Follow live coverage as Tasman host Manawatu at Trafalgar Park in Nelson in round two of the National Provincial Championship. Read...

A national hui in Taranaki brought all 15 boards together for the first time since their establishment in 2022. Read...

Follow live coverage as Waikato host Wellington at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton in round two of the National Provincial Championship. Read...

Follow live coverage as North Harbour host Taranaki at North Harbour Stadium in Auckland in round two of the National Provincial Championship. Read...

It’s one of the most used lines from the National Party, but is it true? And how exactly does the rest of the country benefit? Read...

Humans aren’t infallible, as much as we’d like to be. That includes security experts, as Troy Hunt revealed yesterday. Turns out, the legend behind HaveIBeenPwned (a site that lets you see which data breaches you’ve been in) got phished when trying to log into Mailchimp. In a post titled “A Sneaky Phish Just Grabbed my Mailchimp Mailing List,” Hunt runs down the situation, starting with how it began (jet lag and fatigue while traveling) and how it ended (the phisher capturing his credentials, logging in, and then exporting all 16,000 email addresses associated with his newsletter). If you’ve been affected, Hunt has already loaded those email addresses into the HaveIBeenPwned database. The list includes people who already unsubscribed from the newsletter—Mailchimp does not delete these email addresses from its databases. You can read the full details of what happened in the post, but I was most struck by the lessons to take away from Hunt’s clear account of the incident. Not just the things to watch out for, but how to set up your digital life so you’re still safe if you slip up. Let’s dig in: Don’t rely on warning signs Walking through Hunt’s tale, you can see that scams do signal what they are. In Hunt’s case, multiple small warning signs existed: False urgency in the email Sender of the email was fake Autofill from 1Password didn’t trigger on the illegitimate site A security expert of Hunt’s level normally would be sensitive to these details. But he was tired while traveling—a situation any of us could find ourselves in. A copy of the phishing email that tripped up Hunt.Troy Hunt / HaveIBeenPwned The lesson here: If you receive an urgent email or message, skip the link provided—instead, log into your accounts directly. (Similarly, return phone calls using official phone numbers from a bank statement or the back of your bank card—or at the very least, Google the provided number to verify its authenticity.) This strategy gives some cushion against having to be 100 percent sharp about spotting scams, 24/7. Passkeys are also the better method for logging in, as they’re phishing resistant. So are stronger methods of 2FA, like hardware keys (e.g., Yubikeys or a Google Titan Security Key). Leaving a service won’t protect you from data breaches As Hunt discovered while parsing his lost data, not all companies delete your data if you leave them. In fact, in the case of Mailchimp, they appear to purposely retain email addresses of unsubscribers so that they can’t be readded to a list. Most services have a way to delete you from their databases. (Various state and national governments have laws requiring an easy way to be deleted—also known as the right to be forgotten.) Unless you make that request, though, you could be part of any number massive troves of data, ripe for stealing by bad actors.  And the more data that hackers have about you (what your interests are, where you shop, etc), the easier it is for them to target you. Masked emails keep your real address hidden from websites.Michael Ansaldo/Foundry The lesson here: To truly sever a relationship with a website, you have to request the deletion of your data. Such a step can be worthwhile for extremely sensitive data, like genetics testing. For everything else, consider using email masks instead. You’ll have a unique email alias for each service, so if anyone of them is breached, the data can’t be easily used to build a profile of you. It can happen to anyone Hunt’s experience is a reminder that scams can prey on just about anyone—and that if you do, it’s not because you’re stupid. Sometimes you’re just busy, stressed, or otherwise too preoccupied to realize what’s in front of you. But you shouldn’t stop being vigilant. A security guru falling for a phishing scam doesn’t mean we’re all doomed. On the contrary, you have just as much chance of successfully evading schemes as everyone else. When I write about security, it’s not from a place of authoritative expertise. I know I’m just as susceptible as everyone else—and so I share whatever useful info I have, so that we can all watch our tails. Read...

Follow live coverage as Northland host Southland at Semenoff Stadium in Whangarei in round two of the National Provincial Championship. Read...

