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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 SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025:

Across___ angel

• The answer is Snow.

___ fairy

• The answer is Tooth.

"Go, go, go!"

• The answer is Hurry.

Voice between soprano and tenor

• The answer is Alto.

"Sorta" suffix

• The answer is Ish.

DownSpiritual selves

• The answer is Souls.

Word in two U.S. state names and two country names (can you name them all?)

• The answer is North.

Spanish for "other"

• The answer is Otro.

"For what reason?"

• The answer is Why.

Cuisine with massaman curry

• The answer is Thai.

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

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.

SAVE $73: As of Nov. 19, the iPad Pro M5 is on sale for $926 at Amazon. That's a 7% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple iPad Pro M5 $926 at Amazon
$999 Save $73   Get Deal

There are some select products we always gravitate towards during major shopping events like Black Friday: TVs, big-ticket items like portable power stations, and anything Apple. Yep, when the sales hit we flock to see whether or not AirPods and iPads are falling in price.

As of Nov. 19, the new iPad Pro M5 has hit its lowest-ever price at Amazon. The 256GB model is now priced at $926, which is a saving of over $70 on list price.

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This is one of Apple's most advanced iPads, released at the end of October 2025. It is built with the impressive M5 chip and runs on iPadOS 26, which has introduced a new, redesigned interface with a windowing system to help you better organize and manage your workflow.

This iPad also boasts an 11-inch Ultra Retina XDR screen that gives you extreme brightness, precise contrast, ProMotion, P3 wide color, and True Tone. The touchscreen is compatible with the Apple Pencil Pro, Apple Pencil (USB-C), and the Magic Keyboard so you can transform your device into a place for creative output or work.

Pick up this great iPad deal from Amazon ahead of Black Friday.

SAVE $370: As of Nov. 19, the Samsung 40-inch Odyssey G7 is on sale for $749.99 at Amazon. That's a 38% saving on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 40-inch Odyssey G7 $749.99 at Amazon
$1,199.99 Save $450   Get Deal

Black Friday deals are starting to ramp up, and even though the main event is still over a week away, you can already find all kinds of early deals on new tech. And if you were thinking about using this holiday to upgrade your gaming setup, you'll find an amazing deal on the Samsung 40-inch Odyssey G7 right now at Amazon. As of Nov. 19, this monitor is down to $749.99, a saving of $370.

The Odyssey G7 G75 is a 1000R curved display with a 21:9 ultrawide 4K resolution that wraps around your field of view for a more extensive and cinematic image. You can even split the display in half, either for side-by-side gameplay or for making multitasking easier.

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This screen also supports VESA DisplayHDR 600 for stronger contrast, deeper blacks, and brighter highlights, making sure that dark scenes are still clear. It has a 180Hz refresh rate and a near-instant 1ms GtG response time, so it can handle fast performance and you won't need to endure any picture lag.

This monitor deal is available from Amazon, and according to camelcamelcamel, it's at its lowest-ever price. Don't miss out on this great early Black Friday deal for gamers.

Anker Solix makes some of the best portable power stations. The brand consistently combines top-notch functions with thoughtful design, and they continue to get more compact and lightweight with each new model. Anker also offers some of the best value-to-features ratios throughout the lineup of portable power stations and smaller electronic charging devices. The brand also makes a lineup of electric coolers, with the latest model being the Anker Solix EverFrost 2.

SEE ALSO: The Igloo KoolTunes is no ordinary cooler. It's also a decent portable speaker. What’s to love about the Anker Solix EverFrost 2

Opting for an electric cooler over your standard model comes with some awesome advantages. For starters, you don’t have to mess around with ice. That means no more soggy food or packaging or general mess that comes with everything being wet. An electric cooler also gives you precise temperature control, and on the Anker Solix Everfrost 2, you can select a specific temperature between -4 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Use it as a portable freezer for the drive to the campground and then switch it to a refrigerator temperature for beverages after cooking up the frozen goods.

