Tech

Data breach at French bank registry impacts 1.2 million accounts

Published

3 hours ago

20 February 2026

The French Ministry of Finance has disclosed a cybersecurity incident that impacted data associated with 1.2 million user accounts.

The investigation discovered that hackers gained access to the national bank account registry (FICOBA) and stole a database containing sensitive information.

The Ministry’s announcement notes that in late January, a threat actor used credentials stolen from a civil servant with access to the interministerial information sharing platform.

The credentials gave the hacker access to part of a database that contained all bank accounts opened in French banking institutions and personal data:

Bank account details, including RIBs/IBANs

Account holder identity

Physical address

Taxpayer identification number (only in some cases)

The Ministry states that it took immediate action to restrict the threat actor’s access to its systems immediately after detecting the incident. However, it is believed that data of about 1.2 million accounts were already exposed to potential exfiltration.

FICOBA is a centralized state-managed registry of bank accounts in France, operated by the French tax authority, the Direction générale des Finances publiques (DGFiP).

It operates as a database that records the existence and identifiers of accounts, with data provided by French banking institutions in accordance with tax enforcement law requirements.

The cyberattack has disrupted the system’s operations, and work is underway to restore it with enhanced security. However, there is no estimation of when FICOBA will be back online.

The Ministry also stated that users affected by the incident will be notified individually over the next few days.

Banking institutions in the country have been informed accordingly, and they are expected to take action to raise awareness among their customers of the need for increased vigilance.

The announcement mentions numerous scam attempts circulating via email and SMS that aim to steal data or money directly from recipients, and citizens are advised not to respond to them.

“The tax administration never asks for your login credentials or bank card number via message,” the French ministry warns.

The French data protection authority, CNIL, has also been informed about the incident.

DGFiP’s IT team is currently working with the Ministry of Finance and the National Cybersecurity Agency of France (ANSSI) to strengthen system security and bring it back to full operational status.

Modern IT infrastructure moves faster than manual workflows can handle.

In this new Tines guide, learn how your team can reduce hidden manual delays, improve reliability through automated response, and build and scale intelligent workflows on top of tools you already use.

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LG launches microwaves in the UK for the first time in years

Published

8 minutes ago

21 February 2026

NewsAdmin

LG is returning to the UK microwave market after a 10-year break, unveiling a new eight-model lineup set to roll out through 2026.

The move marks a renewed push into small kitchen appliances, as the company looks to expand its smart home portfolio beyond its traditional stronghold in TVs and large white goods.

The refreshed range covers everything from entry-level 20L models to a premium 39L convection microwave, with prices starting at £84 and rising to £299 (MSRP).

At the top of the lineup is the MJ3965BPS, a 39L NeoChef Convection model priced at £299 and arriving in June 2026.

It combines microwave, grill, convection and steam cooking in one unit, powered by LG’s Smart Inverter technology for more consistent heating. Features like the Infrared Convection System, Charcoal & Quartz Heater, and Healthy Fry mode position it as an all-in-one solution for more ambitious home cooks.

Below that sits the MH6565CPS, a £179 25L model that LG describes as its flagship standard microwave. It delivers 1,000W Smart Inverter power and a 900W grill, wrapped in a minimalist One Body Design with both touch controls and a physical dial.

Mid-range options include the MH6535GIS (£159) and MH6336GIB (£149), both offering 1,000W inverter cooking and 6-point turntables designed for better weight distribution and more even heating. LG says the continuous power delivery of Smart Inverter helps eliminate cold spots and overcooked edges compared to traditional pulsed microwaves.

At the more affordable end, the lineup includes several 20L, 700W models such as the MS2042D (£89) and MS2082F (£84). These focus on everyday heating and defrosting, with panel touch or dial controls, auto-cook presets and LG’s Anti-Bacterial EasyClean coating.

Across the range, LG is emphasising usability and durability, with LED interiors, child lock features, and a two-year warranty included as standard. Some models are already available via LG’s UK store and selected retailers, with wider availability expected from June 2026.

While these models focus on practical cooking performance today, LG also hinted at a longer-term smart vision. This includes potential AI-powered dish recognition and ThinQ app integration down the line.

