Feed aggregator

TL;DR: Live stream England vs. Samoa in this rugby league series for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming site from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

England face Samoa in a couple of absolutely massive international rugby league matchups. It's going to be electric viewing, and better yet, fans can watch both games without spending anything.

If you want to watch England vs. Samoa in this rugby league series for free from anywhere in the world, keep reading to find out how.

When is England vs. Samoa?

England vs. Samoa starts at 2:30 p.m. GMT on Oct. 27. This fixture takes place at Brick Community Stadium.

How to watch England vs. Samoa for free

England vs. Samoa is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but you can stream on this free platform from abroad with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server based in the UK, meaning you can access free live streams on BBC iPlayer from any location.

Access a free live stream of England vs. Samoa 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 BBC iPlayer

5. Stream England vs. Samoa 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 to use, but most of the top VPN providers will generally offer deals such as free trials or money-back guarantees. Take advantage of these offers to watch England vs. Samoa without actually spending anything. We know it's only a short-term solution, but it will give you all the time you need to stream select fixtures before recovering your initial investment.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on BBC iPlayer, 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 for a very generous saving of 49%. This plan also includes three bonus months of usage at no additional cost, a whole year of unlimited cloud backup absolutely free, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream England vs. Samoa for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Indiana Pacers vs. Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA for free on Ran.de. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Another NBA season, another year of hope for the Philadelphia 76ers. Can they finally get things right and go all the way? The addition of Paul George is certainly going to help, but much will depend on how he performs with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.

The Indiana Pacers will be looking to make steady progress this season, with Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam leading from the front. A home victory over the Philadelphia 76ers would create some serious momentum for this young team.

If you want to watch Indiana Pacers vs. Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Indiana Pacers vs. Philadelphia 76ers?

Indiana Pacers vs. Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA starts at 2:30 p.m. ET on Oct. 27. This game takes place at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

How to watch Indiana Pacers vs. Philadelphia 76ers for free

Indiana Pacers vs. Philadelphia 76ers is available to live stream for free on Ran.de.

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

Live stream Indiana Pacers vs. Philadelphia 76ers for free on Ran.de 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 Germany

4. Visit Ran.de

5. Watch Indiana Pacers vs. Philadelphia 76ers 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 leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams of the NBA without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream Indiana Pacers vs. Philadelphia 76ers before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including Germany

• 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 includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Indiana Pacers vs. Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Pay only £15.40 for a lifetime license to Microsoft Windows 11 Pro through 27 October at the Mashable Shop. That's a savings of 89%, but this price won't be around much longer.

If your work computer is slowing you down, you don't necessarily have to buy a new computer or laptop to upgrade your tech. Sometimes, all it takes is installing a brand-new operating system to boost your productivity and enhance your computer's security. So before you order a new machine, consider breathing new life into your current device by upgrading to Microsoft 11 Pro.

Through 27 October, Mashable readers can get a coveted Microsoft 11 Pro lifetime license on sale for £15.40 (reg. £153.43). This OS boasts a bunch of nifty features, including a new-and-improved interface, advanced security, AI assistance with Copilot, and an elevated gaming experience.

Microsoft 11 Pro is great for modern professionals, especially those working in a remote or hybrid setup. For instance, if you're a stickler for security, the OS packs BitLocker device encryption, meaning you can lock your device remotely so no one else can access it. Windows Information Protection is included, too, allowing you to remotely manage your system to prevent data leaks. Plus, you can also take advantage of biometrics login, Smart App control, and advanced antivirus defenses. 

In terms of usability, enjoy Windows 11 Pro's new interface, which includes snap layouts, seamless redocking, better voice-typing, and a more powerful search experience. It's primed for play, too, thanks to DirectX12 Ultimate, which bolsters the graphics quality for more immersive gaming. 

You'll have all these features and more with a one-time purchase of the license. You can install it on up to two devices, provided that they have 4GB RAM and 40GB of hard drive space.

Remember: You only have until 27 October at 11:59 p.m. PT to shop this deal at the Mashable Shop. Grab a lifetime license to Windows 11 Pro for only £15.40 (reg. £153.43) while you can.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Windows 11 Pro: Lifetime License £15.40 at the Mashable Shop
£153.43 Save £138.03 Get Deal

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 October 27 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 27 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Best of the best

These words are good combinations..

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words have companion words also in the puzzle, and together each combination means something is the best of its kind when used in the formation "__ of the ___." It’s not a straightforward Strands solution in the usual way. 

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Perfectpair.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for October 26

• Life

• Head

• Pick

• Cream

• Perfectpair

• Crop

• Litter

• Party

• Class

SEE ALSO: Hurdle hints and answers for October 27 SEE ALSO: Mini crossword answers for October 27

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.