An ice-free electric cooler with a prep station that can charge your phone? Campsite dreams do come true. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

Anker says the EverFrost 2 has 2.4-inch walls designed for optimal cooling, and it has the brand’s FrostFlow technology. This mixes coil-wrapped evaporator walls with the lid-mounted fan that helps with the circulation of chilled air, aiming to remove temperature differences within the cooler.

There are also all-terrain wheels, a prep table that doubles as a roller handle, and measurements on the lid that’ll be handy when fishing. Here are some important specs for the Anker Solix EverFrost 2:

• Sizes available: 23, 40, and 58 liters

• Holding temperature range: -4 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit

• Ambient temperature range: 32 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit

• Battery capacity: 288Wh each (option to use two)

• Battery output: 60W USB-C and 12W USB-A

• Recharging options: solar panel (max 100W), car socket, wall outlet, or USB-C

• Weight: 37 pounds (23 liters), 50.7 pounds (40 liters), 63.7 pounds (58 liters)

One battery or two; charge the cooler or charge your phone

Each of the three EverFrost 2 sizes comes with one 288Wh battery. You can double this by purchasing an additional 288Wh battery to fill the additional built-in battery slot on the electric cooler. This’ll double the run-time on the cooler, which will be great for longer trips or if you’ll be in conditions that don’t work well for recharging. At the time of writing, the additional battery goes for $249. 

One of my favorite aspects of the EverFrost 2 is the ability to use the cooler’s battery to recharge electronics. Each battery has a USB-A and a USB-C port that can be used to recharge phones or small tech devices while camping. In a way, this means the EverFrost 2 is both an electric cooler and a small portable power station.

The EverFrost 2 batteries include a USB-A and USB-C port for recharging devices on the go. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable The chill sets in quickly

When testing the EverFrost 2, I was wowed by its ability to get cold quickly. Anker says it can go from 77 degrees down to 32 in 15 minutes in Max mode. At one point, I was transporting important frozen goods in the EverFrost cooler — six pints of Graeter’s ice cream. I’ve never felt confident transporting ice cream on long car rides in a standard cooler, but given the promises of the EverFrost 2, I was willing to take the chance on this crucial ice cream cargo. I kept a close eye on the cooler’s internal temperature through the app and was shocked by how quickly it cooled.

I put all my faith into the EverFrost 2 to keep my important foods frozen (read: ice cream). Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

I didn’t bother with Max mode and instead kept it on Smart mode. Within 10 minutes, the cooler went from its ambient garage temperature of 55 degrees down to 23. After that initial chill, I kept the app open and noticed it continued to drop by one degree about every minute. All of that checks out with Anker’s initial claims of taking 26 minutes to drop from 77 to 32 degrees in Smart mode. But if you’re in a super hurry, you can speed that up to just 15 minutes. I packed up my ice cream and set off for a three-hour car ride, and found the ice cream to be in perfect frozen condition after those three hours.

This is great news for forgetful people who will be using the EverFrost for frozen goods and can’t remember to pre-chill the cooler. It’ll take under half an hour to get it down to optimal temperature. In addition to setting the temperature on the Anker app, you can also use the controls on the cooler itself.

On-cooler controls mean you don't have to use the app to control the cooler. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable Recharging options aplenty

One of the nicest elements about the Anker Solix EverFrost 2 is its recharging versatility. You have standard AC wall recharging thanks to the included charger, but you can also recharge with a solar panel or even USB-C. While testing, I haphazardly removed an Anker cable from my camping backpack, assuming it was for a portable power station I wasn’t bringing. Of course, it was the AC recharging cable for the EverFrost 2, which made my heart sink once I realized my mistake. But once I remembered I had a USB-C cable and my beloved Anker GaN charger that I use to charge my phone and laptop, I was set to recharge the cooler. That also made me realize how awesome it is to have a single cable and charger that works for my important tech devices and the electric cooler.

