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Google will enable Bluetooth in the controller dedicated to the service – Royals Blue

The stadium has entered its final stretch. Googles video game streaming service will officially shut down on January 18, and the company has been taking gradual steps over the past few months to make sure users know this and stop spending their money on a dead service. The only problem remained the hardware, i.e. the controller dedicated to the service, which without the Stadia servers became a useless piece of plastic. It seems that with the closure of the service, this controller will get an update that allows it to connect to PCs or other devices via Bluetooth.

The first steps towards shutting down Stadia were taken back in the fall, when the company stopped being able to buy content on the platform, and those with Stadia Pro subscriptions were given free access to them. Google then returned the money to everyone who had bought games on the platform, but not to those who had subscribed over time.

Some game developers chose to offer Stadia customers either the game they bought on the platform for free on other non-streaming services, or allowed them to transfer their Stadia saves to another platform so they wouldnt lose progress made playing the game.

The controller was a sore point though, as those who bought it, often alongside a Chromecast Ultra, couldnt do anything else with it. Sure, it also worked wired, but inside is a chip and antennas that allow both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections. Implicitly, this controller works exclusively over Wi-Fi, sending button presses directly to the server the game is running on to ensure the shortest possible response time. All other streaming services communicate with the controller exclusively via the device to which it is connected.

Google has confirmed that it will release an app dedicated to the Stadia controller, which will allow it to be updated to a new software version that will enable Bluetooth functionality. This will allow those who own such an accessory to use it alongside a PC, or other devices such as smartphones or tablets. The app will be launched next week ahead of the closure of the service.

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Google will enable Bluetooth in the controller dedicated to the service - Royals Blue

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Basecamp Details ‘Obscene’ $3.2 Million Bill That Prompted It To … – Slashdot

An anonymous reader shares a report: David Heinemeier Hansson, CTO of 37Signals -- which operates project management platform Basecamp and other products -- has detailed the colossal cloud bills that saw the outfit quit the cloud in October 2022. The CTO and creator of Ruby On Rails did all the sums and came up with an eye-watering cloud bill for $3,201,564 in 2022 -- or $266,797 each month. Plenty of that spend -- $759,983 -- went on compute, in the form of Amazon Web Services' EC2 and EKS services.

On Twitter, Hansson contrasted that cost with the spend needed to acquire servers packing 288 vCPUs and plenty more besides over three years. Hansson was at pains to point out that even that bill was the result of a concerted effort to keep it low. "Getting this massive spend down to just $3.2 million has taken a ton of work. The ops team runs a vigilant cost-inspection program, with monthly reporting and tracking, and we've entered into long-term agreements on Reserved Instances and committed usage, as part of a Private Pricing Agreement," he wrote. "This is a highly optimized budget."

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Basecamp Details 'Obscene' $3.2 Million Bill That Prompted It To ... - Slashdot

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Surfshark vs ExpressVPN: Which VPN is better in 2023? – Tech Lapse

Surfshark and ExpressVPN are among the most popular VPNs on the market. It may seem as if theres no difference between them, but there are many things that make them distinct from each other.

We tested the two VPNs to see how much they differ from one another. During our tests, there were a multitude of factors we took into consideration, namely, connection speed, security features, privacy policy, servers, and reliability.

In our Surfshark vs. ExpressVPN review, youll learn the key features the two VPNs offer and by the end of the article, youll know which one you should use. Below, youll see a table that summarizes the differences between Surfshark and ExpressVPN in different categories.

Surfshark

ExpressVPN

Location

The Netherlands

British Virgin Islands

Servers

3200+ in 100 countries

3000+ in 94 countries

Log policy

No log

No log

Price

Starting from $2.05 per month

Starting from $6.67 per month

Money-back guarantee

30 days

30 days

Compatibility

Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Fire TV, and routers

Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Fire TV, and routers

Streaming

Most major platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, and Hulu

Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, and more

Number of devices

Unlimited

5

24/7 support

Yes

Yes

Website

surfshark.com

expressvpn.com

Surfshark wins when it comes to encryption and security. Both VPNs use multiple protocols, but Surfsharks WireGuard is faster and more widely used than ExpressVPNs proprietary protocol Lightway. Surfshark also offers more security features such as NoBorders mode, CleanWeb, and Double VPN servers.

