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Friday, August 7, 2020

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The forthcoming Walmart Plus membership is poised to improve your online and in-store shopping experience, though we're still waiting for the official launch date.

America's largest retailer is still teasing a 'coming soon' landing page for its money-saving subscription service, and it's reportedly been delayed several times already.

What is Walmart Plus – which is being stylized as Walmart+ – and how closely will it compare to Amazon Prime? We're here to explain the annual membership service.

The Walmart Plus price is expected to be a bargain: $98 a year, according to Recode, which gave us news about the Walmart release date delay. It was March or April, then July, and now there's no date attached to Walmart Plus.

Whenever it does arrive, Walmart is poised to have the first truly competitive service to Amazon. Here's what we know about Walmart Plus so far.

Walmart Plus release date

There's good reason to think that the Walmart Plus release date is in either August or September. After all, the official website says the membership service is 'coming soon'.

Walmart also likely wants to arrive before Amazon Prime Day, which is reportedly shifting to October. The reason for delaying the Walmart Plus release date? There's nothing official from the company, but it may not be the right time to roll out a glitzy new service while the US deals with Coiv-19 and supply chain for essential goods remains strained and recovering.

Walmart Plus price

The Walmart Plus price is $98 annually, according to Recode. That's less than Prime, which costs $119 annually – savings of $21 every year. Walmart Plus benefits have pros and cons, according to the early details. Let's review them.

Here's what's similar: Walmart Plus is said to include same-day deliveries and access to early product deals. So far, deliveries and online deals may not be very different between the two services.

However, Walmart Plus is expected to have more in-store perks due to owning close to 5,000 stores across the US. This includes discounts on gas and being able to go into a members-only Scan & Go checkout line. It may save you time and money.

If true, the Walmart Plus loyalty program would undercut the 15-year-old Amazon Prime subscription and come with brand new benefits, only forgoing Prime Video, Prime Music and Prime Kindle equivalents, as far as we can tell.

The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has made grocery deliveries from Amazon Prime Fresh and Walmart Groceries invaluable to families across the US, and having same-day delivery attached to Walmart's service may be the biggest perk of Walmart Plus.

Walmart Plus vs Amazon Prime

The Walmart Plus vs Amazon Prime comparison is 15 years in the making, as we've been waiting to see someone challenge the Jeff Bezos-owned company. Walmart is the only chain big enough to take on Amazon, it seems. Others, including Google have tried and failed over the years.

Amazon Prime launched in 2005 and has grown to 150 million members globally in those 15 years. On the back of that, the online retailer has been able to generate a valuation of $1.5 trillion, according to Recode. Walmart sits at just $337 billion.

Yet Walmart remains the bigger overall revenue driver and largest US employer with an unmatched brick-and-mortar retail operation. Walmart Plus would mark a major shift in its lagging online and delivery strategy.

There are many questions that remain: will Walmart Plus be able to serve everyone nationwide? Walmart is notoriously not in New York City, but Amazon-owned Whole Foods is, so we're eager to here about those same-day delivery routes across the US.

Also, Walmart sold off its video streaming service Vudu to Fandango in early 2020, meaning Walmart Plus may launch without going toe-to-toe with Amazon's Prime Video service, which is conveniently rolled into the Prime subscription package. In terms of added perks, both services don't have exactly equal features.

We'll update this page when the Walmart Plus launch date is announced. For now, though, Prime has a 'run of the store', if you will, with its unmatched subscription.

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MotoGP is in Brno this weekend as Yamaha's Fabio Quartararo looks to extend his lead in the Riders' Championship with a third straight win. Even in the absence of Marc Marquez - recovering from a second operation on the arm injury he suffered in Jerez's Spanish GP - the dramatic turns and wildly varying elevation of the Masaryk Circuit will be a big challenge for Quartararo as he looks to prove his title credentials. Don't miss a single lap with the help of our guide - here's how to watch today's Czech Grand Prix and get a MotoGP Brno live stream, wherever you are right now.

