N.S.A. Denies Its Cyberweapon Was Used in Baltimore Attack, Congressman Says
A stolen N.S.A. hacking tool was a component in a cyberattack on the city, people involved in the investigation have told The Times.
Home / Archive for May 2019
As China Takes Aim, Silicon Valley Braces for Pain
The tech cold war is heating up. U.S. companies that depend on the giant China market are preparing themselves for the fallout.
NASA Hires 3 Companies for Moon Deliveries
The landers would be the first American spacecraft to touch down on the moon since the astronauts of Apollo 17 left in 1972.
Reid Hoffman: ‘You Can’t Just Sit on the Sidelines’
An early passion for science fiction and board games led to an influential career in technology.
The Week in Tech: Disinformation’s Huge Inaction Problem
Almost everybody wants something done about disinformation. So why does it seem that nothing is changing?
China Plans a List of U.S. Firms to Block, in Answer to Trump
Without disclosing details, officials say they plan to retaliate against those who blockade Chinese companies, in an apparent response to Hu...
Are Likes and Followers the Problem With Social Media?
Social networks built on public status markers are now starting to hide them.
Apps Purged by Apple Say It Holds the Key They Need to Get Back In
Seventeen companies that make apps designed to fight iPhone addiction called on Apple to let them use technology that would resolve privacy ...
Uber’s First Results After I.P.O. Show Slowing Growth and $1 Billion Loss
The ride-hailing giant’s earnings report raised questions about where the company will find new growth and if it can ever make money.
North Face Apologizes for Adding Its Own Photos to Wikipedia to Promote Its Brand
The North Face said it was ending a campaign that took photos of its clothing and equipment at outdoor destinations and uploaded the branded...
For Its Next Trick, DeepMind Will Beat Us at Team Sports
Chess and Go were child’s play. Now A.I. is winning at capture the flag. Will such skills translate to the real world?
Nancy Pelosi Criticizes Facebook for Handling of Altered Videos
Ms. Pelosi said the company’s decision to leave up manipulated videos of her demonstrated how the social network contributed to Russian mani...
French Rock Star’s Instagram Defeats His Widow in Inheritance Battle
If Johnny Hallyday, the “French Elvis,” was a United States resident, then his fourth wife stood to inherit his whole fortune. Social media ...
Apps That Blast Out Crime Alerts Don’t Have to Rattle You
Neighborhood-watch networks are on the rise, even though crime is not. Here’s how to put the data into perspective.
On Migrant Journeys With WhatsApp and Google Translate
Miriam Jordan, who covers immigration for The Times, says that migrants crossing the border often use WhatsApp and that Google Translate can...
Pokémon Sleep Wants to Make Snoozing a Game Too
Pokémon Go got people walking for hours in the summer of 2016. Now, its makers want to make sleep the next frontier.
Your Kids Think You’re Addicted to Your Phone
While parents are, of course, worried about their teenagers’ phone use, that concern goes both ways, a new study found.
Huawei Ramps Up U.S. Legal Challenge, With the Media in Mind
The Chinese telecommunications giant has filed for summary judgment against the White House as it challenges limits against it via the court...
As E-Sports Grow, So Do Their Homes
To provide fans with a richer experience, developers are creating arenas that are designed for pro gaming.
Savior of G.M. Lordstown Plant, Hailed by Trump, Is a Corporate Cipher
The electric-truck venture hailed by President Trump exists almost entirely on paper and would need $300 million to get the factory running ...
Food Delivery Apps Are Drowning China in Plastic
The noodles and barbecue arrive within 30 minutes. The containers they come in could be around for hundreds of years thereafter.
Google’s Shadow Work Force: Temps Who Outnumber Full-Time Employees
The tech company has long used contractors, but some employees worry that a growing reliance on them represents a shifting, less admirable w...
How Convicts Ordered to Stay Offline Try to Slip Their Digital Leashes
A hacker and a sex offender share what happened when they sought to trick the probation officers monitoring them.
In Baltimore and Beyond, a Stolen N.S.A. Tool Wreaks Havoc
American cities are being hijacked with an N.S.A. cyberweapon that has already done billions of dollars in damage overseas. The N.S.A. will ...
Huawei Ban Threatens Wireless Service in Rural Areas
Many small carriers depend on inexpensive equipment from the Chinese company. Now they must rethink expansion plans, and perhaps replace exi...
