Category: Technologies

  • GoldenEye 007 Hits Nintendo Switch, Xbox: How to Play, Fix Switch Controls

    GoldenEye 007 Hits Nintendo Switch, Xbox: How to Play, Fix Switch Controls

    Load up your silenced PP7s and prime those remote mines: GoldenEye 007 is available to play via the Nintendo Switch Online and Xbox Game Pass subscription services. The beloved James Bond first-person shooter originally hit the N64 in 1997, and this is the game’s first rerelease since then.

    Playing GoldenEye 007 on Nintendo Switch

    You’ll need to be subscribed to Switch Online’s $50-a-year Expansion Pack tier to access GoldenEye and other N64 games. Online multiplayer is exclusive to the Switch release, the official 007 website noted, but this version is otherwise the same as the N64 original.

    The default control scheme will likely feel a little weird, but Reddit user Cuesport77 suggested changes that’ll bring it in line with modern shooters. I tested this, and it works beautifully (though I opted to use the left analog stick to move around, right for aiming).

    1. Go to System Settings > Controllers and Sensors > Change Button Assignments.

    2. Create a control profile for GoldenEye.

    3. Remap the left analog stick to function as right analog.

    4. Remap the right analog stick to function as left analog.

    5. Remap ZR button to function as ZL, so you can fire with ZR.

    6. Remap ZL to function as L, so you can manual aim with ZL.

    7. (Optional) Remap L to function as B, so you can activate things with L.

    8. (Optional) Remap R to function as A, so you can switch weapons with R.

    (You will now have to navigate using the right analog stick and either A/B or L/R, depending on whether you followed steps 6 and 7.)

    9. Launch GoldenEye and begin a mission, navigating menus with the right analog stick.

    10. Pause, and go over to Controls.

    11. Switch from 1.1 Honey to 1.2 Solitaire.

    12. Go over to Settings, and turn the Look Up/Down setting to Upright.

    Playing GoldenEye 007 on Xbox

    The Game Pass version is playable on Xbox One and Xbox Series X and S. A subscription costs $10 a month, though people who own a digital copy of Rare Replay, the 30-game compilation of classics that came out in 2015, can also get access to GoldenEye for free. That doesn’t apply to physical copies of Rare Replay, and the game isn’t available to purchase separately.

    “The game now offers modern control options (including support for dual analog sticks) and a consistent refresh rate, running at a native 16:9 resolution up to 4K Ultra HD (where supported),” Craig Duncan, head of Microsoft-owned developer Rare, said in a blog post marking the game’s release. “There’s also a full roster of Xbox achievements to strive for, some of which are sure to test the mettle of proficient 00 Agents.”

    So it offers more modern bells and whistles than the Switch release, but lacks online multiplayer (you’ll still have local splitscreen).

    What’s the big deal about GoldenEye 007?

    GoldenEye’s return was revealed in a Nintendo Direct livestream last September.

    As a licensed tie-in to the 1995 movie that introduced actor Pierce Brosnan as the legendary British secret agent, the game won critical acclaim for its fun single-player campaign and epic split-screen competitive multiplayer. It became the N64’s third bestselling title, with 8.09 million units sold — it was only topped by Super Mario 64 and Mario Kart 64, which sold 11.91 million and 9.87 million copies, respectively.

    Rare also developed GoldenEye followup Perfect Dark for the N64 in 2000, before Microsoft acquired the company in 2002.

    Characters battle in a four-player splitscreen match in GoldenEye 007Characters battle in a four-player splitscreen match in GoldenEye 007

    Prepare to revisit some ’90s splitscreen multiplayer chaos.

    Rare

    Fans have been expecting a remaster for Microsoft’s Xbox Series X and S to be revealed for months, since achievements for it have leaked multiple times. It was reportedly planned for release on Xbox 360 in the late 2010s, and an apparent extended gameplay video appeared in 2016. At the time, Xbox boss Phil Spencer said the game’s licensing rights complicated efforts to get it on the console. The versions that came to Switch and Xbox aren’t remasters, but upscaled versions of the original game.

    Original developer David Doak, whose face was famously used for in-game Bond ally Dr. Doak, expressed both his delight and discontent in a statement to CNET.

    “It is heartwarming and very special to see the outpouring of love and nostalgia for the game, it is amazing to have been part of the team that created something that has touched so many people in a positive way,” he wrote. “Disappointing that none of the parties involved in this re-release have made any attempt to involve that original team in any way. Feels shabby and disingenuous.”

    Doak regularly tweets about the game and engages with fans. Last September, he posted a shot of himselef dressed like his in-game counterpart, and joked that players shouldn’t “come crying” to him if they have trouble unlocking the infamous Invincibility cheat. That’s one of the game’s most difficult challenges — you have to beat the Facility level in under 2 minutes, 5 seconds to get it. He’s spoken at length about the game’s development over the years, and tweeted a 1997 shot of the original development team on Wednesday.

    Read more: GoldenEye at 20: We Raise a Martini to a Classic Game

    This year marks the 70th anniversary of Bond’s first appearance, in author Ian Fleming’s novel Casino Royale. Last year was the 60th anniversary of the Bond movie franchise — with latest film No Time to Die now available to stream on Amazon Prime Video — but the series is in a state of flux as fans await the announcement of Daniel Craig’s successor in the role. Hitman developer IO Interactive is also working on its own Bond game.

  • 11 Hidden iOS 16 Features That Will Make Using Your iPhone So Much Better

    11 Hidden iOS 16 Features That Will Make Using Your iPhone So Much Better

    You might be happy with everything your iPhone can do, but if you’re running iOS 16, your phone is more powerful than you might think. Underneath all the major new features, like unsending text messages and a revamped lock screen, there are lesser known tools and settings that are just as impressive and can help make your day-to-day more efficient, interesting and fun.

    CNET Tech Tips logoCNET Tech Tips logo

    I’m going to walk you through what to know about the best hidden gems in iOS 16, like password-protected photo albums and easily accessible Wi-Fi passwords.

    Read more: All the New Features on iOS 16.3

    And while you’re here, make sure you also brush up on the major new iOS 16 features you’ll love and a few that you might just hate (luckily, there’s a fix).