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 October 27'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 SEE ALSO: Hurdle hints and answers for October 27 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.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for October 27 Here's a hint for today's Connections Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: How to score

• Green: Gridiron pet names

• Blue: Winning arms of yesteryear

• Purple: Siblings

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 - Football scoring plays

• Green - Abbreviated NFL team names

• Blue - Last year’s conference championship QBs

• Purple - NFL brothers

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 #31 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Football scoring plays: FG, PAT, SAFETY, TD

• Abbreviated NFL team names: BUCS, CARDS, FINS, PATS

• Last year’s conference championship QBs: GOFF, JACKSON, MAHOMES, PURDY

• NFL brothers: BARBER, KELCE, MANNING, WATT

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.

SEE ALSO: Mini crossword answers for October 27

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 October 27'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 October 27 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 October 27 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Coarse and gets everywhere.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no reoccurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.

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...

SANDY.

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 October 25

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 is the latest New York Times word game 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 October 27'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 October 27 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Cheeky

• Green: Vibes

• Blue: Measurements

• Purple: Famous "little" characters

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: Sassy

• Green: Ambience

• Blue: Units

• Purple: The Little____

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 #503 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Sassy: CUTE, FRESH, SMART, WISE

• Ambience: AIR, FEELING, MOOD, QUALITY

• Units: BAR, BELL, LUX, MOLE

• The Little___: MERMAID, PRINCE, RASCALS, TRAMP

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 October 25

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.

Keeping your Snapchat streak going on iPhone is easier than ever before.

With iOS 18 you can now switch out the Flashlight and Camera shortcuts on your lock screen for any of over 50 options, including Snapchat's camera. With the shortcut, you can quickly take photos and videos for Snapchat with the tap of a button. But you need to unlock your phone to edit or send Snapchats.

Here's how to add the shortcut.

Total Time

• 1min

What You Need

• iPhone
• Snapchat
• iOS 18

Step 1: Hold down on your lock screen

Step 2: Select "Customize"

Step 3: Tap "Lock Screen"

Step 4: Select either the Flashlight or Camera icon

Tap whichever shortcut you want to be replaced by Snapchat.

Step 5: Hit the + icon

Step 6: Scroll through the options or use the search bar to find Snapchat and select it

Step 7: Tap "Done"

Apple's newest update, iOS 18, brought with it a long list of AI features, dubbed Apple Intelligence. Gemini Live is now available on Android phones, Lenovo created an AI-powered laptop, and Google can't get enough AI in its search results, or its phones.

If you've looked around at phone updates recently and thought, "huh, that's a lot of AI features — too bad I don't care about that at all," you wouldn't be alone. According to a survey of 2,484 adults including 2,387 smartphone owners from CNET and YouGov, people aren't ecstatic about AI on their phones.

A quarter of smartphone users reported that they "don't find AI features helpful" at all while about half of respondents said they weren't interested in paying a monthly subscription fee for AI capabilities. Meanwhile, about a third have privacy concerns about AI on their phones.

This changes a bit depending on generation, with younger people more comfortable and willing to spend on AI than older smartphone users. Overall, according to CNET, AI is "among the last reasons consumers want to upgrade their smartphones."

Then what is actually drawing smartphone users to upgrade? Battery life, of course. Nearly two-thirds of respondents said longer battery life is their "biggest motivation" for an upgrade, followed by more storage and better camera features. AI integrations motivated just 18 percent of respondents.

No matter why you choose to upgrade, waiting on AI seems to be the best route. After all, it is moving at quite the pace.

A group experts call Salt Typhoon is believed to be behind a sophisticated breach into major telecommunication companies that has taken aim at American leaders.

OpenAI has once again trimmed its safety-focused operations, dissolving its AGI Readiness team — a group dedicated to preparing for so-called artificial general intelligence. Miles Brundage, a senior advisor on the team, broke the news in a post on his Substack Wednesday, which also confirmed his departure from the company.

SEE ALSO: OpenAI funding round values company at $157 billion

In the post, Brundage hinted at a growing need for independence in his work, suggesting that his exit reflects a desire for more freedom as he continues to explore the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

"I decided that I want to impact and influence AI's development from outside the industry rather than inside," Brundage wrote, adding, "I’ve done much of what I set out to do at OpenAI."

Brundage went on to express broader concerns, stating, "Neither OpenAI nor any other frontier lab is ready, and the world is also not ready." According to Brundage, this isn’t a lone sentiment — many within OpenAI’s senior ranks share these reservations. As for the AGI Readiness team, former members are set to be reassigned across other divisions within OpenAI.

