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Data Doctors: Understanding the new initiative meant to make our devices more secure

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:10:47 GMT

Q: What will the U.S. Cyber Trust Mark mean for nontechnical people?A: Our appetite for smart gadgets in our homes has opened an attack vector for a variety of bad actors. Smart devices, such as TVs, thermostats, baby monitors, health monitors and security cameras can be vulnerable because they often incorporate weak security measures.Estimates are that nearly 17 billion smart devices are now connected to the Internet around the world and are a huge target for hackers.These devices pose risks to individual consumers and can be used in wide-scale cyberattacks on critical resources and infrastructure.Hackers go after the weakest link; in this case, it’s all our Internet-connected smart gadgets.A government initiative called the U.S. Cyber Trust Mark has been in the works since last year to encourage manufacturers to voluntarily provide more secure devices and offer consumers an easier way to identify them.It will be much the same as Energy Star or Underwriters Laboratory badges that d...

Justin Thomas headed to Minnesota to salvage Ryder Cup hopes

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:10:47 GMT

HOYLAKE, England (AP) — Justin Thomas never imagined using the second round of the British Open as a tune-up for the 3M Open next week in Minnesota.That speaks to the state of the game. And it’s not good.Thomas is in a slump for the first time in his PGA Tour career, bad enough that his season could end before the lucrative FedEx Cup playoffs begin, and it has jeopardized his chances of being in Rome for the Ryder Cup.He missed the cut Friday — that was inevitable after he made 9 on the final hole of his opening round for an 82, his worst score in a major. And he had no choice but to make plans for the 3M Open next week and the Wyndham Championship in North Carolina after that.“The golf in Minnesota is obviously slightly different than here in Liverpool,” Thomas said after a 71 in the second round. “But I’m hitting a lot of good shots. I’m just making so many bonehead mistakes.”Thomas went into the British Open at No. 75 in the FedEx Cup, problematic on several lev...

Cody Bellinger hits 2-run homer as Chicago Cubs edge St. Louis Cardinals 4-3

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:10:47 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Cody Bellinger hit a two-run homer, and the Chicago Cubs stopped St. Louis’ six-game win streak with a 4-3 victory over the Cardinals on Friday.Bellinger capped Chicago’s four-run third inning with a 400-foot drive to right against Jack Flaherty. He finished with three hits in another strong performance at the plate.Bellinger, a possible trade target ahead of the Aug. 1 deadline, is 10 for 20 in his last five games. Since returning from a bruised knee on June 15, the 2019 NL MVP is batting .381 (40 for 105) with six homers.All-Star left-hander Justin Steele (10-3) struck out a season-high nine in 6 1/3 innings for Chicago, bouncing back from a lackluster performance against Boston. He allowed two runs and six hits.Miles Mastrobouni lined his first big league homer for the Cubs, and Mike Tauchman added an RBI double.Flaherty (7-6) was charged with four runs and eight hits and six innings. The right-hander went 4-0 with a 3.24 ERA in his previous four starts...

Amazon is asking some corporate workers to relocate as part of its return-to-office policy

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:10:47 GMT

Amazon is asking some corporate workers to relocate to other cities as part of its return-to-office policy, which mandates workers to be in the office three days a week. An Amazon spokesperson confirmed on Friday that relocations are happening but would not comment on reports by several news outlets that the tech giant was requiring some workers in smaller offices to move to main offices located in bigger cities. Amazon didn’t provide details on the number of employees that will be required to relocate. Amazon spokesperson Brad Glasser said the company will provide “relocations benefits” to workers who are asked to move and consider requests for exceptions on a case-by-case basis. “There’s more energy, collaboration, and connections happening since we’ve been working together at least three days per week, and we’ve heard this from lots of employees and the businesses that surround our offices,” Glasser said in a prepared statement. “We continue to look at the best ways to brin...

Wheelchair pioneers Esther Vergeer, Rick Draney to be inducted into Tennis Hall of Fame

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:10:47 GMT

Esther Vergeer had few role models in wheelchair tennis and limited opportunities when she took up the sport.Those aren’t problems any more, and she’s a big reason why.“That was also what I liked about my career, is that I know I was the one that pioneered. I was the one that could explore it all. And I was the one that needed to figure out what the pathway was,” Vergeer said in a telephone interview as she prepared for her induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. “That was also the fun part.”Vergeer will be added to the Newport, Rhode Island, shrine on Saturday along with American Rick Draney, who won 12 singles titles and six in doubles before the Grand Slam era of wheelchair tennis. Draney has been credited with bringing quad tennis — a classification that accounts for impairment in the arms as well — to the Paralympics and other top tournaments.A 21-time Grand Slam singles champion and seven-time Paralympic gold medalist, Vergeer began her career in an e...

