the end of the drain hose.

Pull your refrigerator out from the wall and locate the defrost drain hose in the bottom back service panel. This hose should have a rubber check valve, which helps regulate humidity and is known for catching debris and clogging. Clean the valve out with hot water and soap, and reinstall the valve.

Cause 2: From time to time, a clogged or frozen water supply line will cause water to puddle beneath the refrigerator. It will also affect ice production from the ice maker and slow or stop water flow from the dispenser.

Fix: First, unplug the refrigerator and locate the shut-off valve, typically underneath the sink, behind the refrigerator or below the refrigerator in the basement. Make sure this valve is closed, and look for any leaks, kinks or clogs in the plastic supply line.

If there’s a break or tear in the line, replace the water supply line. Typically this line is a nylon tube with threaded compression fittings at both ends. You can find DIY water line kits for sale at your local hardware store ($10). They’re easy to hook up, though you might need to have a wrench on hand. You shouldn’t overtighten their fittings, so you won’t need that much strength. 

If the water line is intact, but you see a translucent blockage, then ice is the culprit. Simply leave the refrigerator unplugged for approximately 2 hours to remove the clog. If the clog is anything but clear, consult with a professional before trying to remove it. Once the line has defrosted, plug the refrigerator back in and push it back to the wall.

Lots of freezer ice buildup

If the inside of your freezer looks like the arctic tundra, something is seriously wrong. There are a few possible causes of frost growth inside your freezer, and some quick fixes.

Cause 1: Leaving the freezer door open too long can raise the humidity level inside the freezer, resulting in frost and ice buildup.

Fix: Obviously, try not to leave the freezer door open longer than necessary. Try opening the freezer or fridge door and see if it closes on its own; if not, this could be the cause of the frost. To resolve this, pull the refrigerator out from the wall and have someone lean the refrigerator back far enough for you to reach the two front pedestal feet. (Don’t try this alone!)

Screw both feet out a few turns. This will ensure that the doors close on their own and that water is properly draining from the freezer and refrigerator. If this doesn’t solve the issue, you may have a malfunctioning defrost timer, for which you’ll want a professional. But first, check for the following two other things.

Cause 2: A faulty seal can also result in unwanted frost.

Fix: First, try cleaning the seal around the inside of the freezer door using warm water, soap and a washcloth. Use a towel to dry the seal and the surrounding areas, and close the freezer. If this doesn’t work, try installing a new gasket. Major appliance makers, like GE and Whirlpool, for example, sell replacement parts directly, including fridge gaskets. Just remember to have your model number handy. That’ll help you track down the specific gasket for your particular refrigerator. 

To swap in a new gasket, begin by unplugging the refrigerator. Then remove all frozen perishables, and place them in a cooler. Lift the edge of the old gasket and use a screwdriver to remove all the screws. With the old gasket removed, align the new gasket and screw it into place. Return all food to the freezer and plug the fridge back in.

Cause 3: Too many items resting against the rear freezer wall can block airflow, resulting in frost buildup.

Fix: Clear away food packages that are too close to the rear freezer wall or are blocking any freezer vents.

The ice maker isn’t working

So you’ve been waiting and waiting, but your refrigerator’s ice maker isn’t delivering the goods. It could be that you’re not seeing any ice cubes at all, or the ice is too small or maybe it’s even hollow. No matter the scenario, here are a few solutions to try. 

Cause 1: A clog in the water line is restricting water flow. A blockage is likely caused by ice in the water connection. A kinked water line can also cause the same problem.

Fix: For a frozen water line rather than a kink in the line, first turn off the water supply with the shut-off valve. It’s usually located behind the fridge or under the kitchen sink. One way to remove the blockage is by thawing out the water line manually. Do that by unplugging the fridge’s power supply. After a few hours the ice causing the clog should melt away. A faster method is to use heat from a blow-dryer, or squirt it with a turkey baster filled with hot water.

Cause 2: A shut-off arm is in the wrong position. Many fridge ice makers have a shut-off arm that’s designed to stop ice production when the storage bin is full, and sometimes they get stuck in the off position. 

Fix: Make sure the shut-off arm isn’t engaged. If the arm is frozen in place, first remove the ice storage bin. Next melt any ice buildup with a little hot water. Quickly wipe away excess moisture with a clean kitchen towel.

Cause 3: Some fridges also have sensors that detect the presence of the ice bin. Over time, ice buildup between the bin and the freezer wall can push the bin out of alignment, tripping this sensor. When that happens, the fridge thinks you’ve removed the bucket and will stop making ice.

