Super Bowl Sunday has quietly become a two-screen event. While the TV handles the main broadcast, Google consistently sees a spike during Super Bowl week in searches for live scores, prop bets, and real-time game info.

That behavior is exactly why I like this deal for the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i now $250 (was $400) at Amazon.

The deal feels well-timed, and will serve as a perfect second screen choice. For football fans, having a dedicated second screen is a genuine advantage and the Slim 3i easily handles live stat dashboards, spreadsheets, and sportsbook tabs at once without forcing you to juggle apps on your phone.

Even better, this Windows 11 laptop also comes with a year’s free subscription to Microsoft 365 – useful if you’re charting your fantasy football play in Excel.

Today’s top Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i deal

Clearly you’re not going to buy a new laptop just for the big game, and the IdeaPad Slim 3i is a great Chromebook alternative.

Powered by an Intel N100 processor with 4GB of LPDDR5 memory and 512Gb storage in totall, it offers noticeably more flexibility than ChromeOS devices at a similar price.

For more top picks, these are the best business laptops we’ve tested and reviewed.

Spotify has launched a new feature called Page Match that lets readers move seamlessly between a physical or ebook and its audiobook. This feature builds upon the existing audiobook Recaps feature, which gives a quick audio summary to pick up from the section where you left off.

Page Match aims to solve a familiar frustration for readers who like to switch formats but keep losing track of the last page they read. Now, you can pick up a book, scan a page, and Spotify takes you straight to the matching moment in the audiobook.

How Spotify’s Page Match feature works

To use Page Match, open the Spotify mobile app and search for the book you are currently reading. Inside the audiobook listing, you tap the Page Match button, which activates your phone’s camera.

You then scan a page from your physical book, and Spotify analyzes the text on that page and matches it to the same section in the audiobook, starting playback from the correct spot.

The feature also works in reverse. If you have been listening to an audiobook and want to switch back to reading, Page Match can guide you to the exact page where you left off. In practice, matching a page to the audiobook is fairly straightforward. However, switching back from audio to print can be trickier.

Early use by The Verge shows that finding the exact page from audio is not always smooth, especially if editions differ. In some cases, it can mean flipping back and forth through pages and overshooting the right spot before settling in.

Even with those rough edges, Page Match highlights Spotify’s effort to make audiobooks feel more connected to traditional reading, especially for people who regularly move between formats throughout the day.

The music streaming giant has been rolling out a steady stream of updates lately to improve user experience. Just yesterday, Spotify announced offline lyrics with translation support and it has also been leaning on AI to reshape how podcast discovery works on the platform. With Page Match now joining the list, Spotify feels more intuitive across music, podcasts and books.

As digital transformation accelerates and apps become more complex, it’s no longer optional to safeguard your .NET apps; it’s a necessity. Organizations that utilize .NET should remain alert. Although .NET remains an effective and secure platform for developing enterprise applications, neglecting its risks may prove to be an expensive lesson. 

The threat actors are focusing on the attack vectors to target .NET-based applications with advanced techniques. These are not isolated cases anymore, but rather a component of a larger and more diverse threat environment. As long as you are not already cooperating with security-oriented .NET development services, it is time to reconsider your approach. 

In this blog, we will see the major security threats that will affect .NET development and how you can protect your applications by making the appropriate architectural process and hiring decisions. 

Why Security in .NET is More Important than Before

To protect API threats, .NET teams must adopt: 

• OAuth 2.0/OpenID Connect for token-based authentication 
• Input validation and JSON schema enforcement 
• Access control is based on roles and attributes (RBAC/ABAC). 
• API gateways with throttling, logging, and monitoring (such as Azure API Management) 

When you hire .NET developers who specialize in secure API architecture, you ensure that your endpoints are protected against the most common entry points for attackers. 

2. Dependency Exploits in NuGet Packages

The Threat: 

Open-source dependencies are commonly utilized in .NET programming. However, hacked or outdated NuGet packages may introduce vulnerabilities, malware, or licensing issues into your application. 

Supply chain attacks are projected to be one of the most dangerous threats to all software ecosystems, including .NET. 

The Defense:  

Security-conscious developers should: 

• Use only trusted, validated packages from reputable publishers. 
• Scan dependencies regularly using tools such as Snyk, WhiteSource, or OWASP Dependency Check. 
• Enable GitHub’s Dependabot for automated updates. 
• Conduct code audits for essential libraries. 

Businesses can reduce their exposure to hidden vulnerabilities and malicious code injections by using dedicated .NET developers who follow safe package management procedures. 

