Tucked away in a leafy part of south London, the historic Oval cricket stadium peeking above nearby houses, some 30 developers at Ustwo Games have been striving to solve one of the defining creative conundrums of modern entertainment: how do you balance the familiarity of a beloved franchise with freshness? The problem is exaggerated with Monument Valley, the acclaimed puzzle series that debuted in 2014. The architectural puzzles of the first entry already felt crystalline; the minimalist aesthetic was already fully formed. Can such a refined formula even be evolved?
Technology
Jeff Bezos says he’s ‘very optimistic this time around’ about Trump
Jeff Bezos and President-elect Donald Trump famously didn’t get along the last time Trump was in the White House. This time, Bezos says he’s “very optimistic” and even wants to help out.
“I’m actually very optimistic this time around,” Bezos said of Trump during a rare public appearance at The New York Times DealBook Summit on Wednesday. “He seems to have a lot of energy around reducing regulation. If I can help him do that, I’m going to help him.”
Trump railed against Bezos and his companies — Amazon, Blue Origin, and The Washington Post — during his 2016 term. Bezos defended himself but it did little to help his reputation with Trump. Now, his companies have a lot at stake in the coming administration, from the FTC’s antitrust lawsuit against Amazon to Blue Origin’s efforts to compete with SpaceX for government contracts.
Onstage at the DealBook Summit on Wednesday, Bezos called Trump “calmer this time” and “more settled.” He said he will try to “talk him out of” the idea that the press, which includes The Washington Post, is an enemy of the people.
“You’ve probably grown in the last eight years,” he said to DealBook’s Andrew Ross Sorkin. “He has, too.”
Bezos also echoed Sam Altman’s comments earlier in the day, saying he doesn’t expect Elon Musk to wield his new political power with DOGE against rivals. “I’ve had a lot success in life not being cynical,” he said. “And I’ve rarely been taken advantage of as a result.”
You can watch Bezos’s conversation with Andrew Ross Sorkin below:
Technology
The Suicide Squad game’s final season is coming less than a year after launch
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League only came out in February, but the game’s final season, which starts tomorrow, is going to be its last. Season 4 Episode 7 launches on Tuesday, and Episode 8, which is set to release on January 14th, 2025, will “serve as the last seasonal Episode for Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League,” developer Rocksteady announced on Monday.
After the release of the final content, the game will still be available to play online, according to a WB Games FAQ. But the game is also getting an offline mode tomorrow — which had been previously announced, though without a specific date beyond “2024” — that will let you play the main story and all seasonal story mission content without an internet connection.
The game has had a troubled history. The game was originally set to release in 2022 before being delayed multiple times. And a largely unsuccessful launch — in our review, we said the game “hides its brash personality under a generic looter shooter” — resulted in Warner Bros. Discovery announcing in May that it would be taking a $200 million loss on the game.
Technology
Router VPNs vs device VPNs: Which privacy solution is best for you?
VPNs (virtual private networks) are a powerful tool for securing your internet connection. They protect your data by encrypting it, making it harder for hackers or even your internet service provider (ISP) to see what you’re doing online. But how should you set up a VPN? Should you install it on each device or run it on your home network through a router? We will break down the pros and cons of both methods to help you make the right decision.
GET SECURITY ALERTS, EXPERT TIPS – SIGN UP FOR KURT’S NEWSLETTER – THE CYBERGUY REPORT HERE
How VPNs work
VPNs operate through two primary mechanisms: IP address masking and data encryption. When you connect to a VPN, it hides your real IP address by assigning you a new one from their server network, effectively preventing websites and cyber criminals from tracking your location or identifying you based on your IP address.
Simultaneously, VPNs encrypt all data transmitted between your device and the internet, rendering it unreadable to anyone who might attempt to intercept it. This encryption process ensures that sensitive information, such as credit card details, remains confidential throughout your online activities. By combining these two powerful features, VPNs create a secure tunnel for your internet traffic, significantly enhancing your online privacy and security.
