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3 Apr 2025

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Parents allowed to block children's games and friends on Roblox
They are the latest safety measures from the gaming platform, which has faced questions over inappropriate content.

Review: The Sex Pistols at Auckland Town Hall prove punk is not dead
Punk is dead, people have been saying since 1978 or so. Of course, that's a lie. It's still there, just constantly changing.

Does a VPN really provide 100% privacy? Here’s what you need to know
VPNs, or virtual private networks, can help you do a lot of things online that you wouldn’t be able to otherwise. From accessing websites and services in other countries to providing an extra layer of security to things such as banking or torrenting. But the single most popular usage of a VPN is to enhance privacy by hiding your internet activity. Many wonder though, will using a VPN keep your activity completely private online? I’ll make this really simple: No, a VPN does not provide you with 100 percent privacy online. In fact, no privacy tool can completely hide your digital presence or keep you anonymous. So, there you have it, question answered, right? Not so fast. Just because a VPN, or anything else for that matter, can’t deliver total privacy, doesn’t mean they aren’t worth using. Some privacy is better than none and keeping your traffic hidden from certain prying eyes, like your ISP (Internet Service Provider), can come with useful advantages. The very best VPNs are powerful tools that everyone should be using regardless. Privacy vs. anonymity I think it’s important here to first distinguish between online privacy and anonymity. Online privacy means obfuscating or hiding your activity from snooping third parties such as your ISP or hackers on a public Wi-Fi network. But while your activity can be hidden to a degree, websites will still store cookies and basic information about your last visit. Online anonymity, however, means that you leave utterly zero trace of your presence while connected to the internet. And when I say 100 percent privacy, I mean total anonymity. This is nigh impossible in today’s world of pervasive online trackers and vast meta-data consumption. If we can’t remain completely anonymous online, is there still a benefit to remaining private? Yes, absolutely. Keeping your online activities as private as possible is crucial to maintaining control over your data, maximizing freedom, and avoiding unwanted digital risks. While a VPN won’t keep you anonymous, it does encrypt your data and hide it from outside observers, helping to maintain higher levels of privacy. Best vpn for privacy Mullvad Read our review What does a VPN hide? IP address Your IP (Internet Protocol) address is a unique numerical label assigned to your device that can be used to identify you and your location. A VPN masks it by rerouting your traffic through a remote VPN server. This way, websites and other third parties will see the IP address of the VPN server rather than your actual IP while connected. Browsing activity A VPN can hide your browsing activity from your ISP. While connected to a VPN, the client encrypts the traffic leaving your device so that any snooping third parties can’t decipher what you’re doing online. Your ISP will know that you’re using a VPN, but will no longer see your specific online activity. It’s worth noting that even in private browsing mode, an ISP can still monitor your traffic, that’s why it’s best to use it in combination with a VPN for the greatest effect. Location Since your IP address is linked to your location, and it’s not too difficult for anyone savvy enough to find your IP address, that means that your actual location is easily discoverable while online. A VPN encrypts your data and reroutes it through a VPN server so anyone tracking you will only see the VPN server location instead of your actual location. Downloads Just like your browsing history, a VPN hides your downloads from your ISP and other third parties. Your ISP will still be able to see the amount of data you’re downloading, but not the actual file names or content themselves. As a side note, a VPN by itself will not keep you safe from accidentally downloading malicious files. You should always make sure you’re downloading legitimate files from sources you trust—and always use some form of antivirus software! Further reading: VPNs and the law: How often does law enforcement actually request VPN logs? VPNs themselves Sometimes websites can recognize and block traffic coming from a VPN connection. However, if your VPN service provides obfuscated servers you may even be able to hide the fact that you’re using a VPN thanks to these extra stealthy connections. What does a VPN not hide? Data you provide to websites Using a VPN doesn’t hide your identity from sites that you willingly provide information to, such as social media or shopping sites. Any information that you provide to these sites, any photos or comments you post will all be tied back to you even