For now, though, this is a straightforward re-entry into a competitive category, and a clear signal that LG wants a bigger slice of the modern UK kitchen.

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Trump's 'reciprocal' tariffs that cost Apple billions shot down by Supreme Court

Published

19 minutes ago

21 February 2026

NewsAdmin

Ten months after Trump imposed sweeping tariffs that hurt US businesses and consumers, and hit Apple to the tune of $3.2 billion, the Supreme Court has ruled that it was done illegally. Refunds will be messy.

Donald Trump speaks at a podium while holding a large chart titled Reciprocal Tariffs, listing countries such as China, European Union, Vietnam, Taiwan, Japan, India, and South Korea

Trump launching his tariffs in April 2205

Trump was always expected to introduce tariffs, but the extent of his April 2025 “Liberation Day” ones caught the world by surprise. The claimed mathematics behind the original rates was ridiculed, and then Trump further raised them to ostensibly punish countries, or even individuals like Tim Cook.
The Supreme Court has ruled 6 to 3 that imposing the tariffs without Congress’s involvement was illegal. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the ruling, which denied Trump’s claim that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) gave him the authority to act unilaterally.
Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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12 Handy Home Depot Gadgets To Upgrade Your Garage

Published

32 minutes ago

21 February 2026

NewsAdmin

A garage packed with gadgets, tools, and other items

Boogich/Getty Images

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Home improvement retailers like Home Depot sell a long list of gadgets that will help you in the garage, whether that’s working on a project, maintaining a car, or simply cleaning the space. Of course, a gadget that makes plenty of promises doesn’t always turn out to be as useful or capable as it claims. That’s where user reviews come in handy — they can help verify that the product in question is actually worth your hard-earned money.

These 12 garage-ready gadgets all get consistently good reviews from Home Depot customers. Many can also be found for under $100, and some cost less than $50. Each pick here is available through Home Depot’s website at the time of writing, but stock levels in stores might vary, so it’s worth checking before you head down to your nearest branch.

Chamberlain myQ Smart Garage Control with Wi-Fi Hub

If you want to make your garage door opener smarter, there’s no need to buy an entirely new system. The Chamberlain myQ smart garage control is designed to work with most existing opener systems that were manufactured after 1993, yet it offers several advantages compared to a non-smart system. One of those advantages is its Amazon Key compatibility, which allows delivery drivers temporary access to your garage to drop parcels away from porch pirates.

If you’d like to keep a closer eye on who’s using your garage and when they’re using it, you can also enable real-time notifications on the smartphone app to let you know when the door is opened. That’s a lot of additional functionality, particularly since the smart garage control retails for only $29.98.

It’s a popular choice among Home Depot buyers, who have given it an average rating of 4.2 out of five stars from around 1,400 reviews at the time of writing. One reviewer calls it an “amazing upgrade for [an] old garage opener,” while another says they “would recommend it to anyone who needs to control their garage away from home.”

Sensor Brite Motion Activated Step Lights

Retailing for $9.98, the Sensor Brite motion-activated step lights are a cheap way to ensure you can always see clearly in your garage during the darker hours. They use motion sensors to automatically activate when you walk within ten feet of them, and they run on battery power, so there’s no need to worry about wiring them in. Screwing them into walls or stairways isn’t necessary either, since they come with adhesive backing.

Each pack contains two lights, but they’re cheap enough that you could buy enough packs to completely illuminate even the largest of garages without breaking the bank. The lights are well-liked by reviewers, and they’ve accrued more than 500 reviews on Home Depot’s website to date. Overall, the lights achieve an average score of 4.3 out of five stars, with reviewers saying they make “great lighting for garage steps” and are “an added benefit to the home.”

DeWalt 20V Max Cordless Electric Portable Inflator Kit

Alongside its core range of power tools, DeWalt also makes a range of useful gadgets including the 20V Max portable inflator kit. It’s a good entry point into the brand’s cordless 20V Max line for anyone who’s new to the DeWalt brand, since it includes everything you’ll need to get started. Alongside the inflator itself, the kit includes a 3Ah battery and a charger that’s compatible with both 12V and 20V DeWalt batteries.