Heres a table that summarizes the key differences between Surfshark and ExpressVPNs security features:

Surfshark

ExpressVPN

Encryption

AES-256 and ChaCha20 encryption

AES-256 encryption

RAM servers

Yes

Yes

Kill switch

Yes (System-wide)

Yes (System-wide and application-level)

Ad and tracker blocker

Yes

Only blocks trackers

DNS leak protection

Yes

Yes

Both Surfshark and ExpressVPN use military-grade AES-256 encryption, which is virtually impossible to crack. Surfshark integrated WireGuard tunneling protocol into its infrastructure in 2020. Its the same protocol thats used by NordVPN and many other VPNs. As youll see in our speed tests below, WireGuard is faster than ExpressVPNs proprietary protocol Lightway.

Surfsharks WireGuard tunneling protocol is faster and safer than ExpressVPNs Lightway.

ExpressVPN is currently the only VPN on the market which uses Lightway, which means the company still has a long way to go if it wants to establish trust and promote adoption among users. Its faster than OpenVPN, but its no match for WireGuard.

Surfshark and ExpressVPN both have kill switch and split tunneling functionalities. Surfshark has a system-wide kill switch, which means it disconnects your entire device from the Internet when your VPN connection drops. You dont get to exclude specific apps from it.

ExpressVPNs kill switch is called Network Lock. You have the option to select specific apps that remain connected to the Internet when the VPN connection goes down. Kill switch is enabled by default in ExpressVPN and you cant disable it on the router app. On Surfshark, you have to enable it in the settings after downloading the app.

Split tunneling on Surfshark is called Bypasser. On both VPN services, split tunneling is available on Windows, macOS, Android, and routers. Currently, theres no VPN that has split tunneling on iOS due to restrictions by Apple. You can use the feature to exclude certain apps and traffic from passing through the VPN tunnel.

The only worthwhile additional feature ExpressVPN has is Threat Manager. Its a tool that prevents sites from tracking your browsing habits. As a result, you stop seeing targeted ads. Surfshark has a similar feature called CleanWeb, but it doesnt just stop sites from tracking you, it also blocks ads.

Surfshark has more security features than ExpressVPN.

Surfshark also has Double VPN and static IP servers. Double VPN means your traffic is routed through two servers, encrypting your data twice and giving you extra protection. This is similar to NordVPNs Multi-Hop routing.

A static IP server gives you the same IP address every time you connect to it. Its different from a dedicated IP because the IP address youre assigned on a static server is shared with other users and not used exclusively by you.

ExpressVPN and Surfshark both work in China, but the latter has a feature called NoBorders which is made specifically for regions where the Internet is restricted. It turns on automatically if the VPN detects your network is being restricted.

When it comes to privacy, ExpressVPN has an edge over Surfshark because its based in the British Virgin Islands. Both have a proven no-log policy and RAM-only servers, but Surfshark is located in the Netherlands, a member of the 14 Eyes alliance.

Weve added a table below to show how Surfshark and ExpressVPN differ in terms of privacy:

Surfshark

ExpressVPN

Logging policy

No logs

No logs

Location

The Netherlands

British Virgin Islands

Member of 14 Eyes alliance

Yes

No

External audits

Yes

Yes

ExpressVPN is located in the British Virgin Islands, a region outside of the jurisdiction of the 5/9/14 Eyes alliances. Surfshark, on the other hand, is based in the Netherlands, a 14 Eyes country where VPN companies have to follow data retention laws. Surfsharks no-log policy is just as good as ExpressVPNs, so its very unlikely for the VPN provider to share data with the government.

Both VPN services are at the top of their game when it comes to having a no-log policy. Theyve had multiple external audits. Unlike most other VPNs that store their data on disk, ExpressVPN and Surfshark both have RAM-only servers, which means any data thats retained while youre connected to the VPN is erased as soon as you disconnect from it. ExpressVPN calls its RAM servers TrustedServers.

ExpressVPNs RAM-only servers are called TrustedServers. (Source: expressvpn.com)

Surfshark is one of the cheapest VPNs out there, which is why its the winner in this round. ExpressVPNs price is its biggest disadvantage because its more expensive than most VPN services. They both have a 30-day money-back guarantee and give you the option to pay with cryptocurrency.