SEE ALSO: Sam Altman steps down as head of OpenAI's safety group

A company spokesperson told CNBC they back Brundage’s choice to move on. Still, the timing is rough for OpenAI, which has been navigating an exodus of senior leadership at a moment when stability is key. Although it was able to snag a top AI researcher from Microsoft, that addition doesn't fill the many recent gaps in OpenAI's upper ranks.

The leadership shifts and team dissolutions aren’t helping to quell mounting concerns around OpenAI's push toward AGI, particularly since its controversial announcement of a plan to become a fully for-profit company after beginning its life as a nonprofit.

Back in May, the company disbanded its SuperAlignment team — a group tasked with pioneering "scientific and technical breakthroughs to steer and control AI systems much smarter than us." Around the same time, OpenAI also reassigned its top AI safety leader, raising eyebrows within the AI ethics community and beyond.

On Oct. 3, former Colorado county clerk Tina Peters was sentenced to nine years in prison for tampering with voting technology used in the 2020 election. She wasn't trying to finesse the count, though, she was trying to prove someone else had. Spoiler: They hadn't. 

Peters' actions turned her into the celebrity face of a movement, one casting doubt on the deeply complex mechanics of how one's vote is counted and vetted, all with the goal of reinstating former president Donald Trump as commander-in-chief. The echoing effects of such conspiracies will be felt again in 2024, using the internet and the public's awareness of the technology's vulnerabilities, to once again call the process into question.

As part of this distrust campaign, conservative figureheads, including Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have demanded the use of paper ballots in the upcoming presidential election, arguing the analog voting process (which offers a physical record of the count) is a more secure bet for vote tabulating. Elon Musk, accompanying Trump on the campaign trail, has continued to claim that voting machines are used to rig elections digitally and has asked that counties hand count paper ballots insteads. What the public may not realize is that just about every state already uses paper ballots. According to estimates by the Brennan Center, a nonpartisan law and policy institute, 98 percent of ballots cast this year will be on paper. 

SEE ALSO: AI might be influencing your vote this election. How to spot and respond to it.

Derek Tisler, counsel in the Brennan Center’s Elections and Government Program, co-authored the center's recent report on the state of paper ballots and has worked extensively in election security and voting machine infrastructure. 

"There is just more attention on the mechanics of election administration," Tisler said, "in a way that there never was before 2020." Where once people's awareness of their vote started and ended with how to cast a ballot, "Now, there is so much more attention on who is running the elections and what the entire voting process looks like, from registration to the day that results are final. That is having different impacts on different people."

Our nation operates what is essentially 50 different electoral processes at once during a presidential election, Tisler says, generating an abundance of rules, guidelines, and mechanics that are in need of constant adjustment in order to create clear and reliable information for voters. Working against this process is rampant conspiratorial thinking by many Americans, built on misconceptions and stoked by rampant fear-mongering — some, like Tisler and other election security experts, view this state of disinformation as the bigger democratic concern.

America's voting machine obsession

Historically, public confidence in elections — and technology's role — has fluctuated. The controversial "hanging chad" issue of the 2000 presidential election resulted in a push for the digitization of the voting process. As a result, advancing tech, like electronic poll books and machines, have made the system more convenient and accessible for many, including those with disabilities and non-English speakers, and has, overall, improved accuracy. It's also cut down costs on a system that relies heavily on a labor force of volunteer citizens.

But foreign interference in the 2016 election, hacking and disinformation attempts in the 2020 election, and continued incredulity thrown at elections by right-wing leadership, have complicated the matter. Lingering fears of interference and unfounded conspiracy theories about things like mail-in voting, poll observers, and (allegedly) rampant fraud, have made the field of information even hazier.

It is your community who is running those elections. It is your neighbors... It's those people who are stepping up to make this process happen. - Derek Tisler, Brennan Center

At the center of the controversy rests the nation's "voting machine crisis," featuring a dearth of modernized machine units and an abundance of outdated machines that couldn't stand up to security risks. Some machines, known as optical scanning machines, simply record hand-penned ballots. Others, direct-recording electronic (DRE) machines, use touch screens and store votes in the machine's internal memory. The latter attempted to correct the accounting issues of the former, but country and state software systems for DREs unveiled a new problem: foreign and domestic cyberattacks taking advantage of outdated machines.

"Some Republicans have spread lies that election machinery is rigged and not to be trusted but there is no evidence to support that," Darrell West, senior fellow at the Brookings Institute Governance Studies program and disinformation researcher, told Mashable. "There were many lawsuits in 2020 and there was no evidence that voting equipment malfunctioned or did not record votes properly."

