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SAVE $570: As of Feb. 6, the Anker SOLIX C1000 portable power station is available at Amazon for $429 (regularly $999). That’s a 57% discount on this high-capacity, fast-charging power station with solar compatibility and a long-lasting LiFePO4 battery.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker SOLIX C1000 Portable Power Station $429.00 at Amazon
$999.00 Save $570.00 Shop Now

If you've ever had a power outage and thought, "Man, I really should get one of those backup battery things," now's the time. The Anker SOLIX C1000 is 57% off at Amazon, bringing it down to just $429 (from $999). That's a massive $570 discount for a beast of a power station.

This bad boy can power everything from your phone and laptop to a mini-fridge, power tools, and even a CPAP machine — anything that keeps life running smoothly when the grid fails you. It pumps out 1800W of power (2400W peak) and has 11 ports, so you can charge multiple devices at once like some off-grid wizard.

SEE ALSO: Beats Studio Buds+ are $50 off at Amazon — upgrade your earbuds for less

The best part? It charges stupidly fast. Plug it into an AC outlet, and it'll hit 80% in 43 minutes. By the time you finish making breakfast, it's ready to roll. Need something for camping or road trips? It fully recharges in under two hours with solar panels (sold separately, but still cool). And because it's built with a LiFePO4 battery, you're looking at 3,000+ charge cycles, meaning it'll last a solid decade before you need to consider replacing it.

It's also 15% smaller than other 1kWh power stations, making it actually portable, not just "portable" in that technically-you-can-lift-it-but-you'll-regret-it kind of way. Plus, the Anker app lets you monitor everything remotely because, of course, it does.

Bottom line? If you want a reliable, fast-charging, and actually useful power station without dropping a grand, this is the one. $429 is a steal — don't sleep on it.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Thursday, February 6, 2025:

AcrossChief Norse god

• The answer is Odin.

Required number

• The answer is Quota.

Open, as a sleeping bag

• The answer is Unzip.

Puts a cold pack on

• The answer is Ices.

Scrabble value of the circled letters

• The answer is Ten.

DownUnit of weight whose symbol includes a "z"

• The answer is Ounce.

Baker's ___

• The answer is Dozen.

"That's correct"

• The answer is Itis.

Hit the hay during the day

• The answer is Nap.

Give up

• The answer is Quit.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Mini Crossword.

Google has become the latest big tech company to scrap diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the wake of President Donald Trump's attacks against such programs.

As first reported by The Wall Street Journal, Google informed employees on Wednesday that it is abandoning hiring targets intended to increase recruitment of workers from underrepresented groups. In an internal email, Google's HR chief Fiona Cicconi stated that the company would no longer aim to improve diverse representation in its workforce, and will be reevaluating its DEI programs. 

SEE ALSO: Google deletes policy against using AI for weapons or surveillance

"[I]n 2020, we set aspirational hiring goals and focused on growing our offices outside California and New York to improve representation," Cicconi wrote, as shared by The Verge. "We’ll continue to invest in states across the U.S. — and in many countries globally — but in the future we will no longer have aspirational goals."

Cicconi did state that its Employee Resource Groups will remain. However, it seems that Google is otherwise eliminating any mention of diversity, equity, or inclusion.

Last week, Google's "Belonging" webpage explicitly stated that it was taking "targeted action" to address "disability inclusion," "gender equality," "LGBTQ+ inclusion," "racial equality," and "veteran inclusion." It also featured a quote from Chief Diversity Officer Melonie Parker, stating, "Building belonging for everyone means ensuring no one is left out and each person can thrive."

The page has now been updated to remove any mention of Google's previous "key issues," replacing them instead with generic, vague pledges to "better reflect the billions of people who use our products" and "[build] a Google for all of us to build helpful products for everyone."

"To build products that help billions of people reach their goals, we’re bringing together talented people from everywhere and empowering them to do their best work," reads the new quote from Parker. While Parker is still listed as Chief Diversity Officer on her LinkedIn profile, Google now calls her "VP, People Operations," and has removed her pronouns.