As always, heres a table to help you understand the pricing structure of both Surfshark and ExpressVPN:

Surfshark

ExpressVPN

Monthly price

$12.95 per month

$12.95 per month

Semi-annual plan

None

$9.99 per month

1-year plan

$3.99 per month

$6.67 per month

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Surfshark vs ExpressVPN: Which VPN is better in 2023? - Tech Lapse

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eSIMs to enable CIOs to deliver IoT and savings – Diginomica

(Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay )

The humble SIM card is following hard on the heels of storage and networking and becoming software-defined. With the physical hardware making way for software, known as the eSIM, connectivity should increase, making the deployment of the Internet of Things (IoT) easier and more cost-effective. CIOs will not only be able to realize IoT ambitions, supporters and early adopters of eSIMs report a lower cost of ownership, increased flexibility and end-user benefits.

It's hard to believe, but the SIM is now 25 years old. The eSIM is an embedded SIM card and, therefore, programmable. Devoid of a removable universal integrated circuit card (the traditional SIM card), an eSIM consists of software installed onto a built-in universal integrated circuit card. First seen in 2016, the technology is backed by the GSMA, the mobile networks industry body.

CIOs and organizations adopting eSIM technology will need to decide on one of two formats. These are the Consumer Solution, which as the name suggests, will typically be seen in a handset or device and allow the owner to choose their operator just as they select which apps to use. The second format, M2M, or machine-to-machine, is dedicated to business use such as IoT.

Unlike the Consumer Solution, M2M has no user interaction and is instead typically operated by a server and management platform by the IT department. Management, operation and storage of the eSIM is done within the device. Security in both is Pre-Shared Key (PSK) and Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) cryptography.

Whichever format CIOs choose, the aim of eSIMs is to reduce the number of restrictions and increase the utility of mobile connectivity. Martin Langmaid, CTO with Belgian telco services provider Venn Telecom says:

We need modularity, and we need to be able to adapt very quickly to different situations. Before this concept of the eSIM, we were juggling draws full of SIMs from different operators, each with different capabilities and IDs. It was a headache to know which SIM and which service, and which device should it be in.

As a technology leader, you find that you need different operators or network capabilities in different regions. You are in a horrible place of physical SIM swaps, which is a logistical nightmare, especially for tablet devices that are airside at an airport or visiting Point of Sale (POS) terminals distributed across the nation.

The digitization of the economy relies on connectivity to be a utility, and that means CIOs cannot rely on one network provider alone. An example is Telli Health, a USA-based maker of remote patient care devices such as glucose monitors. Its healthcare customers were experiencing a high degree of data transmission failure.

Telli Health has switched to eSIMs, using the Eseye M2M eSIM system. Now its customers don't need to worry if a device is connected to any of the five major mobile networks in the USA; the device will use any of them. The Miami headquartered business had considered Bluetooth, but opted for eSIM, Will Dos Santos, Telli Health Sales & Account Executive, says. He adds::

With Bluetooth, there were compatibility issues, and with eSIM, there is no fumbling with apps. The patient simply turns on the device, they take a reading, and that is it; the data is sent to the healthcare organisation. eSIM is a simple process as everything happens in the back end.

Charity CIO Gerard McGovern has been an early adopter of eSIM for his organization, The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, and is seeing real business benefits, he says:

Turning data on or off or switching tariffs is so much easier with an eSIM. We have 1800 staff, and 300-400 people join the organization or leave a year, and the majority of our staff have a phone.

McGovern says staff at Guide Dogs benefit too, which improves staff retention. He explains:

People want to separate home and work life. Guide Dogs has a high number of phones as our service users are clients and need the ability to call or message us directly. Our mobility specialists don't want to share their own number.

CTO Langmaid adds:

With multiple IDs added to a SIM that has been deployed, we know that in the future, when a customer's needs change, we can support that change using the built-in intelligence of eSIM. Whilst for others, it is about worry-free connectivity. One of our biggest users is in commercial shipping, and their people are travelling and need to know that data will work wherever they are, and at a set fee, so they can just get on with their work.