Security Gap Leaves 885 Million Mortgage Documents Exposed
The data, collected by First American Financial Corporation, included hundreds of millions of detailed and personal financial records.
More Turmoil at The Markup, a Tech Site Still in Beta Mode
After the firing last month of the top editor, Julia Angwin, two other key members of the editorial team are out, said the site’s main donor...
Huawei’s European Customers Are Put on Hold by U.S. Ban
They’re unsure how Android phones will keep working as Google and other companies assess a Trump administration order.
Manipulated Pelosi Videos Spread on Social Media, With Help From Trump
Edited videos of the House speaker were widely shared online, pointing to the political chaos that digital manipulation is likely to cause i...
The Week in Tech: Geopolitics Are Shaping Your Next Smartphone
When President Trump took his latest swipe at Huawei, he set in motion a chain of events that could affect your next smartphone.
SpaceX Launches Starlink Satellites, Aiming for Internet From Orbit
The payload of 60 satellites could be an important new line of business for the private rocket company.
Facebook Says It Is More Aggressively Enforcing Content Rules
The social media company, facing criticism from governments around the world, also offered evidence that its automated systems are improving...
Google’s Duplex Uses A.I. to Mimic Humans (Sometimes)
In a free service, bots call restaurants and make reservations. The technology is impressive, except for when the caller is actually a perso...
Amazon Investors Reject Proposals on Climate Change and Facial Recognition
The resolutions, voted on by shareholders, would have pushed the company to reconsider its societal impact.
Hackers Are Holding Baltimore Hostage: How They Struck and What’s Next
Two weeks ago, attackers seized parts of the computer systems that run the city’s government. So far, it hasn’t given in to ransom demands.
Siri and Alexa Fuel Sexism, U.N. Finds
Virtual helpers that come with female voices by default are perpetuating bias, a Unesco report argues.
Tech We’re Using: Taking Steps to Maximize Privacy While Covering the Lack of It
Jennifer Valentino-DeVries, an investigative reporter who has delved into issues of online privacy, is “under no illusions” that protecting ...
Qualcomm Violated Antitrust Laws, U.S. Judge Rules
A judge found that Qualcomm, a giant in the computer chip industry, charged cellphone makers “onerous” fees for use of its patents.
Capitalism Camp for Kids
Young people love socialism. Can a summer of indoctrination teach little Hermione and Khaleesi to love capitalism?
How Bettors in the Know Cashed In on ‘Game of Thrones’
Though HBO went to great lengths to keep the finale secret until it aired, professional bettors saw clear signs that key details had leaked ...
Google Changes Abortion Ad Policy
Advertisers must be certified as providing or not providing abortions, and Google will include disclosures on ads about ending pregnancy.
U.S. Restrictions on Huawei Expose a High-Tech Achilles’ Heel for China
China is heavily reliant on imported computer chips, despite efforts to develop its own semiconductor industry.
Remember New Coke? It’s Coming Back. Blame Netflix.
The creators of “Stranger Things” wrote the failed beverage into the coming season as part of a big marketing push. With memories of a 1985 ...
U.S. Restrictions on Huawei Expose a High-Tech Achilles’ Heel for China
China is heavily reliant on imported computer chips, despite efforts to develop its own semiconductor industry.
The New New World: As Huawei Loses Google, the U.S.-China Tech Cold War Gets Its Iron Curtain
The White House’s hard-line approach threatens to speed up the development of two technology worlds, further isolating one-fifth of internet...
Google Restricts Huawei’s Access to Android After Trump Order
The move could hamstring the Chinese tech giant if it prevents the firm’s customers from getting the latest versions of services such as Map...
A.I. Took a Test to Detect Lung Cancer. It Got an A.
Artificial intelligence may help doctors make more accurate readings of CT scans used to screen for lung cancer.
The New New World: As Huawei Loses Google, the U.S.-China Tech Cold War Gets Its Iron Curtain
The White House’s hard-line approach threatens to speed up the development of two technology worlds, further isolating one-fifth of internet...
Google Restricts Huawei’s Access to Android After Trump Order
The move could hamstring the Chinese tech giant if it prevents the firm’s customers from getting the latest versions of services such as Map...
