Latest Tech News

Stay updated with the latest in technology, AI, cybersecurity, and more

Filtered by: files Clear Filter

New Phobos ransomware decryptor lets victims recover files for free

The Japanese police have released a Phobos and 8-Base ransomware decryptor that lets victims recover their files for free, with BleepingComputer confirming that it successfully decrypts files. Phobos is a ransomware-as-a-service operation that launched in December 2018, enabling other threat actors to join as affiliates and utilize their encryption tool in attacks. In exchange, any ransom payments were split between the affiliate and the operators. While the ransomware operation did not receiv

Is Apple's AirDrop Not Working for You? Here's How to Fix It

AirDrop has always been a quick and convenient way to transfer files between Apple's devices. You can use it to easily share photos, documents, videos, audio recordings, contact cards, web links, notes and other data between iPads, iPhones and Macs. You can also use AirDrop to transfer those files to nearby contacts (as long as they have iOS or MacOS) and it works with any iOS device with iOS 7 or newer and Macs running OS X Yosemite or newer. For a detailed explanation of how to use AirDrop, c

6 ways to protect your passport and other travel docs from cybercriminals - before it's too late

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET You may think that your physical passport, boarding passes, and ID cards are protected from theft as long as you keep them safe and secure. But that's not necessarily the case. If those documents are scanned or stored in the cloud, they're just as vulnerable as other types of files. Also: I never travel without these 5 security gadgets and accessories. Here's why A new report from NordVPN describes how your travel documents can be accessed and exploited and what y

I found a better way to transfer files between Android and Linux - and it's free

nailzchap/Getty Images I often need to send a file from my Pop!_OS Linux desktop to my Android device. Over the years, I've found a variety of solutions, but this latest option -- called Packet -- makes transferring files between Linux and Android a breeze. Packet works with Quick Share. The only requirement is that both desktop and mobile devices be on the same wireless network. Also: Two new Android 16 security features protect you better - how to switch them on now Let me show you how to

‘Whatever She Thinks Is Credible’: Trump Says Pam Bondi Should Release Part of Epstein Files

President Donald Trump angered his own supporters recently when his U.S. Department of Justice said it wouldn’t be releasing any more information about the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. But after days of outrage, including from the Deputy Director of the FBI, Dan Bongino, Trump is now signaling that Attorney General Pam Bondi might release something. Still, don’t expect to see anything that would make Trump look bad. Trump spoke to reporters outside the White House on Tuesday and was asked

WeTransfer says files not used to train AI after backlash

WeTransfer says files not used to train AI after backlash The firm has now updated its terms, saying it has "made the language easier to understand" to avoid confusion. A WeTransfer spokeswoman told BBC News: "We don't use machine learning or any form of AI to process content shared via WeTransfer, nor do we sell content or data to any third parties." The file sharing company had received lots of criticism from customers on social media after changing its terms of service, which some interpre

Embedding user-defined indexes in Apache Parquet

Embedding User-Defined Indexes in Apache Parquet Files Posted on: Mon 14 July 2025 by Qi Zhu, Jigao Luo, and Andrew Lamb It’s a common misconception that Apache Parquet files are limited to basic Min/Max/Null Count statistics and Bloom filters, and that adding more advanced indexes requires changing the specification or creating a new file format. In fact, footer metadata and offset-based addressing already provide everything needed to embed user-defined index structures within Parquet files w

Embedding User-Defined Indexes in Apache Parquet

Embedding User-Defined Indexes in Apache Parquet Files Posted on: Mon 14 July 2025 by Qi Zhu, Jigao Luo, and Andrew Lamb It’s a common misconception that Apache Parquet files are limited to basic Min/Max/Null Count statistics and Bloom filters, and that adding more advanced indexes requires changing the specification or creating a new file format. In fact, footer metadata and offset-based addressing already provide everything needed to embed user-defined index structures within Parquet files w

This SSD docking station proved to be one of the best investments for my PC (and it's on sale)

ZDNET's key takeaways The Sabrent USB SSD 4-bay docking station is available now on Amazon for $72. This docking station makes adding external drives to your system a total plug-and-play affair. The case is plastic, so it feels a bit cheap but that doesn't get in the way of performance. View now at Amazon At Amazon, the Sabrent USB SSD docking station is currently on sale for $72, a savings of $18. It seems I'm always running out of room on my iMac drives. Why? Video files. You see, I film m

How to Free Up Your iPhone's Storage by Deleting Data You Don't Need

If you've owned your iPhone for a long time, you know the f when you're about to snap a photo, download an app or update your phone, when suddenly a notification pops up warning you that your iPhone storage is almost full. Maybe you've frantically tried to figure out how to free up as much space as possible without just nuking everything. But don't panic. There are several ways to regain storage space from your iPhone that don't involve starting from scratch. From offloading apps to using the c

