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In recent years, the digital landscape has become a battleground for a sinister form of cybercrime: ransomware attacks. These malicious incidents have surged, leaving organizations and individuals scrambling to protect their digital assets from extortionists. Ransomware attacks are not just on the rise; they have evolved into a formidable threat that demands our immediate attention and a multifaceted approach to cybersecurity.
The Ransomware Epidemic
Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts a victim's data, rendering it inaccessible until a ransom is paid to the attacker, usually in cryptocurrency. The appeal of ransomware for cybercriminals lies in its potential for massive financial gains with relatively low risk. Recent years have seen a proliferation of ransomware strains, each more sophisticated and destructive than the last.
The Toll on Businesses
Businesses of all sizes have fallen victim to ransomware attacks. These attacks can cripple operations, disrupt supply chains, and lead to significant financial losses. In some cases, the reputational damage can be even more devastating than the monetary impact.
One of the most high-profile ransomware attacks in recent memory was the Colonial Pipeline incident in 2021, which led to fuel shortages and highlighted the real-world consequences of a successful cyberattack. Similarly, healthcare organizations have been targeted during the COVID-19 pandemic, putting patient lives at risk.
The Role of Evolving Tactics
Ransomware attacks have evolved beyond indiscriminate phishing emails. Cybercriminals now employ advanced tactics, such as spear-phishing campaigns that specifically target individuals within an organization, or they exploit unpatched vulnerabilities in software. These tactics increase the likelihood of a successful attack.
The Rise of Double Extortion
A concerning trend in ransomware attacks is the adoption of double extortion. In addition to encrypting data, attackers exfiltrate sensitive information before locking victims out of their systems. They threaten to release this data publicly if the ransom is not paid, which adds an extra layer of pressure on victims to comply.
The Costly Ransom Dilemma
Paying the ransom is a dilemma faced by many victims. While it may provide a quick solution to regain access to data, it also fuels the criminal ecosystem and offers no guarantee that the attacker will honor their end of the bargain. Furthermore, paying ransoms emboldens cybercriminals to target more victims.
Preventing Ransomware Attacks
The most effective way to deal with ransomware is to prevent it in the first place. Here are some proactive measures organizations and individuals can take:
1. **Regular Backups**: Maintain up-to-date backups of critical data offline or in a secure, isolated environment.
2. **Patch and Update**: Keep software and systems current with security patches and updates.
3. **Employee Training**: Train employees to recognize phishing attempts and practice safe online behavior.
4. **Endpoint Security**: Implement robust endpoint security solutions to detect and block malware.
5. **Network Segmentation**: Segment networks to limit lateral movement by attackers.
6. **Incident Response Plan**: Develop a comprehensive incident response plan to minimize damage in the event of an attack.
Conclusion
Ransomware attacks on the rise pose a clear and present danger to businesses and individuals alike. To combat this growing threat, we must adopt a proactive cybersecurity stance that combines technology, education, and vigilance. By implementing strong security measures, raising awareness, and fostering a culture of cyber resilience, we can stand strong against ransomware and protect our digital assets from falling into the hands of extortionists. The battle against ransomware is ongoing, and it's one that we cannot afford to lose.
In today's interconnected world, cybersecurity has become a paramount concern for individuals, businesses, and governments alike. As technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace, so too do the threats that lurk in the digital realm. From innovative hacking techniques to the challenges posed by emerging technologies, there are numerous emerging issues in cybersecurity that demand our attention and proactive solutions. In this article, we delve into some of the most pressing concerns that define the cybersecurity landscape of the modern era.
1. **Ransomware Attacks on the Rise**
Ransomware attacks have surged in recent years, wreaking havoc on businesses, healthcare institutions, and even critical infrastructure. Cybercriminals have grown more sophisticated in their tactics, using social engineering, phishing emails, and encryption techniques to lock victims out of their data until a ransom is paid. The fallout from such attacks can be financially devastating and compromise sensitive information.
To combat this threat, organizations must prioritize robust backup systems, employee training in recognizing phishing attempts, and invest in cutting-edge cybersecurity software capable of identifying and neutralizing ransomware threats.
2. **Supply Chain Vulnerabilities**
In an increasingly interconnected global marketplace, supply chain vulnerabilities have emerged as a significant cybersecurity challenge. Cybercriminals target the weakest link in the supply chain to gain access to sensitive data, intellectual property, or even to insert malware into products or services. The SolarWinds breach in 2020 is a striking example of the far-reaching consequences of a supply chain attack.
To mitigate this risk, organizations must scrutinize their suppliers' cybersecurity practices and establish stringent vetting processes. Regular audits and continuous monitoring can help detect and address vulnerabilities before they lead to a breach.