Langmaid and Venn Telecom are systems integrators and have utilized the Webbing eSIM platform to deploy the Consumer Solution into organizations. Langmaid says:

We can add network operators to a customer in an afternoon. That means we take away the fear of operator regret where a CIO chooses operator X and then finds they wish they'd gone for operator Y.

You are taking back control over your choice of operator and network, and you are changing the power dynamic by being able to remotely manage that demand.

IoT has had plenty of hype, but implementation success stories are less prevalent. One of the reasons has been connectivity challenges. A Beecham Research survey for network hardware and services provider Sierra Wireless found that organizations could not access cost-effective and reliable connectivity to make IoT successful. Inevitably, businesses that have invested in and backed eSIM believe their technology is the answer. CIO David Doherty at Jurassic Fibre, a fibre network provider in Devon, UK, says they're right to be confident. He adds:

eSIMs in devices will make IoT a lot easier for CIOs, especially if they need to change service providers or make upgrades.

Software-defined has been the making of CIOs. Whether it's Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) or the plethora of cloud-based services, CIOs are spending an ever-decreasing amount of time managing bytes and pipes. Moving network connectivity to a software play akin to that of SaaS will again benefit CIOs.

In the public sector, CIOs will be able to lead digital care adoption to improve care outcomes at a lower cost. Whilst IoT will enable improvements in data collection and management and make the CIO and their department the central control unit of the organization as it strives to reduce emissions and costs.

Those business technology leaders that have already adopted eSIMs are seeing improvements in the role technology plays in work/life balance and business

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eSIMs to enable CIOs to deliver IoT and savings - Diginomica

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GLP Captures The Moment For Rapyd’s Grand EDM Dance Finale – Live Design

GLP Captures The Moment For Rapyd's Grand EDM Dance Finale  Live Design

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GLP Captures The Moment For Rapyd's Grand EDM Dance Finale - Live Design

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How to fix the ‘Unable to Authenticate’ and Failed to Log In’ errors in … – Dot Esports

One of the most common issues Pokmon Go seems to encounter on the technical side seems to revolve around app login issues or dedicated servers experiencing multi-region outages. This results in a number of messages popping up when players try to access the game, which sometimes doesnt have direct fixes.

Two of these prominent messages are the Unable to Authenticate and Failed to Log In pop-ups that occur when a player first tries to access the game. Most of the time this is tied to a wider server issue impacting aspects of Pokmon Go.

Even if this is typically a temporary issue that gets resolved quickly, occasionally it will take much longer for Niantic to pinpoint the problem and fix it. In that case, it can lead to thousands of players being left unable to play Pokmon Go until the servers are back up and running properly.

If you are having issues with the Unable to Authenticate and Failed to Log In messages in Pokmon Go, here are a few ways you can try to fix the problem.

Niantic tends to be quick to share wider, sever-related issues when it comes to Pokmon Goespecially if it is actively keeping players from playing in any capacity. This makes it so your first stop should be the official Pokmon Go Twitter or the Niantic Support Page.

If neither of those locations has acknowledged the issue, head to the Pokmon Go or SilphRoad Reddit, both of which are almost always talking about problems with the game.

Related: Is Pokmon Go down? Heres how to check the server status

While this is normally a server issue and not something Pokmon Go players can resolve on their own, Niantic does have a few recommended methods to try and bypass this problem if it isnt a massive outage.

After checking to make sure you have a good connection to the internet, if you encounter an Unable to authenticate or Failed to log in message you should try restarting the app. Typically this wont require you to force stop your app once you close it out, but if you do need to, here is where you can do that.

If that doesnt fix anything, you can try troubleshooting a bit more before giving up and waiting for Niantic to provide more info. This will mostly involve signing out of your account and signing back in or removing your email account from your device.

It is unlikely that this method will work, but you can check the official Niantic support website for those details based on your device.

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How to fix the 'Unable to Authenticate' and Failed to Log In' errors in ... - Dot Esports

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The 10 Best WordPress Hosting Providers in 2023 – PakWired

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When youre launching your WordPress website, choosing the right hosting provider is a crucial decision

Web hosting can have a critical impact on your sites speed, uptime, security, and performance when it comes to Search Engine Optimization (SEO).

However, there are several different types of hosting for you to pick from: free, shared, dedicated server, VPS and managed. Plus, there are hundreds of providers out there vying for your attention and your cash.