Fix: Remove the storage bin, and let it defrost for a few hours. In the meantime, melt away any ice around the bin sensor with a small amount of hot water. Use a clean towel to remove any remaining water. Return the bin to its place and you should be good to go.

Cool down, your fridge might be OK

Hopefully, these simple steps will have remedied your refrigerator woes and you’ve solved your appliance problems without fancy tools or much hassle. You also didn’t have to shell out big bucks for a brand-new icebox — score! But if you’re still experiencing hiccups, it could be time to call in the repair pros. Ultimately, you might even consider buying a new fridge.

Frequently asked questions

• United is one of the first to support Apple’s Share Item Location feature
• If your bag with an AirTag goes missing, Find My can help
• You’ll share that secure URL with United to help get your bag back sooner

If you’re anything like me, you dread the thought of losing your bag while traveling. Hence, Apple’s announcement of teaming up with airlines like United to share an AirTag’s location securely was nothing short of incredible. And folks, now your faith is being rewarded… at least by one airline.

United has now integrated Apple’s ‘Share Item Location’ for AirTags and other Find My devices into its system. If your luggage goes missing, you can now share your item locations with United to help make that reunion happy even sooner. And hopefully, with a lot less stress.

Courtesy of the iOS 18.2 update, which also brought with it Genmoji and a new feature to Voice Memos that’s loved by Michael Bublé, the Items tab within the Find My app has a new sub-menu.

Under Lost, which is only used if you misplace or can’t find an AirTag or another Find My network device, you now have the option to ‘Share Item Location’, which will generate a URL to share.

So let’s say you’re flying on United from EWR (Newark Liberty International Airport) to SFO (San Francisco International Airport), and you check a bag with an AirTag inside – which is something you should always do – but you arrive in sunny California, but your bag ended up someplace else.

Once you alert United, courtesy of a new screen within the app, you can take that URL generated through ‘Share Item Location’ in Find Me and paste it in. This way, United’s customer service and operations agent can use the AirTags location to help find your bag even faster – that’s pretty fantastic.

Further, considering that the shared URL shows the AirTag’s location on a map, a timestamp, a radius with the correct accuracy, its coordinates, and updates as it moves within the Find My network, it can be a huge help for an airline like United in helping get the bag back home.

Easing your privacy worries

I’ve previously lost a bag, and while I could send screenshots of my Find My app showing my AirTag’s location to United, it wasn’t real-time or easily accessible for the representatives I was speaking with – Apple has effectively solved that with this new tool. United’s doing the integration the right way here.

Speaking to TechRadar, Lori Augustine, Vice President of United Airlines San Francisco Hub, said, “Our strong partnership with Apple on this game-changing technology empowers every interaction we have to give our customers an experience like never before. United Airlines is driven by the same commitment as the world’s leading tech companies to offer customers world class products that shape the future.”

Clearly, United recognized that many folks are already traveling with AirTags and see this integration as a win-win for better customer experience and potentially making its operations run even more effectively. Apple’s Find My network is accurate and comprises hundreds of millions of Apple devices like iPhones and iPads, some of which are operated by United on aircraft and at airports. United has 120,000 iPhones, iPads, and Macs, which helps boost the Find My network at these locations.

Of course, as with the AirTags themselves and the Find My network, privacy is critically important here. So, to access the ‘Share Item Location’, a user will have to authenticate, and United and Apple worked together to allow easy access with a whitelisted email address. Further, only a finite number of views or logins are allowed on the ‘Share Item Location’; this way, the tool doesn’t get abused.

Better yet, the ‘Share Item Location’ link will automatically expire after seven days and will be terminated thanks to proximity alerts when you’re reunited with the bag. United says that less than 1% of its customers’ bags arrive on a later flight, and if you have an AirTag inside – or another Find My device – this can help to make that less-than-pleasant experience a bit easier.

It’s live now in the United app, and the “Share Item Location” is live as long as you’re updated to iOS 18.2 on your iPhone – no update is required for the AirTag itself to use this feature. Further, this is the latest tech improvement from United, and we hope that more are on the way. The airline already supports Live Activities on the iPhone and the Apple Watch, as well as a handy shortcut for dropping off bags at an airport. Anything to avoid a line, right?

And United’s rollout of accepting Apple’s ‘Share Item Location’ couldn’t have come sooner, as the busy holiday season is nearly here.