3. **IoT Security Concerns**
The proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices has introduced a host of new cybersecurity challenges. These devices, ranging from smart thermostats to industrial sensors, often lack robust security features, making them susceptible to exploitation. Once compromised, IoT devices can be used as entry points into larger networks, potentially compromising critical infrastructure or sensitive data.
Addressing IoT security requires manufacturers to prioritize security features, and consumers and businesses to adopt best practices, such as changing default passwords and segmenting IoT devices from critical networks.
4. **Quantum Computing Threats**
While quantum computing promises revolutionary advances in fields such as cryptography and data analysis, it also poses a significant threat to current encryption methods. Quantum computers could potentially break widely used encryption algorithms, rendering much of today's cybersecurity measures obsolete.
The response to this emerging issue lies in developing and adopting post-quantum encryption standards that can withstand quantum computing attacks. Governments, businesses, and researchers are actively working on quantum-resistant encryption methods to secure our digital future.
5. **Cybersecurity Workforce Shortage**
The demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals has skyrocketed in tandem with the increase in cyber threats. However, there is a significant shortage of qualified personnel to fill these roles. This shortage leaves organizations vulnerable as they struggle to find and retain talented individuals who can defend against evolving threats.
To address this challenge, investments must be made in cybersecurity education and training programs, and organizations should actively cultivate a cybersecurity-conscious culture to ensure all employees play a part in safeguarding digital assets.
Conclusion
As the digital landscape continues to evolve, so too will the emerging issues in cybersecurity. Addressing these challenges demands a proactive approach that encompasses technology, education, and collaboration. By staying vigilant, investing in cybersecurity measures, and fostering a culture of digital responsibility, we can navigate the digital frontier with confidence and protect the integrity of our data, systems, and digital way of life. The time to act is now, as the future of our digital world depends on our ability to adapt and secure it.
If you have a website, then it is likely that you are ever-vigilant to protect it from hackers and cyber threats. After all, your website is an asset, and if it gets hacked, you will not only lose the data stored on it but also tarnish your company's reputation. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to keep your website safe and secure. In this blog post, we will explore some of the best tips for securing your website from hackers. From password management strategies to security best practices for software development teams, we'll discuss everything you need to know to ensure the safety of your website.
Ethical
There are a number of ethical considerations to take into account when securing your website from hackers. One of the most important is to ensure that you do not inadvertently allow hackers access to your site. This means taking care to use strong passwords and keeping them confidential, as well as ensuring that your server is properly configured and secured.
Another ethical consideration is to avoid inadvertently harming other websites or systems in the course of securing your own. For example, if you were to implement a security measure that blocks all traffic from a certain IP address, you could unintentionally block legitimate traffic as well as malicious traffic. Therefore, it is important to consider the potential impacts of your security measures before implementing them.
Finally, you should also be aware of the legal implications of website security. In some jurisdictions, certain types of security measures may be considered illegal. For example, in some countries it may be illegal to use encryption on your website. As such, it is important to consult with a lawyer before implementing any website security measures.
Hacking
Hackers are always looking for new ways to exploit vulnerabilities in websites. They can deface your site, steal sensitive information, or even take over your entire server. It’s important to take steps to secure your website from these threats.
Here are some tips for securing your website from hackers:
1. Keep your software up to date
One of the most important things you can do to secure your website is to keep your software up to date. This includes your operating system, web server software, database software, and any other software you use on your server. Outdated software is often full of security holes that hackers can exploit.
2. Use strong passwords
Another important step in securing your website is to use strong passwords. Hackers often use automated tools to guess common passwords, so it’s important to choose passwords that are hard to guess. A good password should be at least 8 characters long and include a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
3. Limit access to your admin area
If possible, you should limit access to your website’s admin area to only trusted users. This will help prevent hackers from gaining access to sensitive information or making changes to your site without permission. You can do this by setting up a password protection system or using an IP address whitelist.
4. Use a web application firewall
A web application firewall (WAF)
Cyber security
As the world becomes increasingly digitized, cyber security is more important than ever. Here are some tips to help you secure your website from hackers:
1. Use a strong password and never reuse passwords.
The Metaverse. Some are calling it the following advancement of the Internet, others say it's now existed for a really long time. Somehow, it's the focal point of the absolute most powerful media organizations on the planet, and you ought to investigate it, as well.
I've generally been intrigued with the Metaverse, some time before I even realized there was a name attached to the thought. Going as far as possible back to when I was a youngster. Like most other young men, I was longing for being a hero, a knight, a swashbuckler, and on the most unconventional days, a few combination of those and a lot more activity y originals moved into one as I adventured through different universes worked in the aggregate dream of my companions and I.
As time went on, I consigned those domain stepping thoughts to the part at the rear of my psyche named "whimsical garbage," right close to light-sabers and world harmony feeling that videogames and books would be the nearest of intermediary for investigating different universes that I'd have in the course of my life.