You can also recharge the Solix EverFrost 2 with solar. There’s something especially satisfying about using something as hot as the sun, which measures 10,000 degrees on its coldest point, to keep food cold. And it always feels like using a cheat code to get free power from the sun, minus the initial cost of a solar panel. But keep in mind the EverFrost 2 only likes a little bit of solar power, and it maxes out with a relatively small 100W solar panel. 

Each EverFrost 2 comes with one battery but has room for an additional. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable Anker included easy access to the USB-C and USB-A ports on the battery. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

If you’re having an extra forgetful day and take off for a camping trip with a dead electric cooler, you can recharge it while you drive, thanks to the car socket. Anker kindly includes that charging cable with the cooler.

Recharging times for the EverFrost are pretty slow, though, especially considering Anker’s focus on whizzing-quick recharging on the brand’s portable power stations. These are Anker’s listed recharging times for all sizes of the EverFrost 2:

• 100W solar panel: 3.6 hours

• AC wall outlet: 3.6 hours

• Car charger: 3.6 hours

• USB-C: 5.5 hours

Sizing versatility is great

The Anker Solix EverFrost 2 comes in three size options: a 23-liter, 40-liter, and a 58-liter. Both the 23- and 40-liter options have a singular cooling compartment, so you’ll need to decide if you want it to serve as a freezer or a refrigerator and set the temperature accordingly. The 58-liter comes with the major benefit of having dual compartments. That means you can head off with one side serving as a refrigerator for fresh foods and drinks, and the other working as a freezer.

Anker’s app is a joy to use

Every portable power station I’ve ever tested syncs up to an associated app. These tend to be awesome if you love looking at data and stats. Anker’s app is one of my favorites because it allows you to skip all account setup and simply connect the app to nearby Anker portable power stations or coolers with Bluetooth. 

The sliding temperature dial in the app is a breeze to use. Credit: Screenshot: Anker Full stats in the app with the ability to change temp, mode, and check on battery life. Credit: Screenshot: Anker

After finding the EverFrost 2 cooler, the app allows users to control the temperature and settings of the cooler. I found using the Anker app with the electric cooler to be especially useful during road trips, since the cooler is usually packed into the back of the car and inaccessible. I could quickly check on the temperature from the passenger seat to make sure my ice cream was safely chilled. It’s also convenient to peek at remaining battery life and adjust the temperature on the sliding dial.

An awkward lift, but the wheels are plenty capable

In a sense, it’s unfair to say lifting the Anker EverFrost 2 is a chore because all coolers of this size are weird to carry. The inherent shape makes lifting and carrying a less-than-perfect experience. The EverFrost 2 has some extra inconvenience since there’s extra weight compared to a standard cooler. Each EverFrost 2 battery weighs about 5.5 pounds, and they slot into the electric cooler on the same side, which means the cooler is heavier on one side. It’s not an unmanageable lift, but it’s not great fun. I made sure to open doors, pop the car trunk, and clear the path before I needed to relocate the cooler. 

We're going places with these durable wheels. Credit: Lauren Allain / Mashable

Anker’s designs tend to be thoughtful, so of course, they added some elements of respite to the awkward nature of carrying and lifting the cooler. The six-inch wheels are, in fact, all-terrain, and they do a great job on pavement, trails, and even deep gravel. In my testing, I always found the wheels could roll along well on any terrain.

Is the Anker EverFrost 2 worth buying?

If you rely on a cooler to keep your food safely chilled, the Anker EverFrost 2 is an awesome electric model. It’s better suited for long trips or off-grid adventures compared to your standard cooler. It can also be used as a substitute for a full-on van refrigerator. Pair it with solar power, and you have a mini portable refrigerator and/or freezer.

I also think it’s great for campers who don’t love dealing with the mess of ice, and it can also be useful during power outages if you don’t feel like using juice from your portable power station to keep the refrigerator running. 

