Emily Long

Firefox is gradually rolling out native ad blocking on iOS, but the feature is experimental, unavailable to all users, and disabled by default. Once enabled through Settings > Browsing or the site menu, it blocks many third-party ad networks, trackers, pop-ups, and overlays, while allowing search ads, Firefox-sponsored content, and some ads outside the EasyList filter. The feature works only within Firefox; iOS 26 URL filters and apps such as Wipr 2 are needed to block ads elsewhere.

The article provides hints and the solution for Wordle puzzle #1,886 on August 18, 2026. It identifies the answer as STRIP, a five-letter word meaning a piece of land and associated with Las Vegas, with one vowel, no repeated letters, and starting with S and ending with P. It also explains the author’s solving process, reviews Wordle rules and strategies, and lists alternative word games.

AmnesiaStealer is being distributed to macOS users through ClickFix social-engineering campaigns involving fake GitHub pages and malicious Terminal commands. The malware can copy Chromium browser profiles, hijack authenticated sessions, access cookies and saved credentials, and collect sensitive data including cryptocurrency wallets, macOS passwords, keychain information, Telegram sessions, documents, and system details. Users are advised not to execute Terminal commands from untrusted sources and to be skeptical of fake error messages, CAPTCHA prompts, and fraudulent verification labels.

The article provides hints and the solution for Wordle puzzle #1,884 on August 16, 2026. The answer is ASPIC, a five-letter word beginning with A, ending with C, containing two vowels and no repeated letters. It also explains Wordle’s rules, reviews starter-word strategies and solving techniques, and lists alternative games including Dordle, Quordle, Waffle and Absurdle.

Apple threat notifications warning iPhone users about mercenary spyware are generally legitimate but should be verified in the device’s Settings and Apple Account dashboard. Genuine alerts appear on the Lock Screen and in Settings and are accompanied by an email from Apple, while they never ask users to click links, download files, install apps, or provide credentials. Because these alerts typically target high-risk individuals such as politicians, journalists, and activists, most users are unlikely to receive one. Affected users should follow Apple’s security guidance, which may include enabling Lockdown Mode, and can seek help from Access Now’s Digital Security Helpline.

Microsoft will begin disabling Manifest V2 extensions in Edge by default and plans to end support for most of them by the end of 2026, with enterprise support lasting into early 2027. The change affects users of uBlock Origin and other older ad blockers; uBlock Origin Lite and other Manifest V3 alternatives remain available but are less effective because of platform restrictions. Users seeking stronger ad blocking can switch to non-Chromium browsers such as Firefox, Brave, or DuckDuckGo, while Opera currently says it will continue supporting Manifest V2.

Hackers have stolen more than $130 million in cryptocurrency by exploiting a vulnerability in Coldcard hardware wallets made by Coinkite. The flaw made wallet seed phrases predictable, allowing attackers to brute-force access to users’ funds despite the wallets being offline. Coinkite has patched the affected firmware, and users are advised to update their devices, migrate funds to a newly generated seed phrase according to the security advisory, and diversify storage while keeping minimal assets in internet-connected hot wallets.

The article provides hints and the solution for Wordle puzzle #1,870 on August 2, 2026. The answer is PENAL, a five-letter word beginning with P, ending with L, containing two vowels, and having no repeated letters. It also explains how Wordle works, reviews effective starting words and solving strategies, discusses the New York Times’ editorial role, gives the previous answer SLUSH, and lists alternative word games.

The article presents ten Google Sheets techniques for improving productivity and data management, including creating copy or download links, linking directly to cells, using SPARKLINE charts, applying gradient-based conditional formatting, inserting Smart Chips, creating dropdown shortcuts, importing and cleaning web data, connecting spreadsheets to Google Forms, and translating cell contents with formulas.

Netflix’s August 2026 lineup is relatively light but includes returning seasons of Tires, Outer Banks, and Love Is Blind: UK, along with new titles such as Let’s Marry Harry, The Whisper Man, and the Boeing whistleblower documentary Freefall: A Reckoning for Boeing. The service will also stream a Phillies-versus-Twins MLB Field of Dreams event. Numerous films and series, including the Spider-Man trilogy and Pretty Woman, are scheduled to leave the platform during the month.

Lifehacker provides hints and the solution for Wordle puzzle #1,866 on July 29, 2026. The answer is VALVE, a mechanical control with two vowels, one repeated letter, and a V-to-E pattern. The article also explains Wordle’s rules, reviews solving strategies and starter words, discusses how the New York Times manages the game’s solution list, gives the previous answer SONAR, and lists alternative word games.

Researchers have identified an Android ad-fraud scheme called AfterCall, in which seemingly harmless utility apps use overlay permissions to display full-screen advertisements after phone calls. Users can investigate Settings > Apps > Special app access, identify unfamiliar apps with permission to display over other apps, disable unnecessary permissions, and uninstall suspicious apps. The apps appear to be primarily an annoyance rather than confirmed data-harvesting malware, but unnecessary permissions create security risks and may waste advertisers’ budgets or damage their reputations.

The July 25, 2026 Wordle puzzle is #1,862, with the answer ALOHA. Hints indicate that the word starts and ends with A, contains two vowels including one repeated vowel, and has an island greeting as its clue. The article also explains Wordle’s rules, reviews solving strategies and strong starter words, and lists alternative five-letter guessing games.

Facebook is introducing a free verification feature for users aged 18 and older who submit a short selfie video for comparison with profile photos. Approved users receive a white check mark visible on their profiles and in Marketplace, Dating, and Groups, while the feature initially launches in select markets and excludes Pages and ProMode accounts. The feature is separate from the paid Meta Verified subscription and its blue check mark. Facebook may retain submitted videos for up to 30 days, prompting privacy concerns about facial-recognition data and Meta’s broader use of user data for AI training.

Apple released the second public betas of iOS 27 and macOS 27, allowing enrolled users with compatible iPhones and Macs to test the upcoming software. macOS 27 mainly brings bug fixes and performance and stability improvements, while iOS 27 adds Siri voice options, a Siri AI introduction screen, an AirPods Pro adaptive mode control, automatic TV episode downloads and storage management, chat-list text preview controls, and a photo display-fill option. Users are advised to enroll in Apple's beta program and back up their data because public beta software may still contain bugs.

Mac users are being targeted by CrashStealer, a new macOS malware disguised as a legitimate crash-reporting tool to steal system passwords, keychain data, browser information, password manager contents, and cryptocurrency wallet details. Delivered through a fake meeting platform site, the malware mimics Apple authorization prompts to capture credentials and exfiltrates encrypted stolen data. Users are warned to avoid installing unverified apps and to note that legitimate crash reports never require system passwords.

Microsoft’s July Patch Tuesday update fixes a record 570 Windows vulnerabilities, including three zero‑day flaws that were exploited or publicly disclosed. The update covers a wide range of critical issues, with two zero‑days involving elevation‑of‑privilege vulnerabilities and a third affecting BitLocker security. Users are urged to install the update promptly through Windows Update to ensure their systems are protected.

Desktop PCs can be given wireless connectivity through a USB Wi-Fi adapter, a dedicated PCIe Wi-Fi card, or a motherboard with built-in Wi-Fi. USB adapters are the easiest to install but may suffer from sleep-mode interruptions, inconsistent performance, and weaker signals. PCIe adapters generally provide more stable connections and better throughput, though they require internal installation and available motherboard space. A Wi-Fi-enabled motherboard is most suitable for users already planning a broader PC upgrade.