MotoGP Brno: Czech Grand Prix 2020

The MotoGP Czech Grand Prix takes place at the Masaryk Circuit in Brno on Sunday, August 9 - starting at 2pm local time (CEST). That makes it a 1pm BST start forfans watching from the UK and an 8am ET flag for those in the US. Qualifying action starts at 2.10pm CEST/1.10pm BST/8.10am ET this Saturday - and you can get your local MotoGP live streaming coverage easily, simply by grabbing a great value VPN.

So far, Yamaha's flying Frenchman leads the pack - despite it only being his second year competing at the highest level of the sport. He chalked up successive victories in Jerez ahead of the rest week, and now moves on to this weekend's MotoGP Brno race, where another golden opportunity to take his career to the next level awaits.

As we've said, that's party due to the fact that Sunday's MotoGP Brno race will be run without defending world champion, Marc Marquez. The sport's biggest star is currently a doubt to be able to mount a title defence, let alone compete this week, after suffering a major arm injury on a brutal high side crash in the season-opening Spanish GP.

There's still MotoGP history waiting to be made this weekend, though, as Quartararo's Yamaha teammate Valentino Rossi could become the first rider to earn 200 podium finishes at the pinnacle of motorcycle racing. With this amount of drama in store, why wait? Read on as we explain how to watch a MotoGP Brno live stream for today's qualifying action - and Sunday's Czech Grand Prix itself.

MotoGP Brno 2020: Czech Grand Prix schedule and start times

Qualifying: Saturday, August 8 - MotoGP Czech qualifying - 2.10pm CEST, 1.10pm BST
Sunday 9th August 2020 Warm Up: 9.20am CEST, 8.40am BST, 3.40am ET
Moto3: 11am CEST, 10am BST, 5am ET
Moto2: 12.20pm CEST, 11.20am BST, 6.20am ET
MotoGP Brno Czech Grand Prix: 2 00pm CEST, 1.00pm BST, 8am ET

How to watch a MotoGP Brno 2020 live stream from abroad

To see how you can live stream the MotoGP action in the UK, Australia, the US, Canada and New Zealand, read on further down this page to see the broadcast options. But if you want to stream the riding from outside your country, you may find that it's geo-blocked.

That's where a VPN can come in really handy. It's a piece of software readily available to download and install that allows you to simulate the IP address on your laptop (or mobile phone, tablet, streaming device, console, etc) so that it appears to be in a completely different country. Ideal, assuming that it doesn't breach any Ts&Cs from the broadcaster you're trying to tune in to.

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More MotoGP: how to watch a MotoGP live stream for every race

2020 MotoGP Brno live stream: how to watch MotoGP Czech Grand Prix in the UK

BT Sport will be showing all the action this year live on TV on BT Sport 2. Subscribers can watch BT Sport online, either directly through its website or by using the BT Sport app - available for iOS and Android as well as on consoles, Apple TV, Now TV devices, and select Samsung smart TVs.

For those who don't want the commitment or cost of a full-fat BT Sport subscription, there's now a BT Sport Monthly Pass option, which let's you pay £25 and cancel whenever you want.

Practice sessions will go on air just before the start times listed above, with coverage of MotoGP Czech Republic qualifying set to begin at 11am BST on Saturday, August 8th ahead of 1.10pm BST start. Coverage of the Czech Republic GP on Sunday starts with the warm ups from 7.15am, with the main event scheduled for 12.30pm ahead of a 1pm start.

If you're BT Sport subscriber but find yourself outside the UK this Sunday then you'll need to download a VPN and follow the instructions above to live stream the action.

More motorsport: how to get an F1 live stream

How to watch MotoGP Brno 2020: live stream the Czech GP in the US

For US race fans, it's NBC Sports and NBC which will be showing all the action from Brno. So if you have that on cable already, you're all set and can watch via the network's website - just log-in with details of your TV provider. The Czech GP is set to begin at 8am ET/5am PT Sunday.

Cord-cutters can watch NBCSN on Sling TV, where it's available as part of the over-the-top service's Blue bundle. You can even try a FREE Sling trial that will let you watch this week's race without paying a penny, if you play your cards right.

Out of the US and want to watch your home coverage? No worries - just use a VPN as described above to stream all the action just like you would back in the Land of the Free.

