Technology

Although you'll hear warnings about cybersecurity-related matters on just about every tech site, most home networks are still a bit too trusting. We believe that malware will never target our router, that private DNS is actually private, and that whatever settings our router came with are good enough for day-to-day use.

If you're using Microsoft Excel on a Windows PC and enjoy using keyboard shortcuts to improve your productivity, you should definitely learn the many ways in which F4 can save you lots of time.

June on HBO Max feels like a true summer streaming event with its lineup built to keep you hooked all month long. Major premieres, diverse genres, and enough surprises to make scrolling the homepage exciting again are coming your way, so keep the popcorn handy.

Exploring older operating systems and trying out different Linux distros on a virtual machine is one of my ongoing hobby projects (I have a lot of those). One of the main issues I've had is shuttling different ISO files between VMs.

We're always looking for new and inventive ways to hit you with big savings on popular items. We cover hundreds of deals every month. You can find these deals on site, on socials, and on our newsletter. We've also launched a Mashable Deals text group. The daily deals that we send to this group are researched and assessed by the team with the same level of care that we dedicate to the rest of our shopping content.

You can find a live hub for those deals right here.

TL;DR: Watch the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships for free on IIHF.TV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

We're still buzzing from the international hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics, but 2026 is not done yet. We know the focus of the ice hockey world is firmly fixed on the resolution of the NHL season right now, but the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships is here to offer something to fans without a vested interest in the Stanley Cup.

This tournament doesn't have quite the same prestige as the Winter Olympics, but the 2024 World Championship was the most successful in terms of overall attendance. We're expecting this tournament in Switzerland to be just as popular as the USA, Canada, Czechia, Sweden, Finland, and other top sides battle it out on the ice.

If you're interested in watching the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

What is the Ice Hockey World Championships?

The Ice Hockey World Championships are an annual international men's ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation. 16 teams are divided into two groups for the Preliminary Round played in a single round robin format. The top-four ranked teams of each group advance to the knockout rounds.

The defending champions are Czechia.

When is the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships?

The 2026 IIHF World Championships will take place from May 15-31. This year's tournament will be hosted by Zurich and Fribourg, Switzerland.

How to watch the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships for free

The 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships is available to live stream for free on IIHF.TV.

IIHF.TV is not available in some locations due to regional broadcasting restrictions (blocked locations listed here), but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in a location with access, meaning you can stream the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with access

4. Connect to IIHF.TV

5. Watch the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer pretty generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream the tournament before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming platforms from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for the Ice Hockey World Championships?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on free platforms, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Watch the 2026 French Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The world of tennis is focused on clay courts right now. Top players have already sharpened up in the Barcelona Open and Madrid Open, and now it's time for the main event: Roland-Garros.

Two-time champion Carlos Alcaraz will not defend his title, but this year's tournament is not short of star names. Expect the likes of Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic, Aryna Sabalenka, and Iga Świątek to be battling it out in the latter stages. It's always a special tournament filled with huge moments.

If you're interested in watching the 2026 French Open from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

What is the French Open?

The French Open, also known as Roland-Garros, is a major tennis tournament held over two weeks at the Stade Roland Garros in Paris, France. It's the only Grand Slam tournament held on a clay surface, and is the second of the four annual Grand Slam tournaments.

The current singles champions are Carlos Alcaraz and Coco Gauff.

When is the 2026 French Open?

The 2026 French Open is the 131th edition of the competition. This year's event takes place from May 18 to June 7.

How to watch the 2026 French Open for free

The 2026 French Open is available to live stream for free on 9Now.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can stream the 2026 French Open for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2026 French Open for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia

4. Connect to 9Now

5. Watch the 2026 French Open for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer pretty generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Roland-Garros without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream the 2026 French Open before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming platforms from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for the French Open?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on free platforms, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the 2026 French Open for free with ExpressVPN.

Android’s hidden Developer Options menu is full of handy toggles and tools. However, there’s one in particular that could genuinely help get you out of a jam. I hope you never need it, but if you do, you’ll be happy you took 5 seconds to enable it right now.

A workshop may feel incomplete without the right tools, but good lights could also be what is missing. Don't spend thousands on high-end table saws and precision tools if you're still squinting under the dim glow of a single, buzzing bulb. Lighting should be considered the foundation of your workshop, and new lights could improve your work more than any new tool ever will, especially if your garage is your next smart home upgrade.

Most people install VLC and never think twice about it. But there's a quieter, leaner, and frankly more capable player that power users have known about for years, and it's time the rest of the world caught up.

Subscription creep is real, and cloud storage is one of the quieter offenders—easy to set up, easy to forget, and easy to keep paying for even when you probably don’t need it. If you have an old PC you’ve retired, you already have everything you need to run your own private cloud storage and cut that bill down to zero. I did exactly that with a 2017 budget machine, and the result works better than I expected.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're competitive.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for May 26, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Winnings

• Green: Topic

• Blue: Old-school films

• Purple: Same letters

Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Championship awards

• Green: Matter at hand

• Blue: '80s comedies

• Purple: Anagrams

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #1080 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Championship awards: CUP, MEDAL, PENNANT, RING

• Matter at hand: CONCERN, FOCUS, POINT, SUBJECT

• '80s comedies: AIRPLANE, BIG, CLUE, TWINS

• Anagrams: ENLIST, LISTEN, SILENT, TINSEL

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for May 26, 2026

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're outdoorsy.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 26, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: On the nature trail

The words are related to the outdoors.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe natural surroundings.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Scavenger Hunt.