Google's Belonging page as of Jan. 31. Credit: Screenshot: Mashable / Google Google's Belonging page as of writing. Credit: Screenshot: Mashable / Google

"I want to be clear: we’ve always been committed to creating a workplace where we hire the best people wherever we operate, create an environment where everyone can thrive, and treat everyone fairly," said Cicconi in her memo to Google employees. 

"Every year, we review the programs designed to help us get there and make changes. And because we are a federal contractor, our teams are also evaluating changes to our programs required to comply with recent court decisions and U.S. Executive Orders on this topic."

Trump has aggressively worked to dismantle DEI programs since taking office on Jan. 20, signing an executive order terminating all federal DEI programs in one of his first acts as president. Google technically isn't obligated to follow Trump's anti-DEI order, as it is not a U.S. government entity. Even so, it seems as though the tech giant hopes following along will earn it Trump's good graces — as well as help it retain its lucrative government contracts. Earlier this week it was reported that Google has deleted its pledge not to use AI for weapons or surveillance.

Google's parent company Alphabet also eliminated any mention of diversity, equity, or inclusion from its annual report to the Securities and Exchanges Commission (SEC) on Tuesday. The Guardian reports that prior to this, Alphabet's annual SEC filings had regularly affirmed that it was "committed to making diversity, equity and inclusion part of everything we do and to growing a workforce that is representative of the users we serve" since 2021.

"We're committed to creating a workplace where all our employees can succeed and have equal opportunities, and over the last year we’ve been reviewing our programs designed to help us get there," Google said in a statement to Mashable. "We’ve updated our [SEC report's] language to reflect this, and as a federal contractor, our teams are also evaluating changes required following recent court decisions and executive orders on this topic."

Google's decision follows similar measures at Meta and Amazon, with both cutting DEI programs in the lead up to Trump's inauguration.

TL;DR: A Koofr 1TB Lifetime Cloud Storage Subscription is on sale for £103.96 (reg. £647.92) at the Mashable Shop when you use the discount code KOOFR. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Koofr Koofr Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription (1TB) £103.96 at the Mashable Shop
£647.92 Save £543.96 Use code 'KOOFR' Get Deal

So many cloud storage services come with annoying monthly fees. It may feel cheap at first, but those charges really add up over the months and years.

The cheaper alternative is to get cloud storage that lasts for life without needing to pay more than a one-time fee. Right now, you can get a Koofr 1TB Lifetime Cloud Storage Subscription on sale for £103.96 (reg. £647.92). Just be sure to use the code KOOFR.

Pay once for a lifetime

Koofr takes your privacy seriously with top-notch encryption for your files, both when they're being transferred and while they're stored. They also don’t track your activity, so you can rest easy knowing your data is secure and private.

What really stands out about Koofr is how flexible and user-friendly it is. Whether you're on your smartphone, desktop, or using WebDAV, you can easily access and manage your files from anywhere. The interface is straightforward, so even if you're new to cloud storage, you’ll find it easy to use.

Plus, if you’re already using other cloud services like Dropbox, Google Drive, Amazon, or OneDrive, Koofr integrates smoothly, letting you handle everything from one place.

And for keeping your digital space in order, Koofr has some neat features. The Duplicate Finder helps you eliminate unnecessary duplicates, while advanced renaming options let you customise file links. This way, you can keep your files organised and your digital space clutter-free.

Your digital forever home

Give your files a home for life. Get a Koofr 1TB Cloud Storage Lifetime Subscription for £103.96 (reg. £647.92) with the code KOOFR. 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

TL;DR: MagellanTV's lifetime subscription — now £119.96 when you use the code SAVE30 — lets you stream thousands of documentaries forever.