VPN on devices vs. router: What’s the difference?
Understanding the difference between using a VPN on individual devices vs. setting it up on your router is crucial for maximizing your online security and privacy.
VPN on a device
Most people are familiar with using a VPN app on their phone, laptop or tablet. In this setup, the device connects directly to the internet through the VPN, keeping that device’s internet activity secure.
VPN on a router
With a VPN router, instead of installing a VPN on each device, the router connects to the VPN. This means every device connected to your Wi-Fi – whether a smartphone, laptop, gaming console or even a smart TV – automatically uses the VPN, even if that device doesn’t support VPN apps.
TOP ROUTERS FOR BEST SECURITY 2024
Why use a VPN router?
There are several advantages to running a VPN directly on your router.
1) Protect all the devices on your network
A VPN router ensures that every device on your network is protected, even those that don’t support VPNs, like smart home devices or certain game consoles. Once the router is set up with a VPN, it encrypts the internet traffic of all connected devices.
2) Set it and forget it
Installing or managing VPN software on every device is unnecessary with a VPN router. Once the router is configured, you can sit back and enjoy a protected internet connection across your entire home network. However, it’s a good idea to occasionally check that the connection is working properly using tools like DNS leak tests.
3) Increased privacy
Using a VPN prevents your ISP from seeing which websites or services you’re using. This is particularly useful if you’re concerned about privacy or want to access geo-restricted content, such as streaming services like Netflix or gaming platforms.
Are there any downsides to VPN routers?
While VPN routers are convenient, they do come with a few potential drawbacks.
1) Cost
Most basic routers provided by your ISP don’t support VPN connections. You’ll likely need to purchase a more advanced, VPN-compatible router, which can be pricier, starting at around $50 and going much higher for premium models.
2) Speed and performance
Encrypting all the traffic in your home network requires processing power. If you have a lot of devices connected at once, a primary router might struggle to keep up. In this case, a higher-end router with more processing power is recommended.
3) Less flexibility
When you use a VPN app on a device, switching server locations, adjusting security settings or choosing different VPN protocols is easy. Making these changes on a VPN router requires logging into the router’s settings, which can be more time-consuming and complicated.
DON’T TOSS YOUR OLD INTERNET ROUTER UNTIL YOU DO THIS
How to set up a VPN on a router
Setting up a VPN on your router may seem complex, but it significantly enhances your digital security, especially when paired with a robust router. Here’s how to approach this process.
Choose a compatible VPN service: Select a VPN provider that supports router installations. Look for services that offer comprehensive guides and customer support to assist you through the setup.
Select the right router: Ensure your router is VPN compatible and has strong security features. Opt for routers that support the latest Wi-Fi encryption standards, such as WPA3, and have built-in firewalls to protect against external threats. This will provide a solid foundation for your VPN connection.
Install the VPN: Follow your VPN provider’s step-by-step instructions to configure the service on your router. This typically involves entering your login credentials, installing necessary certificates and selecting a server location.
Test your connection: Once configured, verify that your VPN is functioning correctly by testing the connection. Ensure that all devices connected to the router are protected by the VPN.
Leverage additional security features: Take advantage of your router’s features such as guest networks and parental controls to enhance security further. A separate guest network prevents unauthorized access to your main network, while regular firmware updates from the manufacturer help mitigate vulnerabilities.
By integrating these steps, you not only set up a VPN but also fortify your home network against potential cyber threats.
BEST VPNs FOR BROWSING THE WEB PRIVATELY 2024
Should you use a VPN on a router or device?
When to use a VPN on a device:
- If you only need protection on a few devices, installing the VPN directly on your devices might be easier if you mostly use the internet on your phone and laptop.
- If you want flexibility, using a VPN app lets you quickly switch servers, change settings or disconnect the VPN when needed.
When to use a VPN on a router:
- If you have many devices, a VPN router is ideal if you have many devices connected to your Wi-Fi, especially if some of those devices don’t support VPN apps.
