Technologies

These $70 EarFun Earbuds Punch Above Their Price and They’re 30% Off Right Now

EarFun’s Air Pro 4 Plus are built to compete with flagship models and packed with features that make everyday listening smarter and smoother.

If you’re looking for wireless earbuds that deliver premium sound without the premium price tag, EarFun’s Air Pro 4 Plus might be your next go-to. With adaptive noise cancellation, hi-res audio and a dual-driver system, they’re built to compete with flagship models and packed with features that make everyday listening smarter and smoother.

Right now, you can score the EarFun Air Pro 4 Plus earbuds for just $70 — that’s 30% off the regular $100 price when you combine the 20% on-page coupon with code AP4PCNET at checkout. Grab the deal while it lasts. For more audio picks under $100, check out our review of the Air Pro 4+ and our best wireless earbuds roundup.

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The Air Pro 4 Plus earbuds feature a hybrid dual-driver system — pairing a 10mm dynamic driver with a FeatherBA balanced armature — for deep bass and crisp treble. They’re powered by Qualcomm’s QCC3091 SoC and certified for Snapdragon Sound with aptX Lossless, LDAC and LE Audio support.

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Adaptive hybrid ANC with QuietSmart 3.0 cancels up to 50dB of ambient noise, which ensures clear sound and clear calls. You’ll also get Bluetooth 6.0 with multipoint pairing, Auracast audio sharing and Google Fast Pair for quick setup.

Battery life is impressive: up to 12 hours on a single charge and 54 hours total with the case. A 10-minute quick charge gives you 3 hours of playtime and the earbuds support both fast and wireless charging. They’re also IP55 rated for water and dust resistance.

In his review, CNET’s David Carnoy noted that the Air Pro 4 Plus earbuds offer “premium sound for less than $80,” calling them “a strong value with features that rival more expensive models.”

For more budget-friendly audio picks, check out our top headphone deals.

Why this deal matters

This is one of the best prices we’ve seen on the EarFun Air Pro 4 Plus and it’s a rare chance to grab hi-res, ANC-equipped earbuds for under $100. With Snapdragon Sound, LDAC, multipoint pairing and 54-hour battery life, they’re a smart buy for anyone who wants flagship features without the flagship price.

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Technologies

You Probably Have a Better Password Than The Louvre Did: Learn From Its Mistake

Following the infamous jewel heist, reports show the museum’s security and password habits were atrocious.

Is your password easily guessable? Is it, oh, I don’t know, maybe the name of the world-famous Paris museum you’re trying to protect?

The brazen theft of more than $100 million in jewels from the world-famous Louvre on Oct. 19 captured the world’s attention, for obvious reasons. As of Wednesday, French police have arrested seven suspects, but the jewels have not yet been recovered. Now reports show the Louvre has had security issues in the past, including one that wouldn’t pass the most basic cybersecurity test: The museum’s name itself, Louvre, may have been one of its passwords.

The French newspaper Libération reports that the French cybersecurity agency ANSSI audited the Louvre’s security in 2014 and 2015. The museum failed badly.

One part of the audit described unguarded rooftop access. That’s somewhat relevant today, since thieves reportedly used a truck-mounted electric ladder to reach a balcony and cut through window glass. Not quite the roof, but apparently equally unguarded.

The audit also said the museum’s security software at the time was running on Windows Server 2003, which was set to lose support from Microsoft at that time, more than a decade ago.

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The Louvre’s password was once ‘Louvre’

One of the most significant flaws in the Louvre’s cybersecurity was lazy password use. «Louvre» appeared to be the password to access the museum’s video surveillance. One computer login password was «Thales,» the name of the software developer, which we’re guessing was visible on the login screen.

A representative for the Louvre didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

While Libération’s investigation indicated that many of the same problems remain, we don’t know which issues the Louvre staff corrected in the decade since the audit. Perhaps the Louvre’s current password is L0uvr31500$$ now or something even tougher to guess. M0n@ L1$@, maybe?

Now is an excellent time to update your own passwords

If the Louvre report wasn’t enough incentive, it’s essential to give your own passwords a check ahead of the holidays, when many people increase their online shopping time.

CNET’s latest survey shows that nearly half of Americans engage in risky password habits. US adults don’t shy away from using personal information as a part of their passwords. Fifteen percent include birthdays or anniversaries, 14% include a pet’s name and 11% use part of the user’s own name or a family member’s name.

You can improve passwords with a few simple steps, or use a password manager that can generate strong passwords and keep them organized. When creating passwords, keep a few essential points in mind.

Don’t use your name or any identifying information as part of your password.
Use passwords that include upper and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols.
Update your passwords if you become aware of a data breach affecting services you use.
Don’t leave any unencrypted notes revealing your password lying around.

Remember, today’s passwords aren’t just on your phone and computer, but also on potentially vulnerable devices like Wi-Fi routers, security systems and more.

Technologies

Got Poor Internet Access? Verizon’s New $25 Per Month Internet Plan May Help

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for Nov. 6, #409

Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for Nov. 6, No. 409.

Looking for the most recent regular Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.

Today’s Connections: Sports Edition is a bit tricky. If you went to the University of Kentucky, you can celebrate the purple group, but it was a stumper for me. If you’re struggling but still want to solve it, read on for hints and the answers.

Connections: Sports Edition is published by The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by the Times. It doesn’t show up in the NYT Games app but appears in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can play it for free online.

Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta

Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Toss it!

Green group hint: Take off with the pigskin.

Blue group hint: Are you in a league?

Purple group hint: Pro Wildcats.