Opens in a new window Credit: MagellanTV MagellanTV Documentary Streaming Service: Lifetime Subscription £119.96 at the Mashable Shop
£799.10 Save £679.14 Use code 'SAVE30' Get Deal

Forget endlessly scrolling through shows you’ll never watch. With MagellanTV, you get access to thousands of documentaries that inform, entertain, and inspire — and this lifetime subscription lets you enjoy it all for £119.96 (reg. £799.10).

From jaw-dropping true-crime series and deep dives into history to captivating explorations of science and nature, MagellanTV offers a curated selection of premium documentaries you won’t find on other streaming platforms. No filler, no fluff, no adverts — just content that expands your horizons.

Love high-quality visuals? MagellanTV delivers more than 3,000 titles in 4K Ultra HD, so you can immerse yourself in stunning detail while learning about the world’s mysteries, discoveries, and stories. Whether you’re a lifelong learner, a history buff, or someone who just loves a good binge, there’s always something fascinating to stream.

Stream smarter, explore endlessly, and enjoy your favourite documentaries whenever you want. It’s a cost-effective way to replace hours of mindless browsing with thought-provoking, bingeworthy content.

For a one-time payment of £119.96 (reg. £799.10), you get lifetime access to MagellanTV’s growing library of documentaries. Just be sure to use the code SAVE30 when you checkout at the Mashable Shop through 23 February.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: A number of DeepSeek courses are available to take for free on Udemy.

Udemy is the best place to find online courses on a wide range of topics, and that includes super fresh topics like DeepSeek. This new ChatGPT rival has been making headlines in recent weeks, but do you really know how to make the most of this hit AI app.

Do not fear, because you can gain a better understanding of DeepSeek with help from Udemy. And better yet, you can kickstart your learning journey without spending anything.

SEE ALSO: What DeepSeek knows about you — and why it matters

We've checked out everything on offer from Udemy and lined up a selection of standout DeepSeek courses to get you started. These are the best online DeepSeek courses you can take for free this month on Udemy:

• Deepseek R1 AI: Learn the Basics

• Deepseek R1 Tutorial: The AI Search Revolution

• Mastering Deepseek: Unlock the Power of AI-Powered Search

These free online courses do not offer certificates of completion or direct instructor messaging, but that's the only catch. You still get unrestricted access to all the video content, so you can start learning at your own pace.

Find the best free DeepSeek courses on Udemy.

Opens in a new window Credit: Udemy DeepSeek Courses Free at Udemy Learn More

TL;DR: Live stream Cavalry FC vs. Pumas UNAM in the Concacaf Champions Cup for free on Tubi. Access this free streaming service from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup continues with an interesting first-round matchup between Cavalry FC and Pumas UNAM. The Canadians will be the underdogs in this fixture, but they will fancy their chances of pulling off a shock result in front of their fans.

If you want to watch Cavalry FC vs. Pumas UNAM in the Concacaf Champions Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Cavalry FC vs. Pumas UNAM?

Cavalry FC vs. Pumas UNAM in the Concacaf Champions Cup kicks off at 10 p.m. ET on Feb. 6. This fixture takes place at Starlight Stadium.

How to watch Cavalry FC vs. Pumas UNAM for free

Cavalry FC vs. Pumas UNAM in the Concacaf Champions Cup is available to live stream for free on Tubi.

Tubi is the exclusive home of the Concacaf Champions Cup in Mexico, but anyone can access these free live streams with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Mexico, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the Concacaf Champions Cup from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Cavalry FC vs. Pumas UNAM by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Mexico

4. Visit Tubi

5. Live stream Cavalry FC vs. Pumas UNAM for free

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Cavalry FC vs. Pumas UNAM in the Concacaf Champions Cup without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select Concacaf Champions Cup fixtures before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Tubi?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Tubi, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Mexico

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Cavalry FC vs. Pumas UNAM in the Concacaf Champions Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Cibao FC vs. Guadalajara in the Concacaf Champions Cup for free on Tubi. Access this free streaming service from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup has kicked off with some really interesting first-round matchups, and next up is Cibao FC vs. Guadalajara. The Dominican team will need to be at their best to take something from Guadalajara, but anything is possible in tournament football.