    View and share saved Wi-Fi passwords

    View and share saved Wi-Fi passwordsApple has allowed iOS users to share Wi-Fi passwords for a while now, but only by placing two Apple devices near each other. And if that feature didn’t automatically work, you couldn’t just dig out the password from your settings. Plus if you wanted to share a saved Wi-Fi password with someone else, like an Android user or someone on a computer, you had to remember the password. Until now.

    In Settings, go to Wi-Fi and tap the tiny information icon to the right of the network you want the password for. To view the network password, tap the Password section and then use Face ID or enter your passcode to view it. You can then tap Copy to copy the password into your clipboard and share it.

    Wi-Fi network settings on iOS 16Wi-Fi network settings on iOS 16

    You can view the password for any Wi-Fi network you’ve ever connected to, as long as you’re currently connected to it or near enough that it appears under My Networks.

    Nelson Aguilar/CNET

    Find and remove duplicate photos and videos

    Maybe you’ve saved the same photo multiple times or downloaded a video more than once, resulting in duplicates littering up your photo album. It may not be a problem if you’ve got storage to spare, but you’re running out of space, you can now remove every single duplicate easily with iOS 16.

    Read more: You Can Finally See Your Saved Wi-Fi Passwords on an iPhone

    In Photos > Albums, you should see a new Duplicates album under Utilities. Apple scans through all of your photos and shows you any photo or video you’ve saved more than once in that album. From there, you can either delete any duplicates, or simply press Merge, which will keep the photo with the highest quality (and relevant data) and then move the others to the trash.

    Duplicates folder in PhotosDuplicates folder in Photos

    Merging will keep the highest quality photo and delete the rest.

    Nelson Aguilar/CNET

    Although you’ll probably want to go through each set of duplicates, to ensure that they’re actually exact copies and not similar photos, you can also hit Select > Select All > Merge to remove every single photo and video that Apple thinks is a duplicate, all at once.

    Hang up a phone or FaceTime call with Siri

    Siri does a lot of things. You can use the virtual assistant to send a text message, get directions or play music — but one thing she’s never been able to do is hang up a phone call. Weird right? Now that’s finally a possibility with iOS 16.

    In Settings, go to Siri & Search and first make sure Listen for “Hey Siri” is toggled on. If it is, you should see a new option underneath — Call Hang Up. Go into that option and toggle on Call Hang Up. When you’re on a phone call or FaceTime video chat, simply say, “Hey, Siri,” and ask her to hang up your current call.

    Hang up call with siriHang up call with siri

    For this to work, Listen for “Hey Siri” must be toggled on first.

    Nelson Aguilar/CNET

    Pair Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons with your iPhone

    Apple has long allowed you to pair third-party controllers, like the PS5 Sony DualSense and Xbox Core Controller, to your iPhone and iPad, in order to more comfortably play mobile video games like the Apple Arcade library, Minecraft and Call of Duty. Now you can add another console controller to that list.

    If you own a Nintendo Switch, you can now pair your Joy-Con controllers to your iPhone or iPad running iOS 16. To start, hold down the little black pairing button on the Joy-Con, until the green lights start running back and forth. This means the device is in pairing mode. Next, open your iPhone and go to Settings > Bluetooth and select the Joy-Con from the list. Repeat this step with the other Joy-Con.

    Now playing:Watch this:iOS 16: Powerful Features You May Have Missed

    6:28

    Hidden and Recently Deleted albums are now password protected

    The Hidden album in the Photos app is clearly not hidden, seeing as anyone can easily find it. That makes it impractical for adequately hiding private photos and videos. While Apple does have an option to make the Hidden album “invisible,” anyone with access to your phone could make it visible again and view everything inside.

    Thanks to iOS 16, you can now lock the Hidden album. You don’t actually need to do anything to toggle this feature on. If you want to check it out, launch the Photos app and go to the Albums tab at the bottom of the screen. If you scroll down, you’ll see a tiny lock next to the Hidden and Recently Deleted albums. To view the contents of those albums, you’ll need to use Face ID or your passcode.

    The Hidden album in PhotosThe Hidden album in Photos

    The Hidden and Recently Deleted albums now require Face ID to be accessed.

    Nelson Aguilar/CNET

    Copy and paste photo and video edits

    If you use the editor tool in the Photos app, you’ll be happy to learn that you can now copy and paste edits, including saturation, contrast and brightness, between photos. If you edit one photo or video and are happy with the look, you can paste those same exact edits to any other photo or video in your camera roll.

    To do this, launch the Photos app and open a photo that’s been edited in full-screen. Next, tap on the three-dot menu in the top-right corner and then hit Copy Edits. This option will only appear if the photo has been edited within Photos, not any third-party photo editor. Finally, go to the photo you want to copy these edits over to, tap on the three-dot menu and then hit Paste Edits. After a second or so, you should see the photo edits appear.

    Copy and paste photo edits on iOS 16Copy and paste photo edits on iOS 16

    This feature works between photos and videos.

    Nelson Aguilar/CNET

    Bring haptic feedback to your keyboard

    The iPhone has long had haptic feedback. It’s what you feel underneath your fingertips whenever you attempt to delete an app from your home screen or enter the incorrect password on your lock screen. Strangely enough, haptic feedback has never been available for the stock iOS keyboard — until now.

    If you want to enable a slight vibration for every single key you type in, go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Keyboard Feedback and toggle on Haptic. The sound option you see is the loud and annoying clacking sound you might hear when you type in something and your phone isn’t on silent mode, so you can keep that disabled.

    Haptic feedback setting for keyboard on iOS 16Haptic feedback setting for keyboard on iOS 16

    Every single time you type, you’ll feel a slight vibration for each key you hit.

    Nelson Aguilar/CNET

    Pin your favorite tabs in Safari

    Safari caps your open tabs at 500, and if you’re nearing that limit, it might be pretty darn hard to find the exact tab you’re looking for. You could scroll endlessly, but there’s now an easier way to find the exact tab you’re looking for.