Proposal: GUI-first, text-based mechanical CAD inspired by software engineering

Most mechanical CAD tools (SolidWorks, Fusion, FreeCAD) still lock all modeling into opaque binary files. That makes it hard to track changes, collaborate with Git, or automate builds. I’ve written a proposal for an alternative paradigm: - GUI-first, like KiCad - visual modeling is the default - Text-based source files (YAML/JSON) — readable, diffable, Git-friendly - Separation of source and result - .step, .stl and previews are built artifacts - Parametric logic is explicit - slot width =

Mastodon is improving profiles and getting ready for quote posts

is a news editor covering technology, gaming, and more. He joined The Verge in 2019 after nearly two years at Techmeme. Mastodon 4.4 is out now, and it brings a bunch of changes for things like profiles and lists and also lays the groundwork for quote posts. With profiles, you can now feature specific hashtags so that people can see all the posts you’ve tagged with those hashtags, the Mastodon says. Mastodon is also making a change to how pinned posts work: you can still pin up to five posts o

Show HN: Semcheck – AI Tool for checking implementation follows spec

Semcheck Semcheck is a tool that uses large language models to verify that your implementation matches your specification. Define semantic rules to describe how your code should align with your specification, then let Semcheck handle the comparison. Use it as a final check before committing or merging code. Features Non-intrusive: no changes required to existing code or specification files Bring Your Own Model: supports OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, Cerebras and Ollama (local) Supports remote

Celebrate Independence Day with up to 70% off pCloud lifetime plans

Cloud storage is pretty much a must–have these days, but if there’s one thing none of us need in life it’s yet another monthly or annual subscription. This 4th July you can declare your independence from ongoing cloud fees by taking advantage of a pCloud lifetime plan – with savings as high as 70% … Premium cloud features pCloud offers all the usual cloud storage features you expect, as well as some you won’t find elsewhere. Fully automatic backups pCloud Backup keeps all your documents and

How to clear the cache on your Windows 11 PC (and why you shouldn't wait to do it)

Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET If your computer desktop looks a little chaotic and you're noticing some performance slowdown, it might be time to do a cleanup. The best way to keep things running smoothly is to ensure you're running the most updated version of Windows (you'd be surprised how many folks' devices are several updates behind). But if you're up-to-date, there are other things you can do to optimize. Also: This compact Windows PC outperforms the M4 Mac Mini in key areas - and it's on sale Wi

OpenFLOW – Quickly make beautiful infrastructure diagrams local to your machine

OpenFLOW - Isometric Diagramming Tool OpenFLOW is a powerful, open-source Progressive Web App (PWA) for creating beautiful isometric diagrams. Built with React and the Isoflow library, it runs entirely in your browser with offline support. Features 🎨 Isometric Diagramming - Create stunning 3D-style technical diagrams - Create stunning 3D-style technical diagrams 💾 Auto-Save - Your work is automatically saved every 5 seconds - Your work is automatically saved every 5 seconds 🔒 Privacy-First

Show HN: Sink – Sync any directory with any device on your local network

sink sync any directory with 2 windows machines over your local network. no emailing yourself stuff. no cloud. no flash drives. no bs. note: this is still a veeery big wip, as there are many features that I have planned to added; you can see this on the bottom of this readme. i built this to solve a specific problem: syncing files on a locked-down school laptop where python was one of the only things i was allowed to run. features automatically finds other computers running sink on you

I found a file-transferring app that works between Android and Linux - and it's free to use

Must. Connect. To. Linux. Jack Wallen/ZDNET Almost daily, I need to send a file from my Pop!_OS Linux desktop to my Android device. Over the years, I've found some solutions, but this latest option, called Packet, makes sending files from Linux to Android a breeze. Packet works with Quick Share, and both desktop and mobile devices only have to be on the same wireless network to function. Once on the same network, sending a file to Android is simple. Also: My 6 favorite open-source Android app

Microsoft investigates OneDrive bug that breaks file search

​Microsoft is investigating a known OneDrive issue that is causing searches to appear blank for some users or return no results even when searching for files they know they've already uploaded. In a support document updated this week, the company shared that this bug impacts Windows, Android, iOS, and web users. "Some OneDrive personal account users may notice that search results appear blank or don't return files they know exist. While the files are still present and accessible, they don't ap

This Linux app makes sharing files to Android a breeze - here's how

Must. Connect. To. Linux. Jack Wallen/ZDNET Almost daily, I need to send a file from my Pop!_OS Linux desktop to my Android device. Over the years, I've found some solutions, but this latest option, called Packet, makes sending files from Linux to Android a breeze. Packet works with Quick Share, and both desktop and mobile devices only have to be on the same wireless network to function. Once on the same network, sending a file to Android is simple. Also: My 6 favorite open-source Android app