Following the 2020 results, election tech manufacturers Dominion and Smartmatic USA were accused of enabling a "stolen" election by changing or deleting votes on such machines. But these claims were unfounded, with both companies recently settling defamation lawsuits against the individuals and media networks that popularized the accusations. "It's completely predictable that a lot of the confusion, even conspiracy theories, have centered on technology — on the voting machines themselves," said Tisler. "Anytime you are talking about computers, it is difficult for the average person to understand what exactly is happening and how it works."

This is exacerbated by inflammatory comments like Musks', insinuating that voting machines are easily hacked machinery able to be manipulated by anyone with computer knowledge. "They are tested extensively and not connected to the internet so [they] cannot be hacked. People should feel secure that their votes will be recorded fairly and accurately," said West.

SEE ALSO: Are the 2024 presidential campaigns Too Online?

Foreign interference through phishing schemes, personal data leaks, and breaches of proprietary systems operating election tech are enough to prompt ongoing pressure on government leaders to build a more secure and transparent security protocol. But, as experts have routinely said, it's not enough to question the process entirely, despite urging from conspiracy theorists.

In 2018, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission allocated $380 million toward improving federal election administration, enhancing election technology, and improving election security, as part of the 2002 Help America Vote Act (HAVA). More than $100 million of that was intended for voting equipment upgrades, but few counties had adequate resources to overhaul. Another $800 million investment in 2023 has attempted to fill in the gaps and push the majority of jurisdictions over the bureaucratic hump.  

The Brennan Center has calculated a near $300 million dollar budget to replace voting equipment, which will only increase as current machines also age out. That's to be expected, however. Just as consumers phase out their personal devices for the latest models, election tech must evolve. Voters' knowledge has to evolve, as well. 

Building back trust in the electoral process

General trust in the government has been low for decades. In 2023 polling by the Pew Research Center, 22 percent of Americans expressed trust in a fair government. That's up from only 16 percent in 2022. 

Recent cybersecurity findings suggest continued vulnerabilities in systems storing sensitive public records and legal documents. Another fear-inducing headline: A vulnerability in the state of Georgia's voter registration cancellation portal, allowing malicious actors to disenfranchise swaths of voters, prompting widespread concern of collusion.

Renewed public interest in the mechanics of the electoral process, Tisler explained, is a positive shift, but creates rippling issues. "This is what elections are all about, participation," he said. "But like with anything, you are also going to have people who use that information to cast doubt on the process."

In pursuit of addressing those very actors, Tisler explained, government and election officials have focused more intensely on transparency, opening up voters to the logistics of running a nationwide vote. Some have invited residents into the physical spaces where they work, observing voting machine tests or visiting offices. Others have taken to social media, live streaming preparation and even counts. 

We are never wholly dependent on technology. We are never wholly dependent on humans. - Derek Tisler, Brennan Center

Too much information, however, isn't helpful without understanding, Tisler said. "People need context for what is happening," he urged. "It's not enough that you can see what is happening, if you don't understand the actual steps that are taking place and why they are so important to holding a secure, accurate election."

Meanwhile, advocacy groups and security experts continue to emphasize the importance of clarity and simplicity, beginning and ending with paper.

Don't worry: Your vote will be counted.

Americans shouldn't feel disinclined to vote in 2024 because of technological skepticism, said Tisler. "Without a doubt, the technology is much more secure, much more reliable, than it was even a decade ago," he stated. In fact, according to the country's cybersecurity leaders, they should have more confidence that this year's election is safe from outside threats.

"It is your community who is running those elections. It is your neighbors. It is people who share so many of your values and your experiences," said Tisler. "It's those people who are stepping up to make this process happen. Sometimes, when there is a lot of passion, a lot of anxiety and tension, it's often difficult to keep all that in perspective."

Fears of voting machines and count accuracy, spurred by anti-computer comments like those of Musk, have grown to eclipse other election concerns. Attempts to undermine the election before ballots are cast, through mass disinformation campaigns, generative AI, or even the simple suggestion that our process can't be trusted, have the potential to sow as much mistrust as a genuine cyberattack. Just as big of a risk: Threats of physical violence on election day. But integrity experts and federal officials, including the State Department, have been preparing for it all. And paper has remained an essential part of the process.

People should feel secure that their votes will be recorded fairly and accurately. - Darrell West

"Disinformation is a serious threat because so many people want to believe negative things about the other party," said West. "Some officials spread lies to sow doubt and make people cynical about the political process. There also are foreign entities that have incentives to spread lies in order to disrupt American elections. They want to turn people against one another." Meanwhile, West assures, "paper ballots are guarded night and day in order to maintain the integrity of vote counting. There are Republican and Democratic poll watchers who make sure the other party does not engage in any shenanigans."