If you want to watch Cibao FC vs. Guadalajara in the Concacaf Champions Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Cibao FC vs. Guadalajara?

Cibao FC vs. Guadalajara in the Concacaf Champions Cup kicks off at 8 p.m. ET on Feb. 6. This fixture takes place at Estadio Cibao.

How to watch Cibao FC vs. Guadalajara for free

Cibao FC vs. Guadalajara in the Concacaf Champions Cup is available to live stream for free on Tubi.

Tubi is the exclusive home of the Concacaf Champions Cup in Mexico, but anyone can access these free live streams with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Mexico, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the Concacaf Champions Cup from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Cibao FC vs. Guadalajara by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Mexico

4. Visit Tubi

5. Live stream Cibao FC vs. Guadalajara for free

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Cibao FC vs. Guadalajara in the Concacaf Champions Cup without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select Concacaf Champions Cup fixtures before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Tubi?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Tubi, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Mexico

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Cibao FC vs. Guadalajara in the Concacaf Champions Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Liverpool vs. Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup for free on ITVX. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Spurs won the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final matchup with Liverpool 1-0, but the two teams face off at Anfield this time around. The league leaders will be confident of overturning that advantage and progressing to the final. Either Arsenal or Newcastle United await the winners.

If you want to watch Liverpool vs. Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Liverpool vs. Tottenham Hotspur?

Liverpool vs. Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup starts at 8 p.m. GMT on Feb. 6. This fixture takes place at Anfield.

How to watch Liverpool vs. Tottenham Hotspur for free

Liverpool vs. Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock ITVX from anywhere in the world.

Access a free live stream of Liverpool vs. Tottenham Hotspur by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit ITVX

5. Live stream Liverpool vs. Tottenham Hotspur for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Liverpool vs. Tottenham Hotspur without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream the semi-final matchup before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Stream Liverpool vs. Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Unblock XVideos from anywhere in the world with a VPN. The best VPN for unblocking porn sites is ExpressVPN.

Access to your favorite porn sites is not guaranteed. There are many locations around the world where your access to sites like XVideos will be restricted. There are good reasons for this, but there is also something to be said for the right to online freedom.

In an effort to preserve your online freedom, we're giving you the information you need to bypass online restrictions and access sites like XVideos from anywhere in the world. And fortunately, the process is straightforward.

Want to unblock porn sites like XVideos for free from anywhere in the world? We have the information you need.

How to unblock XVideos for free

VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect to a secure server in another location. This straightforward process bypasses content restrictions so you can access porn sites like XVideos from anywhere in the world.

Unblock XVideos by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location that supports access to XVideos

4. Unblock XVideos

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-year subscription + 3 months free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for unblocking porn sites are not free, but most do offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock porn sites and then recover your investment at a later date. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it works well if you're temporarily away from home on an unsecured network.

What is the best VPN for porn?

ExpressVPN is the top choice when it comes to unblocking porn sites like XVideos, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy

• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Unblock XVideos for free with ExpressVPN.

Mr. Penny, who was acquitted after choking a mentally ill subway passenger to death, was hired to join the firm’s American Dynamism investment team.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

Tweet may have been deleted

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

Tweet may have been deleted

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for February 6 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Gentle or barely noticeable

• Green: Showing generosity

• Blue: Parts that extend upwards

• Purple: Iconic musicians' monikers

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Delicate

• Green: Magnanimous

• Blue: Things with Necks

• Purple: First Names in Jazz

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #606 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Delicate: FAINT, LIGHT, MILD, SOFT

• Magnanimous: GRAND, GREAT, LOFTY, NOBLE

• Things with Necks: BOTTLE, GIRAFFE, GUITAR, LAMP

• First Names in Jazz: CAB, COUNT, DIZZY, DUKE

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for February 6

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for February 6 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for February 6, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

One's protégé.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter P appears twice.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter P.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

PUPIL.

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for February 6

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.