Raiders rookie defensive linemen Wilson, Young placed on injured lists

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:10:47 GMT

HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — The Las Vegas Raiders will be without talented rookie defensive linemen Tyree Wilson and Byron Young at the beginning of training camp because of injuries.A defensive end who was taken seventh overall from Texas Tech, Wilson was placed on the non-football injury list. He injured his foot last season with the Red Raiders and was held out of organized team activities.Young, a defensive tackle taken in the third round from Alabama, was placed on the physically unable to perform list with an unspecified injury.The Raiders open training camp Wednesday.___AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFLSource

Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon shatters women’s mile record for third world mark

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:10:47 GMT

MONACO (AP) — Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon broke the women’s mile record by nearly five seconds on Friday at the Monaco Diamond League for her third world mark of the past two months.The 29-year-old finished in 4 minutes, 7.64 seconds to break the record of 4:12.33 set by Dutchwoman Sifan Hassan in 2019, also at Monaco. Kipyegon broke the world records in both the 1500m and 5000m last month in Florence and Paris.“It was a blessing to do this with these ladies,” Kipyegon said, according to a release on the event’s web site. “I can see that they are all happy for me and it is so emotional. It is a blessing. It just does not happen every time you run. I have to say thanks God for this. “I really enjoyed the race. I came for that, I wanted to chase the world record and thanks god, it was amazing.”Ireland’s Ciera Mageean was second in 4:14.8.“When I started this season, my goal was to just break the 1500 WR. It was still in my head and in my mind,” Kipyegon said. “Thank...

Larimer County deputy involved in traffic stop that lead to death, found not criminally responsible

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:10:47 GMT

LARIMER COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) -- A Larimer County deputy has been cleared of any criminal responsibility after a traffic stop that turned deadly in February.Brent Thompson was pulled over on Interstate 25 on Feb. 18 for expired plates. Deputies said he gave a false name which prompted them to ask him to step out of the vehicle. He stood at the back for some time before attempting to flee. He began to run toward the interstate, but one of the deputies on scene, Lorenzo Lujan, deployed his Taser which hit Thompson. Shortly after, a vehicle ran over and killed him. Suspect hit, killed by car during traffic stop on I-25 Friday, 8th Judicial District Attorney George McLaughin concluded his investigation and released a 34-page letter with great detail on why and how he came to find Lujan not criminally responsible for Thompson's death, even though it states he used poor judgment in deploying his Taser."I've tried to be strong for everybody and I have my ups and downs. I love my boy and ...

Woman rescued at State Street T station after leg gets stuck near platform

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:10:47 GMT

A woman was rescued Friday after her leg got stuck near the platform at the MBTA’s State Street station in Boston, officials said. The incident happened Friday afternoon. Video from the scene showed the woman surrounded by firefighters at one point as crews worked to get her free. The woman, firefighters said, was in pain and hurt but is expected to be OK. Crews said they did not need to use any tools to free the woman. A 7NEWS camera later captured the moment the woman was taken away from the station and loaded into an ambulance to be taken to a hospital. Asked about this incident, the MBTA in a statement said a passenger “stepped in the gap between the open train door and the platform” while the train was already stopped at the station.“The train did not move before the person was removed and taken to Tufts Medical Center to be evaluated,” the T said. While State Street station had reopened as of around 6 p.m., there were lingering delays for Orange L...

Massachusetts wildlife officials receive $773,000 to help prevent pandemics, respond to zoonotic disease outbreaks

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:10:47 GMT

State wildlife officials have received nearly $800,000 to get ahead of wildlife disease outbreaks before they cross the barrier from animals to humans and become pandemics.The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) was recently awarded $773,300 in Zoonotic Disease Initiative grant funds from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.The $773,300 will be used over a three-year period to develop a wildlife health and public outreach program for Massachusetts — and to research wildlife diseases, and prevent their spread within the Northeast.Zoonotic diseases can be transmitted between wildlife and humans. This federal funding is intended to help regions respond to wildlife disease outbreaks before they become pandemics.“Recent disease issues like Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in birds and white-nose syndrome in bats have highlighted the need for building capacity within MassWildlife and other groups in the region to respond quickly using the latest sci...