It can quickly get overwhelming to navigate this flood of information on your own.

In this article, well take a closer look at the ups and downs of different kinds of WordPress hosting, and well give you the run-down on the top 10 WordPress hosting providers in 2023.

Lets get started!

As mentioned above, there are different kinds of WordPress hosting free, shared, dedicated server, VPS, and managed.

The first of this, free web hosting, is basically what it says on the tin. Normally, free WordPress Hosting is offered in small groups or online forums managed by people who are reselling part of their server space.

Free hosting may sound great, but theres usually a catch. Often, you have to include banner ads or text in the footer of your sites. Most importantly, though, free hosting is typically unreliable the providers can leave you hanging at any time.

Shared WordPress Hosting is the most common type of web hosting for people who are just launching their sites. Its affordable and gives you a good technical basis.

Shared hosting means that providers use the same server for multiple sites. This allows them to offer their services at budget-friendly rates. The downside is that you may have to upgrade your hosting plan if your site takes up too much of their server space.

Next up, VPS Hosting stands for web hosting via Virtual Private Servers. In this approach, a physical server is partitioned into multiple servers, which allows individual users a greater amount of freedom. If you have the technical know-how, you can configure it to run specific software and install system upgrades.

Do you have solid technical knowledge and want a maximum of control? Then dedicated server hosting may be the best choice for you. Here, you lease a server from the hosting provider but take care of all other aspects yourself from your choice of hardware to the OS you want to run.

Finally, managed WordPress hosting is the most straightforward option on this list. You open an account with a provider and can get straight to building your WordPress site everything else is managed for you, from security updates to regular backups and performance optimization.

There are a few main aspects you need to consider when youre launching your WordPress site.

First, theres your own technical expertise. If youre completely new to building websites, a beginner-friendly option like managed hosting or shared hosting is the best choice. You can always scale your website later and switch to VPS or dedicated server hosting.

Second, you need to take into account the amount of traffic youre expecting to get. Do you want to set up a personal portfolio page for your CV or a freelancer profile? Or do you want to launch a web shop to attract thousands of customers every day? Depending on the answer to this, youll have different priorities when it comes to comparing providers in terms of reliability, server capacity, and security.

Heres our run-down of the 10 best WordPress Hosting providers in 2023.

Topping the list is Bluehost, which is a fantastic provider for e-commerce stores and small business websites.

It offers a native website builder with a solid WordPress integration that allows for flexible content management, as well as a broad range of marketing and analytics tools.

Bluehost offers shared, VPS, and dedicated hosting. If you run into any problems, its 24/7 customer service is there to help you.

Plus, with plans starting at $2.95 per month, Bluehost is one of the most budget-friendly hosting options out there.

Next up, DreamHost is one of the most reliable and versatile providers out there. Its team can boast 18 years of experience thats the basis of solid in-house assistance.

In addition, you get a free domain, free SSL certificates, and free email hosting. A custom dashboard, automatic updates, and a straightforward 1-click WordPress install are also part of the package.

Plans for shared hosting start at $2.59 a month, though there are also VPS options at $15 a month.

In third place, SiteGround is a fantastic option for managed WordPress hosting in particular. Its one of the providers that WordPress itself recommends to anyone planning to use it as a CMS.

SiteGround impresses with some of the fastest website speeds out there, 24/7 support, and features such as free SSL, free CDN, daily backups, and automatic upgrades. Plus, you can benefit from location-specific hosting, with data centres located in the US, Asia, Europe, and Australia.

SiteGrounds managed WordPress hosting offers start at $2.99 a month.

Another solid hosting option is HostGator, which has a reputation for affordable prices and its 99.9% uptime guarantee.

HostGator offers a free domain name, free SSL certificates, auto-backups, 24/7 support, and one-click WordPress installation. In addition, if you already have a WordPress site, HostGator provides free migration for any plan.

Hosting options start at $5.95 a month.

Next on this list, Hostinger is one of the most versatile and budget-friendly options on the market. It has some of the fastest loading speeds, global data centres, and sophisticated security.

Like other options on this list, Hostinger comes with automated backups and updates, migration tools, 24/7 customer support, and one-click installation. Plus, it provides geolocation-specific hosting services, with data centres scattered across the US, Europe, South America, and Asia.