    In Safari, if you press down on an open tab, you now have the option to hit Pin Tab. This will move that tab to the top of Safari, where it will exist as a tiny tab preview, permanently pinned there, which you can then tap to view. If you press down and unpin a tab, it will move to first in your grid of open tabs.

    Pinning a tab in SafariPinning a tab in Safari

    All your pinned tabs appear at the top of Safari.

    Nelson Aguilar/CNET

    Use Face ID while you’re lying down

    If you’ve ever tried to unlock your iPhone while it’s vertical, like when you’re lying on your side, you might have noticed that it doesn’t work. You have to place your iPhone in portrait orientation, or upright, for Face ID to work. With iOS 16, you can finally use Face ID to unlock your iPhone when it’s in landscape orientation. However, for this to work, you must have an iPhone 13 or 14 running iOS 16.

    Copy your screenshots to your clipboard without saving them

    You don’t need to save a screenshot to your photo album to share it with someone else. A new iOS 16 feature allows you to take a screenshot, copy it to your clipboard, delete it from your phone and paste it where you see fit. After you take a screenshot, tap the screenshot preview that appears, hit Done on the top-right and then tap Copy and Delete to copy the screenshot to your clipboard.

    Copy and Delete feature for screenshots on iOS 16Copy and Delete feature for screenshots on iOS 16

    If you take a lot of screenshots, this feature can help you save storage.

    Nelson Aguilar/CNET

    Remove more preinstalled Apple apps

    Since iOS 10, you’ve been able to remove some preinstalled iOS applications like Stocks, Maps and Calculator — but not all of them. With the release of iOS 16, you can add three more apps to this list of ones you can remove: Find My, Clock and Health. However, deleting these apps can negatively affect and break support with other apps and connected devices, like your Apple Watch.

    For more on iOS 16 and the iPhone, check out the iOS 16 Cheat Sheet.

  • Manchester United vs. Reading Livestream: How to Watch FA Cup Soccer From Anywhere

    Manchester United vs. Reading Livestream: How to Watch FA Cup Soccer From Anywhere

    Manchester United host Championship side Reading on Saturday in this FA Cup fourth round clash, with the Red Devils looking to continue their rapid improvement under coach Eric ten Haag.

    United have been in superb cup form this season, having already eased their way to the knockout phase of the Europa League, and now also have one foot in the EFL Cup final following their midweek 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest in the first leg of the semifinals.

    That match saw in-form Marcus Rashford, new loan signing Wout Weghorst and Portuguese star Bruno Fernandes all get on the scoresheet. It’s unlikely any of the trio will feature here, with ten Haag likely to rotate his starting lineup ahead of a compressed fixture list.

    Saturday’s match will see former Manchester United midfielder and current Reading coach Paul Ince return to Old Trafford with his side currently stuck midtable in the Championship. The Royals come into this clash off the back of a heavy 4-0 league defeat to Stoke last week and, with just one win in five, an FA Cup shock seems unlikely.

    Below, we’ll outline the best live TV streaming services to use to watch the game live, wherever you are in the world.

    Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen looking towards his right.Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen looking towards his right.

    Christian Eriksen could be in line for a start in this FA Cup fourth round match against Championship side Reading.

    Gareth Copley/Getty Images

    Manchester United vs. Reading: When and where?

    Man United hosts Reading at Old Trafford on Saturday, Jan. 28. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. local time in the UK (3 p.m. ET, 12 p.m. PT in the US and Canada, and 7 a.m. AEDT on Jan. 28 in Australia).

    How to watch the Manchester United vs. Reading game online from anywhere using a VPN

    If you find yourself unable to view the game locally, you may need a different way to watch the game — that’s where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN is also the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on game day by encrypting your traffic, and it’s also a great idea if you’re traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network, and you want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins.

    With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the game. Most VPNs, like our Editors’ Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this.

    Using a VPN to watch or stream sports is legal in any country where VPNs are legal, including the US, UK and Canada, as long as you have a legitimate subscription to the service you’re streaming. You should be sure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks: Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it deems to be circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions.

    Looking for other options? Be sure to check out some of the other great VPN deals taking place right now.

    Sarah Tew/CNET

    ExpressVPN is our current best VPN pick for people who want a reliable and safe VPN, and it works on a variety of devices. It’s normally $13 per month, and you can sign up for ExpressVPN and save 49% plus get three months of access for free — the equivalent of $6.67 per month — if you get an annual subscription.

    Note that ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

    Livestream the Manchester United vs. Reading game in the US

    This cup match at Old Trafford is streaming exclusively live in the US on ESPN Plus. Kick-off is at 3 p.m. ET (12 p.m. PT) on Saturday afternoon for viewers in the States.

    ESPN’s standalone streaming service costs $10 a month or $100 for an annual subscription. With it, you’ll be able to watch all of this season’s FA Cup fixtures, including this intriguing match-up at Old Trafford. Read our ESPN Plus review.

    Livestream the Man United vs. Reading game for free in the UK

    The great news for footy fans in the UK is that free-to-air broadcasters the BBC and ITV are sharing live broadcast duties for this season’s FA Cup.

    This fixture is being shown exclusively on ITV4, with coverage starting at 7:15 p.m. GMT ahead of the 8 p.m. kick-off.

    ITV

    With the match being broadcast on ITV4, that also means you’ll also be able to watch the game online for free via the network’s on-demand streaming service, ITVX (formerly ITV Hub).

    The service has an updated new app that’s available for Android and Apple mobile devices, as well as a vast array of smart TVs.

    Livestream Man United vs. Reading game in Canada

    Canadian soccer fans looking to watch this big FA Cup fixture can watch all the action live via Sportsnet, with kickoff at Old Trafford set for 3 p.m. ET (12 p.m. PT) on Friday afternoon.

    Sportsnet is available via most cable operators, but cord-cutters can subscribe to the network’s standalone streaming service SN Now instead, with prices starting at CA$15 per month or CA$150 per year.

    Livestream Manchester United vs. Reading game in Australia

    ViacomCBS now holds the broadcast rights for the FA Cup in Australia, which means you can now watch matches from the tournament live Down Under via streaming service Paramount Plus. You’ll just have to set an alarm for early Sunday morning: kickoff is at 7 a.m. AEDT.