with a VPN connection. Sure, your ISP won’t be able to see that you’re currently scrolling on TikTok, but as soon as you sign in to your account and like that video, there is a record and timestamp of that activity connected to you. This is why, with or without a VPN, it’s practically impossible to be 100 percent anonymous online. No matter how many steps you take, it’s likely that you’ll still be unwittingly sharing and revealing your identity and location to someone. Total bandwidth usage While a VPN may be able to obfuscate and hide the names and contents of the files you’re downloading and the sites you’re visiting, it can’t hide from your ISP how much bandwidth all of that is taking up. They won’t be able to see that you’re downloading a large torrent file, but they can see that you used 20GB of data. Cookies and browsing history A VPN can hide your search history from your ISP and other third parties, but it doesn’t hide it from the actual websites you visit. Google can still see and track your search queries. The same goes for website cookies that track your activity and remember your preferences—think login info or items you added to your shopping cart. In order to hide these you will need to take the additional steps of using a private browsing mode or regularly clearing cookies on your device. Likewise, if you’re worried about your search history remaining private, it’s best to choose a search engine that prioritizes user privacy. Your device from online threats Keeping your online activity more private can help mitigate some threats such as certain hacks or cyberattacks, but a VPN by itself will not provide complete protection against malware or viruses. It’s best to always use a trusted antivirus software in tandem with your VPN for better security. Can you be tracked online with a VPN? This infographic from NordVPN shows the relative protections you can expect against various third parties with a VPN connection. NordVPN The answer to this question ultimately comes down to what sort of tracking you’re worried about. If you use a VPN, but log into your Google account, then Google will still be able to see what sites you visit and the content you view. To mitigate tracking by Big Tech entities, you’ll need to use alternatives such as private browsers, privacy-first email services, and anti-tracking extensions. If you’re instead worried about your ISP tracking you or you live under a totalitarian regime, then a VPN will be more useful. It’s worth noting though, that even with a VPN, a government or third party with enough resources and know-how can still find a way to connect you to your online traffic. A VPN can make it more difficult to track your activity online, but never impossible. Thankfully, for the vast majority of us, a VPN will be enough to keep our digital lives hidden from ISPs and the like. And this is important because certain activities that our ISPs can punish us for aren’t illegal. Things such as the sharing of legal torrent files or accessing geo-blocked content is frowned upon by these groups, but it isn’t necessarily against the law. Using a VPN legally is a good way to bypass these excessive third-party restrictions while not being tracked. How to choose a trustworthy VPN Best Overall VPN NordVPN Read our review Best Prices Today: $3.39 at NordVPN (Monthly) I believe that VPNs are worthwhile services that can help you maintain more control over your online privacy and data. If you do decide to use a VPN, it’s extremely important that you choose a trustworthy service. A reliable VPN provider will make privacy a paramount concern first and foremost by maintaining a zero-logs policy and backing it up with regular independent audit reports. Questions you should ask before choosing a private VPN are: Does it have a no-logs policy? Has it undergone any independent audits of its servers? Is the VPN company located in a country with strong individual data privacy laws? All of these will give you an idea of whether or not a VPN is focused on user privacy and transparent with its data collection policies. If you’re trying to be extra cautious, then look for VPNs with RAM-only servers that don’t store any persistent user data due to their very nature. You may also want to seek out and use obfuscated VPN servers so that it’s more difficult for third parties to know you’re even connected to a VPN. Some VPNs, such as Mullvad, even offer anonymous login credentials and payment methods to further separate a user from being associated with the service. Finally, take a look at the extra security features a VPN offers. Services such as NordVPN and Surfshark provide advanced cybersecurity tools that block ads and trackers, keep you from accidentally visiting malicious sites, and monitor files you download for malware. By offering a multitude of security-enhancing features, a VPN can make your online experience much safer.

Sheen to play last native Prince of Wales: 'The true Welsh prince'
Michael Sheen will star as Owain Glyndwr, the last Welsh-born Prince of Wales, in a new stage play.