According to Verified Voting, a nonprofit focused on responsible voting technology and paper ballot advocacy, almost 70 percent of counties nationwide will use hand marked paper ballots for the majority of voters. Around 25 percent will use ballot marking devices, an electronic version of a ballot that creates a paper record and doesn't store vote counts on the machine, often used for voters with disabilities. Only 5 percent of counties exclusively use DRE machines.

Only two states, Louisiana and Texas, contain counties with completely paperless voting systems. Election-deciding swing states —  Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin — all maintain paper records, which are used in post-election audits in 48 states. Paper records include actual paper ballots filled out by hand, as well as printed paper ballots for voters to review after they place their vote on a machine. 

Voters can also learn about the specific machines and voting processes at their polling site ahead of the election. Verified Voting's "Verifier" database provides a breakdown of the type of voting equipment used in each county. 

Tisler recommends concerned voters read through the center's Roadmap to the Official Count, which explains the entire process in administering and validating a presidential election, step-by-step.

"The election process is a system of checks and balances," reassured Tisler. "There is somebody who is constantly making sure that everything is working how it should. They're checking, double checking, triple checking. We are never wholly dependent on technology. We are never wholly dependent on humans. The tech and the human component are working side by side the entire time."

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 Saturday, October 26, 2024:

Across"What ___?" (end of a riddle)

• The answer is Am I.

Cheer for a diva

• The answer is Brava.

2024 Chappell Roan hit spelled out in its chorus

• The answer is Hot To Go.

Conjunction that "et" (French) or "y" (Spanish) translates to

• The answer is And.

Danson of "Cheers"

• The answer is Ted.

Place to dive in a pool

• The answer is Deep End.

What a bloodhound tracks

• The answer is Scent.

Activist Yoko

• The answer is Ono.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle hints and answers for October 25 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for October 25 DownArchitectural style of Manhattan's Chrysler Building

• The answer is Art Deco.

One might say "Welcome!" or "Beware of Dog"

• The answer is Mat.

"Thumbs down from me"

• The answer is I vote no.

Skeleton's makeup

• The answer is Bones.

Word after ticket or talent

• The answer is Agent.

"I've ___ it up to here with you!"

• The answer is Had.

Strange

• The answer is Odd.

Item on a chain at a bank branch

• The answer is Pen.

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.

Chaos once reigned on Earth.

Huge asteroids or chunks of ancient objects once pummeled planets in the unsettled solar system, and scientists previously found evidence that a particularly monstrous object struck our planet some 3.26 billion years ago. It was 50 to 200 times the size of the dinosaur-killing asteroid. It boiled the oceans, drove global darkness for years to decades, and stoked unimaginable tsunamis (thousands of meters deep) that shredded coastal seafloors.

But even so, new research shows that primitive life found a way to thrive.

"We think of impact events as being disastrous for life," Nadja Drabon, an earth and planetary scientist at Harvard University who led the study, said in a statement. "But what this study is highlighting is that these impacts would have had benefits to life, especially early on, and these impacts might have actually allowed life to flourish."

SEE ALSO: If a scary asteroid will actually strike Earth, here's how you'll know

The research about this dramatic event, known as the "S2" meteorite impact, was recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Scientists suspect the impact left behind a monstrous crater some 297 miles (487 kilometers) wide, and created rock formations that remain exposed today in South Africa — with telltale signs from the ancient collision. In this study, Drabon and her team closely scrutinized layers of this ancient rock, collecting over 200 samples from 5 meters (16 feet) below the fallback layer (of debris falling back to Earth) and up to 8 meters (26 feet) above this blanket of impact material.

Crucially, the post-impact layers showed "significant changes" in their formation and composition, the authors wrote, including a notable increase in iron and iron-rich minerals called "siderites." Siderites often form in environments where microbes cycle iron for energy, meaning they show areas where microbes likely flourished — even as many primitive organisms that required sunlight met their demise.

"These impacts might have actually allowed life to flourish"

"The tsunami, atmospheric heating, and darkness would likely have decimated phototrophic microbes in the shallow water column," the authors wrote. "However, the biosphere likely recovered rapidly, and, in the medium term, the increase in nutrients and iron likely facilitated microbial blooms, especially of iron-cycling microbes."

The graphic below shows how the great tsunami whipped up iron in the heated seas, allowing it to circulate to the surface. The iron-munching microbes exploited this bounty.

A: Shows Earth's environment pre-impact, with green photosynthetic life on the surface and iron (Fe2+) in the deep ocean.