DeWalt is far from the only tool brand that makes a portable inflator. Its arch-rival Milwaukee also sells a similarly priced tire inflator kit, and which one is better comes down to personal preference as much as performance. Still, anyone who buys the DeWalt inflator kit shouldn’t be disappointed. It’s a versatile offering, since it can run off battery power but can also be plugged into an outlet if you don’t have any battery charge remaining. It comes with all the usual features you’d expect to see at this price point — think auto-shut off, a high-volume inflation mode, and a choice of nozzles to fit everything from tires to sports balls.

Buyers are very positive about the inflator’s capabilities and versatility, awarding it an average score of 4.7 out of five stars from more than 2,700 reviews.

TP-Link Wi-Fi 6 Range Extender Adapter

Spotty wi-fi in the garage can be a pain, but it doesn’t have to be. The TP-Link Wi-Fi 6 range extender adapter promises to increase your coverage area within your home, garage, or workshop, and it can connect to all TP-Link OneMesh compatible routers. The setup process is straightforward, with one reviewer saying they “set the relay up in our garage and everything from start to finish took no more than 15 minutes.”

Another reviewer explains that they “installed a couple of wi-fi cameras at the far corner of our garage that couldn’t connect with the router in the other end of [the] house.” They added that “while I was wondering what I’d have to configure to get it to work everything just started working.” Other reviewers are similarly positive, giving the device an average rating of 4.3 out of five stars from more than 100 reviews. While it might be a useful solution, wi-fi extenders do come with some drawbacks, so it’s worth considering whether a wi-fi booster or an extender is best for your network before you add the $84.99 TP-Link extender to your basket.

Klein Tools Jobsite Speaker With Magnetic Mount

A good soundtrack can make even the most tiring jobs more bearable, and if your garage needs a speaker to provide that soundtrack, it’s worth checking out the Klein Tools jobsite speaker. It’s available from Home Depot for $38.76 and it has accrued an average score of 4.4 out of five stars from around 200 reviews at the time of writing. The speaker features a magnetic mount and so it can be securely attached to tool chests or metal shelving, but it’s also compatible with tripods and even lanyards too.

Since it’s designed for the jobsite, it’s tough enough to withstand all of the common hazards that garage use presents. It’ll survive getting dusty or getting showered with debris, and it’s also resistant to water splashes thanks to its IP45 rating. When the speaker is connected to your smartphone, it can also be used to answer calls using the built-in microphone.

Klein Tools says it has a 10-hour battery life, and it can be recharged using the included USB charging cable. The brand’s reputation for durability seems to have carried over to the speaker, too, with one reviewer saying, “I’ve had mine for over five years now and it’s been the toughest, longest lasting speaker I’ve ever had.”

Chamberlain myQ Smart Garage Home Security Camera

To complement the myQ smart garage controller and build a comprehensive smart garage setup, buyers could consider the brand’s smart garage security camera. It’s available for $28.85, making it a cost-effective way to see who’s in your garage while you’re travelling or at work. The most affordable version of the camera needs to be plugged in to function, then connected to a wi-fi network. Its feed can then be accessed via the myQ app.

If you need to place the camera in a spot where there’s no outlet available, Chamberlain also offers a battery-powered option, but it’s considerably pricier. A two-pack of battery-powered cameras is available for $118.29. The cheaper option is more commonly reviewed by Home Depot buyers, and has received close to 1,000 reviews to date.

Across those reviews, it has been awarded an average score of four out of five stars. That’s less than most of the other products here, but it’s still enough to make the camera one of the best-reviewed products at Home Depot at its price point. Some of the more negative feedback focuses on the camera’s optional subscription fee to access features like video storage. However, one reviewer notes that “you don’t need a monthly subscription, it helps if you want to store a lot of video but [it’s] not necessary.”

Ryobi USB Lithium Clamp Fan Kit

Ryobi’s USB Lithium clamp fan kit will keep you cool in the garage, the house, or on the road. The kit retails for $39.97 and includes the fan, a 2Ah USB Lithium battery, and a charging cable. It can clamp to surfaces up to 1-¼ inches thick and can be attached to worktops and toolboxes, among many other things.