That course of reasoning was changed in a moment one Saturday evening on a visit to a companion's home. I had popped in unannounced to observe a large number of my companions lumped into a group, quavering with brazen stunningness. At the point when they had sufficient sense about them all things considered to see the fresh introduction, I was guided to the focal point of the group, and tied into a massive headset, the Oculus Rift, playing a game called Robo Recall - a straightforward undertaking where you take shots at deviant robots rampaging through a cutting edge city.
Completely wrapped, with a degree of inundation I had never drawn closer, even with the most exciting of media I'd at any point consumed, I was merrily tearing through these crowds of robots.
I wasn't pointing a crosshair at these robots and clicking like had generally been the situation previously. All things considered, I was peering down the sights of the strange, modern weapons by moving my hand to eye level, squeezing my genuine fingers together to get a slug, and throwing my wrist forward to toss things.
It was only a brief time before the considerations of the cumbersome headgear and outsider regulators were totally gone, and I was totally inside this game. Unfortunately, the game came not without risk I whipped to one side to shoot one of those rampaging robots and felt a sharp break toward the rear of my hand, and pulling the headset off, I understood I had clubbed one of my young men with the Rift's regulator.
As he got himself from the floor I put myself into opportunity for being a threat to essentially everyone, and as I sat out of the way looking as others took their own turns it was completely cheerful to shoot robots I. This thing I was seeing - - I realized it was monumentous. Not on the grounds that this innovation all alone was progressive and sort of astonishing to see, but since it was a small gradual step between this present reality and a fantastical and genuinely limitless one, interesting to some inactive expectation profound inside me. Something that appeared to be so inconceivably far away, was arising into the real world, and having the unbelievable graciousness not exclusively to occur during my lifetime, yet before my actual eyes.
"A disclaimer"
Before we dig into the immense and complex issue of attempting to divine the fate of innovation - an errand wherein a lot more qualified before me have bombed hopelessly - or become lifted up in their unrivaled facticity, I might want to incorporate something much the same as a disclaimer.
Takes on the web, cell phones, TV, and essentially every other advancement of innovation at the hour of their origination and reception tend to slant outwards to those two limits. We feature and utilize the absolute most unfortunate deniers utilizing the clearness of knowing the past to make those speakers of olden times into a joke, or feature individuals who were forward thinking while at the same time overlooking the average sentiments that make up the contemporary idea.
While I sing the commendations of the astounding innovative headways, I likewise desire to admonish that there are horrible perils astir. The more we become derailed in the presence wonderland, the more the bosses of that space will can impact our lives, thoughts, and discernment… an open door we realize they will seize whenever given.
I accept that the Metaverse is a certainty, save for a fiasco of framework or a fundamental change in human way of behaving. Similar to the request for our general public, what used to be a capricious thought will be inhaled into reality pushing ahead, regardless of whether it appears as harmful and abominably defiled.
From My perspective, humankind moves toward the Metaverse, stepping a restricted and frightening way. Holding up toward the end, a definitive award for going where we have never tried, nor been able to go previously, an Eden where mankind's innovative marking will permit us to genuinely rise above a significant number of the limits of our essential actual reality and to a great extent take out the strategic obstacles of room and distance from a horde of exercises.
The peril lies on one or the other side of that way, pulling at us with a voracious gravity towards dark entanglements of corporate control. Where a considerable lot of mankind's base opportunities are a deception. The noblemen of those ruined realms having full oversight over what might exist inside this new reality that we take on.
As we investigate the possibility of the Metaverse here today, I beg you to consider that the innovation that will before long be available to us doesn't have the intrinsic nature of being a preeminent decent, nor an extreme, fixing evil. Something will be assembled and directed by the activities and goals of many individuals, and has the capacity to wind up in both of these last objections, thus numerous in the middle.
Where did "Metaverse" come from?
The prefix "Meta-" implies past, and "- stanza" alludes to the Universe. Consolidate them to get the fairly fitting term "Metaverse," signifying "past the Universe." All things considered, Metaverse feels a suitably lavish word for the thoughts it addresses.
This totally new popular expression we're tossing around isn't very new. It started in the 1992 Sci-fi novel, Snow Crash. I feel it is important that this is the very spot that is remembered to have promoted the expression "symbol" while alluding to a computerized portrayal of somebody, so with that award you can perceive Snow Crash affected the tech a long time past when it was composed.
"Playing video games can make you a better driver." That statement probably brings to mind games like Gran Turismo or Forza Motorsports. Sure, these games can teach players the mechanics of driving, especially when using steering wheels and pedal controls, but are they the best at improving driving skills?
Ironically, studies have shown that first-person shooters, like Call of Duty, actually provide more benefits for drivers than driving games do.