Connections: Sports Edition is a new version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

Tweet may have been deleted

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

Tweet may have been deleted

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

Here's a hint for today's Connections Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Sports moves, typically by an organization or GM

• Green: Where you play on the pitch

• Blue: Defensive moves in football

• Purple: Of the foul kind.

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections Sports Edition categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Transaction

• Green: Soccer positions

• Blue: Types of blitzes

• Purple: Foul __________

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections Sports Edition #136 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Transaction - DEAL, EXCHANGE, TRADE, TRANSFER

• Soccer positions - FULLBACK, GOALKEEPER, MIDFIELDER, STRIKER

• Types of blitzes - SAFETY, SIMULATED, ZERO, ZONE

• Foul _________ - BALL, OUT, POLE, TERRITORY

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

Strands requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for February 6 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for February 6 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: I'm a person of my word

These words are common names.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

Words are names that double as words.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is FirstNames.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for February 6

• Drew

• Will

• Chuck

• Jimmy

• Robin

• Chase

• Miles

• FirstNames

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.

Geraldine Viswanathan and Meredith Hagner go bride vs. bride in this You're Cordially Invited-themed version of Know Your Role.

You're Cordially Invited is now streaming on Prime Video.

The Silicon Valley giant also said it was reviewing other diversity programs and initiatives and would update them if they seemed risky or ineffective.

Hackers have discovered a new way to remotely take control of your computer — all through the Google Chrome web browser.

A report from cybersecurity company SquareX lays out the new multifaceted cyberattack, which the firm has dubbed "browser syncjacking."

Chrome profile takeover

At the core of the attack is a social engineering element, as the malicious actor first must convince the user to download a Chrome extension. The Chrome extension is usually disguised as a helpful tool that can be downloaded via the official Chrome Store. It requires minimal permissions, further cementing its perceived legitimacy to the user. According to SquareX, the extension actually does usually work as advertised, in order to further disguise the source of the attack from the user.

Meanwhile, secretly in the background, the Chrome extension connects itself to a managed Google Workspace profile that the attacker has set up in advance. With the user now unknowingly signed into a managed profile, the attacker sends the user to a legitimate Google support page which is injected with modified content through the Chrome extension, telling the user they need to sync their profile.

When the user agrees to the sync, they unwittingly send all their local browser data, such as saved passwords, browsing history, and autofill information, to the hacker's managed profile. The hacker can then sign into this managed profile on their own device and access all that sensitive information.

Chrome browser takeover

The attack up to this point already provides the hacker with enough material to commit fraud and other illicit activities. However, browser syncjacking provides the hacker with the capability to go even further.

Using the teleconferencing platform Zoom as an example, SquareX explains that using the malicious Chrome extension, the attacker can send the victim to an official yet modified Zoom webpage that urges the user to install an update. However, the Zoom download that's provided is actually an executable file that installs a Chrome browser enrollment token from the hacker's Google Workspace.

After this occurs, the hacker then has access to additional capabilities and can gain access to the user's Google Drive, clipboard, emails, and more.

Device takeover

The browser syncjacking attack doesn't stop there. The hacker can take one further step in order to not just take over the victim's Chrome profile and Chrome browser, but also their entire device.

Through that same illicit download, such as the previously used Zoom update installer example, the attacker can inject a "registry entry to message native apps" by weaponizing Chrome’s Native Messaging protocol. By doing this, the attacker basically sets up a connection "between the malicious extension and the local binary." Basically, it creates a flow of information between the hacker's Chrome extension and your computer. Using this, the hacker can send commands to your device.

What can the hacker do from here? Pretty much anything they want. The attacker will have full access to the user's computer files and settings. They can create backdoors into the system. They can steal data such as passwords, cryptocurrency wallets, cookies, and more. In addition, they can track the user by controlling their webcam, take screenshots, record audio, and monitor everything input into the device.

As you can see, browser syncjacking is nearly completely unrecognizable as an attack to most users. For now, the most important thing you can do to protect yourself from such a cyberattack is to be aware of what you download and only install trusted Chrome extensions.