    An Australian Paramount Plus subscription currently costs AU$9 a month, which gives you access to Paramount’s coverage of this year’s tournament, as well as Hollywood movies such as Top Gun: Maverick and original shows like Picard and Tulsa King.

  • Dead Space Remake: 7 Useful Tips for Surviving in Space

    Dead Space Remake: 7 Useful Tips for Surviving in Space

    Dead Space might be the best video game remake ever created. Whether you’re a fan of the series or brand new to the game, the sci-fi survival horror title can be a little tricky.

    The remake of the 2008 game came out Friday, and players are stepping back into the role of Isaac, an engineer who finds himself in the middle of an utter nightmare. Even though the game is 15 years old, developer Motive Studios made some small changes to its formula to create a fresh experience for anyone playing.

    Here are seven tips to survive Dead Space.

    Always go for the limbs

    Multiple characters in the game mention cutting off the limbs of the Necromorphs, the game’s alien bad guys. It can’t be said enough how important this is.

    Shots to the head and body don’t do nearly as much damage as cutting off a limb, making the effort a waste of ammo. Most of the weapons available to Isaac are intended to be used to cut off the extremities, but you have to make sure to target limbs accordingly.

    Use the right weapon on the right enemy

    Speaking of weapons, with so many options, it’s important to know which one is best for the job. Isaac starts off with the Plasma Cutter, ideal for the commonly found Slashers, with their long limbs, or the doglike Lurkers. Isaac’s second weapon, the Plasma Rifle, is perfect for the Exploders, who have a pouch of chemicals attached to them. It takes only a few bullets for the pouch to explode. Since ammunition is limited in Dead Space, picking the right weapon will help prevent you from running out of ammo at the worst time.

    Never forget to stomp

    Necromorphs can take a lot of damage and still move around with only one or two working limbs. Because of this, one way to make sure they’re dead is by stomping on them. Not only does smashing them to bits with Isaac’s boot provide some satisfaction, it’ll also cause an item to drop from the Necromorph. Practically every one will have some useful item on it.

    Use your Stasis

    The Stasis Module is a suit upgrade that lets you slow down an object or enemy. At the start of the game, Isaac can use it just a few times before its depleted, but upgrades to his suit extend the amount available. Though initially Statis is used to get past an out-of-control door, it’s an incredibly helpful tool for dealing with Necromorphs. A shot to an individual or group of enemies will slow them down tremendously, giving you more time to evade attacks, target a limb or run away.

    Use Kinesis to get hard-to-reach items

    Kinesis is another module Isaac acquires early in the game to move obstacles in his way. It can also be used to solve puzzles and to throw pipes and exploding canisters at Necromorphs.

    Kinesis can also be used to grab items. Keep an eye out for the glowing green or white dots on items. Instead of running, or floating, to get them, you can use Kinesis to bring items right to you. There are some items purposely placed out of reach that can be acquired only with Kinesis.

    Don’t let your health get too low

    Isaac’s health is viewable on his back and goes from green to yellow to red as it’s depleted. Since Dead Space is a survival horror game, healing items are hard to come by. The problem is that certain Necromorphs have a grab attack that can immediately kill Isaac if his health is in the red. If it’s that low, make sure to keep some distance from the enemies.

    Save often

    Modern games autosave a player’s progress frequently. Dead Space, however, predates that feature, which means it’s important to save your progress often. There are segments of the game when an autosave happens, but don’t rely on these, or else you’ll risk incurring a setback.

  • Get a Lifetime Subscription to Dollar Flight Club Starting at $40

    Get a Lifetime Subscription to Dollar Flight Club Starting at $40

    Are you itching to travel? Whether you fly frequently or just want to save some money on a particular trip you have in mind, Dollar Flight Club can help budget-conscious ticket-buyers find the best deals to help you travel around the world for less. Flights have grown more expensive, which is why finding more affordable options is so important.

    And now through Feb. 3, you can get DFC access for less. For a one-time fee of $50, you can get a lifetime subscription to Dollar Flight Club’s Premium Plus tier to get alerts about special travel deals and low-cost fares for business, premium economy and economy airline tickets. Or snag the Premium tier for just $40 — for economy seating only. Whichever subscription you go with, you’ll be paying far less than the regular cost of an annual membership.

    We’re all busy these days, so instead of having to hunt down the best fares yourself, Dollar Flight Club will do it for you, making it much easier to book your dream vacation, prepare for a visit to see loved ones or find an excuse to take off for a last-minute weekend getaway.

    As mentioned above, the Dollar Flight Club Premium Plus plan gives you access to savings on flights in business, premium economy and economy seating, and includes both domestic and international deals. (Premium only offers deals for economy seating). Once you sign up and add your home airports, you’ll get instant alerts via email and can book whenever and wherever using the web or the app, which is available on both iOS and Android devices.

    Plus, you can get perks and discounts of up to 50% off from various partners, including Babbel, Acanela Expeditions and Huckberry, as well as access to a variety of travel tips from DFC experts to help you plan your next adventure.

    If high flight prices have been stopping you from booking the vacation of your dreams, now’s a great time to invest in a service that can help you find the best discounts, curated and delivered directly to you.


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  • New iOS Login Tech Makes It Super Hard to Hack Your iCloud

    New iOS Login Tech Makes It Super Hard to Hack Your iCloud

    Apple now lets you protect your Apple ID and iCloud account with hardware security keys, a physical login technology that offers maximum protection from hackers, snoops and identity thieves.

    Hardware security keys are small physical devices that communicate with USB or Lightning ports or with NFC wireless data connections when you’re logging on to a device or in to an account. You must have keys in your possession to use them, so they’re effective at thwarting hackers trying to reach your account remotely. And because they won’t work on fake login sites, they can thwart phishing attacks that try to fool you into typing your password onto a counterfeit website.

    Support for the keys arrived Monday with iOS 16.3 and MacOS 13.2, and on Tuesday, Apple published details on how to use security keys with iPhones, iPads and Macs. The company requires you to set up at least two keys.