Hosting packages start at $1.99 a month.

For ecologically-minded WordPress enthusiasts, GreenGeeks is a shared hosting option thats both robust and eco-friendly.

With plans starting at $2.95 per month, GreenGeeks offers free WordPress installs, migrations, and updates, as well as 24/7 live chat support and high-level WordPress security. Their stand-out feature is that they also provide a 300% renewable energy match, making them a carbon-reducing company.

If youre based in Europe, and especially in the EU, World4You is a solid option for bloggers, agencies, and small businesses. With servers based in Central Europe, it provides a maximum of data security and guarantees compliance with EU regulations such as GDPR.

Furthermore, it comes with a free domain, free email hosting, and free SSL, as well as an automatic WordPress install.

Pricing starts at 4.90 (approximately $5.00) per month.

Another great WordPress hosting option is Flywheel, especially if youre a freelancer or an agency building sites for your clients.

Flywheel offers a user-friendly interface, free website migration, custom support, and password-protected demo sites. Plus, you can create your own blueprints, in which you can customize themes and blueprints.

Flywheel also makes it easy to transfer billing to your clients.

Pricing starts at $13 per month.

If youre running a site that experiences intense traffic, inMotion is one of the best hosting options for you. This provider guarantees an exclusive server for your sites and can boast speeds that are up to twelve times faster than other web hosts.

Its plans include automatic updates, advanced malware scans, free SSD storage, and unlimited bandwidth. For advanced users, inMotion also offers a command line interface and associated support.

Plans start at $3.99 per month (on a 2-year contract).

Finally, if youre aiming to host multiple sites, you should put A2 Hosting on your list of candidates. Even though A2 is one of the more expensive options on this list, it comes with a few premium features that make managing multiple sites a breeze.

Hosting plans include free SSL certificates, 24/7 customer support, global server availability, pre-configurations for speed and security, and turbo servers to boost your sites performance.

In addition, you can pay for any services on a monthly basis and easily add or cancel plans depending on how many sites you manage.

Prices start at $11.99 per month for managed WordPress hosting, though A2 also offers cheaper shared hosting plans from $2.99.

Choosing the right web host is a critical decision when youre launching your WordPress site.

Different WordPress providers offer different pricing tiers, additional features, and types of WordPress hosting. Its important to know your priorities, level of skills, and budget to pick the provider that best suits your unique needs.

Take the time to set your criteria and carry out an in-depth comparison of a few candidates that tick your boxes in-depth. Its definitely worth it in the long run to guarantee the success, health, and security of your WordPress site.

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The 10 Best WordPress Hosting Providers in 2023 - PakWired

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Can You Trust WhatsApp’s New Proxy Server Feature? – Tech.co

Just recently, WhatsApp announced a new feature: youll now be able to connect to the social media platform via a proxy server set up by a third-party volunteer or organization.

The new feature is designed for people living under oppressive regimes that regularly restrict access to social media sites in order to quell civil unrest, protests, and other forms of anti-government mobilization.

But how does the new feature work, and can you really trust Meta-owned WhatsApp's proxy server feature?

WhatsApps new feature will allow people to reroute their connection through proxy servers stationed around the world and accessible through the app.

The aim is to help people communicate in countries where WhatsApp and social media in general is being blocked, banned, or restricted. The proxy servers will provide a way around these sorts of restrictions that people can use safely and without fear of reprisal.

There are many people who continue to be denied the ability to reach their loved ones because of internet shutdowns, WhatsApp explained in a recent statement. Choosing a proxy enables you to connect to WhatsApp through servers set up by volunteers and organizations around the world dedicated to helping people communicate freely.

WhatsApp says anyone can set up a proxy using a server with ports 80, 443, or 5222 available, as well as a domain name pointing to the servers IP address. More information as well as source code is available on GitHub.

The feature has already been rolled out and can be found within the Storage and Data section of WhatsApps Settings menu, as long as you have the latest version of WhatsApp downloaded.

All in all, the new feature will likely be a great help to a lot of people. But, if your government is surveilling your internet activity and an attempt to access WhatsApp could come back to bite you, then its only natural to seek assurances regarding the reliability and security of a feature like this.