Gaming has come a long way from the single-joystick, single-button days of the Atari 2600. Now players have to contend with gamepads featuring dual joysticks and 12 or more buttons.
Growing up through the evolution of controllers, some players likely find using modern devices effortless because they have been using these complicated input mechanisms all their lives. Their eye-to-hand coordination is already conditioned. But is that directly related to playing games or just an environmental factor?
According to a 2014 study by the University of Toronto, playing action-intense video games like Call of Duty or Assassin's Creed did not reliably enhance sensorimotor control (eye-to-hand coordination). However, it did improve sensorimotor learning, meaning gamers were better than non-gamers at performing tasks with a "consistent and predictable structure."
The researchers tested this by having the two groups keep a cursor within a white square as it moved around a computer screen. At first, both groups performed equally. As the participants continued to practice, the gamers showed far better and quicker improvement in keeping the cursor in the square than non-gamers.
It might not seem like keeping a cursor within a square on a computer screen translates well into making one a better driver, but it actually does. It's not about the action that is taking place on the screen, but what is going on in the brain. The cognitive functions and visual acuity are what matters. Realizing the square has changed directions and then altering the course of the cursor before it leaves its confines relates directly to situations where a driver must make a split-second decision to avoid an accident.
The 2014 Toronto study is not the only evidence to show that Call of Duty and similar games can improve skills used in driving. Professor of Brain and Cognitive Sciences Daphne Bavelier at the University of Rochester has spent most of her time studying the cognitive effects of gaming and has some interesting insights into how playing action video games affect players.
In a 2012 TEDx Talk (watch below), Dr. Bavelier debunked a long-held myth that playing video games damage a player's eyesight. It might be intuitive to think that excessive time in front of the screen would harm your vision, but Bavelier says this is simply not true. She and her team have measured eyesight in the lab of gamers and non-gamers, and the former consistently had better vision than the latter -- even those who played up to 15 hours per week tested better than 20/20 vision.
Not only do game players have better visual acuity, but they also have a sharper perception of different shades of gray. Dr. Bavelier analogizes this with an example of driving in a fog.
"The other way that gamers are better is actually being able to resolve different levels of gray," Bavelier said. "Imagine you're driving in the fog. That makes the difference between seeing the car in front of you and avoiding the accident or getting into an accident."
Another myth that runs contrary to her findings is that games lead to attention problems and greater distractibility. Scientists have studied attention for decades, and there are plenty of standard tests to measure it in a quantifiable manner.
Bavelier found that people who play Call of Duty have far better attention than non-players. A simple test they used was to show test subjects colored words and ask them to state the ink color of each word as they appear. Some words introduced a cognitive conflict. For example, the word blue appearing in red ink. Results showed that the gamers were far quicker at resolving those conflicts than those that did not play.
Another attention test involves tracking multiple moving targets. The average person can keep tabs on about three or four objects at once. Action video game players have a span of around six to seven. These results are relatively predictable considering what it takes to play action games like Call of Duty, especially in hectic multiplayer matches. It's a good thing too, since we need to keep that many browser tabs open just to have a shot at scoring a new graphics card these days.
Attention is a critical attribute when driving. Just think of all the things you have to pay attention to at the same time when driving -- the cars in front, behind, and beside you; the children playing near the street up ahead; the color of the traffic signal; your speed; the speed of cross traffic when approaching a green light. There are many things you have to maintain focus on when driving. And lab tests show action gamers are very good at this.
Bavelier's research further confirms the practical testing results with brain imaging. There are three areas of the brain that regulate attention. The parietal lobe controls the orientation of attention. The frontal lobe sustains attention. Lastly, the anterior cingulate controls how we allocate concentration and resolve conflict.
"Now, when we do brain imaging, we find that all three of these networks are actually much more efficient in people that play action games," Bavelier said.
However, we again fall back to the argument of whether these results were directly related to playing games or just common environmental factors. Fortunately, Bavelier considered causality, too, which is easy to test in the lab.
Bavelier and her team performed a controlled training study to establish causality. What they did was have participants take cognitive tests at the start. Then subjects would play 10 hours of action games over two weeks in 40-minute sessions. Subjects then took the same cognitive tests, and the results found that not only did they perform better, but the improvements were still present five months after the training.
The training tests show two things. First, they prove the causality between visual and cognitive improvements when playing video games like Call of Duty. The positive effects are not caused by environmental conditions common to gamers. Second, it shows that training your brain on these games has lasting effects.
Indeed, another study out of Shanghai in 2016 showed that playing high-action titles physically rewires the brain, so the benefits are at least semi-permanent. The researchers wanted to know if playing video games improved practical driving skills. They also wanted to find out whether the type of game mattered.
