Category: Technology

The Social Security Administration’s (SSA) chief data officer, Charles Borges, has filed a whistleblower complaint alleging that members of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) uploaded a copy of a key Social Security database to an unsecured cloud environment in June, the New York Times reported. This may have exposed the personal information of hundreds of millions of Americans. The complaint alleges that under the authority of the SSA’s Chief Information Officer, Aram Moghaddassi, a copy of the country’s Social Security information was held in a cloud environment that lacked any security oversight or adherence to SSA security protocols. The information uploaded was from the Numerical Identification System (Numident) database, and includes the names, Social Security numbers, place and date of birth, citizenship, race, ethnicity, address and even parents’ names of anyone who has ever had a Social Security number, even those who are no longer alive.

 “Mr. Borges has raised concerns internally with various authorities in the Chief Information Officer’s (CIO) office and to date has not been made aware of any remedial action. He therefore elevates his concerns out of a sense of urgency and duty to the American public,” the  complaint states. “Should bad actors gain access to this cloud environment, Americans may be susceptible to widespread identity theft, may lose vital health care and food benefits, and the government may be responsible for reissuing every American a new Social Security number at great cost.” 

The approvals to copy the Numident database were, despite the enormous risk of that information falling into the wrong hands, approved expeditiously, according to the complaint. “I have determined the business need is higher than the security risk associated with this implementation and I accept all risks,” Moghaddassi wrote in a memo. Another senior DOGE official, Michael Russo, is alleged to have signed off on the decision in under half an hour. Before accepting his position as CIO, Moghaddassi worked for then-de facto DOGE boss Elon Musk at both Neuralink and X.

In a statement to the New York Times, SSA spokesperson Nick Perrine said the agency was “not aware of any compromise to this environment” and that “the data referenced in the complaint is stored in a longstanding environment used by S.S.A. and walled off from the internet.”

That DOGE should have access to sensitive data in the first place was the subject of tension within the federal government earlier this year. Several lawsuits attempted to block DOGE from accessing SSA, Treasury and Office of Personnel Management data. Via the so-called shadow docket, the Supreme Court struck down a Fourth Circuit injunction preventing the agency from siphoning SSA data in June. Among his other allegations, Borges claims DOGE regained access to the data during the injunction period.  

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/whistleblower-claims-doge-uploaded-social-security-data-to-unsecure-cloud-server-183500867.html?src=rss 

Dyson is holding a Labor Day sale right now, with discounts on a bunch of products. The well-reviewed 360 Vis Nav robot vacuum is available for just $500, which is a discount of 50 percent. That’s a seriously great deal and the lowest price we’ve seen for this product.

The Vis Nav made our list of the best robot vacuums, primarily based on the unit’s superior suction power. This thing can pull up dirt like a beast. We said it had the strongest suction power of any robovac we’ve tested and easily took out pet fur from a carpeted floor. We also noted in our official review that the power here was on par with Dyson’s stick vacuums.

The unit includes a stellar obstacle avoidance system, with cameras and LED lights to help the vacuum navigate around furniture. During our testing we found it to be nearly flawless, as it only crashed into a chair leg a couple of times. Also, we never received any alerts that the robot got stuck somewhere while working.

The bin here is on the larger side, but there’s no self-emptying base. This is also not a hybrid unit. It’s a vacuum and not a mop. This made it tough to recommend the unit at $1,000, despite the fantastic suction, but $500 makes it a whole lot easier.

The Dyson V15s Detect Submarine is also down to $800 as part of this sale, which is a discount of $200. This cordless stick vacuum features a HEPA filtration system and advanced wet-cleaning capabilities. It’s a great tool for cleaning both carpets and hard floors.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/dysons-labor-day-sale-includes-the-360-vis-nav-robot-vacuum-for-500-off-172759393.html?src=rss 

AT&T is set to acquire $23 billion worth of spectrum licenses from EchoStar, the parent company of Dish Network, Sling TV and Boost Mobile. The deal will see AT&T gain control of approximately 50MHz of low-band and mid-band spectrum, which are frequencies commonly used in 5G and LTE networks.

EchoStar had been under pressure from the FCC to build out the spectrum in its portfolio or consider divesting it. The FCC’s regulations take a ‘use it or lose it‘ approach to ensure that the spectrum licenses granted by the government actually lead to real service for customers and not spectrum warehousing.

As part of the agreement, AT&T and EchoStar will add to their long-term wholesale network services agreement, allowing EchoStar to operate as a hybrid mobile network operator providing service under the Boost Mobile brand. This means Boost Mobile will begin relying primarily on AT&T’s network infrastructure, though customers will still have access to the T-Mobile network. The arrangement will also ask Boost Mobile to wind down elements of its own limited cellular infrastructure.