Anker loves a sale as much as we do, and if your schedule allows for it, consider waiting to buy until the Anker Solix EverFrost 2 goes on sale. We’ve seen sale prices that shave several hundred dollars off the list price, so it might be worth waiting for a sale (like Black Friday or Prime Day).

Anker Solix EverFrost 2 electric cooler $649 at Amazon
$899.99 Save $250.99   Shop Now at Amazon

SAVE $29: As of Nov. 19, the Lego Harry Potter Mandrake Figure is on sale for $40.99 at Amazon. That's a 41% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Harry Potter Mandrake Figure $40.99 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $29.00   Get Deal

Amazon's Black Friday deals officially kick off on Nov. 19, but if you're a Lego fan, there's a lot of early deals for you to consider. Like this latest deal on the Lego Harry Potter Mandrake Figure, now down to its lowest-ever price. As of Nov. 19, this Lego set is priced at just $40.99, saving you $29.

This Lego set lets you build the famous Mandrake plant, complete with its own pot inspired by the Hogwarts’ Herbology class. The model can be displayed in the pot or lifted out (sans screaming), and it includes posable leaves plus a moving chest that animates the mouth and limbs.

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You can sit the Mandrake outside the pot, adjust its features, and enjoy a build-and-display experience. It even comes with a nameplate on the pot. It has 579 pieces and stands over 10.5 inches tall when complete. Lego notes this is a fun collectible item for Harry Potter fans over the age of 10.

Get it from Amazon now for its lowest-ever price. This deal has a limited-time stamp, so don't miss out on this great price.

TL;DR: From Nov. 19, a new Pokémon TCG Prismatic Evolutions Premium Collection is dropping at major retailers. Here's where and when to buy.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Prismatic Evolutions Premium Collection   Shop Now

Mega Evolution boosters and Phantasmal Flames is still going strong whilst single card prices are in freefall, but Black Friday is all about shifting older products. And it looks like Black Friday has come early for Prismatic Evolutions, as the Premium Figure Collection is coming back in stock at multiple retailers starting Nov. 19. Get ready to try and pull Umbreon ex SIR, this is going to be ridiculously popular.

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Walmart should be up first, launching the collection for Walmart Wednesday at 6 p.m. PT / 9 p.m. ET on Nov. 19. This is just speculation, but here's when I think other retailers will drop their allocations:

• Target: Online should drop around 10 p.m. PT on Nov. 20, but could arrive in-store earlier.

• Best Buy: Preorders never went live, so an online drop may rock up on Nov. 21. The same goes for in-store, but it might be a limited drop.

• Amazon: Not confirmed, but could drop on release day (Nov. 21)

Every Eeveelution, including Eevee, gets a Special Illustration Rare in Prismatic Evolutions. There's also some often overlooked SIRs such as Roaring Moon ex, Ceruledge ex, and Dragapult ex to boot.

Most valuable Prismatic Evolutions Pokémon cards Credit: Mashable Photo Composite / The Pokémon Company

Values for Prismatic Evolutions are as crazy as ever when it comes to you-know-who, but overall the set is seeing some new lows when it comes to single cards. It's usually cheaper to buy singles cards than ripping open pack after pack. Here's the top five chase cards for Prismatic Evolutions, including where to buy them now and up-to-date market values:

1. Umbreon ex - 161/131
   Near Mint Holofoil: $1,149.99
   Market price: $1,155.36
   Most recent sale: $1,000

2. Sylveon ex - 156/131
   Near Mint Holofoil: $373.99
   Market price: $339.26
   Most recent sale: $373.14

3. Leafeon ex - 144/131
   Near Mint Holofoil: $268
   Market price: $273.02
   Most recent sale: $267.99

4. Espeon ex - 155/131
   Near Mint Holofoil: $193.99
   Market price: $210.54
   Most recent sale: $210.72

5. Vaporeon ex - 149/131
   Near Mint Holofoil: $187.61
   Market price: $208.84
   Most recent sale: $199.98

The Pennsylvania site, shorthand for the dangers of nuclear power after a 1979 meltdown, is set for revival under a deal to power Microsoft data centers.