The kit racked up more than 1,800 reviews from Home Depot customers, and the vast majority are very positive. At the time of writing, it has an average score of 4.7 out of five stars. Even fans of other tool brands have been won over by its value for money, with one reviewer saying that “most of my tools for work are Milwaukee but Milwaukee doesn’t make a small [battery] powered fan.”

Surprisingly, the fan isn’t the only product that Ryobi makes that Milwaukee doesn’t either. The brand with the bright green tools also makes a power carver and a foam cutter, neither of which has a direct Milwaukee equivalent.

Ridgid 3 Gallon Handheld Wet/Dry Shop Vac

A range of manufacturers offer wet/dry shop vacs, but in our comparison of every major vac brand, it was Ridgid which came out on top. The brand’s reputation for durability and the useful extra features available with its vacuums were two reasons for its placement at the top of the pile. A third was the brand’s lifetime warranty, which covers key components against defects in their material or in the vac’s construction.

One of Ridgid’s most compact vacuums is its three gallon handheld wet/dry shop vac, which has an average rating of 4.6 out of five stars from more than 2,000 reviews. While a handful of reviewers report being irritated with the aforementioned warranty’s exclusion of the vac’s hose, most reviewers are satisfied with their purchase. One says that “From car to garage to shop, it is a champ,” while another says that it works “a lot better than dragging out my big Ridgid vac out just to do […] small things […] in the garage or in the house.” It’s available from Home Depot for $69.97.

Chamberlain Wireless Garage Door Keypad

Even if you’re not set on creating the perfect smart garage setup with app-connected door openers and cameras, there are still plenty of ways to add an extra dash of tech to your garage. The Chamberlain wireless garage door keypad is a great example: it costs $50.04, and it lets users with the correct code temporarily gain garage access. Temporary codes can be created for delivery drivers and can be configured to expire after a set amount of time.

Reviewers are generally in agreement that installing and programming the keypad is straightforward, with one calling it “a great product [that] works exactly as I expected.” Durability shouldn’t be a concern either, since according to one reviewer, their last Chamberlain keypad “worked for 22 years before I had to replace it.” At the time of writing, the keypad has amassed close to 2,000 reviews, with an average rating of 4.5 out of five stars.

Ryobi USB Lithium Magnetic Clamp Light Kit

Look beyond its tool range and there are a whole lot of underrated Ryobi finds that users swear by. One of the top-rated of the bunch is the USB Lithium magnetic clamp light kit, which has an exceptional average rating of 4.9 out of five stars from over 100 reviews at the time of writing. Home Depot reviewers say it “lights up the entire garage,” and that “the little clip that comes with it is very handy to hang it from anywhere you want.” Others call it “very convenient to use” and say that “the magnetic feature is especially helpful when you need both hands free.”

As well as its magnetic base, the light is also compatible with Ryobi’s Link storage system, and so can be hung on the wall with a suitable Link wall mount. The head of the light turns 360°, and it can also pivot up to 180°, making it easy to mount it in a wide variety of locations and still get the perfect lighting angle. The light is available as part of a kit for $49.97, and it’s bundled with a 2Ah USB Lithium battery and a charging cable.

Genie Signature Series 2 HPc Smart Garage Door Opener

If your garage door opener is in good working condition, the most affordable way to add extra smart features is to fit a myQ smart garage door controller. However, if you’re in need of a new opener system, the Genie Signature Series smart garage door opener is a worthy alternative. The system is integrated with the brand’s app from the get-go, and it also comes with two garage remotes for good measure.

When used with the companion app, the garage door can be opened using voice assistants like Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. When it’s being lowered again, an infrared sensor cuts down the chance of the door accidentally coming into contact with a vehicle, object, or person by automatically stopping the door if it detects an obstruction. At a retail price of $379, the system is a larger investment than most of the other gadgets here, but it’s one of the best reviewed products in its category at Home Depot.

At the time of writing, it has an average rating of 4.2 out of five stars from more than 1,300 reviews. While some reviewers criticize its rail design and construction, others are won over by the system, calling it “one of the best purchases from Home Depot” and adding that it was easy to install.