Google Restricts Huawei’s Access to Android After Trump Order
The move could hamstring the Chinese tech giant if it prevents the firm’s customers from getting the latest versions of services such as Map...
Amazon Faces Investor Pressure Over Facial Recognition
Shareholders are voting on whether to push the tech giant to examine the human rights and financial risks of the surveillance technology.
Mediator: Social Media Pollution, a Huge Problem in the Last Election, Could Be Worse in 2020
As a candidate, Donald Trump promoted a mystery Twitter account that falsely portrayed a protester as an ISIS terrorist. Nothing stops him f...
Tech Jobs Lead to the Middle Class. Just Not for the Masses.
The great hope for people without a bachelor’s degree hasn’t yet spread beyond small-scale success stories.
HP Enterprise to Acquire Supercomputer Pioneer Cray
The price was relatively small, but the deal may have a big impact on the race between the United States and China to build more powerful co...
Facebook’s A.I. Whiz Now Faces the Task of Cleaning It Up. Sometimes That Brings Him to Tears.
Facebook has heralded artificial intelligence as a solution to its toxic content problems. Mike Schroepfer, its chief technology officer, sa...
Bits: The Week in Tech: Putting an A.I. Genie Back in Its Bottle
San Francisco demonstrated that technologies believed to be damaging to citizens’ well-being can be curtailed.
Amazon to Invest in Deliveroo, a Rival to Uber in Food Delivery
The $575 million investment strengthens one of the biggest overseas rivals to Uber’s food-delivery division, which the ride-hailing company ...
The Ins and Outs of Knit Theory
For physicist Elisabetta Matsumoto, “knitting is coding,” and yarn is a programmable material.
Violent Japanese Mascot That Tickled John Oliver Is Suspended by Twitter
The mascot Chiitan, modeled on a real-life otter, drew notoriety for violent stunts that delighted social media users and the HBO comedian.
Pinterest Posts Narrower Loss, but Falls Short of Wall St. Estimates
The digital pinboard company’s stock price tumbled in after-hours trading after its first earnings report as a public company.
SpaceX to Launch Starlink Internet Satellites Tonight After Postponement
To make enough money for interplanetary journeys, Elon Musk’s company hopes to provide high-speed internet all over the world.
Trump’s Latest Move Takes Straight Shot at Huawei’s Business
By restricting the Chinese technology giant’s ability to buy American components, Washington could hamstring Huawei’s operations worldwide.
SpaceX Delays Launch of Starlink Orbital Internet Satellites
The mission is to be a test of the company’s ambitions to create a new line of business by connecting more parts of the world.
SpaceX to Launch 60 Starlink Satellites, Aiming to Build Orbital Internet
The mission is a test of the company’s ambitions to create a new line of business by connecting more parts of the world.
How the Promise of a $120 Billion Uber I.P.O. Evaporated
Uber’s offering was supposed to be a crowning moment for the ride-hailing company. But it suffered setback after setback and ultimately resu...
Trump Moves to Ban Foreign Telecom Gear, Targeting Huawei in Battle With China
The ban was expected. American officials have long warned that they would stop sharing intelligence if allies installed Chinese technology o...
The Man Behind San Francisco’s Facial Recognition Ban Is Working on More. Way More.
Brian Hofer, a paralegal who drafted the ordinance, is pushing for anti-surveillance measures across California. He has already gotten more ...
San Francisco’s Facial Recognition Ban Is New, but the Controversies Aren’t
A look back at how facial recognition technology has stoked controversy over the years.
Matter: Scientists Created Bacteria With a Synthetic Genome. Is This Artificial Life?
In a milestone for synthetic biology, colonies of E. coli thrive with DNA constructed from scratch by humans, not nature.
White House Says It Won’t Sign Global Pact for Tougher Measures on Online Violence
Citing free speech protections in the United States, the Trump administration said it would not endorse the ‘Christchurch Call,’ which calls...
Tech Tip: How to Add Hollywood Special Effects to Your Videos
With your smartphone, inexpensive software and a bit of cloth or paper, you can make your own “green screen” movies.
Tech We’re Using: Why Play a Music CD? ‘No Ads, No Privacy Terrors, No Algorithms’
Streaming services have revolutionized the discovery of songs, but here’s why Ben Sisario, who covers the music industry, still likes to lis...