How to watch MotoGP Czech Republic: live stream the Brno race

You're in luck, Australia, as the Brno MotoGP is set to be streamed on Network 10 and Fox Sports. So hopefully, there's an option in there that's either already paid for by your current subscription - or one that you can get access to easily.

Network 10 is your best bet if you don't have a fancy pay TV package, as it's airing MotoGP qualifying (Saturday, 10.10pm AEST) and the Czech Grand Prix (Sunday, 10pm) live for free. For practices, though, you'll need a Fox Sports subscription.

Both offer apps and streaming platforms for a range of popular devics, so you shouldn't miss a second of the action, no matter where you are at race time - although you'll need a VPN if you want to watch your home coverage outside of Australia.

motogp brno 2020 live stream Czech grand prix

MotoGP Brno live stream: how to watch the Czech Grand Prix in Canada

Canadians can enjoy the motorbike racing action on beIN Sports which has the rights to the races for 2020. The race is set to begin at 8am ET on Sunday, with qualifying starting at 8.10am on Saturday. That's an early start on Canada's opposite coast - 5am and 5.10am Mountain Time, respectively.

For those travelling, you can use a VPN to change your virtual location and still enjoy the race as if you were back in Canada.

How to get a MotoGP Brno live stream in New Zealand

In New Zealand it's Sky Sport that has bagged the rights to show all the 2020 MotoGP live, including this weekend's action from the Czech Republic.

Kiwi motor racing fans have a late night ahead of them, though, as the Brno Grand Prix is set to begin at 12am NZST in the early hours of Monday morning - and qualifying starts at 12.10am on Saturday night/Sunday morning.

And remember, you can take your coverage with you wherever you are in the world simply by using a VPN.

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This Saturday marks the 111st edition of the Milan-San Remo cycling race, as the best UCI WorldTour riders all vie for glory in the longest of cycling's five historic Monument races. Usually known as the La Classicissima di Primavera because it's held in Spring, the global Covid-19 sporting shutdown means it's now taking place in Italy's sweltering August heat - temperatures around Milan being expected to comfortably clear 33°C, or at least 90°F. Who will triumph under such sweltering conditions? Follow our guide to get a Milan-San Remo live stream and watch today's WorldTour 2020 cycling race online wherever you are.

Milan-San Remo 2020

Milan-San Remo is a one-day UCI WorldTour race taking place on Saturday, August 8, with action starting in Milan around 11am local time (CEST), which is 10am BST in the UK and 5am ET/2am PT in the US. It's being live stream all over the world - including for FREE. Grab a headstart with this great VPN deal, which will ensure you can watch your home country coverage wherever you are in the world today.

Measuring 299km in total, it's the longest one-day race in road cycling. This 2020 Milan-San Remo route will differ from previous years, however, taking in more inland scenery after organisers made changes deemed necessary due to the coronavirus. In fact, only the last 40km of the regular route remain - the iconic closing 40km stretch along the Via Roma..

In terms of favourites, all eyes are on Deceuninck-QuickStep rider Julian Alaphilippe, as the Frenchman aims to defend his 2019 Milan-San Remo victory - and amend for his Strade Bianche misfortunes, which saw his repeat challenge there derailed by six tyre punctures. Instead, Belgian cycling Wout van Aert took the Strade Bianche crown and is also fancied in today's Classic.

Equally, Lotto Soudal pair Caleb Ewan and Philippe Gilbert are both strongly tipped for glory in this year's race, with Belgian WorldTour star Gilbert looking to win the last remaining race of cycling's five Monuments that has so far eluded him.

Who will prevail? There's only one way to know for sure. Read on for all the details of how to watch a Milan-San Remo live stream and catch all the UCI WorldTour cycling action online today.

How to watch a Milan-San Remo live stream from abroad

If you want to watch Milan-San Remp 2020 but find yourself away from home when it airs, it will probably mean you're unable to access your usual WorldTour cycling live stream.

This is because of geo-blocking restrictions, but we're pleased to say we can offer assistance in the form of a software recommendation - a VPN or Virtual Private Network being the only bit of kit you need to free yourself from such galling digital borders.