Other airlines will hopefully follow suit soon, as Apple originally teased Aer Lingus, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Delta Airlines, Eurowings, Iberia, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, Turkish Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, and Vueling in its original announcement.

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Here’s the surprise deal of the day: Amazon is still running a crazy 61%-off sale on the Dell WD19S Docking Station, the world’s most powerful modular PC dock. This nine-port powerhouse normally sells for $355, but while this crazy deal is still in place you can grab one for just $139 and turn your work station into a massive charging dock for all of your devices.

See at Amazon

The Dell WD19S Docking Station delivers a massive 130W boost to Dell systems and 90W to non-Dell systems which support USB-C docking, including HP and Lenovo. Just 20 minutes of docking your laptop to the WD19D will give it a  battery boost of 35%, and just an hour of docking will take your laptop battery from zero to 80%.

Adapt to the Future

Dell created the WD19S — an upgraded and updated version of their popular WD19 Docking Station — with the future in mind. The WD19S has a “future-ready” design that lets you swap out modules for any upgrades that come down the road. Saving 61% on a dock that’s also built to avoid planned obsolescence is a deal all unto itself. But the WD19S has so many other great perks and features.

We mentioned the nine ports — two USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports (one display, one 24-pin), three USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports, two DisplayPort 1.4 ports, one display HDMI 2.0 port, and one gigabit Ethernet port for networking. They’re all plug-and-play, so there’s no firmware or apps to install. The Dell WD19S Docking Station is a great — and amazingly well-priced — solution to banishing those charging boxes and extension cords from your work surface.

Expand Your Vision

Do you have two 4K monitors? Would you like to? The Dell WD19S Docking Station is a great first step toward creating the multi-display work or gaming station you’ve always wanted. It supports two 4K displays running at 60Hz, so you can multitask, stream, or game with a massive field of crystal-clear lag-free vision.

Lesser docks are notorious for having their connection points wear out over time from repeated docking and undocking, or for having some part of their cheaper plastic body crack or break, compromising the integrity of the connection. The Dell WD19S is far sturdier, and the modular design free from delicate little hinges spares you from searching for the superglue when something snaps off.

Amazon’s massive markdown on the Dell WD19S Docking Station can’t go on forever. Supplies are dwindling, so we expect this great $139 deal to vanish sometime soon. Don’t be left out!

See at Amazon

Google’s latest push into extended reality is taking shape. While the company isn’t entirely ready to show off any products just yet, it has laid out a vision for a unified Android XR ecosystem that will span a range of devices — such as virtual reality headsets and mixed reality glasses — in partnership with Samsung and Qualcomm.

This is evidently Alphabet’s latest attempt to compete with the likes of Meta and Apple on the extended reality front. The company has dabbled in this arena in the past with the likes of Google Glass, Daydream and Google Cardboard, programs that have found their way to the Google Graveyard. Android XR seems much more ambitious, and having some big-name partners on board from the jump indicates that Alphabet is much more serious about extended reality this time around.

Google has been beavering away on XR behind the scenes despite shutting down some of its higher-profile projects in that realm. « Google is not a stranger to this category, » Sameer Samat, president of Android Ecosystem at Google, told reporters ahead of the announcement. « We, like many others, have made some attempts here before. I think the vision was correct, but the technology wasn’t quite ready. »

One area where Google thinks that technology has advanced to the point where it’s ready to try again with XR is artificial intelligence. Gemini will be deeply integrated into Android XR. By tapping into the power of the chatbot and having a user interface based around voice and natural conversation, Google and its partners are aiming to deliver experiences that aren’t exactly possible to pull off using gestures and controllers.

« We are fully in what we refer to as the Gemini Era, and the breakthroughs in AI with muti-modal models are giving all of us totally new ways of interacting with computers, » Samat said. « We believe a digital assistant integrated with your XR experience is the killer app for the form factor, like what email or texting was for the smartphone. »

Google believes that smart glasses and headsets are a more natural form factor to explore this tech with, rather than holding up your smartphone to something in the world that you want Gemini to take a look at. To that end, the wide array of XR devices that are popping up, such as VR headsets with passthrough (the ability to see the outside world while wearing one) is another factor in Google’s push into that space.

We’ll get our first real look at Android XR products next year, including one that Google is developing in partnership with Samsung. The first headset, currently dubbed Project Moohan (which means « infinity » in Korean), will feature « state-of-the-art displays, » passthrough and natural multi-modal input, according to Samsung. It’s slated to be a lightweight headset that’s ergonomically designed to maximize comfort.