Your PC’s Windows install needs spring cleaning too. Here’s how to do it
Just like how dust collects in your humble abode during the winter months, your PC can also accumulate superfluous files and folders over a period of time. To make room for new programs and photos, you’ve got to give your computer a good cleaning. Fortunately, Windows offers a whole range of built-in functions and tools to help with this task. There are also third-party programs that can analyze your system and identify unnecessary files. Remove programs that are no longer needed Many users install software for one task and then never touch again. With Windows 11, you can delete the installed programs and apps directly in the Start menu.Foundry As part of the spring clean, you should specifically search for these programs and uninstall them. To do this, open the Windows 11 Start menu, click on All, and carefully go through the list of installed applications. If you find a program that you no longer need, right-click on it and click on Uninstall. Windows uses the relevant uninstall routine to remove programs. However, this often does not work properly and leaves behind various folders and files on the hard drive. Specialized uninstall tools such as the full version of Ascomp Cleaning Suite, Revo Uninstaller, or Iobit Unistaller are more thorough. They track down files, folders, and registry entries left behind by uninstall programs and delete them. Revo Uninstaller can also remove Windows apps that you don’t need.Revo Uninstaller Revo Uninstaller has a hunting mode in which you drag a crosshair over the icon of the program to be removed on the desktop or in the taskbar. After right-clicking, you can then remove the software without an uninstall routine or remove it from Windows Autostart. Remove unnecessary Windows apps and system features Windows sets up a whole range of system apps and games during installation, many of which you will never call up or cannot use at all. These include, for example, weather and camera apps, Skype preview, or the two Xbox programs. They cannot be removed via the list of apps in the Start menu. Instead, you need Powershell. Type Powershell in the search field of the taskbar and click on Run as administrator. The table below shows which command you can use to uninstall the respective app. Windows appPowershell uninstall commandWeatherGet-AppxPackage *bingweather* | Remove-AppxPackage3D BuilderGet-AppxPackageGet*3dbuilder*| Remove-AppxPackageAlarm & ClockGet-AppxPackage *windowsalarms*| Remove-AppxPackageCompanion for phoneGet-AppxPackage *windowsphone*| Remove-AppxPackageFirst stepsGet-AppxPackage *getstarted*| Remove-AppxPackageFilms & TVGet-AppxPackage *zunevideo*| Remove-AppxPackageFinancesGet-AppxPackage *bingfinance*| Remove-AppxPackagePhotosGet-AppxPackage *photos*| Remove-AppxPackageGroove MusicGet-AppxPackage *zunemusic*| Remove-AppxPackageCameraGet-AppxPackage *windowscamera*| Remove-AppxPackageMapsGet-AppxPackage *windowsmaps*| Remove-AppxPackageContactsGet-AppxPackage *people*| Remove-AppxPackageMail & CalendarGet-AppxPackage *windowscommunicationsapps*| Remove-AppxPackageMessagesGet-AppxPackage *bingnews*| Remove-AppxPackageGet OfficeGet-AppxPackage *officehub*| Remove-AppxPackageOne NoteGet-AppxPackage *onenote*| Remove-AppxPackageCalculatorGet-AppxPackage *windowscalculator*| Remove-AppxPackageSkype PreviewGet-AppxPackage *skypeapp*| Remove-AppxPackageSportsGet-AppxPackage *bingsports*| Remove-AppxPackageVoice RecorderGet-AppxPackage *soundrecorder*| Remove-AppxPackageXbox Identity ProviderGet-AppxPackage *xboxIdentityprovider*| Remove-AppxPackageXboxGet-AppxPackage *xboxapp*| Remove-AppxPackagePowershell lets you uninstall specific Microsoft apps with a command-line instruction. If you want to reinstall an app later, you can do this via the Microsoft Store. Removing apps using the freeware version of Ccleaner is easier than entering Powershell commands manually. Under Extras > Uninstall, the tool displays a list of existing applications, which also includes apps from the Microsoft Store. A number of features that most users never need can be deactivated via the Windows Control Panel. Foundry In addition to its own apps, Windows also contains a number of features that are active by default but are not required by many users. You can access the associated switches by typing Control Panel into the search field in the taskbar and clicking on the relevant term. In the icon view, click on Programs and Features and in the following window on Turn Windows features on or off. As a home user, you can usually uncheck the boxes in front of “API support for remote differential