A Cloudflare outage took out a large swathe of the internet on Tuesday, with users unable to access numerous sites and services such as X, ChatGPT, Spotify, YouTube, and Uber. The cybersecurity company has now published a blog post detailing exactly what happened.

SEE ALSO: Why does the internet keep crashing so often? First Google Cloud, then AWS, now Cloudflare.

Cloudflare co-founder and CEO Matthew Prince apologised in the post late Tuesday, stating that this outage was the worst the company has experienced since 2019.

"[I]n the last 6+ years we've not had another outage that has caused the majority of core traffic to stop flowing through our network," said Prince. "On behalf of the entire team at Cloudflare, I would like to apologize for the pain we caused the Internet today."

Prince explained that the Cloudflare outage had been caused by an issue with the system it uses to protect websites from DDoS attacks.

Cloudflare's outage, explained This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Cloudflare's Bot Management system is a service which protects websites against malicious bot attacks. These include DDoS attacks that flood websites with excessive traffic, content scraping attacks which gather data from websites without authorisation, and autonomous credential stuffing attacks which try to gain access to websites by using leaked login details from other sites.

This Bot Management system includes an AI model which scores traffic requests. Whenever there's an attempt to access a website protected by Cloudflare's Bot Management, the AI generates a score to determine if it's likely to have been from a bot. In order to do so, the AI considers various features of the request, which are held in a "feature file."

The feature file is where the issue occurred. This file refreshes every five minutes to keep up to date with evolving bot behaviours, and is used across Cloudflare's entire cybersecurity network. However, the company implemented a change to the underlying query that generated the file, which caused it to duplicate information a large number of times. This made the feature file larger than typical, triggering an error in the Bot Management system.

As a result, attempting to access websites which use Cloudflare's Bot Management system resulted in an error code. Cloudflare states that its network began experiencing significant failures about 15 minutes after the feature file generation update was implemented.

Cloudflare initially suspected the outage was a malicious attack, particularly as its status page went down despite being independent from the company's infrastructure. However, Prince stated that this turned out to be a coincidence.

"The issue was not caused, directly or indirectly, by a cyber attack or malicious activity of any kind," Prince stressed. "After we initially wrongly suspected the symptoms we were seeing were caused by a hyper-scale DDoS attack, we correctly identified the core issue and were able to stop the propagation of the larger-than-expected feature file and replace it with an earlier version of the file."

When previously reached by Mashable prior to the blog post, a Cloudflare spokesperson also emphasised that "there [was] no evidence that [the outage] was the result of an attack or caused by malicious activity."

Cloudflare's services were largely restored within three hours, and fully restored after approximately five hours. Prince stated that the company is already planning measures to prevent similar outages in the future, including stopping error reports from being able to overwhelm its systems.

Social media users seem to be getting sick and tired of AI-generated content on their favorite platforms. And the backlash against AI-created content, or "AI slop" as it's often referred to, is growing.

The big social media platforms appear to have noticed this anti-AI sentiment. Last month, for example, Pinterest launched a new feature that completely filters out AI content if users choose to do so.

Now, TikTok just announced that it is soon launching its own tools to help its users spot AI-generated content and see less of it if they choose to do so.

According to TikTok, the company is currently testing out a new content control in the "Manage topics" feature that will allow users to specifically adjust how much AI-generated content they see on the platform. 

SEE ALSO: How to vote for the TikTok Awards 2025 — plus date, nominees, and how to watch

The "Manage topics" feature already gives users the ability to tell TikTok's algorithm what type of content they want to see in the For Your feeds as it pertains to a specific content category like "Current Affairs," "Health & Fitness," or "Fashion & Beauty." The AI-generated content topic control is different then all those as it appears to be the first that spans all of TikTok's topic categories and explicitly deals with how the content is created. 