Renderings of the Moohan prototype (pictured above) suggest the headset will look a little like the Apple Vision Pro, perhaps with a glass visor on the front. Along with the headset, Samsung is working on Google XR glasses, with more details to come soon.

But nailing the hardware won’t matter much if you can’t do anything interesting with it. As such, Google is now looking to bring developers into the fold to create apps and products for Android XR. The company is offering developers APIs, an emulator and hardware development kits to help them build out XR experiences.

On its side of things, Google is promising an « infinite desktop » for those using the platform for productivity. Its core apps are being reimagined for extended reality as well. Those include Chrome, Photos, Meet, Maps (with an immersive view of landmarks) and Google Play. On top of that, mobile and tablet apps from Google Play are said to work out of the box.

On YouTube, it looks like you’ll be able to easily transition from augmented reality into a VR experience. And in Google TV, you’ll be able to switch from an AR view to a virtual home movie theater when you start a film.

A demo video showed a headset wearer using a combination of their voice and a physical keyboard and mouse to navigate a series of Chrome windows. Circle to Search will be one of the many features. After you’ve used the tool to look up something, you can use a Gemini command to refine the results. It’ll be possible to pull 3D image renderings from image search results and manipulate them with gestures.

As for AR glasses — essentially next-gen Google Glass — it seems that you’ll be able to use those to translate signage and speech, then ask Gemini questions about the details of, say, a restaurant menu. Other use cases include advice on how to position shelves on a wall (and perhaps asking Gemini to help you find a tool you put down somewhere), getting directions to a store and summarizing group chats while you’re on the go.

Thanks to advances in technology, AR glasses look much like regular spectacles these days, as we’ve seen from the likes of Meta and Snap. That should help Google avoid the whole « Glass-holes » discourse this time around given that there shouldn’t be an obscenely obvious camera attached to the front. But the advancements might give cause for concern when it comes to privacy and letting those caught in the camera’s cone of vision know that they’re perhaps being filmed.

Privacy is an important consideration for Android XR. Google says it’s building new privacy controls for Gemini on the platform. More details about those will be revealed next year.

Meanwhile, games could play a major factor in the success of Android XR. They’re a focus for Meta’s Quest headsets, of course. On the heels of its various missteps with Stadia, Google is hoping to make it as easy as possible for developers to port their games to its ecosystem.

Not only that, Unity is one of the companies that’s supporting Android XR. Developers will be able to create experiences for it using the engine. Unity says it will offer full support for Android XR, including documentation and optimizations to help devs get started. They can do that now in public experimental versions of Unity 6.

Resolution Games (Demeo) and Google’s own Owlchemy Labs (Job Simulator) are among the studios that plan to bring titles built in Unity to Android XR. The process is said to be straightforward. « This is as simple a port as you’re ever going to encounter, » Owlchemy Labs CEO Andrew Eiche said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Unity has teamed up with Google and film director Doug Liman’s studio 30 Ninjas to make a « new and innovative immersive film app that will combine AI and XR to redefine the cinematic experience. »

Since gaming is set to play a sizable role in Android XR, it stands to reason that physical controllers will still be a part of the ecosystem. Not many people are going to want to play games using their voice.

But that’s the key: Android XR is shaping up to be a broad ecosystem of devices, not just one. This strategy has paid dividends for Google, given the spectrum of phones, tablets, cars and TVs that variants of Android are available on. It will be hoping to replicate that success with Android XR.

Want to maximize your returns with a certificate of deposit? Now’s the time to act.

You can earn up to 4.70% annual percentage yield, or APY, with today’s top CDs. APYs have been falling since the Federal Reserve cut interest rates at its last two meetings, and another cut is possible when the Fed meets next week. The sooner you open a CD, the higher the APY you may be able to lock in.

Here are some of the highest CD rates right now, based on banks we track at CNET, and how much you could earn by depositing $5,000.

Experts recommend comparing rates before opening a CD account to get the best APY possible. Enter your information below to get CNET’s partners’ best rate for your area.

What’s in store for CD rates?

The Fed doesn’t directly set CD rates, but it does control the federal funds rate. The federal funds rate is the overnight lending rate banks charge one another to borrow funds. When the federal funds rate goes down, rates on consumer products like CDs and savings accounts tend to follow. 