    The move follows hardware security key support from other tech companies, like Google, Microsoft, Twitter and Facebook parent Meta. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, or CISA, says security keys are the “gold standard” of multifactor authentication.

    Apple has been working to tighten security in recent months, stung by iPhone breaches involving NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware. Apple’s Advanced Data Protection option arrived in December, giving a stronger encryption option to data stored and synced with iCloud. And in September, Apple added an iPhone Lockdown Mode that includes new guardrails on how your phone works to thwart outside attacks.

    A big caveat, though: Although hardware security keys and the Advanced Data Protection program lock down your account better, they also mean Apple can’t help you recover access.

    “This feature is designed for users who, often due to their public profile, face concerted threats to their online accounts, such as celebrities, journalists, and members of government,” Apple said in a statement. “This takes our two-factor authentication even further, preventing even an advanced attacker from obtaining a user’s second factor in a phishing scam.”

    Industry tightens login security

    The technology is part of an industrywide tightening of authentication procedures. Thousands of data breaches have shown the weaknesses of traditional passwords, and hackers now can thwart common two-factor authentication technologies like security codes sent by text message. Hardware security keys and another approach called passkeys offer peace of mind even when it comes to serious attacks like hackers gaining access to LastPass customers’ password manager files.

    Hardware security keys have been around for years, but the Fast Identity Online (FIDO) Alliance has helped standardize the technology and integrate its use with websites and apps. One big advantage on the web is they’re linked to specific websites, for example Facebook or Twitter, so they thwart phishing attacks that try to get you to log in to fake websites. They’re the foundation for Google’s Advanced Protection Program, too, for those who want maximum security.

    A screenshot of the MacOS enrollment process to use hardware security keys to protect your iCloud accountA screenshot of the MacOS enrollment process to use hardware security keys to protect your iCloud account

    MacOS and iOS let you protect your iCloud account and Apple ID with hardware security keys.

    Screenshot by Stephen Shankland/CNET

    You need to pick the right hardware security keys for your devices. To communicate with relatively new models of both Macs and iPhones, a key that supports USB-C and NFC is a good option. Apple requires you to have two keys, but it isn’t a bad idea to have more in case you lose them. A single key can be used to authenticate to many different devices and services, like your Apple, Google and Microsoft accounts.

    Yubico, the top maker of hardware security keys, announced on Tuesday two new FIDO-certified YubiKey models in its Security Key Series suited for consumers. They both support NFC, but the $29 model has a USB-C connector and the $25 model has an older style USB-A connector.

    The number of Americans hit by data breaches in 2022 increased 42% compared with 2021, the Identity Theft Resource Center said in January. For some advice on online safety, check my colleague Bree Fowler’s tips for improving your online privacy.

    Passcodes and security keys better than passwords

    Google, Microsoft, Apple and other allies are also working to support a different FIDO authentication technology, called passkeys. Passkeys are designed to replace passwords altogether, and they don’t require hardware security keys.

    Passkeys and security keys are complementary, FIDO Alliance Executive Director Andrew Shikiar said in a Wednesday speech at a conference about online identity matters. Either is a big improvement over passwords alone or passwords combined with login codes sent by text message or retrieved from an authenticator app, he said.

    “We need to have a fundamental shift in how people authenticate from something that’s inherently knowledge-based — something you know, something that sits on a server, that’s in your head, that you enter and transmit over a network — to something that’s inherently more possession based,” Shikiar said of the alliance’s push to move away from passwords and login codes.

    With the FIDO technology like passkeys or security keys, the authentication process takes place right where you are, for example with passkey biometrics or hardware security key possession, so it’s much harder for a remote attacker to compromise.

  • What LastPass Subscribers Need to Do After the Latest Breach

    What LastPass Subscribers Need to Do After the Latest Breach

    LastPass, a popular password manager, has suffered a major data breach, compromising customers’ personal information and putting their online passwords at risk.

    In late December, LastPass CEO Karim Toubba acknowledged in a blog post that a security incident the company disclosed in August had eventually led to an unauthorized party stealing customer account information and sensitive vault data. The breach is the latest in a lengthy and troubling string of security incidents involving LastPass that date back to 2011.

    It’s also the most alarming.

    An unauthorized party was able to gain access to unencrypted subscriber account information like LastPass usernames, company names, billing addresses, email addresses, phone numbers and IP addresses, according to Toubba. That same unauthorized party was also able to steal a copy of customer vault data, which includes unencrypted data like website URLs and encrypted data like the usernames and passwords for all the sites customers have stored in their vaults.

    If you’re a LastPass subscriber, the severity of this breach should have you looking for a different password manager, because your passwords and personal data are at serious risk of being exposed.

    What should LastPass subscribers do?

    The company didn’t specify how many users were affected by the breach, and LastPass didn’t respond to CNET’s request for additional comment on the breach. But if you’re a LastPass subscriber, you need to operate under the assumption that your user and vault data are in the hands of an unauthorized party with ill intentions. Though the most sensitive data is encrypted, the problem is that the threat actor can run “brute force” attacks on those stolen local files. LastPass estimates it would take “millions of years” to guess your master password — if you’ve followed its best practices.

    If you haven’t — or if you just want total peace of mind — you’ll need to spend some serious time and effort changing your individual passwords. And while you’re doing that, you’ll probably want to transition away from LastPass, too.

    With that in mind, here’s what you need to do right now if you’re a LastPass subscriber:

    1. Find a new password manager. Given LastPass’ history with security incidents and considering the severity of this latest breach, now’s a better time than ever to seek an alternative.

    2. Change your most important site-level passwords immediately. This includes passwords for anything like online banking, financial records, internal company logins and medical information. Make sure these new passwords are strong and unique.

    3. Change every single one of your other online passwords. It’s a good idea to change your passwords in order of importance here too. Start with changing the passwords to accounts like email and social media profiles, then you can start moving backward to other accounts that may not be as critical.