Klein Tools 600V Digital Multimeter

Keeping a multimeter around is always a good idea, since you never know when it might come in useful. There are more ways to use one around the home and garage than you might think, from automotive diagnosis to battery testing. With any gadget, there can be a temptation to pay more for an example with additional features, but the Klein Tools 600V digital multimeter should strike the right balance of features and pricing for most people.

It offers lead alert protection, a backlit display, and a kickstand so it can stand freely during use or storage. Furthermore, it’s able to measure voltage, current, and resistance, and is designed to be easy to use for novices and professionals alike. Few reviewers have bad things to say about the multimeter, giving it an average of 4.7 out of five stars from almost 400 reviews. One reviewer summed up the tool’s appeal by saying it “works perfectly for my needs, [and] for the price and brand, [you] can’t really go wrong.”

How we picked these handy gadgets

Even the most attractively priced gadget is no good if it doesn’t live up to expectations when you actually start using it. To ensure that these handy garage gadgets were up to the task, we relied on feedback from reviewers at Home Depot. Each of the listed picks was among the top-rated products in its category at the retailer, with an average rating of at least four out of five stars from at least 100 reviews. All prices listed refer to the retail price on Home Depot’s website at the time of writing, and do not account for promotions or limited-time discounts.

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The humble Windows NotePad might finally get image support

Published

41 minutes ago

21 February 2026

NewsAdmin

Microsoft is preparing to bring another change to the humble Notepad app. According to Windows Latest, internal testing on Windows 11 shows that the classic text editor is gaining full image support.

Notepad was once just a simple tool for typing plain text, but that simplicity has steadily evolved over multiple updates. Microsoft has modernized Notepad with autosave, undo history, and Markdown formatting. You can now apply basic styling, such as bold text, italics, and links.

WordPad, the older rich text editor that could handle images, has been removed from Windows, leaving Notepad to fill the gap. With WordPad gone, Microsoft appears to be expanding Notepad’s capabilities to cover more use cases.

The new image support will be part of Notepad’s extended formatting features. Microsoft sources told Windows Latest that image support is being tested in internal versions of Notepad. You’d be able to turn the feature off in Settings if you prefer the classic text-only experience.

How Notepad has been quietly changing

Image support in Notepad can be seen as a natural step toward a more capable note-taking tool, similar to Apple’s Notes or other built-in apps that support text formatting and images.

Microsoft has also added major features to Notepad, including artificial intelligence to automatically summarize notes and built-in spell check and autocorrect support.

However, adding too many features could dilute what made Notepad appealing to users in the first place. Adding visual elements risks blurring the line between Notepad and more complex apps like OneNote.

Notepad’s evolution reflects broader changes in how people use built-in apps. If image support rolls out widely, the simple editor could become a more flexible space for jotting down ideas, links, and pictures all in one place.

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Fake faces generated by AI are now "too good to be true," researchers warn

Published

55 minutes ago

21 February 2026

NewsAdmin

Think you can quickly identify fake faces generated by AI models? Think again. According to a recently published study by Australian researchers, AI-generated faces are now essentially too difficult to spot – except for a small minority of people who are exceptionally skilled at analyzing facial features. As a result,…
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‘In cybersecurity and penetration testing, no two days are the same’

Published

1 hour ago

21 February 2026

NewsAdmin

TCS’s Gavin McPaul discusses how he got his start in cyber and the benefits of working out of picturesque Donegal.

“From an early age, I’ve always been fascinated by technology: phones, laptops, any new gadgets really,” says Gavin McPaul, the head of enterprise vulnerability management at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).

His family soon noticed his skill in the area of IT and at home he became the go-to person for all things tech related. “And I still am, unfortunately,” he jokes. “Towards the end of secondary school, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in IT.”

But like many young people at that stage of their lives, he was unsure of the educational direction he wanted to take, especially as his research showed him just how vast the IT sector was, indicated by the sheer volume of courses available at his chosen college, ATU Letterkenny.

He explains: “One course immediately jumped out at me because of its title, Computing with Computer Security and Digital Forensics. It sounded incredibly interesting, and I’m certainly glad I made that choice. It was towards the end of my degree that I realised I wanted to specialise in penetration testing.”