- If you want whole-home protection, a VPN router protects every device on your network, providing seamless security without the need to install apps on each one.
Find the perfect VPN software
When selecting a VPN on a device, you’ll want to choose trusted providers known for robust encryption and no-log policies to ensure your privacy. Whether for sensitive tasks or everyday use, reputable VPN services will boost your security and speed. For the best VPN software, see my expert review of the best VPNs for browsing the web privately on your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.
WHY YOU SHOULD BE USING A VPN TO SAFEGUARD YOUR STOCK TRADING ACTIVITIES
Both VPN routers and VPN apps have their own strengths, and the right choice depends on your specific needs. A VPN router might be the way to go if you’re looking for convenience and whole-home protection. But if you prefer flexibility and more control over individual devices, sticking with a VPN app might suit you better. Either way, a VPN is a great step toward protecting your privacy and securing your online activities.
What aspects of online privacy and security are most important to you when browsing the internet at home? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter. Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you’d like us to cover.
Follow Kurt on his social channels:
Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:
New from Kurt:
Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Kurt’s key takeaways
Technology
Monument Valley 3 comes to Netflix with an iconoclastic edge
Monument Valley 3, which arrives on mobile devices via Netflix on December 10th, answers that question confidently: yes, and then some.
In hindsight, 2017’s Monument Valley 2, an undeniably beautiful iteration of the era-defining original, didn’t push the envelope far enough. For the third entry, game director Jennifer Estaris says, “we knew we wanted to do a major change. We wanted to make a splash.” Estaris’ use of the word “splash” is instructive: at various points during Monument Valley 3, water begins to rise, submerging the looping staircases and Moorish towers that have defined the series. Elsewhere, players explore long stretches of open water on a boat, sailing along beautifully tessellated waves. Both offer a clue as to the more irreverent personality of this threequel — a desire to break with the past.
Nature and — most importantly — unruly, winding vegetative shapes, feature prominently in Monument Valley 3. It is a game about ecosystems. Genuine peril causes the game’s inhabitants to scatter. In a sense, they become refugees. An allegory for the climate crisis presents itself. But it’s not wholly accurate to think of Monument Valley 3 as growing directly out of The Lost Forest, a DLC add-on for Monument Valley 2, or that the expansion was a proof of concept for this wilder take.
Initially, a smaller team experimented with abandon. “We had a first-person version,” says Estaris. “We had a multiplayer version. We had one where you could create your own architecture. People could create their own levels.”
Slowly, themes began to emerge. The idea of found family became an anchor for the game’s developers, many of whom have migrant parents or, like Estaris, are new to the UK (she moved from Denmark). Lead designer Emily Brown, who grew up in the Middle East, remembers the team wanting to make a “more personal, people-oriented” experience — a counterpoint to the franchise’s, at times, coldly monolithic architecture. She recalls one scene that summed up the new direction: “a little hillside with little buildings on it, and a puzzle that takes place on a much smaller scale.” It became clear to Brown that Ustwo wasn’t making a “solitary” Monument Valley game. “It’s about bringing people together,” she says.
The first Monument Valley defined an era of premium mobile titles. It was the killer app for the iPad and iPhone, a game whose design-oriented ethos perfectly matched the form, function, and elegance of those devices. In the Ustwo studio, a chic, warehouse-type space with walls covered in colorful artworks, there is a shelf where a BAFTA award for Monument Valley sits. A dollhouse-sized model of Monument Valley is positioned on a table a handful of meters away, a physical ode to the franchise that has reached more than 150 million players. The series looms large in the studio’s psyche and occupies an important place in its finances.