The question isnt necessarily about whether users can trust WhatsApp however, but rather, whether you can trust the owner of the third-party proxy server youre connecting to.

WhatsApp will not be setting these servers up, nor will it maintain or hold any influence over them. In theory, these servers could be set up by absolutely anyone, which is a de facto security risk.

If youre in a country like Iran and youre likely to use this feature, just bear in mind that the owner of the server youre connecting to wherever they're based in the world will be able to see your IP address.

Proxy servers will not encrypt your connection like a VPN does, so ensure the one you're connecting to via WhatsApp is legitimate and genuine before you attempt to connect and use it.

Crucially, however, as WhatsApp is an end-to-end encrypted messaging service, the server owner wont be able to access any conversations you have stored within the app while youre connected to their server.

Theoretically, if you could find a safe way to get your hands on a VPN with support for split tunneling, you could funnel all of your WhatsApp activity through one of its encrypted servers, which wouldnt reveal your IP address, and use the regular internet for the rest of your data.

However, therein lies the problem. Attempting to download a VPN in a country like Iran ruled by a government that surveils its citizens' internet activity in the way this WhatsApp change is supposed to combat comes with its own risks and dangers.

The safest option is to use the proxy server feature, but as weve mentioned, be vigilant when it comes to picking your proxy server. This will be safer than attempting to access technology like VPNs in a place like Iran.

However, in countries where VPNs are widely used and the subsequent legal risks associated with using them are minimal or non-existent then we'd recommend using a VPN in tandem with the proxy if possible, simply just to boost your privacy and hide your IP address from whoever is providing your connection.

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Can You Trust WhatsApp's New Proxy Server Feature? - Tech.co

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Hivelocity Acquires Heficed: Acquisition will expand global footprint … – PR Newswire

TAMPA, Fla., Jan. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --Hivelocity, Inc, the leading IaaS and Bare Metal Cloud company announced today their acquisition of UK-based Heficed, an established network infrastructure solutions and cloudprovider.

Under the terms of the deal, Heficed, its customers, select staff, and 9 data center locations will all fold into the Hivelocity brand.

"This acquisition represents a fantastic opportunity for our clients old and new," says Mike Archietto, CEO and co-founder at Hivelocity. "By combining Heficed's impressive list of data center locations and VPS hosting options with our own global network of data centers and premium bare metal hosting, our world-class infrastructure solutions will now reach an even wider audience of users."

Steve Eschweiler, COO and co-founder of Hivelocity echoes Mike's statement, adding, "Heficed is a great company with great people. Hivelocity's acquisition strengthens our team and furthers our goal of building the most geo-diverse bare metal cloud in the industry. With the addition of Brazil, South Africa, and Nigeria data center locations, our customers can now instantly deploy bare metal servers across 6 continents."

About Hivelocity

Founded in 2002, Hivelocity is a privately held company that has been a fixture in the dedicated server hosting industry for 20 years. With 40+ international locations operating in 29 global markets across 6 continents, Hivelocity's Bare Metal Cloud solutions can help you reach 80% of the world's internet population in under 25 milliseconds.

To learn more about Hivelocity, visit https://www.hivelocity.net.

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Hivelocity Acquires Heficed: Acquisition will expand global footprint ... - PR Newswire

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What Is Plex and How Does It Work? – Review Geek

Plex, Paket/Shutterstock.com

Plex allows you to build a personal streaming service using your own content. Most people buy dedicated hardware for Plex, but you can test it using your desktop or laptop without spending a dime.

The days of cheap streaming are long gone. Services like Netflix are prohibitively expensive and offer much smaller libraries than they did just a few years ago. A personal collection of DVDs and Blu-Ray discs can alleviate this problem, but if you want to stream the media you own, you need a service like Plex.

At a glance, Plex can seem very complicated and confusing. Its a very unique service, and unlike Netflix or Hulu, it requires a bit of setup and patience.

But the general idea behind Plex is very straightforward; it lets you stream your personal media to any phone, computer, or smart TV. You provide the files, and Plex automatically organizes everything into a clean and easy-to-use interface. Its like building your own streaming service for movies, TV shows, and music. (You can even add unique categories to Plex, like a collection of concert videos, family videos, or sports recordings.)