B: Earth's seas are riled just after impact, with iron mixing all over the water column as great tsunamis drove through the water.

C: The boiling ocean experiences evaporation, and nutrients from the tsunami-pummeled land flow into the sea.

D: Iron in the ocean (from the ocean circulation, from the impactor itself, and from erosion), along with nutrients (like phosphorus) from land stoke great microbial activity in the water column, and possibly mass blooms on the ocean surface, too.

E: Eventually, the environment, perhaps thousands of years later, returns to its pre-impact state.

A graphic showing how the S2 meteorite impact allowed iron-cycling microbes to thrive in the seas. Credit: PNAS

Earth scientists will continue sleuthing out Earth's distant — and at times violent — past from this rocky region in South Africa, called the Barberton Greenstone Belt.

The asteroid that hit Earth some 3.26 billion years ago was many times the size of Mount Everest. Credit: AGU The risks of an asteroid impact today

Thankfully, big or catastrophic impacts from space rocks have become rare on Earth. Here are today's general risks from asteroids or comets both tiny and very large. Importantly, even relatively small rocks are still threatening, as the surprise 56-foot (17-meter) rock that exploded over Russia and blew out people's windows in 2013 proved.

• Every single day about 100 tons of dust and sand-sized particles fall through Earth's atmosphere and promptly burn up.

• Every year, on average, an "automobile-sized asteroid" plummets through our sky and explodes, NASA explains.

• Impacts by objects around 460 feet (140 meters wide) in diameter occur every 10,000 to 20,000 years.

• A "dinosaur-killing" impact from a rock perhaps a half-mile across or larger happens on 100-million-year timescales.

A deep sea robot is exploring remote underwater canyons. And the biodiverse sights are astonishing.

On a 55-day expedition off the Chilean coast, scientists aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute's 272-foot exploration vessel, Falkor (too), are dropping a high-tech remotely operated vehicle into the dark depths. It's here, in a region where tectonic plates collide, earthquakes rumble, and methane and chemicals seep from vents, that isolated ecosystems can flourish.

"Along this Chilean margin, unexplored submarine canyons likely host biodiversity hotspots," the institute says.

SEE ALSO: A dominant shark lurks in the deep, dark ocean. Meet the sixgill.

The ROV SuBastian — a 3,200-kilogram (7,055-pound) machine with a slew of scientific instruments — is filming footage and collecting samples of these mysterious habitats between Oct. 11 and Dec. 5. The mission focuses on deep sea seeps — where gas from decomposing creatures escapes through the seafloor — allowing methane-munching microbes to flourish and establish alien ecosystems thousands of feet below the ocean surface. The researchers will also examine hydrothermal vents, found near the boundaries of Earth's tectonic plates, which emit hot, chemical-rich fluid into the ocean. These, too, often harbor rare marine communities.

The first clip below shows an impressive, uncountable amassing of crabs. "Yesterday, we came across a crazy conflagration of crabs 400 meters down. Migration route? Mating season?" Jeffrey Marlow, a biologist from Boston University and chief scientist of the expedition, posted online.

The following footage, recently filmed by the ROV, shows shrimp fighting for a deep sea meal (don't count out the smallest competitor), a curious Humboldt squid, and beyond.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

You can follow these livestreamed "divestreams" on YouTube.

Expeditions to the deeps regularly return with rare or unprecedented sightings. "We always discover stuff when we go out into the deep sea. You're always finding things that you haven't seen before," Derek Sowers, an expedition lead for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Ocean Exploration mission, previously told Mashable last year.

Ocean research organizations are now vigilantly documenting and mapping the deep sea. Scientists want to shine a light — literally and figuratively — on what's down there. The implications of knowing are incalculable, particularly as deep sea mineral prospectors prepare to run tank-like industrial equipment across parts of the seafloor. For example, research expeditions have found that ocean life carries great potential for novel medicines. "Systematic searches for new drugs have shown that marine invertebrates produce more antibiotic, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory substances than any group of terrestrial organisms," notes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

As I wrote in my review of Venom: The Last Dance, this is a movie at war with itself. It is both a sci-fi drama about alien invasion and a buck-wild road trip movie about buddies on a mission. There's plenty to like about writer/director Kelly Marcel's spin in the Spider-Verse, including the comic mayhem her dual anti-heroes get up to. But my absolute favorite bit of business between interstellar BFFs Eddie Brock and Venom (both played by Tom Hardy) is the movie references they drop.

