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    in Information Technology

    Update Chrome and Firefox now to patch these critical security flaws

    ZDNETWhether you use Chrome, Firefox, or both, it’s time once again to update the browser to stay safe and secure while surfing the web. Released on Tuesday, the latest round of bug fixes for both programs resolves a number of nasty security flaws. Also: The best secure browsers for privacy Chrome users Chrome users will want to update the browser to version 31.0.6778.264/265 for Windows and Mac and version 131.0.6778.264 for Linux. This update includes fixes for four security vulnerabilities. The only flaw on the list that Google described is one for which the company paid $55,000 to the security researcher who discovered and reported it, a sign that it is critical. Known as CVE-2025-0291, this vulnerability cites a Type Confusion in Chrome’s V8 JavaScript engine. This kind of flaw could allow someone to remotely run malicious code through a specially crafted HTML page or even launch a Denial of Service attack on your computer. Also: How a Chrome extension malware scare ruined my dayIn squashing the other bugs, Google pointed to fixes based on internal audits, a software testing technique known as fuzzing, and other initiatives. The company said that many security flaws are found using such tools and techniques as AddressSanitizer, MemorySanitizer, UndefinedBehaviorSanitizer, Control Flow Integrity, libFuzzer, or AFL. Firefox users On the Firefox front, version 134 of Mozilla’s browser includes fixes for 11 security vulnerabilities, three of which are rated high and the rest as moderate. One high-severity flaw known as CVE-2025-0244 affects Firefox on Android devices. The description for this one says that an attacker could spoof the browser’s address bar by redirecting the request to an invalid protocol, thereby directing you to a phony URL. Also: How to protect yourself from phishing attacks in Chrome and FirefoxThe other two severe vulnerabilities affect both Firefox and Mozilla’s Thunderbird email client. Dubbed CVE-2025-0242 and CVE-2025-0247, respectively, these were both described by Google as memory safety bugs that showed evidence of memory corruption. Such bugs could allow a remote attacker to read or write code beyond the usual regions of memory. “We presume that with enough effort some of these could have been exploited to run arbitrary code,” Google added. With these critical security flaws in mind, you’ll want to update the browsers ASAP. More

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    in Robotics

    The best audio gear of CES 2025: Headphones, sound systems, and turntables to watch

    Jada Jones/ZDNETThe second day of CES 2025 has officially begun, and companies from all over are showcasing their best audio products. So far, we’ve seen over-ear headphones, open-ear earbuds, wireless home audio systems, and more. Some products are available for purchase now, while others will hit the shelves later this year.Also: CES 2025: The 13 most impressive products so farNo matter what kind of audio gear you’re looking to pick up this year, CES 2025 has something for everyone. Here are the highlights we’ve seen so far.1. Hisense HT SaturnBest home audio system of CES 2025 More

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    in Robotics

    The best smart home tech of CES 2025

    ZDNETThe Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas is the place to be if you want to learn about new smart home devices. While many of the devices showcased at CES are years away from reaching the market, 2025 has delivered some of the best smart home tech actually coming to physical and virtual store shelves this year.Also: CES 2025: The 13 most impressive products so farAs ZDNET’s smart home reviewer, I’ve been walking the trade show floors in search of the best products released this year. But dozens of outstanding smart home devices have made this the hardest year to narrow down the list. Read on to find my picks for the best smart home tech at CES 2025.1. Roborock Saros Z70Best robot vacuum at CES 2025 More

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    in Robotics

    I traveled 70,000+ miles last year for work – here’s what’s in my bag

    SJVN/ZDNETI travel a lot for business. How much is a lot? Last year, I flew more than 70,000 miles and attended technical and business conferences in Hong Kong, Seoul, Seattle, San Francisco, Paris, Berlin, Vienna, New York City, and Atlanta. Along the way, I earned  Diamond status on Delta, Platinum on Marriott Envoy, and Diamond on Hilton. I’ll travel at least that much this coming year.Also: CES 2025: The 13 most impressive products so farWhen you do this kind of business travel, you soon realize that besides watching your airline and hotel points carefully, you need to carry exactly what you need in your laptop bag — and not one thing more.Here’s what’s in my kit and alternatives, depending on exactly what I’ll be doing on any given trip.Laptop bagHeritage Travelware 16-inch Laptop Portfolio More