How have you progressed in your career as quickly as you have?

I believe my quick progression comes down to curiosity. I’ve always been driven to learn new things, take on more responsibility, question the status quo to find better ways of working, and I’m always interested in helping other people.

When I first started at TCS, we had a large team, but much of the work was individual projects. I made an effort to speak to everyone, understanding how they approached their tasks. I quickly realised everyone had their own methods. This led me to create a central collaboration space where ideas could be shared, benefiting the entire team and new joiners alike.

My curiosity and fresh perspective straight out of college meant that within my first five months, I identified an opportunity for improvement with one of our applications. This was a significant career boost, demonstrating my ability and knowledge. It got me noticed by senior leadership and opened doors to new projects.

What aspects of the TCS culture do you believe make it an attractive place to begin a career?

What I truly appreciate about TCS is the incredible team environment. An office space with genuine collaboration and where you can learn from team members is invaluable, especially early in your career. Nobody at TCS wants to see you fail. There’s a robust support system ready to guide you in the right direction.

As a large consultancy, our core goal at TCS is to support clients through their technology transformation journeys. Working with numerous clients across diverse sectors means there are always opportunities to explore and specialise in areas of interest. Our clients are often undergoing significant transformations, actively seeking fresh ideas and innovative solutions, and they truly value the insights and solutions we bring.

What does a typical day look like for you?

The most exciting aspect of cybersecurity and penetration testing is that no two days are the same; you truly never know what challenges might arise. I’m fortunate to work with one of our financial services clients in the US, collaborating with an excellent team spread across the US, Ireland and India. As a lead within their offensive security team, I’m currently helping them transform their entire penetration testing programme.

As the technical lead for our teams in Ireland and India, I provide advice, guidance and support on all aspects of penetration testing. Our core goal for the client is to secure their applications and data from external threats.

Beyond that, my work is diverse and includes meeting potential new clients, building out new capabilities, developing internal training programmes, interviewing and onboarding new resources, and helping manage our team of 10 people, which we’re looking to expand by another six.

What do you enjoy most about living and working in the north-west?

I love the beauty and quiet of living in Donegal. We’re fortunate to have several large organisations here, which is fantastic for our county. These provide great opportunities for people living in the area, especially with a local university like ATU Letterkenny feeding directly into places like TCS.

I feel incredibly fortunate to have found a cybersecurity career in Donegal, working here since college and still being given opportunities to further my career with TCS, even after six years.

What advice would you give someone looking to start a career in cybersecurity or penetration testing?

We all leave college with the same degree after four years, but what truly sets you apart from everyone else? Most students haven’t considered this question, so they often don’t have an immediate answer. When I interview graduates, I’m really looking for passion and genuine interest in cybersecurity. Often, this shines through in what they’ve done outside of their degree. Here are a few things I always recommend to students.

Sign up for any IT or cybersecurity societies at your college. If there isn’t one, take the initiative to start it. Attend conferences like BSides, IRISSCON, or OWASP local chapters. Get involved in ‘capture the flag’ competitions, like Zero Days CTF or the many free online options. These are fantastic for hands-on experience and for networking with other students and industry professionals. You can even prepare for them through your college society.

Create a LinkedIn account. It’s an excellent way to connect with like-minded people, and recruiters are always on the lookout there. During summer, reach out to companies about internship programmes. They offer invaluable insight and hands-on industry experience.

If you can, pursue certifications. In Ireland, anyone can access industry-recognised certs like CompTIA Security+ or Pentest+ for free, funded by the Irish government. Research areas you’re interested in, read blogs, follow specialists, or even start a personal project.

If application penetration testing interests you, get to know OWASP – it will become your best friend in this field.

TCS are currently recruiting for application penetration testing roles. Click here to apply.

Don’t miss out on the knowledge you need to succeed. Sign up for the Daily Brief, Silicon Republic’s digest of need-to-know sci-tech news.

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Dell just made 240Hz gaming monitors shockingly cheap

Published

1 hour ago

21 February 2026

NewsAdmin

High refresh rate gaming monitors have slowly become more affordable, but Dell’s latest launch takes that trend to a new extreme. The company has introduced two new 27-inch gaming monitors with 240Hz refresh rates starting at roughly $130, a price that would have seemed impossible for this spec just a few years ago.

