Internet

Microsoft is winding down Internet Explorer mode in its Edge browser, retiring the compatibility feature that allowed businesses and users to open legacy websites built for the old Internet Explorer engine. The move pushes organisations still relying on aging internal sites to modernise their web applications or seek alternative solutions.

Several security vulnerabilities have been discovered in the Linux kernel, according to a report circulated by LWN. The findings have drawn attention from developers and system administrators, who are closely watching for patched kernel releases. Linux kernel flaws are taken seriously because the kernel underpins most servers, Android devices and critical infrastructure worldwide.

The Modi government is preparing the rollout of Direct-to-Mobile (D2M) broadcasting, a technology that would let users watch live TV, news and sports on compatible phones without internet, Wi-Fi or mobile data. Working like FM radio, it uses broadcast frequencies, and backers say it could reduce data costs and expand access to information for millions of Indians.

The Federal Communications Commission is considering reductions to subsidies that help schools and libraries pay for internet access. The program, long a key source of funding for classroom connectivity, could face significant cuts under the proposal. The news is drawing attention from educators and policymakers concerned about the impact on students' access to online learning resources.

A widely viewed video essay argues that MrBeast's dominance on YouTube symbolises the decline of literature and long-form reading, especially among younger audiences. The essay contrasts the attention economy of fast, algorithm-driven entertainment with the sustained focus that books demand, prompting discussion about whether online creators are displacing traditional storytelling and reading habits.

Supporters are calling on officials to save the E-Rate program, which helps schools and libraries across the United States afford internet access. A public campaign is urging people to contact lawmakers and defend the funding, arguing that losing it would make connectivity unaffordable for many communities and widen the digital divide for students and low-income families.

Cloudflare has introduced a Web Search API, announced in its developer changelog. The service lets developers integrate web search directly into their applications, a capability increasingly in demand for building AI agents and assistants that need up-to-date information from the internet. The launch drew quick attention from developers discussing the tool and its potential uses.

Russia's Ministry of Digital Development is again in talks with telecom operators about introducing a charge for international network traffic, according to reporting by Current Time. The proposal, if adopted, could affect how Russian operators pay for cross-border data exchange and may influence internet costs for users. Details on timing and pricing remain undeclared, and operators' positions on the measure have not been made public.

A website called 56k.rip lets visitors relive what going online felt like in 1996, simulating the dial-up era of modems, screeching connection sounds and slow-loading pages. It has drawn strong interest on Hacker News, where users are reminiscing about early internet culture and debating how accurately it captures the experience.

School districts across Colorado are asking the Federal Communications Commission to preserve a federal program that discounts internet costs for schools. Local officials warn that losing the program would raise connectivity expenses at a time when districts depend heavily on online learning tools. The appeal, reported by The Denver Post, comes amid broader uncertainty over the fate of federal education technology funding.

A developer has built a tool that maps the hundreds of outbound internet connections a Mac makes every hour, from software updaters to analytics SDKs and crash reporters. The project, shared with the open-source community, aims to show users exactly which apps on their machine are phoning home and what privacy that costs.

SDF, a public access Unix system founded in 1987, is drawing renewed attention online. The volunteer-run service has offered free Unix shell accounts to the public for nearly four decades, making it one of the oldest continuously operating community computing platforms on the internet. Readers are revisiting it as a rare surviving piece of early internet culture, discussing its longevity and its role in keeping non-commercial, community-driven computing alive.

A developer has launched a forum-style discussion platform built on an open protocol, where each user's identity is a cryptographic keypair rather than a username and password. The project is drawing attention on Hacker News, where commenters are discussing how the approach resembles classic internet forums while borrowing decentralized identity ideas from protocols like Nostr.

The claim that every country now effectively runs its own internet is circulating as a headline, reflecting a growing perception that the once-global web is fragmenting into national networks shaped by local rules, censorship, and control.

Venezuelan YouTuber DrossRotzank, known for horror and mystery content, has published a new video titled 'Answerbeep, una historia siniestra de Internet', recounting a disturbing story from the internet. The release has drawn close to a million likes in a short period, with Spanish-speaking audiences reacting to the latest instalment in the creator's signature chilling storytelling style.

A detailed guide by Vincent Bernat explains how to expose self-hosted web services to the internet by tunneling HTTP over SSH, with Nginx handling routing. It covers the configuration and trade-offs compared to commercial tunneling services, appealing to developers who prefer running their own infrastructure without third-party dependencies.

Streamer Kai Cenat is at the center of a widely watched video in which he is said to 'expose the real truth' and argue that the internet is sick. Beyond that claim, no verified details are available about what he said, when, or what evidence was offered. Viewers appear to be reacting in large numbers, though the substance of the accusations and any responses remain unclear.

A public-domain illustration titled Sideward Trunk Bend (1917) by Mr Phelan, from the book Physical Training for Business Men, is being shared from the Library of Congress and Internet Archive collections. The multi-exposure image, showing an office worker's exercise pose, draws attention as an example of early twentieth-century workplace fitness culture.

The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority has responded to questions about changes to example.com, the reserved domain long used in documentation and testing. The explanation, published in a blog post by developer Oliver Dunk, has drawn attention on Hacker News, with commenters discussing what the modification means for developers who rely on the reserved domain and how the IETF's special-use registries are managed.

Cloudflare has published a detailed blog post describing how it built a certificate authority capable of issuing TLS certificates at internet scale. The piece walks through the engineering and operational challenges of running a CA that serves millions of websites, including security practices and automation. It is drawing attention among developers and security engineers discussing how public key infrastructure underpins the web's encryption.

Another internet service provider is expanding its coverage in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley, according to local reporting. The move adds to growing competition among broadband companies in the region, giving residents more options for home internet service. Specific details about the provider, timeline, and areas covered were outlined in the report.

Long-time Slashdot reader Andreas(R) has announced Northstar, a minimalist web browser written entirely from scratch in C. The browser is available for Linux, Mac, and Windows. The announcement, shared via Slashdot, is drawing attention from internet and browser enthusiasts curious about a from-scratch alternative to mainstream browsers, at a time when most browsers rely on shared engines like Chromium.

Charlotte Dobre TV has released a compilation covering some of the wildest Reddit stories that went viral online, drawing major attention with hundreds of thousands of likes. The roundup revisits dramatic community drama and viral sagas that first unfolded across Reddit, which continues to fuel fascination with internet lore and the stories that captured widespread attention.

"Libertad digital" — digital freedom — is drawing attention in Spain, with searches and discussion pointing to growing public concern over online rights, privacy and government or platform control of the internet. Spaniards are debating how far individuals should be free to express themselves and operate online without censorship or surveillance, a topic that touches regulators, tech companies and civil society alike.