Plex even offers some advanced features, such as the ability to stream and record antenna TV. And its highly customizable if youre willing to put in the work. Of course, the big selling point is that you can stream Plex from anywhereyou can even share it with friends or family outside your home. (Though some of these features require Plex Pass, which well discuss later.)

I should also mention playlists, which might be my favorite Plex feature. You can throw movies or shows into custom playlists to shuffle them randomly or play them in a specific order. For example, you might make a playlist ofBuffy the Vampire Slayer andAngel, which aired back-to-back and often had overarching plot points or references.

In order to use Plex, you need to set up a Plex Media Server. This is a device that runs the Plex software, handles all your files, and processes video for streaming. You can use the computer that you already own as a Plex Media Server, though I suggest buying a dedicated device that can stay online 24/7, such as an NVIDIA Shield TV Pro, a NAS device, or a small Intel NUC computer.

You dont need to be a rocket scientist to put together a Plex Media Server. The Plex software guides you through this process, and if you follow the instructions correctly, you wont run into any problems. (When people have problems with Plex, its usually a matter ofpoor file organization. Even the most inexperienced computer users can avoid this problem by patiently reading the instructions.)

While Plex is best known for its personal media streaming capabilities, its also an all-in-one platform for your streaming needs. The Plex Discover feature, which was introduced in 2022, allows you to search for content across all streaming service platforms. It can also find specific information about cast and crew, such as the full list of Gene Wilders film credits.

Additionally, Plexprovides a ton of free on-demand content and live TV channels. This ad-supported content is similar to what youll find on Pluto TV or Tubi, but its integrated directly into the Plex app (in a dedicated tab and on your Plex home page.)And yes, you can stream this free content without setting up a Plex Media Server.

Note that these additional features exist tosupplement the Plex experience. Most people treat Plex as a personal streaming service and rarely touch Discover or the free Movies & Shows. If you want to disable these features, you can.

By default, Plex is a free service. The mobile app costs a few dollars, but if you only plan to stream on computers and smart TVs, you can set everything up without spending a dime. This makes it very easy to test Plex. But if you stick with this service, you will eventually sign up for Plex Pass.

A Plex Pass subscription only costs $5 a month, and lifetime memberships regularly go on sale for around $90. That may seem like a lot of money to spend on Plex (after all, youre streaming stuff you already own). But the perks included with Plex Pass are just too goodits absolutely worth the price.

Here are some of my favorite Plex Pass features:

Clearly, Plex Pass is a necessity for anyone who wants to stream Plex outside their home. But it also improves the overall Plex experience. Im not sure how I could live without the ability to skip intros, stream antenna TV, and use the Plexamp music player.

You can learn more about Plex Pass at the Plex website. Note that Ive only listed my favorite Plex Pass featuresthis subscription unlocks plenty more!

Setting up a Plex Media Server can be a daunting task. But as I mentioned earlier, if you follow the instructions, you shouldnt run into any problems. The Plex Media Server software will try to guide you through setup, though you can find a ton of additional resources at the Plex website.

Now, theres no point in rewriting Plexsdetailed installation instructions. But I will give you a gist of what you need (and what you can expect) when setting up a Plex Media Server. Im going to approach this from a beginners perspective, because I want you to test Plex for free before you spend a bunch of money on this stuff.

The above steps will help you test Plex without spending any money on hardware. That said, hardcore Plex users tend to have much more elaborate setups. If you find that you enjoy Plex, I strongly suggest buying an NVIDIA Shield TV Pro or a NAS device for use as your media server. Both options consume very little power and are fairly compact.

And at some point, youll need hard drives to store your growing Plex media library. I suggest buying hard drives that are specifically made for NAS devices, as theyll last a lot longer than typical hard drives. (If youre tempted to use an SSD in your Plex server, dont bother. You wont see any major benefit.)

To be clear, this stuff can get expensive if youre obsessive. But a simple and cheap Plex Media Server might be all you need. Lets say you buy a two-bay NAS device and a 4TB NAS HDDthatll set you back about $250, but youll have enough storage to hold hundreds of movies, TV shows, and albums. Do a bit of math, and $250 is what you might pay for 10 months of Netflix Basic and ad-free Hulu. Plex pays for itself!

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What Is Plex and How Does It Work? - Review Geek

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