Sony has announced compensation for all PlayStation Plus players following the recent PlayStation Network (PSN) outage.

 

This article was published on February 9 and republished on February 10.

PlayStation Network (PSN) is back online after a 24-hour outage, which is the longest since the nearly month-long downtime due to a hack in 2011. Sony has now announced the compensation that players will receive for the inconvenience.

According to Sony, this outage was not the result of a hack; however, they have not provided a detailed explanation, simply calling it an “operational issue.” Many players may be looking for more clarity regarding what that entails, especially given the significant outage, which hasn’t occurred in a decade. It remains uncertain whether Sony will offer further details.

Apple has fixed an exploit in the iPhone that permitted an extremely sophisticated attack.

 iOS 18.3.1 addresses a vulnerability that allowed attackers to disable USB Restricted Mode on a locked device.

A recent iPhone update addresses a security flaw that could allow an attacker to disable a nearly seven-year-old USB security feature. Apple’s release notes for iOS 18.3.1 and iPadOS 18.3.1 indicate that this bug, which permitted the deactivation of USB Restricted Mode, “may have been exploited in an extremely sophisticated attack against specifically targeted individuals.”

The release notes describe the now-patched security flaw as enabling “a physical attack,” meaning that the attacker would need access to the device to exploit it. Therefore, unless highly sophisticated attackers compromised your device, there was no cause for concern even before Monday’s update.

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Here's a guide on how to invest in the fourth quarter

As we enter the final quarter of the year, experts warn of several uncertainties affecting the equity markets, including upcoming U.S. elections, geopolitical tensions, and economic slowdown concerns. Kevin Teng, CEO of Wrise Private Singapore, emphasized that these factors could lead to market volatility.

In this uncertain environment, CNBC Pro consulted market experts for their investment strategies as we approach year-end.

DeepSeek Sell-Off: Hightower’s Stephanie Link’s Buying Opportunities

DeepSeek Sell-Off: Hightower's Stephanie Link Highlights Buying Opportunities

The recent DeepSeek sell-off could present an opportunity for investors, according to Hightower Advisors’ Stephanie Link.

As Hightower's Chief Investment Strategist, Link believes the tech route may pave the way for savvy investors to capitalize on AI stocks, particularly in companies with diversified businesses that remain insulated from the headlines surrounding DeepSeek.

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TD Cowen: Nvidia Sell-Off Could Be the Entry Point Traders Have Been Waiting For

TD Cowen suggests that the DeepSeek sell-off may offer a new chance for investors who missed Nvidia's extraordinary rally last year to enter the trade.

Monday’s Biggest Analyst Calls

Here are some of the most significant Wall Street calls for Monday, featuring Nvidia, Apple, Tesla, Marvell, Microsoft, Meta, Take-Two, Amazon, Twilio, and more.

Goldman Sachs Upgrades Twilio, Predicts Over 35% Upside Ahead.

After a 20% surge last Friday, Goldman Sachs remains optimistic about Twilio, predicting additional growth potential for the stock.

Is Nvidia in Danger? Analysts React to the DeepSeek Sell-Off

The DeepSeek Sell-Off: What Major Analysts Are Saying About Nvidia and a Possible AI Bubble

Wall Street woke up Monday to a surprising artificial intelligence stock sell-off, sparked by the emergence of the Chinese startup DeepSeek. The startup has been generating buzz for reportedly building a competitive AI model at a fraction of the cost that U.S. giants like Meta Platforms and Microsoft are currently investing.

“The AI investment cycle may be over-hyped, and a more efficient future is possible,” wrote JPMorgan analyst Sandeep Deshpande in a note.

Here’s a roundup of what major analysts are saying:

See the Interview That Started the Buzz

Watch CNBC’s full interview with Scale AI founder and CEO Alexandr Wang

Scale AI founder Alexandr Wang shares his insights on the AI landscape in 2025, the ongoing AI arms race between the U.S. and China, the impact of U.S. chip export controls, and the future of AI development. He also discusses the $500 billion Stargate project, AI competition in the U.S., and the balance between DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) and “MEI” (Maximizing Efficiency in Innovation) in corporate America.