OpenAI's ChatGPT web search feature is now available for everyone, even those without an account.

On Wednesday, OpenAI posted on social media platform X to announce that the ChatGPT search feature had officially been rolled out to all users without the need to sign up or log in.

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The ChatGPT web search feature launched in late October last year. It is integrated directly into OpenAI's ChatGPT AI chatbot at chatgpt.com. 

Users simply click the search button to use the search function. ChatGPT then answers their query in a typical conversational AI chatbot fashion. However, ChatGPT also includes relevant information from the Internet, including photos and links citing where it sourced its information. The links are presented in a search engine-esque way.

SEE ALSO: OpenAI launches 'deep research' AI agent for ChatGPT

When the search feature initially launched, it was only available to paying ChatGPT subscribers. In December of last year, OpenAI rolled out ChatGPT search to all users who were already logged into an account. Now, anyone can use ChatGPT search without an account.

A recent report from search engine optimization company Semrush found that while Google still has billions more search users than ChatGPT,  OpenAI's chatbot product was starting to send more and more search traffic to third-party websites.

It will be interesting to observe how users change their online search habits as new options, such as ChatGPT search, become more widely available.

The Google Gemini app now includes a reasoning model that shows its "thought process."

On Wednesday, the tech giant announced the availability of Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking Experimental on Gemini's desktop and mobile versions. In addition to making its reasoning model, 2.0 Flash Thinking, more accessible to users, Google shared other announcements related to the Gemini family: the launch of Gemini 2.0 Pro, expanded access to Gemini 2.0 Flash in AI Studio and Vertex AI, and a low-cost model called Flash-Lite.

SEE ALSO: Google deletes policy against using AI for weapons or surveillance Tweet may have been deleted

Over at Google, it looks like business as usual, as the company stays on the course of advancing its AI strategy of incrementally adding more capabilities to its Gemini family. But the introduction of Gemini 2.0 Flash-Lite is interesting timing given DeepSeek's disruption last week. DeepSeek spooked the AI industry with its R1 model that's just as capable as competitor models, but made for a fraction of the cost, upending beliefs that more money equals better models.

Google has previously released a cost-efficient model called 1.5 Flash, and CEO Sundar Pichai downplayed DeepSeek's impact on Google in its Q4 2024 earnings call on Tuesday, saying, "For us, it's always been obvious" that models could become more cost-efficient over time. That said, Google plans to spend $75 billion in capital expenditure, which is a huge uptick from $32.3 billion in 2023.

Google's announcements today seem to cover all the bases of AI development: reasoning models, advanced models, and low-cost models.

Announced in December, 2.0 Flash Thinking rivals OpenAI's o1 and o3-mini reasoning models in that it's capable of working through more complex problems and showing how it reasons through them. Previously, it debuted in AI Studio but now has broad availability in experimental mode as a dropdown option in the Gemini app.

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There's also a version that integrates with YouTube, Google Maps, and Google Search. With this version, the model might opt to search the web for answers, pull up relevant YouTube links, or query Google Maps instead of relying solely on its own training data.

For example, if you ask 2.0 Flash Thinking without app integration, "How long would it take to walk to China?" it would rely on its own knowledge base to reason through the vagueness and various factors involved. But in the version with the aforementioned apps, it immediately goes to Google Maps for answers (as laid out in its "thinking.")

The Gemini 2.0 Pro release is the most noteworthy announcement in terms of technical advancement. According to Google, 2.0 Pro is its most capable model, best for coding and handling complex tasks (not to be confused with 2.0 Flash Thinking, which can also handle complex problems but shows its work.) Gemini 2.0 Pro is available as an experimental version to Gemini Advanced subscribers and in AI Studio and Vertex AI.

Gemini 2.0 Flash-Lite has a 1 million token context window and multimodal input and runs at the same speed and price as the earlier 1.5 Flash version, so it packs a punch for its size. Flash-Lite is available in preview mode on AI Studio and Vertex AI.