    4. Enable two-factor authentication wherever possible. Once you’ve changed your passwords, make sure to enable 2FA on any online account that offers it. This will give you an added layer of protection by alerting you and requiring you to authorize each login attempt. That means even if someone ends up obtaining your new password, they shouldn’t be able to gain access to a given site without your secondary authenticating device (typically your phone).

    5. Change your master password. Though this doesn’t change the threat level to the stolen vaults, it’s still prudent to help mitigate the threats of any potential future attack — that is, if you decide you want to stay with LastPass.

    LastPass alternatives to consider

    • Bitwarden: CNET’s top password manager is a highly secure and open-source LastPass alternative. Bitwarden’s free tier allows you to use the password manager across an unlimited number of devices across device types. Read our Bitwarden review.
    • 1Password: Another excellent password manager that works seamlessly across platforms. 1Password doesn’t offer a free tier, but you can try it for free for 14 days.
    • iCloud Keychain: Apple’s built-in password manager for iOS, iPadOS and MacOS devices is an excellent LastPass alternative available to Apple users at no additional cost. iCloud Keychain is secure and easy to set up and use across all of your Apple devices. It even offers a Windows client, too, with support for Chrome and Edge browsers.

    How did it come to this?

    In August 2022, LastPass published a blog post written by Toubba saying that the company “determined that an unauthorized party gained access to portions of the LastPass development environment through a single compromised developer account and took portions of source code and some proprietary LastPass technical information.”

    At the time, Toubba said that the threat was contained after LastPass “engaged a leading cybersecurity and forensics firm” and implemented “enhanced security measures.” But that blog post would be updated several times over the following months as the scope of the breach gradually widened.

    On Sept. 15, Toubba updated the blog post to notify customers that the company’s investigation into the incident had concluded.

    “Our investigation revealed that the threat actor’s activity was limited to a four-day period in August 2022. During this timeframe, the LastPass security team detected the threat actor’s activity and then contained the incident,” Toubba said. “There is no evidence of any threat actor activity beyond the established timeline. We can also confirm that there is no evidence that this incident involved any access to customer data or encrypted password vaults.”

    Toubba assured customers at the time that their passwords and personal data were safe in LastPass’s care.

    However, it turned out that the unauthorized party was indeed ultimately able to access customer data. On Nov. 30, Toubba updated the blog post once again to alert customers that the company “determined that an unauthorized party, using information obtained in the August 2022 incident, was able to gain access to certain elements of our customers’ information.”

    Then, on Dec. 22, Toubba issued a lengthy update to the blog post outlining the unnerving details regarding precisely what customer data the hackers were able to access in the breach. It was then that the full severity of the situation finally came to light and the public found out that LastPass customers’ personal data was in the hands of a threat actor and all of their passwords were at serious risk of being exposed.

    Still, Toubba assured customers who follow LastPass’s best practices for passwords and have the latest default settings enabled that no further action on their part is recommended at this time since their “sensitive vault data, such as usernames and passwords, secure notes, attachments, and form-fill fields, remain safely encrypted based on LastPass’ Zero Knowledge architecture.”

    However, Toubba warned that those who don’t have LastPass’s default settings enabled and don’t follow the password manager’s best practices are at greater risk of having their master passwords cracked. Toubba suggested that those users should consider changing the passwords of the websites they have stored.

    What does all of this mean for LastPass subscribers?

    The initial breach ended up allowing the unauthorized party to access sensitive user account data as well as vault data, which means that LastPass subscribers should be extremely concerned for the integrity of the data they have stored in their vaults and should be questioning LastPass’s capacity to keep their data safe.

    If you’re a LastPass subscriber, an unauthorized party may have access to personal information like your LastPass username, email address, phone number, name and billing address. IP addresses used when accessing LastPass were also exposed in the breach, which means that the unauthorized party could also see the locations from which you used your account. And because LastPass doesn’t encrypt users’ stored website URLs, the unauthorized party can see all of the websites for which you have login information saved with the password manager (even if the passwords themselves are encrypted).

    Information like this gives a potential attacker plenty of ammunition for launching a phishing attack and socially engineering their way to your account passwords. And if you have any password reset links stored that may still be active, an attacker can easily go ahead and create a new password for themselves.

    LastPass says that encrypted vault data like usernames and passwords, secure notes and form-filled data that was stolen remains secured. However, if an attacker were to crack your master password at the time of the breach, they would be able to access all of that information, including all the usernames and passwords to your online accounts. If your master password wasn’t strong enough at the time of the breach, your passwords are especially at risk of being exposed.

    Changing your master password now will, unfortunately, not help solve the issue because the attackers already have a copy of your vault that was encrypted using the master password you had in place at the time of the breach. This means the attackers essentially have an unlimited amount of time to crack that master password. That’s why the safest course of action is a site-by-site password reset for all of your LastPass-stored accounts. Once changed at the site level, that would mean the attackers would be getting your old, outdated passwords if they managed to crack the stolen encrypted vaults.

    For more on staying secure online, here are data privacy tips digital security experts wish you knew and browser settings to change to better guard your information.

  • Apple Watch: 5 ways to check your blood pressure

    Apple Watch: 5 ways to check your blood pressure

    You already know how important it is to monitor your blood pressure on a daily basis if you’re worried about high blood pressure or have hypertension. If you own an Apple Watch ($560 at Best Buy), you already have a good starting point for tracking your blood pressure at home.

    Daily tracking can help you establish a baseline for your version of “normal,” and chart any changes to your levels over time. Work and life stress can cause a spike in your readings, and so can some of the foods you eat. Tracking your blood pressure can also help with early diagnosis and false readings (like if you only have high BP at the doctor’s office), and help you keep an eye on the effects of any new blood pressure medication.

    While at-home monitoring won’t replace a visit to the doctor’s office, it can give you the data you need to know when it’s time to go in.

    The Health app on your Apple Watch is a convenient way to sync your blood pressure data in one place on a device that’s always with you.

    Now playing:Watch this:We tested the Apple Watch EKG against a hospital EKG

    4:28

    The smartwatch isn’t equipped to measure your blood pressure alone, but there are tools and devices you can pair it with it that can — usually wireless monitors that connect to your iPhone ($752 at Amazon) or Apple Watch and come with an arm cuff and their own app. These devices will automatically sync the data with your Apple Watch’s health app.