Condé Nast Sells Brides Magazine to Barry Diller’s Dotdash
Dotdash, once known as About.com, plans to scrap the 85-year-old publication’s print edition and keep most of the editorial staff.
Alibaba Reports Slower Growth as U.S.-China Trade War Intensifies
The e-commerce firm became a giant by catering to China’s emerging middle class. But these are anxious times for Chinese consumers and busin...
Facebook Takes Step to Police Content on Its Live Service
When 51 people were killed in New Zealand, the suspect broadcast it live on Facebook. The massacre led to a global call to combat the spread...
San Francisco Bans Facial Recognition Technology
It is the first ban by a major city on the use of facial recognition technology by police and all other municipal agencies.
Uber Drivers Are Contractors, Not Employees, Labor Board Says
The National Labor Relations Board’s position is a setback for drivers who had hoped to join forces to push for better pay and working condi...
The New New World: In China, Some Fear the End of ‘Chimerica’
As the trade war with the U.S. threatens to decouple the world’s two largest economies, some in China argue that the two sides benefit from ...
The New New World: In China, Some Fear the End of ‘Chimerica’
As the trade war with the U.S. threatens to decouple the world’s two largest economies, some in China argue that the two sides benefit from ...
Attention, Amazon Shoppers: Google Wants Some of Your Spending Money
Amazon wants to sell ads. Google wants to woo shoppers. Their ambitions are putting the tech giants on a collision course.
Supreme Court Allows Antitrust Lawsuit Against Apple to Proceed
Plaintiffs argued that the technology giant had used its monopoly power to raise the prices of iPhone apps.
Mind: Firing Up the Neural Symphony
Scientists are racing to treat brain disabilities with electrical stimulation. Here’s a metaphor to help make sense of the progress.
New Report Shows How a Pro-Iran Group Spread Fake News Online
A research group at the University of Toronto has untangled look-alike websites and bogus news stories that appear to echo the Iranian gover...
Israeli Firm Tied to Tool That Uses WhatsApp Flaw to Spy on Activists
Researchers said the NSO Group had found a vulnerability, which was disclosed Monday, that was used to target the iPhone of a human-rights l...
In Kidnapping Attempt, Uber Driver Told 2 Women ‘You’re Not Going Anywhere,’ Police Say
The driver, an assistant professor at a commonwealth campus of Pennsylvania State University, was charged with kidnapping and false imprison...
Welcome to TrumpTok, a Safe Space From Safe Spaces
On TikTok, there’s always a rally, and expressing support for the president makes for good content.
U.S.-China Trade Talks Stumble on Beijing’s Spending at Home
As the trade war intensifies, Chinese subsidies for homegrown industries present a difficult obstacle to reaching a deal.
New Zealand Seeks Global Support for Tougher Measures on Online Violence
In the wake of the terrorist attack on Muslim mosques, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is calling for a united effort against the biggest inte...
Your 5G Phone Won’t Hurt You. But Russia Wants You to Think Otherwise.
RT America, a network known for sowing disinformation, has a new alarm: the coming ‘5G Apocalypse.’
How Volunteer Sleuths Identified a Hiker and Her Killer After 36 Years
What does it actually take to identify a person through genetic genealogy? Wading through infidelities and pornography.
Uber’s Stock Disappoints, Capping a Rocky Path to Its I.P.O.
Last year, investment bankers said it could be valued at $120 billion upon I.P.O. That number has declined in recent weeks.
Bits: The Week in Tech: Facebook and Google Reshape the Narrative on Privacy
You may think privacy means keeping hold of your data. The two tech giants want it to mean they don’t hand data to others.
Sex Toy Award Is Restored by Trade Show After an Outcry Over Sexism
CES, the country’s largest consumer electronics convention, had rescinded an award for innovation for a sex toy for women, provoking accusat...
Uber Prices I.P.O. at $45 a Share, Valuing It at $82.4 Billion
The ride-hailing giant’s valuation is the third largest for a company going public on an American exchange.
Two From China Are Charged in 2014 Anthem Data Breach
The insurer was the first of four victims linked to the pair, in what the authorities say was an aggressive hacking campaign.
Tech Trade Show Restores Award to Sex Toy After Outcry
CES, the country’s largest consumer electronics convention, had rescinded an award for innovation for a sex toy for women, provoking accusat...