They tested participants using a driving simulator. One group played action games for 5 to 10 hours, and the other played slower-paced games. The study found that the action players performed markedly better in subsequent simulator testing than the non-action players.
"Our research shows that playing easily accessible action video games for as little as 5 hours can be a cost-effective tool to help people improve essential visuomotor-control skills used for driving," said researcher and co-author of the paper Li Li of New York University Shanghai.
Researchers used Mario Kart and Rollercoaster Tycoon for action and non-action training, respectively. The driving simulator was set up to have participants drive a car down a lane while compensating for crosswinds that affected the car's behavior.
A few months back we investigated CPU core misconceptions, explaining how overall processor performance is affected not only by how many cores a CPU has, but other factors including cache levels and capacity. This was an interesting and unique look at Intel’s 10th-gen series in an article we titled "How CPU Cores & Cache Impact Gaming Performance." Basically what we did was compare the Core i9-10900K, Core i7-10700K and Core i5-10600K at the same 4.2 GHz frequency, with the same memory, memory timings, ring bus frequency, and so on.
Then compared the three CPUs with only 6 cores / 12 threads enabled to see how much of a difference the L3 cache capacity made when it came to gaming performance. After that, we compared that data to the 10700K and 10900K with 8 cores enabled, and finally the 10900K with all of its 10 cores turned on.
Long story short, it turns out that in almost all games, it's not the core count but the L3 cache capacity that is responsible for the improved performance seen across the higher-end Intel parts. Of course, down the track the extra cores will see those higher-end parts pull even further ahead, but at least on today's games it’s all about the L3 cache.
That investigation later morphed to a quad-core version where we included Core i3 models and a similar take for AMD CPUs, where we looked at 10 years of AMD CPU progress and back to Intel for the same.
To wrap up that content, we thought we should add the new Intel Alder Lake 12th-gen CPUs to the data pool, so here we are, and it's been a more involved process than we first imagined. Whereas all other CPU architectures had one, two, or maybe three different configurations, 12th-gen Core has three per CPU.
For example, the 10th-gen CPUs had a 20MB L3 cache with the Core i9 model, 16MB for i7 and 12MB for the i5 models, Alder Lake’s cache capacity is segmented in a similar fashion, 20MB of L3 for the Core i5, 25MB for i7 and 30 MB for i9. But then on top of that we had to work out what kind of core configuration we should test. Four P-cores, Four E-cores or a mixture of both? The correct answer was of course all three configurations and that’s provided us with a wealth of juicy data to go over.
To be clear, with four P-cores enabled we were using Hyper-Threading, so this is a 4-core/8-thread configuration. Basically SMT was enabled when supported for all test configurations. This means because the E-cores don’t support SMT the four E-core configuration was 4 cores with 4 threads. Then the mixed configuration which featured two P-cores with two E-cores was a 4-core/6-thread configuration.
For testing we’ve used the MSI Z690 Tomahawk Wi-Fi DDR4 as we wanted to use the same DDR4-3200 CL14 low-latency memory that was used to test all the other CPU architectures that support DDR4. In our testing, DDR5-6000 has not shown to be any faster for gaming, but most importantly we wanted to keep the data as apples to apples as possible for this feature. Finally, all configurations were tested using the Radeon RX 6900 XT. Let’s dive into the data.
Benchmarks
Starting with Rainbow Six Siege, there’s quite a bit to go over, so bear with me. First let’s just look at the Core i9-12900K, we see with four P-cores enabled and locked at 4.2 GHz that this configuration was good for 510 fps, just 3% faster than AMD’s Zen 3 architecture.
Then with two P-cores and two E-cores enabled, performance dropped by 15% which is a fairly significant reduction, and then with just four E-cores enabled performance drops by a further 12% which isn’t that much and not nearly the decline I was expecting. Quite shockingly, in this title four E-cores were able to match the performance of the Core i9-11900K, though the 11th-gen architecture does suck in this title, but still I didn’t expect to see any results like this.
Moving onto Battlefield V results, we gain a few interesting insights. First, is that the E-cores suck big time in this title, not only is the average frame rate almost halved when compared to what we see when just using the P-cores, but the 1% low performance is shattered.
We’re looking at a 22% reduction in performance with the 12900K when going from 4 P-cores to 2 P-cores and 2 E-cores. Then we see a further 31% reduction when moving to E-cores exclusively. Worse, that means the P-cores were 87% faster when looking at the average frame rate and 170% faster when looking at the 1% low. So those efficient cores are devastatingly slow in this game, and anything but efficient.
We also see that when the E-cores are enabled, the larger L3 cache capacity of the i7 and i9 models doesn’t result in any extra performance, or at least very little in the way of extra performance. However with just the P-cores the 12700K was 6% faster than the 12600K and then the 12900K was 7% faster than the 12700K.