Following the Fed’s post-pandemic rate hikes, CD rates soared above 5% APY for six- to 18-month terms we track at CNET. But since the beginning of this year, CD and savings rates have been slowly decreasing. 

The Fed cut rates in September, its first rate cut since March 2020. Since then, CD and savings rates have fallen faster. At the start of 2024, the average APY on a six-month CD was 4.92%, but following September’s rate cut, it was down to 4.38%. This week, it’s 4.14%. 

Here’s where CD rates stood at the start of this week compared to the start of last week:

CD rates could drop further if the Fed makes another rate cut on Dec. 18. Right now, experts say it’s likely that the Fed will cut rates again this month despite the latest Consumer Price Index report showing inflation is still rising.

Why now is still a great time to open a CD

If you’re working on growing your savings, there’s still time to earn an attractive APY. If you already have money saved that you won’t need to dip into for a few years, you can lock in a high, guaranteed return with a CD now. 

« CDs are a good, steady way to get a predictable return while controlling the amount of time you don’t have access to your money, » said Bobbi Rebell, Certified Financial Planner® and Personal Finance Expert with BadCredit.org. « Rates are still high on a historical basis. »

If you need ready access to your money, you can also earn a competitive rate with a high-yield savings account. HYSAs are better suited for things like your emergency fund because you can take out cash at any time without penalty.

What to look for in a CD

A competitive APY is important when comparing CD accounts, but it’s not the only thing you should look at. To find the right account for you, consider these things, too:

• When you’ll need your money: Early withdrawal penalties can eat into your interest earnings. So be sure to choose a term that fits your savings timeline. Alternatively, you can select a no-penalty CD, although the APY may not be as high as you’d get with a traditional CD of the same term.
• Minimum deposit requirement: Some CDs require a minimum amount to open an account — typically, $500 to $1,000. Others do not. How much money you have to set aside can help you narrow your options.
• Fees: Maintenance and other fees can eat into your earnings. Many online banks don’t charge fees because they have lower overhead costs than banks with physical branches. Still, read the fine print for any account you’re evaluating.
• Federal deposit insurance: Make sure any bank or credit union you’re considering is an FDIC or NCUA member so your money is protected if the bank fails.
• Customer ratings and reviews: Visit sites like Trustpilot to see what customers are saying about the bank. You want a bank that’s responsive, professional and easy to work with.

Methodology

CNET reviews CD rates based on the latest APY information from issuer websites. We evaluated CD rates from more than 50 banks, credit unions and financial companies. We evaluate CDs based on APYs, product offerings, accessibility and customer service.

The current banks included in CNET’s weekly CD averages include Alliant Credit Union, Ally Bank, American Express National Bank, Barclays, Bask Bank, Bread Savings, Capital One, CFG Bank, CIT, Fulbright, Marcus by Goldman Sachs, MYSB Direct, Quontic, Rising Bank, Synchrony, EverBank, Popular Bank, First Internet Bank of Indiana, America First Federal Credit Union, CommunityWide Federal Credit Union, Discover, Bethpage, BMO Alto, Limelight Bank, First National Bank of America and Connexus Credit Union.

*APYs as of Dec. 12, 2024, based on the banks we track at CNET. Earnings are based on APYs and assume interest is compounded annually.

**Weekly percentage increase/decrease from Dec. 2, 2024, to Dec. 9, 2024.

More on CDs

Features

For businesses, Proton VPN offers dedicated IP addresses and dedicated servers, which ensures better performance and security for employees accessing corporate networks. This is especially valuable for organizations that need consistent access to resources or want to ensure secure remote work. The VPN also integrates seamlessly with a variety of third-party tools and applications, providing flexibility in how you manage your team’s connectivity; which can assist in obtaining security certifications such as ISO 27001, SOC2, etc. There is no need for specialized hardware, so deployment is fast, and for business users there is dedicated 24/7 support.

Its Secure Core architecture adds an extra layer of protection by routing traffic through multiple servers in privacy-friendly countries, safeguarding your data even if a VPN endpoint is compromised. When you connect through Proton VPN’s Secure Core servers, your VPN connection takes two hops for added security. It first routes from your device to the Secure Core servers and then proceeds to the VPN server you’ve selected. Proton VPN emphasizes that its Secure Core servers are located in countries with strong privacy laws and are directly owned by Proton. These servers are housed in secure, high-security facilities, such as old military bases, ensuring that your data is protected from potential threats and unauthorized access. This of course is not the fastest way to surf the web, but is potentially one of the safest options. The auto re-connection option comes as standard across all pricing plans, which is a nice to have feature in a modern VPN solution.