TikTok makes it pretty clear in its announcement that the company itself isn't anti-AI, saying it "believes AI can transform how people share their creativity, discover new passions, and stay safe on our platform, when used transparently and responsibly" and that it "invests in AI-powered experiences that create value for our community." 

However, the company also stresses multiple times that it's important to be transparent to users. 

To aid in that transparency, TikTok is also testing an "invisible watermarking" solution to help bolster its current AI label policies. TikTok says this "invisible watermark" will help "add another layer of safeguards to our current AI-generated content transparency measures." 

In addition to that, TikTok is also launching a new $2 million AI literacy fund and joining the non-profit Partnership on AI, which studies and develops best practices for ethical AI.

TikTok's AI content controls announcement may just open the floodgates for other social media platforms to filter out AI-generated content for users who choose to do so. In fact, the question may not be will they do it but which platform is next to do it?

Ready to start the day with intention or wind down for the evening? TikTok wants to be your go-to platform, no matter the time of day.

The video platform just announced new well-being features, including an "affirmation" journal for intention-setting, exercises for mindful breathing, and "soothing" sound generator that plays rain, waves, and white noise. The journal has 120 downloadable or shareable affirmation cards. One card reads, "I am free from the expectations of others and embrace my true self."

TikTok says the tools are meant to improve safety and well-being on the platform, particularly for teens.

Last year, more than a dozen states sued TikTok for its allegedly addictive algorithm. Internal documents made public last October showed TikTok fostered an environment that arguably prioritized its public image over effective policies to address teen mental health.

SEE ALSO: The content creators with the most TikTok followers - see the top 10.

Earlier this year, TikTok launched a meditation feature for teens that turns on by default at 10 p.m. In a blog post about the newest features, TikTok said that tens of millions of people have meditated using the tool after it was made available to all users.

In addition to the features, TikTok is introducing task-based activities called "well-being missions" related to optimizing sleep and screen time. Users participating in an eight week "sleep hours mission" can earn a badge when they abstain from the app at night or meditate during that time period. Completing tasks help them grow an in-app "well-being tree." A separate weekly screen time mission nudges people to check their usage stats.

The new features are available in the app's time and well-being space, which is accessible from the account settings page. The hub replaces TikTok's previous screen time management page.

TikTok said early testing results show that the latest features make its time and well-being space more attractive to users, who are returning more often than they did to the old menu.

Additional reporting by Chase DiBenedetto

European chipmakers need TSMC’s help to grow their own semiconductor supply chain, but the chip giant’s Taiwanese suppliers find Europe a tough place to do business.

Although some Silicon Valley executives paint China as the enemy, Chinese brains continue to play a major role in U.S. research.

You might not believe it, but there’s still a trace of moonlight tonight. It’s only the faintest sliver, so your chances of spotting anything on the surface are slim to none.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Wednesday, Nov. 19, the moon phase is Waning Crescent. This means 1% of the moon is lit up tonight, according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation.

There isn’t enough of the moon lit tonight to see anything. Once the next lunar cycle begins, it’ll start to come back into sight.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Dec. 4, this will be the last of three consecutive supermoons. The last full moon was on Nov. 5.

What are moon phases?

Moon phases are part of a repeating lunar cycle that lasts about 29.5 days, according to NASA. They describe how the moon appears from Earth as it orbits our planet. While we always see the same side of the moon, the amount of sunlight illuminating it changes throughout its orbit. That’s why sometimes it looks full, sometimes half, and sometimes disappears entirely (the New Moon). There are eight main moon phases:

New Moon - The moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

Every computer needs some form of antivirus protection. It’s an undeniable fact. For the perpetually online Australian, the reality of cyber threats is more immediate than ever. We’ve spent years warning our audience of this, but It's no longer enough to rely on basic, single-layer antivirus protection. As our lives become increasingly intertwined with the internet, from online banking and shopping to streaming and social media; a comprehensive, multi-layered security strategy is as essential as a lock on your front door. Modern threats demand a modern defence that wraps your data, identity, and devices in a protective blanket.