NYT Strands word list for May 26

• Pawprint

• Feather

• Daisy

• Scavenger Hunt

• Puddle

• Moss

• Acorn

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're a homebody.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for May 26, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for May 26, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Sofa.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter C appears twice.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter C.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

COUCH

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.

SAVE OVER $30: As of May 26, the Sony LinkBuds Clip open-ear earbuds have returned to their lowest-ever price of $198 at Amazon. This is $31.99 off their full price of $229.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony LinkBuds Clip Open-Ear Truly Wireless Earbuds $198 at Amazon
$229.99 Save $31.99   Get Deal

Memorial Day weekend had some excellent earbuds deals to look through, but just because those sales are winding down doesn't mean the offers are completely gone. Amazon still has some discounts available, including on the Sony LinkBuds Clip open-ear earbuds, which we called the "best-sounding open-ear wireless earbuds you can buy" in our review.

As of May 26, all available colors of the Sony LinkBuds Clip open-ear earbuds are on sale for $198 at Amazon. This is a discount of $31.99 from their original price of $229.99, but it also marks a return to their lowest-ever price at the retailer. That's a deal you definitely don't want to miss.

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As mentioned earlier, writer Simon Cohen had plenty of praise for the Sony LinkBuds Clip in his review for Mashable. He writes that they're "comfy, sound great, and have very good call quality, all of which are important traits for any open-ear earbuds you may be considering." They also have quite a solid battery life that can last up to nine hours with the earbuds, or up to 28 when you use the charging case.

They have also landed on our list of the best open earbuds as the best upgrade pick. This is because, "Separate from the Bose buds, if you're looking to get some of the most detail-rich sound out of a pair of open earbuds, you don't need to look any further."

If open earbuds have been on your shopping list, this deal on the Sony LinkBuds Clip is well worth taking advantage of while it's still available at Amazon.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

E-readers like the Amazon Kindle are hardy devices. Their batteries don't experience excessive wear because you only need to charge them occasionally. E-Ink displays are good for up to 90 million page refreshes, so you're not likely to wear your Kindle out that way either. So how exactly will your Kindle ever outlive its usefulness?

TL;DR: Amazon has the ASUS ROG Strix 32-inch 4K OLED Gaming Monitor (the XG32UCWMG model) on sale for $899, down from its $1,099 list price. This means you’re getting $200 off on a premium-level dual-mode display with 4K at 240Hz, 0.03ms response time, and FHD at huge 480Hz.

Opens in a new window Credit: ASUS ASUS ROG Strix 32-inch 4K OLED Gaming Monitor (XG32UCWMG) $899 at Amazon
$1,099 Save $200 Get Deal

ASUS’ ROG Strix series is one of the slickest ranges of OLED gaming monitors, and Amazon is now offering an all-time low price as the perfect opportunity to jump in. 

As of May 26, Amazon has the ASUS ROG Strix 32-inch 4K OLED Gaming Monitor (XG32UCWMG) on sale for $899, an 18% discount from its usual $1,099 list price. This display, built for high-end PC and console gaming, now with a $200 saving, is sold and shipped by Amazon itself — with free delivery available and faster delivery for Prime members.

With that $200 drop, you’re also getting the lowest price this monitor has ever seen on the site — as shown with price tracker camelcamelcamel. 

In case stock runs out at Amazon, Walmart has a similar listing on sale for $899.99. Be aware, however, that this is a third-party listing through Newegg Inc., although 15-day returns are still available. 

With this ROG Strix monitor’s dual-mode panel, you can run games in 4K resolution with a 240Hz refresh rate when you want sharp detail for immersive RPGs like Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, hit open-world games such as Crimson Desert, and cinematic single-player showcases like the new 007: First Light.

Then, when speed matters more than pixels, you can switch to Full HD at 480Hz for competitive games like Fortnite and Marathon.

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It also helps that this is a 32-inch TrueBlack Glossy WOLED display, giving you the deep blacks, high contrast, and crisp image quality that make OLED monitors so tempting in the first place. ASUS has also promised 99% DCI-P3 color coverage, true 10-bit color, Delta E

As a unique bonus, the monitor also includes ASUS OLED Care Pro with a Neo Proximity Sensor, which can detect when you step away and switch the display to a black screen to help reduce burn-in risk.

If you’re keen for an ultrawide display instead, you can grab the 34-inch QD-OLED version of the ASUS ROG Strix at $300 off. For those who don’t mind shopping around different brands, the 57-inch Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 Gaming Monitor is on sale at $600 off. 

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

There's a version of your Windows setup where files sort themselves, backups happen quietly in the background, and everything you copy is automatically saved for later. And the best part is that you don't need to install any fancy third-party software to make this happen. PowerShell is built into Windows, and it can automate all the boring stuff for you. To give you an idea of what's possible, here are three scripts that automate the most repetitive parts of my day.

A good soundbar can make a real difference to how your TV sounds, but many people undermine it before they ever hear what it can actually do. Where you put it matters more than most people expect, and the most common mistakes, like tucking it inside a cabinet or letting something hang over it, can turn an expensive piece of audio equipment into something that sounds worse than a budget alternative. This small change doesn't cost anything, and the difference it makes is usually immediate.

Installing an IR (infrared) remote control app on my Symbian-powered Nokia 6600 and then using it to control my flat-screen CRT Samsung TV was one of those “the future is now” moments where I realized my smartphone was indeed a mini computer capable of all kinds of things. I had a blast messing with my mom and friends, changing channels, and turning off their TV with my phone’s secret power. Until I ran out of TVs to mess with.