The ‘OpenAI Files’ push for oversight in the race to AGI

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has said humanity is only years away from developing artificial general intelligence that could automate most human labor. If that’s true, then humanity also deserves to understand and have a say in the people and mechanics behind such an incredible and destabilizing force. That is the guiding purpose behind “The OpenAI Files,” an archival project from the Midas Project and the Tech Oversight Project, two nonprofit tech watchdog organizations. The Files are a “collection o

How to clear the cache on your Windows 11 PC (and why it makes such a big difference)

Kerry Wan/ZDNET If your computer desktop looks a little chaotic and you're noticing some performance slowdown, it might be time to do a cleanup. The best way to keep things running smoothly is to ensure you're running the most updated version of Windows (you'd be surprised how many folks' devices are several updates behind). But if you're up-to-date, there are other things you can do to optimize. Also: 'End of 10' offers hope and support to Windows 10 users who can't upgrade their PCs Windows

Show HN: Rulebook AI – rules and memory manager for AI coding IDEs

Universal Rules Template for AI Coding Assistants Bugs or ideas → open an Issue in the repo in the repo Anonymous feedback: Go to the Google Form Supercharge Your AI Coding Workflow Across Cursor, CLINE, RooCode, Windsurf, and Github Copilot Tired of inconsistent AI behavior across different coding assistants? Struggling to maintain context and enforce best practices on complex projects? This template provides a robust, cross-platform framework designed to elevate your AI pair-programming ex

A solid free alternative to WinRAR and 7-Zip, PeaZip launches version 10.5.0

PeaZip is a free and open-source file archiver utility that serves as an alternative to popular tools like WinRAR, WinZip, and 7-Zip. Designed to be cross-platform, it runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS, offering a user-friendly interface paired with advanced features. Built on open technologies including 7-Zip/p7zip, Zstandard (by Facebook), Brotli (by Google), FreeArc, PAQ, and the PEA project, PeaZip provides powerful and flexible file compression and extraction capabilities. It supports ope

The SanDisk Ultra-Fast 2TB SSD Is Flying Off Shelves, Amazon Dropped Its Price (Again) to a New Low

If you’ve ever had to wait for the ancient speed of an old hard disk drive (HDD) to transfer large files, you know firsthand how infuriating it is. Now that files are becoming larger and workflows need faster transfers, a solid state drive (SSD) is no longer a luxury: it’s a must-have. The SanDisk 2TB SSD is one of them and Amazon just dropped the price to $144 from its list price of $210 (32% off) which is an all-time low for a drive that’s an absolute bestseller. See at Amazon Why Should Yo

Show HN: McWig – A modal, Vim-like text editor written in Go

McWig (temporary name) Hi! Welcome to my text editor page. McWig is a modal, Vim-like text editor written in Go. I use it as my daily driver, btw. Note: McWig currently supports only .go files. Do not edit files that are not backed up. McWig is still in an early stage of development and may damage your files. Features LSP autocomplete, goto definition, hover info Tree-sitter support Color themes (borrowed from the Helix text editor) Lots of bugs Macro support Something like Emacs org-mo

Show HN: Vim-like text editor in go. (LSP, TreeSitter, Themes)

McWig (temporary name) Hi! Welcome to my text editor page. McWig is a modal, Vim-like text editor written in Go. I use it as my daily driver, btw. Note: McWig currently supports only .go files. Do not edit files that are not backed up. McWig is still in an early stage of development and may damage your files. Features LSP autocomplete, goto definition, hover info Tree-sitter support Color themes (borrowed from the Helix text editor) Lots of bugs Macro support Something like Emacs org-mo

When I share files, I skip right past Quick Share and use this app instead

Andy Walker / Android Authority Sharing files across Android and other devices can be tedious. Although Quick Share has improved slightly since Samsung and Google collaborated, offering a larger feature set than ever, it often feels more cumbersome than convenient. I spend more time connecting to the recipient’s phone than sending the file, which I don’t appreciate. How often do you use Quick Share? 31 votes Daily. 19 % Once or twice a week. 16 % Once a month or less. 45 % I don't use it at al

Gemini's new free feature can save you hours of tedious PDF analysis

ZDNET Those of you who use Google Gemini for free can now take advantage of a feature formerly limited to paid subscribers. On Thursday, the Google Gemini account on X announced that the document upload capability is now available to all Gemini users. How it works Using this option, free users can upload a variety of file types to Gemini for analysis. These include PDFs, text files, Word documents, PowerPoint presentations, and Google Docs files. After Gemini processes your uploaded file, you