Uber Prices I.P.O. at $45 a Share, Valuing It at $82.4 Billion
The ride-hailing giant’s valuation is the third largest for a company going public on an American exchange.
Facebook Rejects Call for Its Breakup From Co-Founder Chris Hughes
“You don’t enforce accountability by calling for the breakup of a successful American company,” the company wrote in response to his essay.
The Shift: Instagram Is Trying to Curb Bullying. First, It Needs to Define Bullying.
The effort is part of a larger attempt by Instagram and its parent company, Facebook, to clean themselves up.
Jeff Bezos’ Shot at the Moon? Blue Origin to Announce Vision for Space
The Amazon founder’s private rocket company has hinted that it may have plans for the moon’s ice-rich South Pole.
They Got Rich Off Uber and Lyft. Then They Moved to Low-Tax States.
Meet the semiretired millennials who left California for low-tax, low-stress places like Texas, as their former start-ups stampede toward th...
Now for Sale on Facebook: Looted Middle Eastern Antiquities
Facebook groups offer ancient treasures from Syria, Iraq and other conflict zones, some of which may have been pillaged by Islamic State mil...
Amazon Flunks Children’s Privacy, Advocacy Groups Charge
Children’s groups say the tech giant’s Echo Dot Kids device violated a federal law protecting youngsters’ online privacy. Amazon disagrees.
Redfin Aims to Bring E-Commerce to Home Buying
Web-focused companies are increasingly competing with traditional brokerages, moving to displace agents from the process of selling a house,...
Pompeo Attacks China and Warns Britain Over Huawei Security Risks
Cooperation with the Chinese company could put American intelligence sharing with Britain at risk, the secretary of state said on a London v...
Uber Said to Plan to Price I.P.O. at Midpoint of Range
At the midpoint, $47 a share, Uber would be valued at about $86 billion — well below the $100 billion that the company had forecast last mon...
Tech Fix: Google Pixel 3A Review: The $400 Smartphone You’ve Been Waiting For
The first midrange Pixel is packed with innovations, without a shocking price.
For a Split Second, a (Simulated) Particle Went Backward in Time
Using a quantum computer, physicists successfully reversed time for an artificial atom. You can even try it at home.
Tech We’re Using: Capturing What’s Online in China Before It Vanishes
It’s important to preserve snapshots of China’s internet before they vanish without a trace, says Raymond Zhong, a Times tech reporter in Be...
3 Muslim Workers at Amazon File Federal Discrimination Complaint
Three women near Minneapolis argue that Amazon retaliated against them after they protested their working conditions.
Drivers Start Strikes Ahead of Uber’s Blockbuster I.P.O.
A walkout by Australian drivers began a series of planned work stoppages around the world to protest wages and work conditions of ride-haili...
Drivers Start Strikes Ahead of Uber’s Blockbuster I.P.O.
A walkout by Australian drivers began a series of planned work stoppages around the world to protest wages and work conditions of ride-haili...
Google Says It Has Found Religion on Privacy
The internet giant, which has repeatedly been accused of intrusive behavior, wants to give consumers tools to control their own online data....
Lyft’s First Results After I.P.O. Show $1.14 Billion Quarterly Loss
The ride-hailing company’s revenue nearly doubled for the quarter, while its loss was driven by a hefty charge for its stock-based compensat...
Tech Fix: Google Pixel 3A Review: The $400 Smartphone You’ve Been Waiting For
The first midrange Pixel is packed with innovations, without a shocking price.
Start-Ups Hoping to Fight Climate Change Struggle as Other Tech Firms Cash In
A number of small companies are looking for ways to remove carbon from the atmosphere. But investors, burned by the clean-tech boom a decade...
Silicon Valley Is Coming for Your House
Offering “instant buying,” companies like Zillow and Opendoor are bringing liquidity to the housing market. Critics fear they could also be ...
Travel Tips: The Pros and Cons of Noise-Canceling Headphones
Noise-canceling headphones regularly top lists of essential travel gadgets, but are they worth it?
Don't Buy a 5G Phone Yet
Your phone company is going to start bombarding you with ads for 5G phones soon, but you should ignore them — at least for now.
Europe Is Reining In Tech Giants. But Some Say It’s Going Too Far.
