Most design specs break down in development because they're built for designers, not developers. This article shows how to write specs that reflect real-world logic, states, constraints, and platform behavior not just pixels. Rafael Basso Jan 20, 2026 11 min read A practical guide to AI in UX design, covering predictive UX, generative assistance, personalization, automation, and the risks of overusing AI. Shalitha Suranga Jan 14, 2026 11 min read
QR codes are two-dimensional images with glyphs of various sizes that store not just numbers, but text. When scanned, your phone extracts the encoded information and can act on it. For example, QR codes often embed URLs, allowing you to scan, say, a parking meter to launch a webpage where you can pay online.
Passwords get hacked all the time, but they can't be hacked if they don't exist...this allows a small team like 404 to spend less time managing security administration, and more time investing in bringing you stories you care about.
An FBI informant helped run the Incognito dark web market and allegedly approved the sale of fentanyl-laced pills, including those from a dealer linked to a confirmed death, WIRED reported this week. Meanwhile, Jeffrey Epstein's ties to Customs and Border Protection officers sparked a Department of Justice probe. Documents say that CBP officers in the US Virgin Islands were still friendly with Epstein years after his 2008 conviction, illustrating the infamous sex offender's tactics for cultivating allies.
2FA or two-factor authentication is a specific type of multi-factor authentication. As the name suggests, 2FA requires two distinct forms of user verification factors to access a specific protected, registered user-only software system. In the past, software teams used only a one-factor authentication strategy with users' passwords, but nowadays, with growing security concerns and user authentication evolution, every digital product uses 2FA with password-based authentication, starting from simple SMS OTPs (One Time Tokens) to futuristic AI-powered adaptive 2FA methods and high-security hardware keys.
Starting February 9, 2026, Microsoft will enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all users who want to access the Microsoft 365 admin center. Administrators without MFA will face login blocks starting next month. The measure is part of Microsoft's strategy against credential-based attacks, which remain a significant attack vector. The company began a soft rollout in February last year, but starting next month, the requirement will be fully enforced for all tenants.
While you're thinking about third-party add-ons for your computer and phone, take a moment to review everything you have installed on both fronts and consider how many of those programs you actually still use. The fewer cracked windows you allow on your Google account, the better - and if you aren't even using something, there's no reason to keep it connected.
Near-identical password reuse occurs when users make small, predictable changes to an existing password rather than creating a completely new one. While these changes satisfy formal password rules, they do little to reduce real-world exposure. Here are some classic examples: Adding or changing a number Summer2023! → Summer2024! Appending a character Swapping symbols or capitalization Welcome! → Welcome? AdminPass → adminpass Another common scenario occurs when organizations issue a standard starter password to new employees, and instead of replacing it entirely, users make incremental changes over time to remain compliant.
Vulnerabilities discovered by researchers in Dormakaba physical access control systems could have allowed hackers to remotely open doors at major organizations. The security holes were discovered by experts at SEC Consult, a cybersecurity consulting firm under Atos-owned Eviden, in Dormakaba's Exos central management software, a hardware access manager, and registration units that enable entry via a keypad, fingerprint reader, or chip card.