3. Poor Authentication and Authorisation Flaws 

The Threat: 

Misconfigured or poorly handled identification systems remain a significant vulnerability in all applications. Attackers exploit weak login methods, insecure token storage, and ineffective access controls. 

In .NET applications, these issues frequently result in unauthorised data access, account takeovers, or privilege escalation. 

The Defense:  

Strong identity and access control are necessary. Secure.Net apps will include: 

• Azure Active Directory enables enterprise-grade identification. 
• Multi-factor authentication (MFA) 
• JWT token validation, including expiration and refresh tokens 
• Secure cookie management using the HTTPS, SameSite, and HttpOnly settings. 
• Defaults to least privilege access. 

Working with professional .NET services guarantees that identity is correctly integrated and managed using Microsoft’s best practices and security libraries. 

4. Insecure Configuration and Secret Exposure 

The Threat: 

Attackers frequently exploit simple flaws such as hardcoded credentials, unprotected configuration files, and misconfigured cloud resources. Secret sprawl is a significant worry, particularly in containerised or serverless .NET applications. 

The Defense:  

Proper secret management involves: 

• Storing secrets in Azure Key Vault 
• Setting up environment variables alongside secured appsettings.json files 
• Role-based access control for configuration settings 
• Service-to-service secure interaction with encrypted channels 
• Scanning for secrets during CI/CD pipeline execution 

With in-cloud deployment and scaling at speed, make sure you are onboard .NET developers who specialize in security at the level of deployment and environment isolation. 

5. Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) and Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)

The Threat: 

Modern web applications, including those built with ASP.NET Core, remain vulnerable to XSS and CSRF attacks. These malicious incursions have both historical roots and relentless contemporary presence. These attacks involve injecting malicious scripts into secure sites or deceiving users into executing actions they would otherwise not take. 

The Defense: 

Some of the mitigation strategies include: 

• Input sanitization and output encoding 
• Using built-in Razor helpers that auto-encode output 
• Implementing anti-CSRF tokens (ASP.NET Core has this by default) 
• Content Security Policies (CSP) to block unauthorized scripts 

A dedicated team of .NET developers can safeguard your front and backend against session and user-targeting scripted attacks. 

6. Insufficient Monitoring and Logging

The Threat: 

To respond to an attack, they must be detected first. Breaches that lack visibility due to insufficient logging and monitoring can remain undetected for weeks or months. 

Attackers will become increasingly stealthy, targeting low-visibility endpoints, edge APIs, and overlooked services. 

The Defense: 

• Implement central logging and SIEM systems: 
• Integrate with Azure Monitor, Application Insights, and Sentinel. 
• Structured logs should be employed with interesting metadata, such as IP addresses, user IDs, and request paths. 
• Look for unusual login patterns or resource usage. 
• Set alerts for suspicious behavior. 

Organizations that opt dedicated .NET developers with DevSecOps experience can integrate observability into their development lifecycle, thereby enhancing security and reducing incident response times. 

7. Injection Attacks: The Continuing Threat

The Threat: 

SQL Injection, XML Injection, and Command Injection continue to prevail, mainly due to legacy and intentionally flawed applications. Even with ORMs like Entity Framework, constructing insecure queries exposes your database. 

The Defense: 

Developers should: 

• Use parameterized queries and LINQ to SQL 
• Validate and sanitize user input 
• Never use dynamic SQL 
• Use database user accounts with the least potential privileges. 

By collaborating with .NET developers who are well-versed in secure database interactions, organizations reduce their risk of data loss or unauthorized access. 

8. Cloud Misconfigurations in Azure Deployments 

The Threat: 

As more .NET applications move to Azure, cloud misconfiguration is emerging as a major threat.  

From open ports to over-permissive roles, these gaps provide easy entry for attackers. 

The Defense: 

• An effective cloud posture involves: 
• Regular audit with Azure Security Center 
• Appropriate RBAC with Azure IAM 
• Encryption of all data in rest and transit 
• Isolation of networks using VNETs and firewalls 
• Least privilege for all cloud resources 

Being Azure-certified, security-aware .NET developers ensures applications and infrastructures are resilient to cloud-native threats. 

9. Lack of Compliance-Ready Architecture

The Threat: 

GDPR, HIPAA, and such worldwide privacy regulations keep on changing. Soon, non-compliance will result in loss of user trust, data breaches, and legal consequences, in addition to fines.  

The Defense: 

• Compliance-ready .NET systems stipulate: 
• Encryption for personal and health data 
• Consent management workflows 
• Data minimization and retention control 
• Complete audit trails and activity logs 
• Right to access and delete mechanisms 

Choosing dedicated .NET developers with experience in regulated industries would enable your architecture to keep pace with modern compliance standards. 