A Curated List of Today's Best Sales on PCs, Components, and More!

 Cooler Master NCore 100 Max

• Was $399, now $291
• A compact PC case with bronze aluminum mesh panels, 120mm AIO cooler, GPU mount, riser cables, and an 850W Gold-certified SFF power supply. It can fit an RTX 4090 GPU, making it a dream setup for high-spec gaming builds.
  

MSI Codex Z2 Gaming PC

• Was $1,199, now $899
• A solid gaming PC equipped with an AMD Ryzen 5 8400F, Nvidia RTX 4060 Ti 8GB, 16GB DDR5 5200MHz RAM, and a 1TB NVMe SSD. Perfect for 1080p and even 1440p gaming. Includes WiFi 7 for smooth connectivity.
  

Alienware AW3225QF 32-Inch 4K QD-OLED Gaming Monitor

• Was $1,199, now $899
• A premium 32-inch QD-OLED monitor with a 4K resolution, 1700R curved display, and a 240Hz refresh rate. Features Adaptive-Sync, HDR10, Dolby Vision, and a wide color gamut for stunning visuals.
  

Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 Gaming Laptop

• Was $1,599, now $1,099
• This sleek gaming laptop boasts an Intel Core i7-13620H, Nvidia RTX 4070 8GB, 16GB DDR4 RAM, and a 165Hz display for ultra-smooth gameplay.
  

Arzopa S1 Table 15.6-Inch Portable Monitor

• Was $129.99, now $64
• A lightweight portable monitor with a 1080p IPS panel, weighing just 1.7 pounds. Comes with a Smart Cover for added convenience.Samsung 990 EVO Plus 4TB SSD

• Was $344, now $249
• Lightning-fast PCIe Gen 4.0 SSD with speeds up to 7,250 MB/s. A great upgrade for storage enthusiasts.
  

S Retailer Announces AMD RX 9070 Preorders; Nvidia's RTX 5080 is 22% faster than RTX 4080 in a leaked benchmark.

🔥 Big Tech News You Can't-Miss! 🔥

US Retailer Opens AMD RX 9070 Preorders! 📅 Mark Your Calendar: March 23
Leaked Benchmarks Show Nvidia RTX 5080 Is 22% Faster Than RTX 4080 ⚡ But Still Trails Behind the RTX 4090

💡 Intel’s Vision for Sustainable Laptops
Modular, repairable, and future-proof designs aim to revolutionize the PC industry. ♻️

🎮 Gaming Updates That Will Rock Your Rig

• 🛑 New Doom's Ray Tracing Requirements Could Wreck Your Wallet!
• 💾 Cyberpunk 2077 Patch 2.21 Brings DLSS 4 Support Ahead of RTX 50 Series Debut on Jan 30.

🛠️ DIY & Hardware Highlights

• 🖥️ Student Builds Open-Source Laptop in Just 6 Months (4K AMOLED + 7h Battery)
• 💨 Noctua PC Fans Doubles as Home Heating Boosters!
• 💡 Raspberry Pi 5 Gets PCIe 3.0 HAT With Dual M.2 Slots – All for $45!

🛑 Warning for PC Builders
Asus Q-Release Slim Feature May Be Damaging GPU PCIe Connectors!

Today's Analyst Calls: Fresh Updates and Insights

Here are Tuesday's top analyst calls.

CNBC Pro provides essential analyst insights each morning before the market opens, helping you navigate changes in the financial landscape.

**Today's Highlights:**

- **MoffettNathanson downgrades Apple to 'sell':**  

  The firm believes Apple's valuation has become unjustifiable.  

  **READ MORE** >>

- **Bank of America downgrades Tesla to 'neutral':**  

  Analyst John Murphy cites high valuation and risks to the company's strategy.  

  **READ MORE** >>

- **Redburn Atlantic upgrades Disney:**  

  They anticipate an upside of over 30%, noting that the company has reached a significant turning point after years of challenges.  

  **READ MORE** >>

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