Bids to block harmful and violent content online in Europe are drawing criticism for limiting free expression and undercutting the ideals of...
Ride-Sharing’s Future? It May Sit on Electric Motorbikes
In India, start-ups are opening a new front in the global ride-hailing battles, just as Uber prepares to go public.
Facebook Opens a Command Post to Thwart Election Meddling in Europe
The social network took the wraps off a special operations center in Dublin ahead of this month’s European Union voting.
Facebook Faces a Big Penalty, but Regulators Are Split Over How Big
The F.T.C. chairman seems to have the votes to approve a settlement. One of the biggest issues has been whether to hold Mark Zuckerberg liab...
You’ve Conquered the Escape Room. But Can You Escape the Lab?
A physicist at the University of Illinois devised an immersive game in which teams solve science puzzles to unlock a mystery — before it’s t...
500 Days of Duolingo: What You Can (and Can’t) Learn From a Language App
Free language learning apps often promise the world — but don’t expect fluency from one. Here’s what to expect before you sign up.
With Uber’s I.P.O., Dara Khosrowshahi Is Taking Travis Kalanick’s Company Public
The C.E.O. wants to prove that the start-up has evolved past a raucous, and profligate, tech-bro culture. But Uber’s past is simply not that...
Australian Taxi Drivers Sue Uber Over Wages They Say Its Arrival Cost Them
In their lawsuit, the drivers accuse the ride-hailing giant of operating illegally in the country and of destroying their livelihoods. Uber ...
How the U.K. Won’t Keep Porn Away From Teens
Complying with a new law, the largest online porn company has set itself up to be the youth gatekeeper of British smut. What could go wrong?...
Bits: The Week in Tech: Worried About Screen Time? A Dose of Big Tech Data May Help
Moral panic about our use of devices could benefit from good data. Big Tech companies are sitting on that information.
You Will Never Smell My World the Way I Do
Scientists find that whiskey’s smokiness, the smell of beets and lily of the valley perfume can be utterly different depending on your genet...
Modern Love: Years Ago, My Sister Vanished. I See Her Whenever I Want.
The winner of this year’s Modern Love college essay contest explores the comforts and limits of online connection.
Beyond Meat’s Share Price Surges on First Day of Trading
Investors appeared to buy into Beyond Meat’s belief that it can replace meat with plant-based alternatives. That bodes well for similar comp...
These Smart Devices Protect Your Home While You’re on Vacation
Take these steps to protect your home from mishaps and intruders when you leave for vacation.
Facebook Bans Alex Jones, Louis Farrakhan and Others From Its Services
The move, which critics said was a long time coming, is an escalation of the social media company’s enforcement of its content policies.
Tinder Wants In on Your Music Festival Meet-Cute
The dating app has a new feature to help you find a mate in a sea of flower crowns.
Jack Dorsey Is Gwyneth Paltrow for Silicon Valley
The Twitter chief executive is tech’s foremost manfluencer, guiding his followers toward optimum cognitive performance. Or, at least, hunger...
Tesla Seeks to Raise $2 Billion in Sale of Stock and Debt
The plan, disclosed in a regulatory filing, comes after the carmaker announced a surprisingly sharp quarterly loss.
Facebook Set to Create Privacy Positions as Part of F.T.C. Settlement
Facebook is expected to create a privacy committee to protect user data, as well as an external assessor who would be appointed by the compa...
Qualcomm Pegs Payment From Apple at $4.5 Billion to $4.7 Billion
Qualcomm’s forecasts suggested Apple’s licensing fees will not substantially increase revenue as Apple catches up on royalties.
Tech Fix: It’s Time to Use Your Imagination With Bluetooth Trackers. We Did.
The tiny tags are typically used to find valuables like house keys, but they are far more versatile than that.
Frieze Week 2019: Want to Check Out Frieze? All You Need Is an App and a Headset
The art fair introduces virtual reality so the curious can view some works from afar.
Tech We’re Using: Tech Is Changing New York, but Not How He Reports on the City
J. David Goodman, a metro reporter, has chronicled the Google and Amazon invasions. But the most effective technology for reporting on the c...
The New New World: ‘Striding Across the Pacific’: Huawei’s Identity Problem
The Chinese telecom giant seeks acceptance in the West, but its structure and value system — patterned after the Communist Party’s — could s...
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