If you follow our expert advice - all of which is based on extensive, hands on testing - you'll find they're actually quite cheap, remarkably simple to use, and capable of way more than you thought they were. Here's where to get started.

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How to get a FREE Milan-San Remo live stream in Italy and Europe

Good news! Today's Milan-San Remo race is being shown absolutely FREE of charge on Italian national TV, where RAI be airing the race and live streaming Milan-San Remo 2020 coverage on its website from 11am local time (CEST).

Yup, that means anyone located in Italy can stream all the wheel spinning goodness, on whatever device they're using, and watch it without paying a penny. All courtesy of RaiPlay! The catch? Well, all the commentary will be in Italian, so dust off that Lonely Planet phrase book and prepare to expand your foreign language skills beyond basic menu translations.

Or, if that doesn't sound like something you'd enjoy, there's plenty of other coverage around the world, including in English. The choice is yours - just remember that by grabbing a 100% RISK-FREE ExpressVPN trial, you can significantly expand your live streaming options when you're away from home.

Other European streaming options for Saturday's Milan-San Remo race include VTM and RTBF in Belgium, and on L'Equipe TV in France.

How to watch Milan-San Remo 2020: live stream today's WorldTour race in the UK

For UK residents, Milan-San Remo is getting the Eurosport treatment that cycling competitions usually enjoy in the country. Coverage starts at 2.45pm BST on Saturday, August 8 - just when the race will be getting interesting following its 10am BST start.

Eurosport is available with basic Sky TV packages or via a Eurosport Player monthly (£9.99) or annual pass (£39.99).

Doing abroad? Save yourself some hassle by grabbing a VPN in advance so you can use the same streaming service you would at home.

How to watch Milan-San Remo 2020: US live stream details

The Strade Bianche 2020 will get coverage on good old Fubo TV in the US.

Fubo is a sports-focused streaming solution that lets you subscribe for what you want, leave what you don't, and stop when you're done – ideal for these kind of events and 2020's unpredictable landscape in general.

Since Fubo is app-powered and delivered over the internet, you can watch it on lots of different devices. including smartphones, tablets, Smart TVs and streaming boxes. So wherever you are, you shouldn't miss a second of the action.

The race is expected to start at 7.45am ET/4.45am PT in the US.

How to watch Milan-San Remo 2020: live stream cycling in Australia

This year, all you lucky Australians will get Eurosport's coverage of Milan-San Remo as well - but only if you're a Foxtel subscriber on cable...or take our recommendation and head straight for Eurosport's regional streaming service.

That's all there is to it Down Under - unless you're away on holiday or business, of course. If that's the case, consider trying out a good VPN so you can travel knowing you'll be able to watch all the same content and streaming services you would back home.

Milan-San Remo live stream 2020: how to watch the race online in Canada.

Canadians will be able to get in on the Strade Bianche 2020 action much in the same way as their US neighbours can. That means Fubo.TV access , where the event will be streamed to whatever device you're using.

That's it. Pretty easy, huh?

And just like in the US, it's set to get under way from 7.45am ET/4.45am MT (or PT, if you prefer).

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TikTok is preparing advertisers for a possible ban of its app in the United States, ad buyers said, offering refunds for ad campaigns that are unable to run.

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US President Donald Trump’s ban on transactions using popular Chinese messaging app WeChat will cut ties to families and friends in China, millions of users in the United States fear, as they become the latest casualties in the standoff between the two nations.

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Nokia's new chief executive Pekka Lundmark said he will take time to re-acquaint himself with the Finnish telecom equipment maker before setting a strategy, as the company jostles for position in the highly political 5G race.

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The US bans on Chinese apps TikTok and WeChat are not particularly valuable for US security, experts told AFP Friday, but could step up broader commercial pressure on Beijing and help President Donald Trump appear tough as he seeks reelection.

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Mike Tyson going under, says shark who'll fight him during Shark Week - CNET

An exclusive, gloves-off fin-terview with the shark who'll battle boxer Iron Mike during Discovery Channel's Shark Week.

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The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 line has been unveiled, and consumers have two choices: the baseline Galaxy Note 20 versus the top-specced (and top-priced) Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. So what’s the difference?