Another noteworthy feature is NetShield, an advanced ad blocker that protects against malware, trackers, and ads. In short, it checks DNS requests more thoroughly and relies on a list of blocked sites and domains to avoid phishing and malware. Similarly, it blocks trackers and most of the ads you see on websites. While watching YouTube though, you will get ads served inside of videos unless you have YouTube Premium. Finally, the number of blocked ads and trackers we could not verify, but since we did not see ads that were otherwise served to us, we have to say that it works.

Pricing & Plans

If you’re looking to test drive Proton as a single user, we recommend you do so using the free version. It is understandably very limited in its functionality and does not offer the real taste of features that you will need as a business user. For business users of Proton Business VPN, there are three pricing plans, VPN Essentials, VPN Professional, and VPN Enterprise. If you’re looking for monthly payments, then the plans cost €8.99 per user and €11.99 per user, respectively. For the Enterprise plan, you need to get in touch with the sales team.

Additionally, if you’re looking to save some money, opting for 1-year pricing, you get a 22% and 17% discount, respectively. And for 2-year pricing, the discounts rise to 33% and 25% for the initial two plans. A dedicated server and IP will cost you an additional €35.99/month.

Performance

All VPNs will inevitably slow down the speed of your internet since you’re routing traffic through a server. This is also true for Proton VPN, however, the speed loss is negligible (depending on which server you’re using). You’re given the choice of using WireGuard, IKEv2, OpenVPN (TCP or UDP), and Stealth tunneling protocols to establish your connection. Thanks to its large network of international servers (over 4800 across 110 countries), you will have ample choices to protect your connection or avoid geo-restrictions.

If you’re using Chromium-based browsers or Firefox-based ones, you can use Proton’s browser extension which lets you browse or stream securely. The best part is that the extensions are available even for the free plan. We did not notice slowdowns in browsers (Chrome and Firefox) nor was there an additional slowdown in speeds when using the extensions. As with all Proton VPN products, the browser extension is open source, allowing anyone to inspect and verify its code for transparency and security. This extension makes it even easier for users to experience the benefits of Proton VPN’s no-logs policy, which is backed by Switzerland’s strong privacy laws.

Last but not least, if you plan on using Secure Core services for browsing, be ready to suffer a hefty speed penalty, since multi-hop connections do eat into speed; but for the most paranoid amongst us, speed is usually not priority number one.

Privacy & Security

Proton VPN’s privacy policy clearly states that it does not log any user activity or IP addresses, maintaining a strict no-logs policy. In the past, Proton VPN used to store timestamps of the last login, but this practice has since been discontinued. The fact that the VPN is based in Switzerland – a country with one of the strongest privacy laws in the world – will ensure that you are protected from government surveillance and third-party requests. In addition, a separate third-party audit confirmed that the provider has no significant flaws in their privacy policy.

Thanks to the DNS leak protection and kill switch features, your connection will remain secure even if the VPN drops for any reason. Furthermore, AES-265 encryption, coupled with multi-factor authentication, adds an extra layer of security. As a business user, you’re given the option to configure your gateways, segment your network, and isolate devices or resources easily.

Proton VPN apps include built-in defenses against man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks, particularly when operating over unsecured or potentially hostile networks. If such an attack attempt is detected, the app alerts the user and blocks connections to any suspicious servers, providing an added layer of security against malicious threats.

Alternatives

NordLayer jumps out as a strong alternative to Proton VPN, of course, it also commands premium pricing but does stand out when it comes to speed. Similar to Proton, NordLayer offers a rich feature set, with complex security features that complement any business looking to stay on the safer side of the internet. Browser extensions and mobile apps are easy to use, offer granular configuration, and thanks to its Firewall as a service option, it ticks all of the checkboxes for a Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) solution.

Twingate is another alternative that, like Proton, offers fast, scalable, and seamless deployment of services. Additionally, it offers flexible access policy configurations and comprehensive activity logging, focusing on businesses in regulated industries. Like NordLayer the focus was placed on the UX and UI part of the apps they offer, which are top-notch and very intuitive. In terms of pricing it beats out both Proton and NordLayer, but does come with different sets of features and options. Therefore, the best option is to initially figure out your needs, compare the offerings and then look at pricing to get the best feel for which VPN solution is right for your business.

