Google is urging owners of certain Android phones to take urgent action to protect themselves from critical vulnerabilities that give skilled hackers the ability to surreptitiously compromise their devices by making a specially crafted call to their number. It’s not clear if all actions urged are even possible, however, and even if they are, the measures will neuter devices of most voice-calling capabilities.

When TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testifies before Congress on Thursday, he plans to unveil new internal data that suggests the popular video-sharing app is far more enmeshed in Americans' daily lives than anyone realizes. TikTok currently says about 100 million people in the U.S. are regular users of the app. But when Chew testifies before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, he will say that number has now reached 150 million, according to a senior Democratic strategist advising TikTok.

On the occasion of the current dispute between Sony and Microsoft over the acquisition of Activision Blizzard, very interesting information about the activities of both console manufacturers comes to light. A good example of this are the latest reports of the Japanese corporation on the proceeds from the sale of games from the Call of Duty series . It turns out that this is a real goldmine.

Facebook and Instagram users in the United States will soon be able to pay to get a coveted blue check on their account. Meta on Friday began testing a paid verification option for US users of the two social networks, CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced on Instagram. The company plans to gradually roll out the paid option to more US users over the next few weeks.

It looks like a Samsung 980 Pro but doesn't perform like one.

The idea that tech will free us from drudgery is an attractive narrative, but history tells a different story

The Chinese Communist Party has unveiled a new white paper on the rule of law on the internet. The short version: it's all about obedience to the great leader Xi Jinping, stupid.

IKEA's Vappeby lineup continues to grow with a new waterproof Bluetooth speaker designed for the shower and priced at just $15 — undercutting all but the cheapest no-name devices. "The fundamental goal with the new product was to offer quality sound in a versatile product that can really be used anywhere," said product design developer Stjepan Begic in a press release.

It symbolizes 'daring invention and our sights set on the future, ready to push the boundaries of ingenuity and innovation.'

Willem Dafoe is open to reprising his role again as one of the most iconic villains in the Spider-Man franchise. During an interview with Inverse promoting his new thriller Inside, published online Wednesday, the actor said he would return as Norman Osborn/the Green Goblin for a third film “if everything was right, sure.”

In the late 1950s, dentist and U.S. Navy Captain Kirk C. Hoerman, then a young man in his 30s, attempted to answer a bold question: Might the saliva of prostate cancer patients have different characteristics from that of healthy people? Could it contain traces of a disease that’s so far away from the mouth?

“Now when I look back, I can finally see the dots connecting. I can see that everything stands or falls on leaders and leadership. And leadership is all about inspiring hope, because hope makes a difference, serving people and adding value."

Meanwhile, the company's stock is struggling, revenue is in free fall, and editorial ambitions remain hazy.

An Australian man has broken the world record for the longest surfing session - clocking more than 40 hours in the process. At the end, Blake Johnston was carried on the shoulders of friends up Cronulla beach in south Sydney, describing himself as "pretty cooked".

Communities in Oaxaca, Mexico, are striving to produce mezcal sustainably—but soaring demand from across the border makes it tough.

His sagas of the Revolution and the Civil War sold tens of millions of copies, were adapted for TV and put him in the pantheon of big-name authors.

Wyoming has become the first US state to ban abortion pills after its governor signed a bill that made prescribing or selling them illegal. Violating it is punishable by up to six months in jail and a $9,000 fine. Women "upon whom a chemical abortion is performed or attempted" will not be prosecuted.

In Nevada, vehicles can heat up quicker than in other parts of the country, which raises concerns if a child or pet is left inside. Now a new bill is being discussed in the legislature that could give the power to save a child or pet in distress. “It would mean everything, probably life or death,” said resident Glen Lanier.

A Slate investigation into the past 70 years of action movies.

Rechelle Balanzat, an Asian-American founder, has led her startup Juliette, a self-funded, app-enabled dry-cleaning startup since 2014. As a double minority in tech, Balanzat said she faced gender bias with investors, and also encountered investors who inflicted racial bias. Investors would often expect Balanzat to speak with an accent and if not they were amazed she could speak English, she said.