If we compare that data with the rest of the CPU architectures we’ve tested, there’s a few noteworthy comparisons to be made. When compared to Zen 3, Alder Lake is up to 12% faster, seen when comparing the 12900K with the 5800X. That said, the smaller 20MB cache of the 12600K meant it was 2% slower while the 25MB i7 was just 4% faster. So it’s that larger 30 MB L3 cache that gets the Core i9 firmly over the line.
That said, if we were to force Intel to utilize the E-cores for gaming, we see that the mixed 2 P-cores/2 E-cores configurations fall behind Zen 3. Then if you were to use E-cores exclusively, performance falls off a cliff and now we’re talking nowhere near Skylake levels of gaming performance, think more Sandy Bridge. Moving on to F1 2020, we see that the E-cores are nowhere near as bad as what we saw in Battlefield V. We’re looking at a 65% performance increase with the E-cores when looking at the 12900K and a 43% increase with the 12600K. The 12600K does appear to be choked by its smaller 20 MB L3 cache given the 12700K was 18% faster when comparing P-core performance, while the 12900K was just 4% faster than the 12700K.
Compared to Zen 3, Alder Lake is slower when limited to a 20 MB L3 cache, then up to 10% faster with 25 MB and 12% faster with 30 MB. As for the E-core only configuration, Alder Lake is comparable to Ivy Bridge in F1 2020 and a long way behind Skylake, the 7700K for example was 33% faster than the 12900K’s E-core configuration.
When your computer breaks down, or when you need to upgrade to a new faster machine, you may think that buying a new PC will solve the problem, but that's not always enough. As it turns out, a modern PC may not support your old storage devices.
If you build a PC yourself, you can still choose one of several great cases with 5.25" bays for optical drives, but if you buy a pre-built desktop, chances are it won't have such a bay. If you are hoping to recover data from your older hard drives or even floppies (yea, seriously), you may also find out that you can't connect them to your motherboard.
Likewise, if you buy a laptop, a mini PC or an all-in-one today, not only it won't have an optical drive, but it may also not support the SATA drive from your old computer, or come with a full-size SD card reader. With this guide, you'll learn about the different ways to connect your old storage drives to a new computer.
External Optical Drives
With CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray discs still somewhat commonplace, many companies sell external CD/DVD drives. The question is, which should you buy?
For $30, there's a well-reviewed generic option on Amazon that offers everything that you need in a CD/DVD drive and nothing that you don't: the double-headed USB cable supports both Type-A and Type-C connectors. With an extra power cable, the device is compatible with low-power devices such as the Surface Pro 8. The device supports Windows, macOS and Linux, and comes with your choice of a black or grey padded case.
Blu-ray drives are more expensive, and are sold by better-known companies. For $90, LG sells a compact device that can write at 6X speeds. If you value speed over portability, Asus has a drive that can write at 16X speeds for $125.
External Enclosures for Internal Disk Drives
If you can't install your old SATA drive inside your new PC, you can still use it as an external drive. If you have a standard USB port, you can do it with any 2.5" SSD or HDD for just $10 with Sabrent's enclosure. If you only have USB-C, or want a higher-quality product, you should get Ugreen's aluminum-made enclosure instead for $21.
If you have a 3.5" HDD, you'll need to get a larger enclosure with an additional power connector. Orico has one for $23, and Sabrent has one with a fan for $29. Once again, Ugreen has an aluminum/Type-C option, for $32.
If you already have an old M.2 SSD that you want to turn into an external one, then SSK's aluminum enclosures are the best option for you, with both Type-A and Type-C cables. The SATA version is $14, while the NVMe version is $20 (or $17 with a coupon).
External SD Card Readers
If your computer doesn't have a full-size SD card reader, the solution may be cheaper than you think...
For a mere $9, Vanja sells a device that's basically two slots (SD and microSD) and two USB 2.0 connectors (Type-A and Type-C), which are fast enough for any non-UHS SD card. If you want to use either slot for faster cards as well, the USB 3.0 version is $16.
External Floppy Drives
USB floppy drives look like something that shouldn't exist: after all, USB is the connector that allowed disk-on-keys to completely replace floppies at the beginning of the century. Yet, with the inability to connect an internal floppy drive to a modern motherboard, USB drives are the easiest way to use your old floppy disks with your new computer.
There are various companies selling external floppy drives, but except for the logo, most of them are possibly identical, so your choice should come down to price and seller reliability. At the time of writing, "Raayoo" looks like a good option for $19.
You probably won't find a USB-C floppy drive, so if your computer doesn't have USB-A, you should buy an adapter such as Syntech's ($10 for a pack of 2).