    Health Tips logoHealth Tips logo

    Here are some ways your Apple Watch can help keep your blood pressure and health in check.

    Blood pressure devices that work with Apple Watch

    These five wireless blood pressure monitors sync to your Apple Watch’s Health app.

    Omron Evolv Wireless Blood Pressure Monitor ($90): This portable monitor takes clinically accurate readings, and has a built-in screen that shows your readings so you don’t have to consult your phone screen each time. The Omron BPM syncs to your Apple watch via the Omron Connect mobile app using Bluetooth.

    omron-bpmomron-bpm
    Omron

    Withings Wireless Blood Pressure Monitor ($100): Provides instant color-coded feedback and creates a chart of all your past measurements for easy tracking in its Health Mate app. You can sync your Withings BPM to your Apple Watch via Bluetooth.

    withings-bpmwithings-bpm
    Withings

    QardioArm Wireless Blood Pressure Monitor ($99) — Geotracks your readings across locations. Measures your systolic and diastolic blood pressure and can detect an irregular heartbeat. You can set up reminders to notify you when it’s time to check your blood pressure. Connect your QardioArm BPM to your Apple Watch via Bluetooth.

    qardio-bpmqardio-bpm
    Qardio

    iHealth Feel Wireless Arm Blood Pressure Monitor ($100) — Offers up to 200 offline readings. Shows your systolic and diastolic blood pressure on the iHealth App and lets you know if your reading is normal or above average. The iHealth blood pressure monitor syncs to your Apple Watch using Bluetooth.

    ihealth-bpmihealth-bpm
    iHealth

    A&D Medical Ultraconnect Wireless Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor ($100) — Has fit and movement sensors designed to ensure your readings are accurate. It can store up to 100 readings in the device and unlimited readings in the A&D Connect app. Connect the blood pressure monitor to your Apple Watch via Bluetooth to monitor your health.

    a-d-bpma-d-bpm
    Amazon

    Control your blood pressure through exercise

    It’s well known that regular exercise can help your heart stay strong and healthy.

    • You can use your Apple Watch to count your steps so you know if you’re hitting your goal.
    • Your watch can track your heart rate with the sensor on the back to help you get fit — you’ll know you’re reaching your goals when your resting heart rate is getting lower.
    • You can track your workouts — the watch offers 12 workouts you can choose from, or you can begin any workout and the watch will automatically detect it.

    While working out, you can easily monitor your heart rate and set up heart-rate thresholds that notify you in case your heart rate is too high or low.

    Keep an eye on your heart rate

    If you monitor your blood pressure regularly, you’ll likely also want to keep tabs on your heart’s health. The Apple Watch 4 has FDA clearance for its an ECG feature that records your heart rate rhythm to detect if you have atrial fibrillation (AFib) or another abnormal heart rhythm.

    You can use the new ECG app (this is the same as EKG, an electrocardiogram) on your watch if you have WatchOS 5.1.2, after setting up the ECG feature in the Health app. We also recommend importing your health records so you can stay on top of any changes.

    Johnson & Johnson is using the Apple Watch in its stroke prevention research to test if an app can quickly diagnose AFib. The watch has already been able to detect irregular heartbeats on some users — it’ll be interesting to see how Apple turns future iterations of the Apple Watch into even more of a medical device.


    Monitor fitness goals without breaking the bank.

    We’ll help you find the best deal on your next smartwatch or fitness tracker.


  • GoldenEye 007 Hits Nintendo Switch, Xbox: How to Play and Fix Switch Controls

    GoldenEye 007 Hits Nintendo Switch, Xbox: How to Play and Fix Switch Controls

    Load up your silenced PP7s and prime those remote mines: GoldenEye 007 is available now on the Nintendo Switch Online and Xbox Game Pass subscription services. The beloved James Bond first-person shooter originally hit the N64 in 1997, and this is the game’s first rerelease since then.

    Playing GoldenEye 007 on Nintendo Switch

    You’ll need to be subscribed to Switch Online’s $50-a-year Expansion Pack tier to access GoldenEye and other N64 games. Online multiplayer is exclusive to the Switch release, the official 007 website noted, but this version is otherwise the same as the N64 original.

    The default control scheme will likely feel a little weird, but Reddit user Cuesport77 suggested changes that’ll bring it in line with modern shooters. I tested this, and it works beautifully (though I opted to use the left analog stick to move around, right for aiming).

    1. Go to System Settings > Controllers and Sensors > Change Button Assignments.

    2. Create a control profile for GoldenEye.

    3. Remap the left analog stick to function as right analog.

    4. Remap the right analog stick to function as left analog.

    5. Remap ZR button to function as ZL, so you can fire with ZR.

    6. Remap ZL to function as L, so you can manual aim with ZL.

    7. (Optional) Remap L to function as B, so you can activate things with L.

    8. (Optional) Remap R to function as A, so you can switch weapons with R.

    (You will now have to navigate using the right analog stick and either A/B or L/R, depending on whether you followed steps 6 and 7.)

    9. Launch GoldenEye and begin a mission, navigating menus with the right analog stick.

    10. Pause, and go over to Controls.

    11. Switch from 1.1 Honey to 1.2 Solitaire.

    12. Go over to Settings, and turn the Look Up/Down setting to Upright.

    Playing GoldenEye 007 on Xbox

    The Game Pass version is playable on Xbox One and Xbox Series X and S. A subscription costs $10 a month, though people who own a digital copy of Rare Replay, the 30-game compilation of classics that came out in 2015, can also get access to GoldenEye for free. That doesn’t apply to physical copies of Rare Replay, and the game isn’t available to purchase separately.

    “The game now offers modern control options (including support for dual analog sticks) and a consistent refresh rate, running at a native 16:9 resolution up to 4K Ultra HD (where supported),” Craig Duncan, head of Microsoft-owned developer Rare, said in a blog post marking the game’s release. “There’s also a full roster of Xbox achievements to strive for, some of which are sure to test the mettle of proficient 00 Agents.”