This simplifies things a bit, as either Note 20 option caters to a more specific consumer demographic than the three-phone Galaxy S20 line. Do you want a stylus-packing handset and won’t miss a few features to ensure a cheaper price? Go for the standard Note 20. Do you want an absolute top-of-the-line device with the best appearance? Pick up the Note 20 Ultra.

But it’s worth discretely comparing both options to understand what you’re giving up in the Note 20 and what you’re paying extra to get in the Note 20 Ultra.

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra vs Galaxy Note 20 price and release date

Both the Note 20 and the Note 20 Ultra were announced on August 5, 2020, and will be available around the world on August 21.

The 5G Note 20 starts at £949 / AU$1,649 in the UK and Australia with 256GB of storage, while the baseline version in the US costs $999 and packs 128GB of space. The Note 20 is also available in a 4G-only version for £849 / AU$1,499, but will only be sold in the UK and Australia.

As the lower-cost model, the Note 20 gets the more fun colors, including the experimental flagship hue of this cycle, Mystic Bronze, along with Mystic Green and Mystic Grey.

The 5G Note 20 Ultra is notably pricier, starting at $1,299 / £1,179 / AU$1,849 for the baseline model – which gets you 128GB of storage in the US and 256GB of storage in the UK and Australia (and 12GB of RAM in all regions). Bumping the space to 512GB ups the price to $1,449 / £1,279 / AU$2,199. Finally, Australians have the option of buying a cheaper 4G-only option for AU$1,849, but that model isn’t available elsewhere.

The Note 20 Ultra comes in a more premium color set of Mystic Bronze, Mystic Black and Mystic White.

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra vs Galaxy Note 20 design

The Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra may look very similar, but they surprisingly diverge in material quality.

The base Note 20, for instance, has a flat front display and a polycarbonate back cover, making it the first flagship in years that lacks a glass rear. The material has a brushed effect, which Samsung calls ‘glasstic,’ which gives it a ceramic feel.

The Note 20 Ultra is glass front-and-back, with the curved ‘Infinity’ display that’s characteristic of Samsung flagships. It’s the larger of the two phones by a few millimeters in length and width, nearly matching the older Note 10 Plus in size, with a colossal 6.9-inch display. The phone is just a hair shorter and thinner than the S20 Ultra.

In both models, the S Pen has been moved to the left side of the bottom edge, but pops out in the usual manner. The pen has improved latency from 45ms in the Note 10 down to 9ms in the Note 20 phones.

The USB-C port is in the center of the bottom edge of both phones, with a speaker on the left side and microphone on the right.

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra vs Galaxy Note 20 display

Given that both phones diverge in build quality, it’s not surprising that the displays differ, too.

The Note 20’s 6.7-inch display is only Full HD (2400 x 1080), which shouldn’t surprise anyone – we saw the same corner-cutting when Samsung dropped the resolution on the base Galaxy Note 10 model. The screen also has a maximum 60Hz refresh rate, which is lower than most other flagship phones on the market but the iPhone 11 Pro series.

Samsung saved the prestige touches for the Note 20 Ultra, but they’re essentially the same as those on the Note 10 Plus, save for a 0.1-inch increase for a WQHD Plus resolution (3088 x 1440).

This makes it a slightly odd 19.3:9 ratio, unlike its predecessor’s 19:9 format. The Note 20 Ultra does pack a 120Hz refresh rate display, which is an upgrade on the Note 10 Plus.

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra vs Galaxy Note 20 cameras

The differences between the Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra’s camera arrays match those on the Galaxy S20 and Galaxy S20 Ultra, respectively, at least in megapixel count. There are a few differences and improvements.

The baseline Note 20 packs a 12MP main shooter with a 1/1.76-inch sensor size, a 64MP telephoto lens with a 3x hybrid optical zoom that reaches a maximum 30x digital zoom, and a 12MP ultrawide camera. There’s also a front-facing 10MP camera located in a centered punch-hole at the top end of the display. Again, these cameras aren’t much different than those in the Galaxy S20.