10. Insider Threats and Role Mismanagement 

The Threat: 

Not all threats are from outside. Insider threats, which can be malevolent or accidental, are of increasing concern. From shared admin accounts to over-permissioned users, the weakest link might be with one of your team members. 

The Defense: 

Some good controls to put in place include: 

• Identity governance with Azure AD 
• Regularly conduct access reviews and audits. 
• Least privilege at all layers 
• Separation of duties (e.g., dev vs prod environments) 
• Role-based dashboards and permission checks in your UI 

Expert .NET development services include modules for role management, admin control panels, and access logs to somewhat counteract such insider risks. 

Final Thoughts: Build Secure, Build Smart with .NET 

The .NET ecosystem provides almost limitless flexibility, performance, and integration capabilities, but security is never automatic. With the ever-growing sophistication of cyberattacks, the way .NET applications are architected and built must now change. 

API, cloud, DevSecOps, and compliance perspectives combine a healthy mix of tools, best practices, and developers to defend .NET implementations. 

By choosing dedicated .NET developers who work as an extension of your team, you can confidently build products that are not only scalable and fast but also secure by design. 

Preschool teachers use generative artificial intelligence the least out of educators in grades pre-K-12, but they are starting to use it more despite lack of guidance, according to a new report.

According to research from nonprofit think tank RAND, 29 percent of preschool teachers use generative artificial intelligence in the classroom, though 20 percent of those teachers use it less than once a week. Comparatively, 69 percent of high school teachers use generative AI, with 64 percent of middle school teachers and 42 percent of elementary school teachers using the technology.

“To me it raises the question of how AI use is going to evolve in pre-K,” Jordy Berne, an associate economist at RAND and co-lead on this study, said during a press briefing. “Are we going to learn more about developmental impacts that will prevent it from becoming more common? Or will we find ways to use it really productively, and it’ll be a great boost to teachers and pre-K students?”

A significant factor is a worry that for the youngest students, technology, particularly personal devices like iPads, could detract from their developing communication and social skills.

“One of the key concerns is developmentally appropriateness,” Berne says. “Teachers expressed concerns about children having too much screen time, which can detract from human interaction they deem necessary for social skills.”

Plugged In

But pre-K teachers are plenty plugged in.

In addition to asking about AI, the RAND research, called “the spring 2025 American Public School Pre-K Teacher Survey,” also asked pre-K teachers about their use of instructional, curricular and administrative edtech products and services. The survey polled roughly 2,000 pre-K teachers working in public schools.

Almost all of those surveyed — 98 percent — use online video or audio with their students, with 92 percent using it daily or weekly. Many teachers reported using videos or music for their students to give breaks for the students in between lessons and dance time.

Interactive whiteboards were among the top edtech tools used with students, at 77 percent. The teachers reported using them because they are visually stimulating and tactile, while researchers estimate use is high because teachers are familiar with the tools, since they have been around for more than a decade. The researchers added in their report that the whiteboards are typically used in large-group settings, helping with socialization, versus games on devices that are individual-focused.

Electronic device-enabled games were also used among more than half (64 percent) of pre-K classrooms, while 37 percent reported using digital educational programs. While that had the lowest usage among teachers, the report said those using educational programs found them very helpful, particularly with students learning English as a second language and children with disabilities.

Ways Pre-K Teachers Use Edtech in the Classroom

And for administrative edtech products, the majority of teachers surveyed — 82 percent — use platforms for family communication, with 75 percent using these tools daily or at least weekly. Most teachers (84 percent) agreed edtech could be particularly helpful in communicating with families.

Roughly the same amount (83 percent) used online and digital curriculum resources, though less than half (48 percent) used them daily or weekly. Over half also used assessment platforms and learning management systems (60 percent and 56 percent, respectively).

A majority say it could be helpful for bringing the “outside world” to their students, such as going on virtual field trips. There was also an optimism in sharing resources with other teachers through digital platforms, to stop them from “reinventing the wheel,” according to one teacher.

Ways Pre-K Teachers Think Edtech Is Helpful

One of the largest concerns from the RAND researchers was the “critical gap” between familiarity with educational technology products and how to actually assess those products. While 7 out of 10 preschool teachers reported receiving professional training about using edtech, less than 4 in 10 received professional training on assessing the quality of edtech products.

Share of Pre-K Teachers Who Received Edtech Training

“Especially as AI is evolving and the entire edtech landscape is evolving, it’s making it harder for teachers to know what is high and low quality,” Berne says. “So this is probably more important than ever.”