compression,” “Windows Media Player Legacy (App)” under “Media features,” “Print and document services,” and “Host-enabled web kernel for Internet information services.” Use Windows’ own cleaning service Windows does not rely on external cleaning help when it comes to deleting unnecessary files and programs. The operating system comes with an internal cleaning service that can work automatically in the background, but can also be fine-tuned manually. Windows 11 offers automatic maintenance of the hard drive memory. You can find it in the Settings of the operating system under System > Storage. Make sure that the switch for “Storage Sense” is set to On. To check which areas are covered by Storage Sense, click on them once. In the next window, there should be a tick next to “Clean up temporary files.” The switch for “Automatic User content cleanup” should also be set to On. You can retain the default setting for the options below. You can use Storage Sense to have Windows 11 automatically clean certain folders of obsolete files. Foundry It is only worth considering setting the option “Delete files in my ‘Downloads’ folder that have not been opened for over” to “30 days.” In this way, you can ensure that Windows deletes files in your download folder under C:\Users\[your_name]\Downloads is cleaned up regularly. Once you have changed this setting, you can scroll down and click on “Run memory optimization now” to perform an initial cleaning run. It will start immediately. There are other cleaning options in Windows. The classic one is Disk Cleanup — a tool that has been available in the operating system since time immemorial. You call it up by typing cleanmgr in the search field of the taskbar and clicking on the suggestion. Now select a drive and click on OK. You can now also find most of the functions of this tool in the Settings of Windows 11 — for example under System > Storage > Cleanup recommendations. In the following window, you can empty the recycle bin or clear the Downloads folder in your Windows profile. Click on “Show advanced options” to open a window with offers for deleting temporary files. You can normally accept the default settings at this point. To delete, click on “Remove files” in the upper part of the window. Then go back to the previous window by first clicking on the three dots next to “Temporary files” and then on “Cleanup recommendations.” Scroll down and click on the down arrows next to “Large or unused files,” “Files synchronized with the cloud,” and “Unused apps.” Take a look at the list of files and apps and tick everything you no longer need. Then click on the “Clean up X MB” button in each case. Find and delete duplicate photos in large collections High-resolution digital photos are among the biggest space hogs on your hard drive. It is therefore worth going through your own photo collection from time to time and looking for duplicates that can be deleted. As such collections can often contain several thousand images, you should leave this work to software. There are two groups of programs that search for duplicate photos: Some compare the photos based on the file names alone. Others are able to identify identical or even similar motifs. This last group includes Duplicate Photos Fixer Pro, which is available in a free and a paid version. However, the differences are small. The free version can only delete up to 15 images at the touch of a button, all others have to be removed manually. And you don’t get any support. Both versions work at high speed and with astonishing accuracy. Reset Windows 11 Over time, Windows 11 accumulates all kinds of clutter — including orphaned folders and files, cache content, photos, and videos that are no longer needed and much more. The easiest way to get rid of this junk data is to reinstall it. You don’t need a boot stick or other boot media to do this, but can use a Windows function. When resetting, you have the choice of keeping your existing files and programs or completely reinstalling Windows.Foundry Attention: Before you start, you should always back up the data you want to keep. For example, copy email archives, locally stored photos, documents you still need, database files, and similarly important files to a second drive or to the cloud so that they are not lost. Then get started: Open the Settings of Windows 11 and go to System > Recovery > Reset PC. In the first window of the wizard, click on “Remove everything” and then on “Local reinstallation” — the “Cloud download” that is also offered can take several hours depending on the connection speed. After clicking on Next and Reset, Windows will restore your PC to its original state.