The licenses cover more than 400 markets in the US, and the company says it intends to begin deploying these licenses as soon as possible. The acquisition is expected to close in mid-2026 and is subject to regulatory approval.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/att-acquires-23-billion-worth-of-spectrum-licenses-from-echostar-154549655.html?src=rss 

The newest Apple M4 iMac desktop computer is on sale via Amazon for $1,150. This is a discount of $150 and a record-low price. The deal applies to all available colorways. This version was originally released at the tail-end of last year.

We heaped praise on this model in our official review, calling it the “best all-in-one” out there. The M4 processor is extremely capable for both garden variety computing tasks and more advanced stuff like video-editing and music-making. The iMac also comes with 16GB of RAM as the base-level option.

The webcam has been significantly improved over its predecessor, so this is a capable machine for Zoom calls and the like. The 24-inch Retina display is crisp and the various colorways are easy on the old eyeballs.

This deal is for the entry-level model and there really isn’t any way to make adjustments, which happens sometimes when buying Apple stuff on Amazon. This translates to 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The RAM is fine for most applications, but that storage is going to fill up fast. Luckily, there are four Thunderbolt ports in the back for attaching an external.

Check out our coverage of the best Apple deals for more discounts, and follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/apples-m4-imac-is-back-on-sale-for-a-record-low-price-155826634.html?src=rss 

Considering its popularity, Google Translate sure hasn’t received much attention lately. However, that just changed with a big update. The latest app introduces AI-powered live translation along with new language learning tools that might give Duolingo a run for it’s money.

Google said it heard from users that the toughest skill to master was conversation — ie, learning to listen and speak with confidence. To that end, it’s piloting a new language practice feature (on iOS or Android) targeted toward an individual’s specific needs.

To create tailored listening and practicing sessions, the new learning tool posts a couple of questions. It first requests which language you want to learn (like Spanish) and your your current level, then asks “What’s motivating you to learn Spanish?” From there, it will generate customized scenarios that allow you to either listen to conversations or practice speaking, with helpful hints available when needed.

The app was “developed with learning experts based on the latest studies in language acquisition,” Google explained in a blog post. To that end, it can track your daily progress to help build your language skills, possibly as an aid to Duolingo and other dedicated language learning apps. “We see what we’re doing right now as really complementary to other things out there,” Google product manager Matt Sheets said in a media roundtable. “So whether you’re taking classes in a formal educational setting or doing immersion experiences, we think this is something that can work alongside of those.”

Following early testing, language learning is rolling out more widely as a beta experience for English speakers practicing Spanish and French, as well as Spanish, French and Portugese speakers working on English.

Google also introduced AI-powered live conversations, a feature that builds on Translate’s existing conversation feature by making it more seamless and adding more powerful models. It offers the ability to have a back-and-forth conversation in real time with audio and on-screen translations right inside the Translate app.

It’s available in the Translate app for Android or iOS when tapping on “Live Translate.” First select the languages you want to converse in and being speaking. You’ll hear the translation out loud and written in both languages on your devices. It will switch between the two languages spoken by you and the other party, identifying pauses, accents and intonations so you can have a natural conversation.

Live translation uses Google’s advanced Gemini voice and speech recognition models designed to help isolate sounds, so it works better than before in real-world environments like a noisy cafe or airport. The company noted that the new models helped it “take huge strides in translation quality, multimodal translation and text-to-speech (TTS) capabilities.” The new live translate mode supports 70 languages including Arabic, French, Hindi, Korean, Spanish, and Tamil and is now rolling out in the US, India and Mexico.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/google-translates-latest-feature-is-its-take-on-duolingo-160035157.html?src=rss 

The wait is over: Apple has announced the dates for its 2025 fall event. The company will unveil new hardware on September 9 at 1PM ET at its Cupertino headquarters. The tag line for the event is “awe dropping,” which doesn’t give a whole lot away. 

There has been plenty of speculation already about what will be announced at the upcoming event. The highlight of the iPhone lineup this year is expected to be a new ultra-thin, ultra-light, most likely called the iPhone 17 Air. We’ve already heard rumors about everything from the frame material to the battery for this new offering, so it should be interesting to see whether Apple has managed to keep anything about iPhone 17 Air under wraps to reveal during the event.