Likewise, the Note 20 Ultra inherits the S20 Ultra’s photo hardware: a 108MP main shooter with a 1/1.33-inch sensor size, a 12MP periscope telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom, and a 12MP ultrawide camera. It also has a 10MP front-facing camera.

The Note 20 Ultra phone has two big differences from the previous Ultra phone – first, that its digital zoom only goes up to 50x, which isn’t a huge loss as we weren’t using the S20 Ultra’s 100x ‘Space Zoom’ at its blurry maximum anyway, and a new laser autofocus that Samsung claims allows the camera to swiftly switch focus between depth levels.

Both phones shoot 8K video at 24fps, as did the S20 line – but now they can shoot it in 16:9 or a more cinematic 21:9 format.

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra vs. Galaxy Note 20 performance and battery

Both phones pack the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus chipset in the US or Exynos 990 chipset elsewhere.

The difference lies in RAM and storage: the Note 20 has 8GB of RAM and only comes in one storage configuration per region (128GB in the US, 256GB in the UK and Australia) that is not expandable – like the Note 10, it doesn’t have a microSD slot.

The S20 Ultra has 12GB of RAM and a similar region-different baseline storage level (128GB in the US, 256GB in the UK and Australia), along with an option for 512GB at a higher price. But unlike the standard Note 20, the Ultra storage is expandable via microSD.

Both phones run Android 10 out of the box and Samsung’s OneUI, which is expected to get an upgrade alongside Android 11 when that’s released later this year. In most regions, only the 5G-capable versions of both phones are on sale – and thankfully, they connect to a variety of 5G frequency ranges, including mmWave and sub-6.

Battery is another divide between the phones, but not by much, with the Note 20 packing 4,300mAh capacity and the Note 20 Ultra having 4,500mAh. Curiously, both phones max out at 25W charging speeds, though they also have wireless charging and wireless power share.

Takeaway

The Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra are different enough in their features and offerings to appeal to different consumer niches.

Those who are willing to forgo some flagship creature comforts like 120Hz display will find the Note 20 suitable, with all the same S Pen stylus features as the phone’s pricier sibling. While the phone is more affordable 5G than its pricier sibling, Samsung cut some surprising corners to get the cost down, including the plastic back and lack of microSD slot – features appearing in nearly all mid-range Android phones.

Consumers who want the absolute best, and are willing to pay for it, will get a handful of premium touches like extra RAM, a curved waterfall display, and other perks. We’re especially excited about the laser focus fixture on the main camera, which could seriously help casual photography.

In other words, your decision will probably come down to cost rather than feature set – and thankfully, the most important perks of the Note 20 Ultra are preserved in the standard Note 20. If you’ve been waiting for the next generation of stylus flagship phones, you’ve got two strong options to choose from.

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A sequence of interconnected bugs could allow hackers to hijack devices running on macOS using little more than an infected Office document and a .zip file, an expert has warned.

The vulnerability was identified by ex-NSA researcher Patrick Wardle, now working for security firm Jamf, who found that even fully-patched macOS Catalina systems were at risk.

The exploit uses a rigged Office document, saved in an archaic format (.slk), to trick the target machine into allowing Office to activate macros without consent and without notifying the user.

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The attack then takes advantage of two further vulnerabilities in order to seize control of the machine. By including a dollar sign at the start of the filename, a hacker can break free of the restrictive Office sandbox, while compressing the file within a .zip folder bypasses macOS controls that prevent downloaded items from accessing user files.

Mac security

Apple’s macOS has long enjoyed a stellar reputation from a security and data privacy perspective, but Apple devices are by no means unhackable. This misconception, Wardle suggests, could lead both users and security personnel to underestimate the potential threat level.

“In the world of Windows, macro-based Office attacks are well understood (and frankly are rather old news). However, on macOS, though such attacks are growing in popularity and are quite en vogue, they have received far less attention from the research and security community,” he wrote in a recent blog post.

“Triggered by simply opening a malicious (macro-laced) Office document, no alerts, prompts, nor other user interactions were required in order to persistently infect even a fully-patched macOS Catalina system.”

