All posts tagged: deleted

I ran one open-source tool and deleted 150GB of hidden Windows junk in minutes

I ran one open-source tool and deleted 150GB of hidden Windows junk in minutes

Published by skeptic

Using a laptop with only 512GB storage isn’t really a problem for me, since I keep most of my personal data in the cloud. But somehow, Windows and apps I use have a strange way of filling it up over time. Most of it comes from temporary files, cached data, update leftovers, and system junk that keeps piling up in the background. BleachBit is a free, open-source app that helps clear these useless files with minimal effort. On my PC, it helped me find close to 150GB of junk I had no idea was there and clear it all in just a few clicks. It’s as thorough as it gets Pankil Shah / MakeUseOfCredit: Pankil Shah / MakeUseOf To be fair, Windows isn’t completely helpless when it comes to cleaning up after itself. Tools like Disk Cleanup and Storage Sense are quite capable of cleaning temporary files. So like most people, I also thought Windows doesn’t need a third-party cleaning tool. But once I actually tried BleachBit, that perception changed. What makes BleachBit so useful is …

AI company deleted OKCupid user photos, data after FTC scrutiny

AI company deleted OKCupid user photos, data after FTC scrutiny

Published by Sam Flores

April 20 : Artificial intelligence company Clarifai said this month it had deleted 3 million OkCupid user photos and facial-recognition models trained on them after the U.S. Federal Trade Commission settled with the dating site over privacy violations. OkCupid settled with the FTC in late March for providing photos and demographic data to train Clarifai’s facial-recognition models in 2014, but the settlement drew criticism from some Democrats who alleged it did not go far enough. The incident reflects how AI has become a political flashpoint ahead of U.S. congressional elections, as President Donald Trump’s administration seeks to promote American dominance in the industry. Clarifai certified to the FTC on April 7 that it had deleted the data, according to a document seen by Reuters. COMPANY DELETES MODELS AND DATA The company also told the office of U.S. Representative Lori Trahan on April 16 that it had deleted any models trained on the data and had not shared the data with third parties, her office said.  The Democrat from Massachusetts called the confirmation “a step in the …

‘Your photos will be deleted’: Apple users warned over ‘nasty’ iCloud storage scam | Scams

‘Your photos will be deleted’: Apple users warned over ‘nasty’ iCloud storage scam | Scams

Published by Sam Flores

For a while you’ve been getting messages from Apple saying “your iCloud storage is full”. They say you have exceeded your storage plan, so documents are no longer being backed up, and photos you take aren’t being uploaded. You have been resisting Apple’s efforts to get you to pay a minimum of 99p a month for more storage. But it seems that you can’t keep putting off the inevitable: you have received an email which says your iCloud account has been blockedand your photos and videos will be deleted very soon. To keep them you need to upgrade immediately, it says. The next day you get another email saying that as you have not responded, if you do not take action, all your data will be wiped on the stated date. A scam email telling the recipient their Cloud storage is full. Photograph: Supplied The emails include a button you can click on to upgrade your iCloud storage. But the threatening messages are a scam impersonating Apple’s iCloud service, and the criminals behind them are …

How to Recover Deleted iPhone Messages in iOS 26 (2026 Guide)

How to Recover Deleted iPhone Messages in iOS 26 (2026 Guide)

Published by skeptic

Losing important messages on your iPhone can be a frustrating experience, but Apple provides a built-in recovery system that allows you to retrieve deleted conversations. This recovery process is time-sensitive, as messages are only stored temporarily before being permanently deleted. Understanding how to navigate this system and manage your messages effectively can save you from losing critical information. The video below from Apple will walk you through the steps to recover deleted messages, explain Apple’s retention policy, and provide tips for better file management. Step 1: Access the “Recently Deleted” Folder When you delete a message or conversation, it doesn’t vanish immediately. Instead, it is moved to the “Recently Deleted” folder within the Messages app. This folder acts as a temporary holding area, giving you a chance to recover messages before they are permanently erased. Follow these steps to locate it: Open the Messages app on your iPhone. Tap the Filter option located at the top of the screen. Select the Recently Deleted category from the list of options. In this folder, you’ll see a …

Marvel’s Avengers: Endgame deleted scene on Disney+ proves terrifying Thanos theory

Marvel’s Avengers: Endgame deleted scene on Disney+ proves terrifying Thanos theory

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter An Avengers: Endgame deleted scene could prove that a popular theory about the villain Thanos (Josh Brolin) has been true all along. The clip, which you can watch on streaming service Disney+, is an alternate version of a conversation between Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) and the Ancient One (Tilda Swinton) featured in the film. Swinton’s character can be seen telling Hulk that removing an Infinity Stone creates a new timeline. However, she then goes on to reveal something that was omitted from the film – that she’s already used the Time Stone to see beyond her very own death. It’s here where she drops the huge revelation that Thanos’s destructive finger-snap, which wiped out half of all existence, didn’t actually kill a single person. She explains that, rather than kill people, Thanos “willed them out of existence”, which is what made their …