The two models, the SE2726HG and SE2726HGS, focus on delivering fast, responsive gameplay at a budget-friendly price. Both displays are built around a 27-inch Full HD panel, a combination that prioritizes high frame rates and smooth motion over ultra-high resolution. For competitive gaming, that trade-off makes sense. Lower resolution reduces GPU strain and helps players reach the high frame rates needed to fully take advantage of a 240Hz refresh rate.

Speaking of which, the high refresh rate is also paired with 0.5ms response time, which is designed to minimize motion blur and input delay. For fast shooters and esports titles, this can translate into smoother tracking, clearer movement, and a more responsive feel overall. Add to that, there’s support for AMD FreeSync to help eliminate screen tearing and keep gameplay fluid when frame rates fluctuate.

Dell has also paid attention to everyday usability. The panels cover 99% of the sRGB color space, which means they are capable of delivering reasonably accurate colors for media consumption, casual content creation, and general desktop work. The only difference between the two monitors is mainly in ergonomics and design. The SE2726HGS includes an adjustable stand that allows height and tilt changes. The SE2726HG, meanwhile, sticks with a simpler stand to keep the design straightforward and accessible.

The bigger takeaway from these monitors is how much high-refresh displays have evolved. Not long ago, 240Hz screens were niche products aimed almost exclusively at professional esports players. Now, they are becoming part of the mainstream gaming conversation. Dell’s new models highlight how competitive gaming features are gradually moving into everyday setups. Smooth motion, low latency, and adaptive sync are no longer luxury upgrades but features that more players can realistically consider. For gamers building or upgrading a setup, this release signals a shift in expectations.

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Trump Says He’s Just Going To Make Some Shit Up To Justify Nationalizing The Election Process

Published

2 hours ago

21 February 2026

NewsAdmin

from the to-be-fair,-a-coup-is-ALSO-a-way-to-secure-power dept

Trump couldn’t accept the fact that he lost the 2020 election. So he stood idly by (if you believe his narrative) or urged on (if you believe your own eyes and ears) his supporters to raid the Capitol building to seize the election from the electorate. If that meant killing his own vice president, so be it.

Eventually, Trump left office, replaced by Joe Biden for a whole four years of relative sanity. Then Trump returned to office and immediately pardoned nearly every one of his supporters who had been criminally charged with federal crimes for participating in the January 20th insurrection attempt.

Since then, he and his GOP enablers have been doing everything they can to rig the next election, despite claiming to have been victims of similar election-rigging in 2020. Aggressive gerrymandering has now been superseded by seizures of voting records, attempted prosecutions of Trump’s political enemies, threats to send ICE out to engage in election suppression, and more.

The GOP has a very slim majority at the moment. GOP legislators opting to retire are now derailing pro-MAGA legislation. Democratic opposition is finally showing some signs of life. And California has responded with pro-Dem gerrymandering of its own, limiting the effectiveness of GOP members running for congressional seats.

Now that it’s starting to look like a fair fight out there in the electorate with the mid-term elections approaching, the administration is making a push to seize election power from the states in order to give Trump the congressional majority he needs to keep being as awful as he’s been since his return to office.

President Trump doubled down on his extraordinary call for the Republican Party to “nationalize” voting in the United States, even as the White House tried to walk it back and members of his own party criticized the idea.
Mr. Trump said on Tuesday that he believed the federal government should “get involved” in elections that are riddled with “corruption,” reiterating his position that the federal government should usurp state laws by exerting control over local elections.
If states “can’t count the votes legally and honestly, then somebody else should take over,” he said in the Oval Office, accusing several Democratic-run cities of corruption. “Look at some of the places — that horrible corruption on elections — and the federal government should not allow that,” he added. “The federal government should get involved.”

A nationalized election process is just a welcome wagon for autocracy. That’s why it’s never happened before, thanks to the foresight of the founding fathers who definitely weren’t interested in going back to being the subjects of a king, even if the king pretended a captive process was actually a democratic election.