Some might snark that in the way of Shrek, quoting movies like Thelma & Louise, Swingers, and E.T. the Extraterrestrial is a lazy shorthand to laughs. Admittedly, it's absolutely hilarious to hear Hardy's Venom voice boom with excitement, "You look so money and you don't even know it!" A zany thrill of recognition ignites when he explains that more alien beasts are coming their way by saying of a chirping xenophage, "She phoned home!" And maybe most of all, there's a giddy delight in hearing Venom and Eddie refer to each other as Thelma and Louise as they bicker about their next move.

Sure, there are some superficial similarities in each allusion. Venom and E.T. are both aliens who befriended humans. Thelma and Louise were also a dynamic duo prone to violence and determined to get out of their situation by hook or by crook. And Swingers, like part of Venom: The Last Dance, is about two best bros living it up in Las Vegas. But more than these ties, it's what these references suggest about Eddie and Venom that makes my heart sing.

They must have movie nights!

Thelma & Louise, Swingers, and E.T. the Extraterrestrial mean something to Venom. No spoilers, Eddie! Credit: Sony Pictures

While Venom came out in 2018 and its sequel, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, debuted in 2021, in the world of Venom: The Last Dance, the titular symbiote and his human host Eddie have only been together for one year. In that time, they've gone for a dip in a lobster tank, become friends with the endearing bodega clerk Mrs. Chen (Peggy Lu), gone into self-imposed isolation, and gotten rip-roaring drunk, much to the dismay of their Snap-traumatized bartender. And somewhere in all that, they also watched at least these three movies together.

While The Last Dance offers plenty of opportunities to chuckle and thrill at the odd couple that is Eddie and Venom, it tickles me to imagine these off-screen moments. What did Venom think of the end of Thelma & Louise? Did he cheer or cry — or both? What brought the once-iconic, now vintage Swingers into their watchlist? Is Venom a fan of Vince Vaughn's comedic chops, or does he prefer Jon Favreau's blend of heart and humor? What did Venom make of E.T.? Was he charmed by the binocular-headed critter who loved chocolate just as this cinephile symbiote does? Or did he snark at E.T.'s non-violent approach to humans who would capture him?

While Venom: The Last Dance offers extra doses of symbiote fun with both mid-credits and post-credits scenes, I can't help but wish for one more. Maybe a short film that's just Eddie and Venom having a quiet night in, arguing over the remote, and settling in for a movie sure to blow this alien's hive mind.

Venom: The Last Dance opens exclusively in theaters Oct. 25.

TL;DR: Get Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more when you get a lifetime license for Microsoft Office 2021 for Windows for just $54.97 (reg. $219.99). This flash sale ends today, so head to the Mashable Shop now to snag this Microsoft Office deal.

Opens in a new window Credit: SmartTrainingLab Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows $54.97
$219.99 Save $165.02 Lifetime License Get Deal

If someone asked you to pay monthly for a T-shirt, it would seem ridiculous. So why do we settle for it with apps we use every day? Apps like Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are hard to go without, but Microsoft 365 is expensive, especially considering you're never actually done paying for it. 

A cheaper alternative is to get a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Pro 2021. This suite may be a little older, but it comes with many of the same apps you rely on, and you only have to pay for it once, and it's even on sale. For one more day, you can get Office Pro 2021 for life for only $54.97 (reg. $219.99). Remember: This Mashable Shop deal ends on Oct. 26.

What's included?

Microsoft Office 2021 Professional comes with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams (free version), OneNote, Publisher, and Access. This license lets you install the full productivity suite on a single Windows PC. Just follow the directions that come with your purchase, and you'll finally own the apps you rely on for work, school, or just managing your life. 

The applications within the suite have been enhanced with new features that cater to a variety of tasks. For instance, Microsoft Word comes with advanced formatting options and improved collaboration tools, allowing multiple users to work on a document simultaneously.

Excel includes powerful data analysis features, enabling users to handle large datasets with ease. PowerPoint has been revamped with new design templates and animation options, making it easier to create visually stunning presentations.

The ribbon-based user interface across the suite provides quick access to features, tools, and customizations, allowing users to tailor their experience according to their preferences. This flexibility is particularly beneficial for professionals who work across different applications and require a cohesive experience.

Say goodbye to subscription fees forever 

It doesn't have to cost more every month just to do your job, though you'll have to hurry to take advantage of this low pricing. You only have until Oct. 26 at 11:59 p.m. PT to get a Microsoft Office Pro 2021 Lifetime License for $54.97. 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

TL;DR: Add a new number to your phone with a lifetime subscription to Hushed, on sale for $19.99 with code SAVENOW. 

Whether you’re making work calls, trying out online dating, or buying and selling things on sites like Craigslist, keeping your information safe can help you avoid unwanted attention and keep your peace of mind intact. Unfortunately, you also have to use your phone number for a lot of those same tasks. That’s where Hushed comes in.