The researcher did concede that the attack requires the target individual to log in and out of their device twice, with a further step in the process fulfilled with each login. However, this does not necessarily make the attack any less feasible for criminals, who are content to play the long game.

According to Wardle, Apple did not respond to his disclosure. Microsoft, for its part, has conducted an investigation into the issue and verified the researcher’s findings.

“[The company has] determined that any application, even when sandboxed, is vulnerable to misuse of these APIs. We are in regular discussion with Apple to identify solutions to these issues and support as needed,” said a Microsoft spokesperson.

The vulnerabilities have now been patched with the latest versions of Office for Mac. Users are therefore advised to update their Office software and operating system as soon as possible, to shield against attack.

Here's our list of the best Mac antivirus out there

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The best exercise-friendly face masks for 2020 - CNET

And what to look for when you shop for a performance face mask.

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New stimulus check requirements? How the eligibility qualifications might change - CNET

Both Democrats and Republicans want the next round of stimulus checks to open up to more people. But nobody will be eligible if the next stimulus package doesn't pass. Here's the situation today and who we think could qualify for another $1,200.

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Asus VivoBook 15 laptop - $319.00 from Walmart
(roughly £250)
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The Asus VivoBook 15 (F512DA-WH31) is one of the very few Ryzen-based laptops available at around the $300 mark, meaning it is very affordable indeed.

Other than Windows 10 S Mode (which can be upgrade to traditional Windows 10 Home), there's not a lot wrong with this highly impressive laptop, which makes it an enticing purchase.

AMD's dual-core Ryzen 3 3200U CPU powers this notebook, with a base clock speed of 2.6GHz, 4MB of cache and the Vega 3 GPU. It's paired with 4GB of memory (which is upgradable) and a 128GB SSD, which is also easily swapped out. Note, the machine is also dual-channel capable for extra bandwidth-related performance gains.

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The laptop's new frameless four-sided NanoEdge display boasts an ultra-slim 5.7mm bezel, delivering a near-90% screen-to-body ratio for immersive visuals. The ErgoLift hinge design, meanwhile, tilts the keyboard for more comfortable typing.

Even more surprising at this price point, the keyboard is backlit and the laptop comes with a fingerprint scanner for added security.

The 15.6-inch IPS display is a full HD model (another nice little addition), while the laptop's 8-hour battery life and excellent connectivity (802.11ac, four USB ports, HDMI, audio connector and card reader) will make it a firm favorite among cash-strapped SMBs.

Note, you can also secure the laptop with a comprehensive protection plan that lasts an extra two years and costs only $59.

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As more organizations allow their employees to work from home indefinitely, demand for corporate VPN services from companies like Cogent Communications could fall as businesses will likely need less commercial office space.

As reported by Fierce Telecom, the company's CEO and Chairman David Schaeffer raised these concerns recently while announcing Cogent's second quarter earnings results.

The pandemic has led to less demand for corporate VPNs during Q2 as millions of employees continued to work remotely. Most of Cogent's customers are located in large multi-tenant buildings and the company warned that corporate customers could reduce the number of these locations “due to adverse economic conditions or new working configurations”.

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Schaeffer provided further details on how demand for its VPN services have decreased during the pandemic in the company's earnings call, saying:

"Roughly half of our corporate customers take a second product, a virtual private network to connect offices running either SD-WAN or VPLS over that connection. Because many of our customers have shuttered their remote locations, those offices sit empty, and there's no need for VPN concentration in those offices, we've seen a reduction in the sale of our VPN services.”

Corporate VPNs

While Cogent Communications is selling less VPNs that it did six months ago, Schaeffer believes that this is a temporary trend and not a permanent one. As global conditions improve, remote offices will be reopened and businesses will once again need to use a VPN for additional security and privacy.

The company's customers are also exercising a higher level of caution due to the pandemic when it comes to making buying decisions, hence the slowdown in VPN sales.

Although Cogent's earnings call only gives us insight into what one corporate VPN provider experienced during Q2, it's safe to assume that other businesses that provide VPN solutions for offices have also seen a decrease in the number of installations and sales they've made since employees have started working remotely.

Also check out our complete list of the best VPN services

Via Fierce Telecom

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