And that’s why it’s being bandied about by this administration — one that clearly doesn’t care what happens to America as long it continues to remain in power. That’s also why Trump isn’t necessarily angling for a full takeover of midterm elections. He just wants to interfere in places where his lackeys have a real chance of losing elections.

During a podcast interview with Dan Bongino, his former deputy F.B.I. director, on Monday, Mr. Trump called for Republican officials to “take over” voting procedures in 15 states, though he did not name them. “The Republicans should say, ‘We want to take over,’” he said. “We should take over the voting, the voting in at least many — 15 places. The Republicans ought to nationalize the voting.”

No sentence should ever begin with “during a podcast interview with Dan Bongino” and end with an actual sitting president stating he should be allowed to “take over” the midterm elections in a select number of areas where his supporters aren’t likely to win.

None of this matters to Trump, however. Blessed with a lack of foresight or hindsight, Trump ventured out into the relative safety of his favorite conflict of interest — Truth Social — to ensure Americans that he hasn’t ruled anything out when it comes to actually stealing an election. (h/t Derek Guy and his preservation efforts)

If you can’t see/read the embed, consider yourself blessed. Consider yourself cursed (and feel free to do as much cursing as you feel is necessary) if you choose to read on. Here’s the entirety of Trump’s “it’s coup time baby!” Truth Social post:

The Democrats refuse to vote for Voter I.D., or Citizenship. The reason is very simple — They want to continue to cheat in Elections. This was not what our Founders desired. I have searched the depths of Legal Arguments not yet articulated or vetted on this subject, and will be presenting an irrefutable one in the very near future. There will be Voter I.D. for the Midterm Elections, whether approved by Congress or not! Also, the People of our Country are insisting on Citizenship, and No Mail-In Ballots, with exceptions for Military, Disability, Illness, or Travel. Thank you for your attention to this matter! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP

These are not the words of a well person. These are certainly not the words of anyone you’d want to have the driver’s keys to a nation, much less the access code to an apartment pool.

Someone who thinks the answer to his hostile takeover of the American election process can be justified by “Legal Arguments not yet articulated or vetted” is the same sort of person who thinks they’re only days away from perfecting a perpetual motion machine or discovering the secret to eternal life.

But while that part of the post may be comically delusional, it’s the next sentence that’s far more worrying. This is the president claiming he will mandate his version of “Voter I.D.” at the polls, whether it’s legal or not.

And it definitely won’t be legal. Almost every effort the administration has made to disenfranchise voters, alter long-standing election rules, and eliminate voters not likely to side with Trump and the GOP has resulted in lawsuits. Very little of this litigation is settled. And what little of it has been settled has resulted in a loss for Trump.

The GOP’s efforts to codify Trump’s baseless voter fraud conspiracy theories haven’t had much more success. What has managed to move forward is largely redundant, but with the added bonus of allowing Trump’s DOJ to prosecute election officials if the administration believes (hallucinates) local officials didn’t do enough (whatever that means) to dissuade non-citizens from voting.

But this is exactly the sort of thing Trump loves, even if he possibly knows there’s no factual basis for the accusations and insinuations he’s making. If his GOP counterparts lose elections during the midterm, he’ll be the first to start mouthing off about immigrants and “illegal” votes. If his boys win, he’ll take credit for the “fair” election. And the conspiracy theories will return to the slow boil until they’re needed in 2028.

Filed Under: bullshit, donald trump, election interference, gop, losers, trump administration, voter intimidation

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Tech

The creator economy’s ad revenue problem and India’s AI ambitions

Published

2 hours ago

21 February 2026

NewsAdmin

The creator economy is evolving fast, and ad revenue alone isn’t cutting it anymore. YouTubers are launching product lines, acquiring startups, and building actual business empires. In fact, MrBeast’s company bought fintech startup Step, and his chocolate business is outearning his media arm. This isn’t just one creator’s strategy. For many, it’s the new playbook.

On this episode of TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, hosts Kirsten Korosec, Anthony Ha, and Rebecca Bellan unpack how creators are diversifying beyond ads, whether their model can scale beyond the top 1%, everything happing at India’s AI Impact Summit, and more of the week’s headlines.

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