Final Verdict

Proton Business VPN is a powerful business VPN solution that places a strong emphasis on being open source, highly regulated, and Swiss-based to ensure the highest level of privacy and security for its users. Over 5,000 business users trust Proton with their data, which is not a number to sneeze at.

Complex security features that extend from encryption, and log-in protection all the way to man-in-the-middle attack prevention speak to the level of detail Proton placed on security. Thanks to its Secure Core and NetShield features, businesses can ensure that phishing and malware are reduced to a minimum. Of course, there are some drawbacks in terms of speed if you simply decide to turn all of the advanced features on. However, if you focus on dedicated IP addresses and dedicated servers, and reserve the advanced features for remote workers coming from higher security risk areas, Proton can be an ideal companion. All in all, Proton makes a strong case for being one of the best solutions in the business VPN market.

This week’s episode of Skeleton Crew began to peel back the layers around the mystery of At Attin—the world our young heroes hail from, and are (mostly) eager to get back to. But in doing so, it made some pretty intriguing connections to wider Star Wars lore… ones that could have some very interesting ramifications for the show’s place in the galaxy far, far away.

In episode three of the series, the kids and the audience alike learn from the avian astronavigation expert Kh’ymm that At Attin is the sole surviving world in a group known as the “Jewels of the Old Republic”: a series of at least nine worlds that were placed under Republic protection to be kept hidden in some form or another to safeguard some wondrous feature about them, either ecological or, as “Jod” believes, some grand treasure waiting to be plundered. All but At Attin have been destroyed outright since the establishment of the project, but while trying to figure out defining features of the world to narrow Kh’ymm’s searches down, Neel makes mention that no one on the planet is meant to leave the protection of a barrier of nebulae gasses, as part of what At Attin’s government refers to as “the Great Work.”

It’s not the first time in Skeleton Crew we’ve heard that phrase invoked. Fern’s mother, Fara, tells Wim and Neel’s class that their aptitude tests are designed to help children find their career path as part of that “Great Work,” in so much as serving the planet of At Attin at large. But this is the first time that someone makes an explicit connection between the term and the intent behind the Jewels—and in doing so invokes a particularly intriguing concept from long ago in Star Wars‘ chronology, but a little more recently in our own.

What Is a ‘Great Work’?

The act of describing a governmental project as one of the Republic’s “Great Works” became a prominent part of the worldbuilding for the High Republic publishing initiative depicting the golden age of the Galactic Republic, approximately 200 years before the events of the Star Wars prequel trilogy. There, the “Great Works” were a pet project of the then-current Supreme Chancellor, Lina Soh, and a term designated to particularly grand projects undertaken by the Republic to advance its expansionary goals and elevate its status as the de facto state of power in the galaxy.

What a “Great Work” could be varied—the construction of interstellar comms relays or the Starlight Beacon (a massive space station on the edge of Republic space in collaboration with the Jedi Order); the discovery of effective cultivation of Bacta as a medical aid; brokering a peace treaty between the Quarren and Mon Calamari; and even, perhaps most interestingly in connection to the Jewels, environmental restoration of worlds on the brink of climate-change-induced disaster. While all these projects were largely benevolent ones, the branding of them as Soh’s “Great Works” drew some ire within the Republic senate and among her allies in the Jedi, blunting their diplomatic intent into a self-serving vision of Soh’s own importance.

It has real-world parallels befitting an expansionary colonial endeavor like the Republic was meant to be at the time, too—one particularly disastrous “Great Work” was Soh’s Republic Fair, held on the planet Valo and ultimately assaulted by the piratical forces of the Nihil in 231BBY. Originally intended before its targeting to be a show of unity and a promotional celebration of the Republic as a federal entity and hub for technological advancement, it draws parallels to real-world colonial exhibitions such as World’s Fairs, or Great Britain’s Festival of Empire, masquerading Imperialist propaganda as a force for advanced civilization.

Are the High Republic’s Great Works and At Attin Connected?

There’s definitely a case to be made that the Jewels fit into something akin to the “Great Works” we saw in the High Republic material. But the jury is still out on whether or not that means that At Attin’s secrecy was something established during that time period, or if the world’s isolation has been for even longer than that.