But the question still remains: “How much cyber security do I need?” Or if we’re being honest, the real question usually is: “How little cyber security can I get away with?”. Our typical answer to the question is simply to invest in a reputable security suite. Thankfully, you don’t need to go crazy with your security budget either, the 2025 market is incredibly competitive.

Modern cybersecurity software usually does a great job of combining the features you need into a single package, and we’ve looked at them all, with in-depth rundowns of what’s currently available for your reading pleasure from our PCMag Labs. But let’s look at some of the fundamental reasons why we give this advice.

Having solid foundations: Next-gen malware protection

At the core of any good security suite is robust anti-malware and antivirus protection, constantly scanning and helping protect your devices against infection. Today’s sophisticated threats, like file-encrypting ransomware, zero-day attacks that exploit unknown vulnerabilities, and subtle spyware, require more than just signature-based detection (which is a traditional, pattern-based form of security).

A premium security solution employs advanced, behaviour-based monitoring that watches for suspicious activity, effectively stopping emerging threats before they can execute. For PCMag readers, this means choosing a service that consistently scores highly in independent lab tests, ensuring you have a proven shield against viruses, Trojans, and the most aggressive malware strains. This bedrock defence should cover all your devices (PC, Mac, smartphones, and tablets), because a single weak link can compromise your entire digital life.

Securing your connection: Virtual private networks

Your home Wi-Fi might feel safe, but every piece of data you send or receive is potentially visible to your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and, in some cases, malicious actors, especially when you use public Wi-Fi. This is where a Virtual Private Network (VPN) becomes an indispensable tool.

A high-quality VPN establishes an encrypted, private tunnel for your data. This means your online activity, location, and personal information are masked, making it virtually impossible for eavesdroppers to intercept your communications. Beyond online privacy, a VPN is a must-have when you connect to public hotspots at airports, cafés, or hotels, transforming an inherently risky connection into a secure one. Look for a security package that includes a verified no-log VPN, ensuring you can browse, bank, and stream more securely with confidence that your data remains private. In 2025, The PCMag Editors’ Choice for Best Security Suite with a Full-Featured VPN is Norton 360 Deluxe. While plenty of popular security suites include VPN access, the offering from Norton is easily the most attractive. Read our full review here.

Avoiding scams: Advanced scam and phishing protection

Australians are increasingly targeted by sophisticated phishing campaigns and scam texts (smishing) or calls (vishing). These attacks often appear legitimate, impersonating banks, government agencies, or delivery services to trick you into clicking a malicious link or giving away login credentials.

Advanced security suites (Norton being another good example of this) now include dedicated Scam Protection technology. This uses advanced AI to analyse texts, emails, and social media links in real-time, helping to instantly identify red flags and warn you before you interact with a deepfake, a dangerous message or website. It’s an extra layer of intelligence that cuts through the noise of daily digital life to alert you to criminal intent, helping save you from falling victim to financial fraud or identity theft.

Keep the kids off the dark web: Parental controls

For families, the need for comprehensive security extends to the youngest users in the household. Growing kids in the modern era require a unique blend of safe exploration and responsible boundaries. This should make dedicated Parental Control tools an essential part of your digital defence. These tools go beyond simply blocking inappropriate websites. A robust system allows you to manage and schedule screen time across their devices, helping children maintain a healthy balance between digital and real-world activities. Features like content filtering and search supervision provide peace of mind by helping prevent accidental exposure to mature or harmful content, while activity reports offer insight into their digital habits. Integrating parental control tools with your main security package offers a unified approach to family digital well-being, helping keep devices secure while fostering safer online behaviour.

The integrated advantage

To wrap it up: a collection of disparate security tools is often complicated and leaves gaps. The future of protection for the security-conscious Australian lies in a single, powerful, and integrated solution that brings together award-winning antivirus, a no-log VPN, real-time scam detection, and dark web monitoring. Outside of being the best practice for security, it also just makes everything easier for the average punter. And for a simple, yet incredibly effective solution: we can comfortably recommend Norton 360 Deluxe.