    So it offers more modern bells and whistles than the Switch release, but lacks online multiplayer (you’ll still have local splitscreen).

    What’s the big deal about GoldenEye 007?

    GoldenEye’s return was revealed in a Nintendo Direct livestream last September.

    As a licensed tie-in to the 1995 movie that introduced actor Pierce Brosnan as the legendary British secret agent, the game won critical acclaim for its fun single-player campaign and epic split-screen competitive multiplayer. It became the N64’s third bestselling title, with 8.09 million units sold — it was only topped by Super Mario 64 and Mario Kart 64, which sold 11.91 million and 9.87 million copies, respectively.

    Rare also developed GoldenEye followup Perfect Dark for the N64 in 2000, before Microsoft acquired the company in 2002.

    Characters battle in a four-player splitscreen match in GoldenEye 007Characters battle in a four-player splitscreen match in GoldenEye 007

    Prepare to revisit some ’90s splitscreen multiplayer chaos.

    Rare

    Fans have been expecting a remaster for Microsoft’s Xbox Series X and S to be revealed for months, since achievements for it have leaked multiple times. It was reportedly planned for release on Xbox 360 in the late 2010s, and an apparent extended gameplay video appeared in 2016. At the time, Xbox boss Phil Spencer said the game’s licensing rights complicated efforts to get it on the console. The versions that came to Switch and Xbox aren’t remasters, but upscaled versions of the original game.

    Original developer David Doak, whose face was famously used for in-game Bond ally Dr. Doak, expressed both his delight and discontent in a statement to CNET.

    “It is heartwarming and very special to see the outpouring of love and nostalgia for the game, it is amazing to have been part of the team that created something that has touched so many people in a positive way,” he wrote. “Disappointing that none of the parties involved in this re-release have made any attempt to involve that original team in any way. Feels shabby and disingenuous.”

    Doak regularly tweets about the game and engages with fans. Last September, he posted a shot of himselef dressed like his in-game counterpart, and joked that players shouldn’t “come crying” to him if they have trouble unlocking the infamous Invincibility cheat. That’s one of the game’s most difficult challenges — you have to beat the Facility level in under 2 minutes, 5 seconds to get it. He’s spoken at length about the game’s development over the years, and tweeted a 1997 shot of the original development team on Wednesday.

    Read more: GoldenEye at 20: We Raise a Martini to a Classic Game

    This year marks the 70th anniversary of Bond’s first appearance, in author Ian Fleming’s novel Casino Royale. Last year was the 60th anniversary of the Bond movie franchise — with latest film No Time to Die now available to stream on Amazon Prime Video — but the series is in a state of flux as fans await the announcement of Daniel Craig’s successor in the role. Hitman developer IO Interactive is also working on its own Bond game.

  • No Internet? That’s Fine, You Can Still Use Google Maps on Your Phone

    No Internet? That’s Fine, You Can Still Use Google Maps on Your Phone

    A couple weeks ago, my friends and I got lost while driving back to our cabin in Mariposa, near Yosemite National Park. A major snowstorm had just swept through the Sierra Nevada mountain range, and so many busy highways, streets and smaller roads were shut down. We wanted to save time on our drive, so we decided to take a shortcut (bad decision) — and of course we soon realized we were heading the wrong way. To top it off, none of us had service, so we couldn’t even use Google Maps to find our way back.

    Don’t miss: Google Maps Cheat Sheet: The Most Useful Tricks You Need to Know

    Eventually, after hours of trying different roads, we managed to get to our cabin, but we could have avoided all that trouble by simply downloading Google Maps offline (and also by not taking that “shortcut”). Even without internet service, Google Maps can still help you navigate where you need to go — you just have to download the correct map.

    CNET Tech Tips logoCNET Tech Tips logo

    If you’re planning a trip somewhere you may not have internet service, you should download a map (or several) offline on Google Maps. Here’s what you need to know.

    Want to check out other Google Maps tips and tricks? Check out how to blur your house on Google Maps and three new Google Maps features you’ll definitely want to know about.

    How to download Google Maps offline

    First off, you don’t need to download Google Maps in its entirety. Instead, before your trip, you’ll want to download a specific area, which could be a city, county or region where you’ll be spending time and might not have service on your phone.

    To download a map in Google Maps offline, open the Google Maps application on iOS or Android and tap your profile picture on the top right (you must be logged in to your Google account for this to work). In the menu that appears, tap Offline maps > Select Your Own Map.

    Offline maps feature in Google MapsOffline maps feature in Google Maps

    You can download multiple Google Maps areas offline.

    Nelson Aguilar/CNET

    Use your fingers to place the map you want to download within the confines of the rectangle border. Use one finger to move across the map, and a two-finger pinch to zoom in and out. As you move around the map, you’ll see how much storage space the download will take up on your phone. Once you’re happy with the area, tap Download.

    Note: Alternatively, you can type a city or other area into Google Maps and then hit the Download button that appears in the pull-up window to download the map offline, but this only works on the iPhone.

    You must be connected to Wi-Fi to download the map. If you want to download over cellular, go to the Offline maps page, tap the gear icon on the top right, tap When to download offline maps and select Over Wi-Fi or mobile network. Once your map is downloaded, you’ll be sent back to the Offline maps page, where you can see all your offline maps.

    Choosing the map you want to download offline in Google MapsChoosing the map you want to download offline in Google Maps

    You can only download a map that’s a maximum 250 MB (what will appear in the selected map as roughly the size of Maine).

    Nelson Aguilar/CNET

    Now you’ll be able to use Google Maps even when you’re offline in the area you downloaded — and in that area only. You won’t get extremely accurate travel times or alternate route options because traffic and other road issues are not accounted for, but you will get a general ballpark of how long your trip should take. Transit, bicycling and walking directions are also not available offline — only driving directions.

    Using Google Maps offlineUsing Google Maps offline

    You’ll know you’re using your offline map when you see a little cloud icon with a line through it in Google Maps.

    Nelson Aguilar/CNET

    If you want more tips on Google in general, make sure to read which Google Home settings you need to change ASAP and this deep dive on Google’s Pixel 7 and the settings you should customize.