“The first Monument Valley is a time capsule of 2013 / 2014 graphic design,” says lead artist Lili Ibrahim, referencing the clean lines of its perfectly crafted, impossible architecture and brain-massaging, soft-pastel color blends. Ibrahim wondered, “What can Monument Valley 3 be influenced by to create a time capsule of graphic design today?” She immersed herself in magazines, websites, and art exhibitions. Of particular resonance were “destructive” and “deconstructive” fashion editorials with paint splodges over the top of them and images butchered by gaping cut-out holes. Ibrahim attended a retrospective on the UK artist Cornelia Parker and saw the famous 1991 installation Cold Dark Matter: An Exploded View — essentially a freeze-frame of a garden shed at the moment of its obliteration. “Seeing this was so freeing to me,” she says. “I could imagine the buildings in Monument Valley doing this.”
This is precisely what happens in some of Monument Valley 3’s more visually striking puzzles. One origami-inspired stage, which is textured to evoke Japanese washi paper, sees architecture unfurl and unfold like a deconstructed 3D net. Another sees you literally exploding architecture in slow motion so that it comes to resemble a kind of blooming cubic flowerhead.
There is an ornateness to Monument Valley 3 that breaks with the restraint of previous entries. The curves of nature threaten to overwhelm the clean lines of the people-made structures; the colors are deep, rich, and at times, foreboding. Monument Valley 3 is a visually lusher, busier game than what came before. The level select screen sees the protagonist, Noor, standing in a lighthouse and rotating intricate stained glass panels. Diffuse light cascades through each resplendent image. The result is breathtakingly opulent.
An even bigger surprise is what’s happening to Monument Valley 3 after release. Ustwo is pivoting to a live-service model, albeit in a way that eschews the “grind” and “addictive, compulsive loops” of some free-to-play titles, says Estaris. Additional content will be released for at least a year after launch in the form of seasonal puzzles and storied chapters, a move that fits Netflix’s subscription model well. It presumably also makes solid business sense.
Estaris, who worked on the endless runner behemoth Subway Surfers before joining Ustwo in 2020, compares the base game to a piece of orchestral “classical music.” The additional content, meanwhile, is closer to “jazz” — looser, freer, and more experimental mechanically and visually. Estaris hopes players will develop a “healthy habit” with Monument Valley 3, akin to completing the “Sunday crossword puzzle.”
Monument Valley 3 arrives just over a decade after the original, and a lot more has changed than the decline of premium mobile and the rise of subscriptions. In 2014, users were still in their honeymoon period with smartphones and tablets. Now, the relationship has soured for many, who are reexamining their relationships with these devices. Short-form video has exploded thanks to TikTok, and there are concerns about the link between excessive screen time, social media use, and what some research groups call a “loneliness epidemic.” A common critique is that the extractive, capitalist logic of tech and digital media has intensified, finding newly vampiric ways of bleeding users’ attention dry.
Danny Gray, Ustwo’s chief creative officer, once called the original Monument Valley a “sanctuary in your pocket.” He emphasized that you could pull out your smartphone anywhere — the bus, the toilet, the airport — and enter into a chill Zen-like space. You feel this sensibility even more acutely playing Monument Valley 3. For all the various ways it moves with the times — the live-service pivot, newly embellished visuals, and freeform gameplay — its meditative core remains intact. This is no mean feat in an era when most digital media and, crucially, the act of interfacing with it, feels defined by a kind of anxiety and restlessness.
“I’m not saying Monument Valley 3 is a perfect corrective to all that,” says lead producer John Lau. “But it is made in the spirit of something that is not disposable — something that you can cherish and take with you as a memory.”
-
Technology1 week ago
Elon Musk targets OpenAI’s for-profit transition in a new filing
-
Sports1 week ago
One Black Friday 2024 free-agent deal for every MLB team
-
News1 week ago
Rassemblement National’s Jordan Bardella threatens to bring down French government
-
Technology1 week ago
9 ways scammers can use your phone number to try to trick you
-
World1 week ago
Georgian PM praises country's protest crackdown despite US condemnation
-
World6 days ago
Freedom is permanent for Missourian described as the longest-held wrongly incarcerated woman in US
-
Technology3 days ago
Struggling to hear TV dialogue? Try these simple fixes
-
World6 days ago
Brussels denies knowledge of Reynders's alleged money laundering