An all-in-one approach simplifies your digital security, ensuring that your online life - from your device performance to your personal identity - are covered by one comprehensive, expert-backed service. In today’s hyper-connected world, that level of integrated defence is not just a luxury; it’s peace of mind. Check out all of our Editors’ Choice selections for 2025 here.

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, the Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move onto the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity for how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 8, 2025

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible – and common – for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for November 8, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 19 Pips

Number (4): Everything in this purple space must add to 4. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this red space must add to 4. The answer is 4-3, placed horizontally.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically; 3-1, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 4-3, placed horizontally; 3-1, placed horizontally; 3-5, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 19 Pips

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this orange space must be greater than 4. The answer is 6-1, placed vertically.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 3-2, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this dark blue space must be greater than 4. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically.

Greater Than (1): Everything in this space must be greater than 1. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add to 7. The answer is 1-1, placed vertically; 3-3, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this green space must be greater than 4. The answer is 5-4, placed vertically.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 5-4, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 19 Pips

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-1, placed vertically; 0-2, placed horizontally; 0-5, placed horizontally; 0-0, placed vertically; 0-6, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this red space must add to 10. The answer is 0-2, placed horizontally; 0-5, placed horizontally; 3-4, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this light blue space must add to 10. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically; 0-6, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this light blue space must add to 10. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically; 2-2, placed horizontally; 3-1, placed horizontally.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 3-1, placed horizontally; 1-4, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this dark blue space must add to 10. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically; 5-5, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this orange space must add to 10. The answer is 5-5, placed vertically; 5-4, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this dark blue space must add to 10. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally; 6-6, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this green space must add to 10. The answer is 1-4, placed vertically; 6-6, placed vertically.

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

Today's Connections: Sports Edition is easy if you like racing.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a 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.

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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.

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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: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. 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: Wear to the pool

• Green: Nicknames

• Blue: Short, intense training

• Purple: Types of cars

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Swin Gear

• Green: NBA Player Nicknames

• Blue: HIIT

• Purple: ___Car

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 #422 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Swin Gear - CAP, GOOGLES, NOSE CLIP, SUIT

• NBA Player Nicknames - BOOK, JOKER, KAT, WEMBY

• HIIT - HIGH, INTENSITY, INTERVAL, TRAINING

• ___Car: FUNNY, INDY, RALLY, STOCK

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports 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.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you're a good leader.

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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 Pips hints, answers for November 19, 2025 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: Sturdy

• Green: To escort

• Blue: Found in popular writings

• Purple: Body parts

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Stocky

• Green: Steer

• Blue: Second words in Poe stories after "The"

• Purple: Organ plus a letter

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 #892 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Stocky: HUSKY, SOLID, SQUAT, THICK

• Steer: DIRECT, GUIDE, LEAD, SHEPHERD

• Second words in Poe stories after "The": CASK, FALL, MASQUE, PIT

• Organ plus a letter: COLONY, HEARTH, LUNGE, SKINK

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 November 19, 2025

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

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.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're spiritual.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, 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 November 19, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 19, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Divinely inspired

The words are related to spirituality.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe things pious people.

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 Religious Figures.

NYT Strands word list for November 19

• Imam

• Rabbi

• Prophet

• Religious Figures

• Buddha

• Priest

• Monk

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.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're a designer.

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 hints today: Clues, answers for November 19, 2025 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 Pips hints, answers for November 19, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A creator.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter M.

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...

MAKER

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 November 19, 2025

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.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

A principle.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

CANON

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Quickness.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 19, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

HASTE

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A mob.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 19 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 19, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

MAFIA

Hurdle Word 4 hint

In front of.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for November 19 Hurdle Word 4 answer

AHEAD

Final Hurdle hint

Not right-handed.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

LEFTY

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