Parallel ATA (PATA) to PCIe/USB Adapters
If you don't recognize the connector on your old hard drive, then it's probably PATA, also known as IDE (among other names), which was replaced by SATA around the time floppy disks stopped being popular. In order to install the drive inside a modern desktop PC, you'll need to use one of your PCIe slots for an adapter.
Startech sells such an adapter for $23. It only uses one PCIe lane, and can be installed even in the shortest PCIe slots. You can screw it to the case, but it weights so little that you may not even need to.
Other companies sell adapters that basically turn PATA drives into SATA for less, but we don't recommend them as they are complicated to install and can create physical compatibility issues with drive cages. If you don't have a desktop PC with an available PCIe slot, you'll need to use an external adapter kit such as Vantec's ($20).
Be aware, though: it doesn't include a protective case for the drive, and if the drive has no space at all between the PATA and power connectors, you won't be able to use it.
Black Friday is one of the biggest shopping days of the year. It signals the unofficial start of the holiday buying season for many, highlighted by deep discounts and doorbuster sales that often can only be found during this time of year.
HP’s Black Friday sale is in full swing, and we’ve singled out several of our favorite deals. Whether it’s a new laptop, desktop, monitor or input device, HP likely has something to meet your needs at a great price. With this year expected to be even more hectic than usual due to global supply constraints, it might not be a bad idea to shop early and take advantage of some great offers while they last.
HP’s holiday sales have historically been anchored by a plethora of laptop deals, and this year is no different with bargains across mainstream machines, gaming-focused laptops and business-class portables.
The HP Pavilion 15t-eg100 immediately caught our attention. This portable features a 15.6-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,080 resolution) IPS micro-edge display that’s powered by an Intel Core i5-1157G processor with Intel Iris Xe graphics along with 8GB of DDR4 RAM (2x 4GB) and a 256GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD. It’s a great machine in its base configuration but can be made even better with a couple of upgrades.
For an extra $90, you can step up to an Nvidia GeForce MX350 GPU, and another $50 will push RAM capacity up to 12GB total, or you could choose to double the storage space and add 32GB of Intel Optane memory for only $70 more.
The HP Pavilion 15t-eg100 normally starts at $779.99, but with the Black Friday deal, you can grab it for only $514.99. At that price, you could toss in all three of the aforementioned upgrades and still come out with a cheaper-than-usual configuration by $55.
As the name suggests, this HP Omen laptop features a 16.1-inch FHD micro-edge display with Intel’s Core i5-11400H processor under the hood. Other base goodies include 8GB of DDR4 RAM, a 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD + 32GB of Intel Optane memory and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 laptop GPU.
It’d only take a strategic upgrade or two to really turn this Omen into a seriously powerful portable gaming rig. For an extra $50, you can step up to an RTX 3050 GPU, or for $250, you can get an RTX 3050 Ti GPU and a Core i7-10800H CPU. There’s also an RTX 3060 option should you seek even more performance.
Optionally, or perhaps additionally, you could throw down for more memory and / or storage to suit your needs. The HP Omen 16t-b000 starts at $949.99 after instant savings of $150.
Some of HP’s deepest discounts come not in the consumer or gaming categories, but in the business segment. Case in point is the HP EliteBook 840 G8, a 14-inch portable with a FHD IPS display, an Intel Core i7-1185G7 CPU, Intel UHD Graphics and 16GB of DDR4 memory.
This potent puncher also packs a 512GB PCIe NVMe TLC SSD as well as two Thunderbolt 4 USB Type-C ports, two SuperSpeed USB Type-A ports, an HDMI 2.0b port, audio by Bang & Olufsen and a 720p HD privacy camera. It additionally comes with a one-year subscription to HP Wolf Pro Security Edition and Windows 10 Pro (upgradeable to Windows 11 when available), and is backed by a full three-year warranty.
Configurations start at $1,755.00, down from $2,925.01.
HP Chromebooks
Portable productivity starting under $180
Powerful laptops certainly have their place, but so do affordable alternatives like Chromebooks. For Black Friday, HP has knocked $200 off the cost of its Chromebook x2, bringing the price down to just $479.99.
This 11-inch Chromebook features a 2.1K (2,160 x 1,440) multi-touch IPS display that’s driven by an eight-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor alongside 8GB of LPDDR4 RAM and 128GB of eMMC storage. With its 32Wh battery, you can expect just over 11 hours of runtime on a single charge.
Those seeking a bit more flexibility and screen size should consider the HP Chromebook x360. Also marked down to $479.99, this convertible affords a 14-inch FHD touch display with an Intel Core i3 processor and Intel UHD graphics under the hood that’s paired with 8GB of RAM and a 128GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD.