The rest of the iPhone lineup will likely follow the usual trends from past years, with a base iPhone 17 model, a flashier iPhone 17 Pro, and a flashier and bigger iPhone 17 Pro Max. Autumn can also be a time for Apple to share updates to share about its accessories lineup, so be sure to tune in if you’re looking for the latest on AirPods or Apple Watch. And we already have the software side of the new wave covered, with iOS 26 introduced during WWDC and a public beta underway.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/apple-will-host-its-iphone-17-event-on-september-9-160502418.html?src=rss 

It’s been only a, *checks watch*, casual 15 years since the last Skate game came out. Now, we finally have an early access release date for skate. (styled lowercase, with a period): September 16, 2025. The early access version is free and heading to PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC via Steam, Epic Games Store and the EA app.

Today’s announcement gave us not only the date, but a first look at the cover art and a trailer. You can see it all for yourself on skate.‘s YouTube channel. 

While September 16 won’t see the full release of skate., it should give us a great taste of what awaits in San Vansterdam. The game is open-world and its setting comprises four distinct neighborhoods that have been taken over by the corporate anti-skateboarding overlord M-Corp. But, now, its empire is crumbling and skaters are coming out to play.

To say the fourth installment in the Skate franchise is a long time coming is a bit of an understatement. Electronic Arts published the first three games in the series between 2007 and 2010. But it wasn’t until 2021 that EA announced it had created a new studio, Full Circle, to develop the latest Skate game. The new skate. will also be a free-to-play live service title with microtransactions, though without any pay-to-win elements.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/the-new-skate-hits-consoles-and-pc-in-early-access-on-september-16-162034833.html?src=rss 

Fittingly enough, the team behind Baby Steps is treading cautiously. The walking simulator was previously scheduled to arrive on PS5 and Steam on September 8, but Hollow Knight: Silksong‘s imminent release date of September 4 prompted publisher Devolver Digital (and developers Bennett Foddy, Gabe Cuzzillo and Maxi Boch) to delay their game until September 23.

They made the announcement with the help of a funny clip that sees Baby Steps protagonist Nate trying to scale a replica of Silksong‘s Hornet only to inevitably tumble into the dirt. “Nate, the wary, onesie-donned failson at the heart of the eccentric adventure in literal walking simulator Baby Steps, has stumbled after attempting to ascend his greatest challenge yet: launching the week after Hollow Knight: Silksong‘s surprise release date,” Devolver said in a press release.

Baby Steps is a sort-of spiritual successor to Foddy’s classic, rage-inducing QWOP, in that you take granular control over Nate’s legs to help him climb a mountain. I’ve been looking forward to the full game — especially after enjoying the silliness of the demo — but I don’t mind waiting a couple of extra weeks for it.

Several other indie developers and publishers have delayed their games to avoid getting swallowed up by the Silksong discourse. The horror-tinged, slot machine-based roguelite CloverPit and tactics RPG Demonshool have moved from September 3 to September 26 and November 19, respectively, while the 1.0 version of adventure RPG Faeland and a Metroidvania called Aeterna Lucis no longer have firm release dates. However, Bloober Team is staying the course with Cronos: The New Dawn, which is still set for September 5, and Rogue Factor is doing the same with Hell is Us (September 4).

These delays are reminiscent of reports that publishers and developers were putting off any fall release date announcements for their games for fear of getting crushed by Grand Theft Auto VI, which was supposed to be dropping by the end of the year. Rockstar has delayed its game until May but Devlover says it’s not running scared of that particular blockbuster — it has committed to releasing a game on the same day as GTA VI. However, Silksong perhaps seems like just too formidable an opponent for Baby Steps.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/hollow-knight-silksong-release-date-prompts-another-game-delay-as-baby-steps-inches-back-153301303.html?src=rss 

My first thought when I heard Spotify had launched a messaging service was, “Why?” But, after looking into it a bit more, I’m intrigued at the idea of sharing recommendations within the app.

So, what is Spotify’s new Messages feature? Basically, like Instagram, TikTok and other social media platforms, Spotify is creating a way for you to share content and thoughts from within its app. You can send playlists, songs and podcasts without having to use a link on another platform. 

You can see the Messages feature by clicking on your profile photo. Spotify should recommend accounts you’ve interacted with before, whether for creating a playlist, joining a jam or sharing a family plan. You can start a conversation there or by clicking the share button on any piece of content within Spotify. This tab is also where you can return to chats and approve message requests. 

Spotify claims that it wants Messages to “complement” other sharing options, like posting a song to social media, rather than serve as a replacement. But, if you find switching apps a bit clunky, then this is a good alternative for sending content. 

However, it’s not clear exactly who can use the new feature. According to Spotify, Messages will start rolling out this week to both free and premium users who are over the age of 16. But, the feature is limited to mobile devices in “select markets.” 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/music/spotify-introduces-an-in-app-messaging-feature-134401088.html?src=rss