Hushed is a simple, no-fuss solution that puts a second number on your phone, so you can make calls and send texts without revealing your real phone number. And instead of paying the full $150 for a lifetime subscription, it's only $19.99 (for now). 

A new way to digitally comparmentalize

Your Hushed lifetime subscription gives you 6,000 SMS messages or 1,000 phone minutes per year, so you’ve got plenty of coverage for whatever you need. Plus, you can use Wi-Fi or your data to make calls, helping you dodge those hefty service charges. 

Hushed also lets you customize how calls go through. You can set up call forwarding and tailor your voicemail to match your style. 

Hushed is designed to be user-friendly, so you don’t need to be a tech whiz to get it. The app works on both iOS and Android devices, too.

Once you set up your initial plan, it’s easy to add more minutes or SMS credits whenever you need them. With hundreds of area codes available across the U.S. and Canada, you can pick a number that works perfectly for you. 

A secret second number that works like the first

Whether you want to protect your privacy online, establish boundaries at work, or compartmentalize your social life, a second phone number completely changes the game. 

October 27 at 11:59 p.m. PT is the deadline to get a Hushed Private Phone Line Lifetime Subscription for $19.99 with code SAVENOW. 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Affinity Click Hushed Private Phone Line: Lifetime Virtual Number Subscription $19.99
$150.00 Save $130.01 Get Deal

TL;DR: 1minAI gives you lifetime access to popular AI models like GPT-4 and Gemini for only $39.99 (reg. $234). 

Opens in a new window Credit: 1minAI 1minAI: Lifetime Subscription $39.99
$234.00 Save $194.01 Get Deal

AI has become an essential part of so many industries. Unfortunately, it's pretty expensive to keep up with the premium versions of all these different AI models, but losing them means losing so much time. 

You don't have to cut productivity to cut costs. 1minAI is an all-in-one tool that brings together popular AI models like GPT-4 and Gemini under one umbrella, and you only have to pay once for lifetime access. During this limited-time sale, a 1minAI lifetime subscription is just $39.99 (reg. $234). 

Replace all your AI subscriptions with this one

You might recognize some of the AI models that come with your 1min lifetime subscription: GPT-4 and GoogleAI's Gemini are both on the table. There's even a built-in grammar checker to polish your work. 

Beyond writing, 1minAI offers advanced image processing capabilities. Users can create and edit images, remove backgrounds, and upscale photos. You don't need to be a Photoshop pro to have beautiful photos anymore.

You can even use 1minAI for audio editing, with AI that can manipulate sound files, convert text to speech, and create high-quality videos for podcasts or other projects.

The 1minAI Pro Plan includes 1,000,000 credits monthly and opportunities to earn more through daily logins and referrals. In practice, that means you can generate over 800,000 words, research up to 1,933 SEO keywords, generate 161 images, remove 24 backgrounds, convert 120,833 characters to speech, or generate up to 12 videos. 

One subscription for all your AI tools

Why pay for all these different AI subscriptions when you can get lifetime access to many of the same tools (and then some) for a one-time payment? 

There's still time to get a 1minAI Lifetime Subscription for just $39.99. 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

TL;DR: Until October 27, get the Deeper Connect Air Portable VPN Router on sale for $149.97 — it helps you stay secure online and lets you stream freely, all without recurring fees.

If you travel frequently, you know the struggle of finding reliable internet that doesn't compromise your security. Enter the Deeper Connect Air for $150 (reg. $219) — your ultimate travel companion that wraps your online activities in powerful encryption while keeping you connected to the world.

Enjoy peace of mind knowing your data is secure while you're in coffee shops and airports. This decentralized VPN router is designed to keep your information safe, whether you’re streaming your favorite shows or accessing sensitive work files.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/ebjA1Xgy7cM

With the Deeper Connect Air, you’ll experience true global access. Say goodbye to pesky geo-restrictions that limit your streaming options. Whether you're in a hotel room in Tokyo or a cafe in Paris, you can easily bypass those barriers and enjoy your content seamlessly. Plus, its compact and lightweight design means you can take it anywhere.

The best part? You get a lifetime subscription with no recurring fees. That means you can enjoy secure, fast internet for years to come without worrying about monthly charges. Unlike traditional VPNs that rely on centralized servers, this device uses a decentralized network of nodes, providing a more reliable connection.

So, if you’re a traveler, remote worker, or someone who values online privacy, check out the Deeper Connect Air Portable VPN Travel Router for $149.97 until October 27 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Deeper Connect Deeper Connect Air Portable VPN Travel Router $149.97
$219.00 Save $69.03 Get Deal