If you’re looking for gifts that will appeal to someone interested in cybersecurity or programming, the hunt can be a challenge. We’ve rounded up our picks for the top gift options, including books for study or entertainment, high-tech kits, courses, and novelty items for your loved one to enjoy. Here are interesting, odd, and fun gift options for the hacker in your life. Must read: The best cheap tech gifts for under $100The best cheap tech gifts under $75The best cheap tech gifts under $50The best cheap tech gifts under $25...

A recent study by IBM showed that AI-driven intelligent automation in the retail sector alone will leap from 40 percent usage to more than 80 percent in the next three years. Experts have staked out a variety of positions on the intersection of adoption, employment, and job security. For the moment, aided by a tight labor market and automation trends coming out of the pandemic, the pendulum seems to have swung toward automation’s role as a driver of overall economic growth....

These ‘bugs’ are what can cause big problems when cybercriminals choose to exploit them on a vulnerable (unpatched) system. To put this into perspective by borrowing a paragraph from The Scientific American, “Software development is not a perfect process. Programmers often work on timelines set by management teams that attempt to set reasonable goals, though it can be a challenge to meet those deadlines. As a result, developers do their best to design secure products as they progress but may not be able to identify all flaws before an anticipated release date....

Because of Chatroulette’s somewhat notorious reputation, it’s often blocked on certain networks. Furthermore, users can easily get an undeserved ban over harmless arguments with staff – or get automatically suspended due to intentional abuse of the report system. The good news is that with a solid virtual private network (VPN) by your side, you won’t have to worry about restricted access to Chatroulette ever again! As an added bonus, you’ll be able to keep your identity safe and enjoy extra protection on the internet....

Out of the total 464 data breach notifications sent to the OAIC during the six months to December, private health service providers reported 83 of them. Finance filed the second most with 56, while legal, accounting, and management services rounded out the top three with 51. The 464 data breaches received by the information commissioner under the Notifiable Data Breaches (NDB) scheme marked a 6% increase when compared to the first half of 2021....

Of all the VPNs I tested, ExpressVPN is the most reliable at unblocking Prime Video libraries. During my tests, I connected to 4 different US servers and each of them worked seamlessly with Prime Video US. I could also access the UK, German, and Japanese libraries right away. Unlike with many VPNs, I never had to switch between servers or use its 24/7 live chat for advice on which locations to use....

Canada is also a part of the data-sharing 5 Eyes Alliance, and cyber threats are growing worldwide. This means your online privacy is at risk without a VPN. My team and I tested over 80 VPNs to find the best services for Canada. I selected those that offer a global network of servers and excellent speeds for viewing global content without interruptions. What’s more, they come with powerful security features to keep your data safe....

However, if you stream videos or download torrents, you’ll run up against free Windscribe’s data cap quickly. We like Windscribe’s commitment to your privacy even if you don’t pay for a subscription. Unfortunately, the free version of Windscribe won’t unblock US Netflix, and only gives you access to servers in 11 countries. You’ll likely experience sluggish speeds due to heavy server load. The reality is, free VPNs always have drawbacks by design....

My team and I tested 50+ VPNs to find the best ones for gaming. After analyzing average speeds, server networks, and security features, I handpicked a few VPNs that let you play safely and without lag. Plus, they’re easy to install on all your devices — whether you connect via PC, console, or router. My top recommendation for gaming is ExpressVPN. It offers excellent speeds, an extensive server network so you can access content from around the world, and industry-leading security for smooth and secure gameplay....

Also: CES 2023 tech you can actually buy now Alienware’s design framework, dubbed Legend, is now stepping into its third update of function and design elements that aim to enhance “interactivity and convenience – all while enabling higher performing technology.” The new laptops represent a shift from Alienware, which typically focuses on 15-inch and 17-inch screen sizes. Alienware says it’s now able to deliver devices with 16-inch and 18-inch screen sizes thanks to improvements in thermal technologies....

The purchased assets will be integrated with Accenture’s Cloud First offerings, a catalogue of cloud-based solutions that includes cloud migration, infrastructure, and application services, as well as built-in partnerships with a variety of third-party vendors. The product group launched in 2020 with $3 billion in funding and a collection of 70,000 cloud professionals to fulfill its goal of speeding enterprise cloud migrations over the subsequent three years. Accenture has been on something of an acquisition world tour in 2021, adding a Brazilian customer experience firm, a German engineering firm, a French cybersecurity business, a Japanese e-commerce company, and a US-based change management consulting firm, with most of these acquisitions having at least some additive impact on its Cloud First assets....

