The widespread adoption of encryption began in the mid-1990s, coinciding with the internet’s rapid growth and increasing popularity. Before encryption data was transmitted in plain text, making it vulnerable to interception by cybercriminals. The need for encryption became apparent as online activities expanded, requiring secure exchange of sensitive information like passwords and financial data. The introduction to SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) and its successor, TLS (Transport Layer Security), along with HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure),…

ZDNET’s key takeaways The Lorex 2K Wi-Fi video doorbell is available for $180. The doorbell comes in wired and wireless installations, communicates reliably, and includes a preinstalled 32GB microSD card for local storage so you can bypass subscription fees. Although it has a 2K resolution, the image is so wide angle that objects look distorted. Video doorbells are among the best ways to start your smart home journey. They are easy to use and often…

Text-to-speech AI models are a great tool for instances where human voice actors are typically used, such as audiobooks, dubbing, commercials, and more. However, because these models are not human and unaware of what they say, they can sometimes sound noticeably robotic. Hume’s new AI model seeks to tackle this issue.  Also: 10 key reasons AI went mainstream overnight – and what happens next Octave On Wednesday, Hume launched Octave, a text-to-speech large language model (LLM)…

ZDNET’s key takeaways The Roborock Saros 10R is available for $1,600 This new robot vacuum and mop combination navigates complex areas and quietly vacuums, with a good mopping feature that reaches along the edges to not miss a spot The Saros 10R’s mirrored dock looks great, but the water tank is relatively small, lasting only a few cleanings, and the rotating mop pads aren’t as effective as roller mops, which are becoming more commonplace I’ve…

ZDNET Apple’s follow-up to the budget iPhone SE — the iPhone 16e — is here. As the more affordable option in the lineup, the tech giant cut a few features to keep costs down and make the pricier models more appealing.  One of the notable omissions? MagSafe.  Also: What does the ‘e’ in iPhone 16e stand for? While the iPhone 16e supports older, low-speed Qi wireless charging (capped at 7.5W), it lacks the magnets that…