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    in Robotics

    Autonomous businesses will be powered by AI agents

    Accenture/ZDNETResearch from 2025 finds that 77% of executives believe unlocking the true benefits of AI will only be possible when it is built on a foundation of trust, according to the Accenture Technology Vision 2025 report.The Accenture Technology Vision 2025 explores how the future is being shaped by AI-powered autonomy. As adoption of AI accelerates across all businesses and society at a rate faster than any prior technology, 69% of executives believe AI brings new urgency to reinvention and how technology systems and the processes it enables are designed, built, and operated. The ripple effect of AI and its impact will be felt across multiple dimensions, including technology development, customer experience, the physical world, and the workforce. Also: AI agents might be the new workforce, but they still need a managerAccenture identifies four key emerging trends in AI, autonomy, and trust, focused on the following: what happens when AI acts autonomously at the center of enterprise technology, speaks on behalf of your brand, inhabits robotic bodies, and collaborates on behalf of employees.The Binary Big Bang: When AI expands exponentially, systems are upended – As generative AI becomes central to enterprise tech, development costs plummet, new systems abound, and digital agents gain autonomy — transforming applications as we know them.Your Face, in the Future: Differentiating when every interface looks the same – AI agents can personalize customer interactions at scale, but brands must protect their unique voice to avoid becoming generic.When LLMs Get Their Bodies: How foundation models reinvent robotics – Robots with embedded LLMs have generalist versatility, enabling them to take on new tasks in human spaces beyond today’s highly programmed use cases.The New Learning Loop: How people and AI are defining a virtuous cycle of learning, leading, and creating – When generative AI is diffused through an organization, every employee has the full power of their organization behind them, which expands the autonomy of both people and AI over time. More

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    in Robotics

    AI transformation is a double-edged sword. Here’s how to avoid the risks

    ZDNETA new year means a fresh focus on IT investments. Tech analyst Gartner predicts worldwide IT spending will hit $5.74 trillion in 2025, an increase of 9.3% from 2024. The analyst says explorations into generative AI (Gen AI) will help drive this rise.How to use ChatGPT to write: Resumes | Excel formulas | Essays | Cover letters Most of us will have dabbled with Gen AI by now. Whether polishing text, creating photos, or generating code, the technology’s capabilities can feel like magic.You got to prove your hypothesisHowever, James Fleming, CIO at the Francis Crick Institute, is one digital leader who isn’t letting his organization get carried away by the hype.He told ZDNET that using emerging technologies to power revolutionary scientific discoveries isn’t straightforward. This challenge means the rise of Gen AI has not led to a major shift in working methods at his world-leading research organization.Also: Your AI transformation depends on these 5 business tactics”Doing scientific AI, as opposed to creating publicly available large language models, is quite a different discipline. You’re operating in a tightly bounded scientific world where you’ve got to prove your hypothesis,” he said.”It’s not good enough to say that you’ve thrown a model out there that’s almost right. Most of the time, it’s got to be exactly right under certain conditions. And you’ve got to demonstrate that you’re basing your work on a fundamental understanding.” More

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    in Robotics

    Reolink debuts next-gen home security options with 24/7 battery recording

    Reolink Home security cam company Reolink has announced the launch of its new 16-megapixel Wi-Fi camera at CES 2025 and a series of battery-powered models designed for 24/7 continuous recording on a single charge. Also: CES 2025: The 12 most impressive products so far Elevating UHD surveillance to 16MP As the latest addition to Reolink’s 16MP series, the […] More