Also: CES 2023 tech you can actually buy now Nitro gaming laptops Under its Nitro brand of gaming laptops, Acer debuted two new models: The Acer Nitro 16 and Acer Nitro 17. Both units include the latest 13th-gen Intel Core processors and Nvidia GeForce RTX 40 Series GPUs, as well as storage options ranging up to 2TB and RAM configurations as high as 32GB of DDR5 4800 memory. Also: Acer Chromebook 516 GE review: As good as cloud gaming gets Each laptop also features up to 165Hz refresh rates for its display, and new fan layouts designed to help keep the models cool under even the most intense gaming sessions....

Given the high demand for IT professionals and the extensive training required for the job, it may seem as though entry into this important and lucrative field is nearly impossible unless you’ve at least been working in a related industry for years. But that’s simply untrue. Although you’ll likely have to climb a bit of a learning curve at first, online resources like the Complete 2020 CompTIA Certification Training Bundle can help you get to where you need to be quickly and efficiently....

Witte is now facing 19 different charges ranging from computer fraud to aggravated identity theft for the part she played in the Trickbot group, which helped disseminate the malware from Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and Suriname. The group was made up of people who were also involved in the Dyre ransomware, according to the indictment. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, who heads up the new Ransomware and Digital Extortion Task Force, said in a statement that Trickbot was used to infect millions of computers, harvest banking credentials and deliver ransomware to organizations across the US, Europe and India....

Total revenue was up over the year prior by 78% to AU$924.6 million, as the buy-now, pay-later (BNPL) firm reached 16.2 million customers and 98,200 merchants on its platform. 10.5 million customers live in North America, 3.6 million in Australia and New Zealand, and 2.1 million individuals are customers of the company’s Clearpay operation in Europe and the United Kingdom. Afterpay went live in Canada in August 2020. Underlying sales for the year experienced a 90% increase, totalling AU$21....

The Aeropex retail price is $159.95, but there is currently a $30 off sale, so the price is $129.95. They are available in Cosmic Black, Blue Eclipse, Solar Red, and Lunar Grey. I tested the standard size Cosmic Black set. I first tried out AfterShokz bone conduction technology with the Trekz Air in 2018, and over the past year, I tried out a couple of other options from competitors. With the Aeropex over my ears blasting classic rock, it is clear that AfterShokz sets the bar when it comes to bone conduction headphones optimized for working out....

The 15.6-inch x15 manages to be just a bit over 0.6 inches thick and ranges in weight from 5 to 5.2 pounds, depending on the configuration (compared to the Alienware m15’s 5.3- to 5.9-pound range). The 17.3-inch x17 is obviously bigger, but still is a shade over 0.8 inches thick and tips the scales at 6.7 to 7.1 pounds. Needless to say these are hardly 3-pound ultraportables, but considering the type of power they have inside them, they are far more portable than their gaming ancestors....

Khan said on Twitter that the FTC was created “to safeguard fair competition and protect consumers, workers, and honest businesses from unfair and deceptive practices.” In March, she was nominated by Biden after a career in academia and government, previously serving as a counsel to the US House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law and legal advisor to the office of FTC Commissioner Rohit Chopra. US Senator Elizabeth Warren said in a statement that Khan “brings deep knowledge and expertise to this role and will be a fearless champion for consumers....

On board the New Shepard rocket, which has been in testing since 2015, Bezos was joined by his younger brother Mark Bezos, female aviator Wally Funk, and Oliver Daemen. The trip to space saw them fly pass the Kármán Line, the internationally recognised boundary of space. “My expectations were high and dramatically exceeded … it felt so normal, it felt almost like humans had evolved to be in that environment … it felt so serene and peaceful … the most profound piece of it was looking out at the Earth’s atmosphere,” Bezos said, following the landing....

The bedside sleep tracker analyzes your sleep stages and also analyzes your room setup to give you insights into your sleep. The device is smart enough to only track your sleep patterns, even if a partner or furry friend is sleeping in the same bed. The Halo Rise also features a wake-up light that aims to resemble natural sunlight, making it what’s known as a sunrise alarm clock, and aims to wake you up at the lightest point of your sleep cycle so that you can rise at the best time according to your biology....