The national carrier is weighing up re-starting services to the UK. Read...

The Smart Bird Feeder from TT Nature is ideal whether you want to connect with nature or inspire a new hobby. It supports the backyard birdwatching experience with up-to-date technology, such as solar power, Wi-Fi-supported real-time notifications, and AI bird recognition that identifies over 10,000 species. Built to Last, Designed to Share Staring at an empty bird feeder, hoping for a bird visit? No need to wait, this smart bird feeder will notify you when a bird arrives. The HD camera provides clear footage, allowing you to marvel at the bright patterns on the wings of a cardinal or the delicate colors of a goldfinch. The AI bird recognition feature helps to accurately identify the bird that is visiting the feeder. The TT Nature bird feeder can serve as your personal bird identification guide, identifying species including cardinal, downy woodpecker, rare migratory birds, and more. Additionally, with Wi-Fi, it supports video recording and sharing. The bird feeder supports up to 20 users at once, making it ideal for large families or birdwatching communities. TT Nature Long battery life means you won’t miss a bird. This feeder is equipped with a solar panel for long operation time. The 1.5-liter capacity reduces the frequency of water refilling, making it suitable for people with a busy life. Setting it up is simple. It offers a video tutorial to guide you through each step. Even if you’re new to bird feeders, you can start using it right away with confidence. Birdwatching Brings Nature Closer Already thinking about gifts this Christmas, and looking for a meaningful gift for your bird-loving loved one? The TT Nature Smart Feeder is more than just a gadget, it’s a ticket to tranquility, curiosity, and link-building with mother nature. With a customer rating of 4.96 out of 5, this product has been recognized by the market. Feeding birds is more than just a hobby. As Paul Baicich, co-author of Feeding America’s Wild Birds, says: “It introduces people to nature — in their backyard. It’s the intermediate step between sitting around the house and actually going out to a national wildlife refuge,” according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.  Feeding both native and migratory birds has ecological benefits. Studies have found that populations of species like northern cardinals have expanded their range due to the support of reliable backyard feeders during harsh winters. TT Nature Be a Responsible Feeder Backyard bird feeding should be approached with care and responsibility, not just as a casual hobby. Experts warn that three main risks of irresponsible bird feeding are: disease, predation, and collision. Dirty feeders and unclean food can lead to the growth of bacteria. Moldy seeds and bird feces build the growing environment for salmonella and E. coli. Once a bird is infected, the droppings can eventually spread the disease to other local birds. It is best to clean feeders every two weeks. More frequent cleaning is also recommended during the rainy season. TT Nature That’s why maintenance matters. TT Nature recommends cleaning your feeder every few weeks, and always washing your hands after handling it. The feeder’s easy-to-clean design makes this part of bird-loving life just as seamless. How to Clean Your Bird Feeder A smart feeder can make birdwatching and recording easy. Keeping it clean ensures local birds stay healthy. Here are some simple cleaning tips to guide you on cleaning your bird feeder. You should completely disassemble your bird feeder before cleaning it. You can simply soak it in boiling water and hand wash it with soap when it cools down. For a deeper clean, you can also soak it in a diluted bleach solution for 10 minutes. After cleaning, rinse the bird feeder thoroughly and allow it to dry completely before assembling the feeder. Clean up trash and droppings around the bird feeder. The accumulation of bird droppings can attract rodents and even pose a threat to outdoor pets. If you wish to see your visitors more often, keeping the space clean and comfortable is the trick. TT Nature Birdwatching isn’t just about the birds. It’s about slowing down and reconnecting. For lifelong enthusiasts or just the newbies, the TT Nature Smart Bird Feeder with Camera invites you to witness the wonders within your own backyard. TT Nature believes “Nature always has something to say if we are willing to listen.” Rather than just building bird feeders, TT Nature is blending modern tech with a scientific understanding of birding and building bridges between humans and the natural world. This holiday season, give a gift that takes your recipient back to mother nature: get this bird feeder with camera for just $129.99 on the TT Nature website. Read...

Greens co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick says National MPs she`s spoken with want to support a stronger stance on sanctions against Israel but are too terrified to take on their party leadership. Read...