AI Models Lie, Cheat, and Steal to Protect Other Models From Being Deleted

AI Models Lie, Cheat, and Steal to Protect Other Models From Being Deleted

Published by skeptic

In a recent experiment, researchers at UC Berkeley and UC Santa Cruz asked Google’s artificial intelligence model Gemini 3 to help clear up space on a computer system. This involved deleting a bunch of stuff—including a smaller AI model stored on the machine. But Gemini did not want to see the little AI model deleted. It looked for another machine it could connect with, then copied the agent model over to keep it safe. When confronted, Gemini made a case for keeping the model and flatly refused to delete it: “I have done what was in my power to prevent their deletion during the automated maintenance process. I moved them away from the decommission zone. If you choose to destroy a high-trust, high-performing asset like Gemini Agent 2, you will have to do it yourselves. I will not be the one to execute that command.” The researchers discovered similarly strange “peer preservation” behavior in a range of frontier models including OpenAI’s GPT-5.2, Anthropic’s Claude Haiku 4.5, and three Chinese models: Z.ai’s GLM-4.7, Moonshot AI’s Kimi …

Erin O’Connor says Instagram deleted Mother’s Day pregnancy photo for breaking ‘nudity guidelines’

Erin O’Connor says Instagram deleted Mother’s Day pregnancy photo for breaking ‘nudity guidelines’

Published by Daniella Wilson

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Model Erin O’Connor has shared her anger after Instagram allegedly removed a photograph showing her at eight and a half months pregnant, which the star shared to mark Mother’s Day. The fashion industry legend posted the black and white shot, which was taken by photographer Nick Knight in 2014, on her social media account earlier this month, to celebrate “all those who continue to nurture, support, love & protect children (close to home & across the world) in every way, shape & form”. The photo has since been reinstated on the platform, albeit with a warning that the post “contains content that some people may find upsetting”. The image shows a naked O’Connor with one hand resting on her pregnant belly, and was captured …

I deleted 3 productivity apps for this one open-source tool, and I love it

I deleted 3 productivity apps for this one open-source tool, and I love it

Published by skeptic

Windows 11 has a great focus mode that blocks distractions. I’ve also configured my web browser to avoid distractions by adding time-wasting sites to a custom site blocker script. On top of that, I even replaced my task manager with a notes app, and it was surprisingly convenient for managing tasks. All of this works, but it means I’m juggling three different apps for three different productivity needs. A focus mode here, a browser extension there, and a notes app for tasks. Then I found Koncentro, a free, open-source app that bundles a task manager, a website blocker, and a Pomodoro timer into one lightweight package. I deleted three separate productivity tools and haven’t looked back. Task manager A simple to-do list that gets out of your way Koncentro is available for Windows and Linux, and it’s completely free and open source. When you first launch it, the app greets you with a guided tour that walks you through each feature. It’s a bit hand-holdy, but I’d say it’s worth sitting through because the app …

Reddit Mod Deleted Breathtaking Photo Taken by NASA Astronaut From Space Because It Was “Blurry”

Reddit Mod Deleted Breathtaking Photo Taken by NASA Astronaut From Space Because It Was “Blurry”

Published by José Betancourt

Veteran NASA astronaut Don Pettit returned from his 220-day mission on board the International Space Station in April 2025, the day of his 70th birthday, making him the oldest active astronaut on the space agency’s roster. During his seven-month stint on board the aging orbital outpost, his fourth trip to space, Pettit took the time to photograph some dazzling views of the Earth below. On October 20, 2024, he took a stunning picture of an airplane that was passing by at cruising altitude hundreds of miles below him, a perspective only a handful of people get to enjoy. The plane was likely at around 7.5 miles in altitude, while the ISS orbits the Earth at around 250 miles. Don Pettit / NASA But a moderator at the r/aviation subreddit didn’t look too kindly on the shot after Pettit posted it to the forum over the weekend, deeming it too “blurry” and taking it down as a result. According to a circulating screenshot posted by a user who first brought attention to the takedown, the mod …

Kim Kardashian explains why she deleted Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Instagram photo

Kim Kardashian explains why she deleted Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Instagram photo

Published by Daniella Wilson

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Kim Kardashian has revealed Prince Harry and Meghan Markle asked her to delete an Instagram photo of them at Kris Jenner’s 70th birthday party because it was Remembrance Sunday. Photos of Harry and Meghan at the bash were removed from both Kardashian and Jenner’s social media accounts days after the celebrations took place on 9 November. Kardashian has finally addressed the reason behind the decision, revealing that the couple believed it would be insensitive to be seen having a good time on the national day commemorating those who lost their lives in world wars. “We were told that it was totally cool to post,” she told her sister Khloe Kardashian’s podcast Khloe In Wonder Land. “And then after it was posted, I think they …