It’s very intriguing at the least that while evoking the term feels like a deliberate nod to the High Republic, the term “High Republic” has yet to be used in relation to it on Skeleton Crew. So far in the show people have only ever described At Attin as being more broadly connected to the “old Republic,” rather than specifically the High Republic, and even that‘s vague. What is “old,” in this context? We know at the very least that At Attin’s populace (if not its government, so far) is unaware of the events of the Galactic Civil War. But is “old” the roughly 240 years or so since the golden age of the High Republic? Is it even older than that, perhaps into a time period the wider chronology that is referred to as the Old Republic, both in the expanded universe and current continuity? Has At Attin been hidden for hundreds of years, or perhaps thousands, predating the concept of the “Great Works” to even well before Supreme Chancellor Soh?

We’re not exactly sure yet—no doubt Skeleton Crew will begin narrowing it down for us as we progress closer and closer to finding out what At Attin is safeguarding from the rest of the galaxy.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

BeReal, the in the moment social media platform, is far from its 2022 heyday, but that hasn’t stopped one organization from going after it. Austrian advocacy group Noyb has filed a complaint surrounding the platform’s data consent banner practices. The organization claims that the banner disappears if users accept that their personal data can inform advertising practices, but if they click reject then the banner appears daily. Noyb filed its complaint with the French data protection authority (CNIL) as Voodoo, a French company, bought BeReal in June — the practice in question started in July.

« BeReal’s daily attempt to pressure its users into accepting the tracking for personalised advertising has a significant impact on user behaviour. Consent given under these circumstances is not freely given, which means it doesn’t meet the requirements established in Article 4(11) GDPR, » Noyb argued in its complaint. It asked the CNIL to fine BeReal and force it to be compliant.

Noyb also pointed to guidelines the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) adopted in early 2023 around such a technique. « The continuous prompting deceptive design pattern occurs when users are pushed to provide more personal data than necessary for the purposes of processing or to agree with another use of their data, by being repeatedly asked to provide additional data or to consent to a purpose of processing, » the EDPB stated. « Such repetitive prompts can happen through one or several devices. Users are likely to end up giving in, as they are wearied from having to refuse the request each time they use the platform. « 

What is the best internet provider in Aurora?

Aurora residents have plenty of options when it comes to internet service. If you’re in the market for a fresh broadband connection. Xfinity is the top internet service provider in Aurora, Colorado, according to our CNET experts. Xfinity earns the top spot thanks to its fast speeds and affordable prices — making it a great choice for households. Plans start at just $20 monthly for 150Mbps speeds and go all the way way to high-speed 1200Mbps connectivity for $85 monthly.

If Xfinity doesn’t service your neighborhood, you should look for Quantum Fiber or CenturyLink as backup options. Quantum’s fiber service is limited to just two plans but offers blistering fast speeds on both.

Additionally, Aurora is home to multiple fixed wireless internet providers. Verizon 5G Home Internet offers the fastest speeds for the money, but T-Mobile Home Internet is also a practical option, particularly in rural areas to the east. Remember — availability, pricing and overall value from other fixed wireless providers, including Starry Internet, Aerux Broadband and Rise Broadband, will vary by location.

Best internet in Aurora, Colorado

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find internet deals and promotions in Aurora

The best internet deals and top promotions in Aurora depend on what discounts are available during that time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers. 

Aurora internet providers, such as Xfinity, may offer lower introductory pricing or streaming add-ons for a limited time. Many, including Quantum Fiber, CenturyLink and Rise Broadband, run the same standard pricing year-round. 

For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

What’s a good internet speed?

Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you’re looking for an internet plan that can accommodate video conferencing, streaming video or gaming, you’ll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here’s an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the Federal Communications Commission. Note that these are only guidelines and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.

For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.

• 0 to 5Mbps allows you to tackle the basics: browsing the internet, sending and receiving email and streaming low-quality video.
• 5 to 40Mbps gives you higher-quality video streaming and video conferencing.
• 40 to 100Mbps should give one user sufficient bandwidth to satisfy the demands of modern telecommuting, video streaming and online gaming. 
• 100 to 500Mbps allows one to two users to simultaneously engage in high-bandwidth activities like video conferencing, streaming and online gaming. 
• 500 to 1,000Mbps allows three or more users to engage in high-bandwidth activities at the same time.

How CNET chose the best internet providers in Aurora

Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. What’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.

It doesn’t end there: We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of the time of publication.

Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:

1. Does the provider offer access to reasonably fast internet speeds?
2. Do customers get decent value for what they’re paying?
3. Are customers happy with their service?

The answer to those questions is often layered and complex, the providers who come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When it comes to selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, although we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and also take into account real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)

To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.

Internet providers in Aurora FAQs