If it’s a true budget machine you desire, look no further than the HP Chromebook. Offered at 30 percent off its usual asking price, this 11.6-incher ships with an Intel Celeron processor, Intel HD Graphics 500, 4GB of RAM and a modest 32GB of eMMC storage. At only $179.99, it’s approaching expendable territory.
Standalone high-end graphics cards are virtually unattainable at retail, forcing many to turn to third-party marketplaces and pay overinflated prices. But there’s another alternative that could save you some cash in the long run – a pre-built gaming machine.
The Omen 25L is powered by Intel’s Core i5-10400 CPU, an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 and 8GB of HyperX DDR4 memory in its base configuration. For a bit more coin, however, HP will trade out the GTX 1650 for an RTX 3070 and get it to you before Christmas.
Other noteworthy amenities include a WD Black 256GB PCIe NVMe TLC M.2 SSD, a Cooler Master 500W Bronze PSU, Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, Windows 11 Home and a respectable looking chassis with a large side panel window. Pricing starts at $849.99 for the base configuration and if you opt for the RTX 3070, it goes up to $1,509.99.
Still, considering standalone RTX 3070 cards are regularly commanding upwards of $1,200 on eBay, this is certainly another route worth considering if you absolutely must have a high-end GPU this holiday season. You could even do it just for the video card and part out the rest of the system to make some of your money back.
HP monitors
Get stunning visuals across a range of sizes and budgets
Buyers typically home in on a few general specs when shopping for a new display including screen size, resolution, refresh rate and price – or any combination of them. HP’s top Black Friday deals spread the love with offerings that should cater to a range of buyers.
High-resolution aficionados might want to consider the HP V28 4K display. This 28-inch model affords a true 4K resolution of 3,820 x 2,160 pixels and a 1000:1 contrast ratio along with two HDMI 2.0 ports and a DisplayPort 1.2 connection. It’s also compatible with AMD’s adaptive synchronization technology, FreeSync, for a smoother gaming experience. With the Black Friday sale, you can get it for $100 off, bringing your cost down to $279.99.
If 4K isn’t a necessity, consider HP’s 27mq. This model sports a 27-inch display with a more modest QHD resolution of 2,560 x 1,440 from its IPS panel. It also affords a relatively thin bezel, is height-adjustable and has accommodations for one HDMI 1.4 connection and one VGA connection. Normally $329.99, you can score the HP 27mq for just $239.99 for a limited time.
Our budget pick in the larger-screen category is the HP M27fwa, a FHD (1,920 x 1,080) display with an IPS screen, AMD FreeSync support and a pair of HDMI 1.4 ports. This unit additionally packs a pair of 2w speakers and an anti-glare coating to improve visibility in bright environments. It can be yours for just $219.99, nearly a quarter off its regular price.
An honorable mention in the ultra budget department is the HP V24i, a 24-inch FHD IPS display marked down to $149.99 while supplies last.
What's more, all HyperX accessories are 10 percent off with the purchase of select gaming monitors.
Dual display bundles
If one is good, two are twice as nice
One of the easiest ways to boost productivity is to add more screen real estate, and with HP’s Black Friday sale, you can do just that by purchasing in pairs and save even more.
The aforementioned HP V24i is already a solid deal at $149.99, but you can spend even less when you bring home two at once for $280.99. The HP V28 4K is also getting in on the bundling bonanza, and you can save nearly $20 more when buying two at once for $540.99 to construct an epic dual monitor setup. Or maybe you'd rather part them out as two separate gifts - the choice is yours.
Gamers can also get in on the additional savings as a pair of HP X24i gaming monitors can be yours for $379.99. For a bit less scratch, you can take home a set of HP X24c gaming displays for $360.99. Both bundles feature screens with 144Hz refresh rates and support for AMD FreeSync.
This seven-button wired pointer features a Pixart PAW3327 sensor that boasts speeds up to 220 IPS and a resolution up to 6,200 DPI. It’s backed by a two year warranty with the primary mouse click buttons rated for up to 20 million clicks. At just $19.99 after a 33 percent instant discount, it’s a no-brainer if you’re looking for a quick and easy stocking stuffer.
The HyperX Alloy Core RGB keyboard, meanwhile, is 40 percent off its usual price, which brings the cost of entry down to $29.99. This gaming-focused board boasts anti-ghosting and key rollover functionality, five lighting zones with three brightness levels and is spill resistant. It also comes backed by a two year warranty.
Our top choice in the gaming headset category is the HyperX Cloud Alpha S. These over-ear cans dish out 7.1 virtual surround sound with a frequency response of 10Hz – 23kHz and sampling rates of up to 48kHz (gaming) / 16kHz (chat). They’re constructed of aluminum with memory foam and premium leatherette cushions, and come with a 3.2-ft detachable cable, a detachable electret microphone and an audio mixer. Normally $129.99, they can be had during Black Friday for $79.99.
